O’Reilly stars for super AGB
Brave Aughrim fall short
AGB AUGHRIM 4-4 0-8
AGB took home the Under-13 ‘B’ football championship after a very exciting game played in Balinakill last Sunday evening.
This was a classic battle played out between two well balanced teams with the game decided by some powerful goalscoring, mighty goalkeeping and some missed chances. The large crowd of supporters were served a fitting final by both sides.
Dermot Toomey drew a powerful save out of Dennis O’Reilly in the Arklow goals with the first real chance of the game.
A Paul Moore free from 30m out somehow found the back of the Aughrim net to get Arklow off to a flying start in the ninth minute for the first score of the game.
Alex Kavanagh responded with a pointed free for Aughrim in the next attack. Paul Moore and lively full-forward Brian Hurley tagged on a point each for the east coast side to close out the first quarter. Both defences were on top in the sequence of events with both fullbacks doing trojan work, clearing attack after attack.
Alex Kavangh landed a brace of pointed frees to eat into the Arklow side lead. However, full-back Paidi Kavanagh intercepted two balls at vital times as Aughrim looked in for certain goals.
Another pointed free from the boot of Alex Kavanagh left the minimum between the sides as the half-time whistle sounded with the Ballymoney side leading 1-2 to 0-4.
Brian Hurley played Aaron O’Brien through, but Mark Shannon saved and cleared the danger in the Aughrim goal.
Joe McGuickan split the posts from an acute angle for Aughrim in the next attack to level proceedings. Paidi Kavanagh cleared the next two balls that came his way as Aughrim went in search of the lead. However, ace full-forward, Brian Hurley carved out AGB’s second goal as he fired to the back of the Aughrim net with a sublime finish.
Arklow’s full-back,Paidi Kavanagh, who also had a fine game, knocked over a point as Arklow looked to be absolutely buzzing.
Mark Shannon kept Aughrim in the hunt with a fine save, however, the dynamic Brian Hurley landed another major to turn the screw for the Geraldines side to close out the third quarter with the score reading 3-4 to 0-5.
A Brian Hurley pointed free increased the lead. Aughrim ramped it up a notch and rallied in the final quarter; Paul Moore tipped over a point.
In the next attack a fine diving save by Dennis O’Reilly with his feet saw the ball go out for a 45, as the shouts for ‘penalty’ by the Aughrim faithful rang into the floodlit sky.
Alex Kavanagh split the posts as Aughrim found momentum and they upped the tempo ten-fold as their midfield drove through, however, goalie Dennis O’Reilly had two sensational point-blank saves in quick succession as Aughrim cursed their luck.
Joe McGuickan was bearing down on goal and his goal-bound piledriver was parried over the bar with another masterful save by young Denis O’Reilly who was the menace, for Aughrim with his third match-winning save in a row, to the cheers of delight from the Arklow faithful.
While Dennis was giving an exibition at one end of the field, his full-forward Brian Hurley was giving a masterclass up the field as he landed his hat-trick to all but kill off the game.
Hurley closed out the scoring with a point in the final attack to start off wild celebrations.
Coiste na nÓg Chairman Pat Dunne complimented both teams on a fine game of football, thanked the referee, and Hugh Kenny for organising all the fixtures.
Coaching officer Owen Doyle presented Aughrim captain Joe McGuickan with the cup for winning the league.
Pat Dunne presented the trophy to the winning captain Aaron O’Brien to spark wild celebrations.
Where do we start with the Wicklow People Man of the Match award? Both full-backs and four midfielders were all in contention along with the immense Brian Hurley who amassed 3-2. However, to one of the loudest roars off approval ever heard in Ballinakill, Pat Dunne presented it to goalkeeper Dennis O’Reilly, much to the delight of his teammates, who showered their number one with gallons of water after his heroic saves at crucial periods throughout the game to crown a fine evening for the AGB lads.
Scorers - AGB: Brian Hurley 3-2 (2f) Paul Moore 1-1, Paidi Kavanagh 0-1.
Aughrim: Alex Kavangh 0-5(5f), Joe McGuickan 0-2, Conaill O’Brien 0-1.
Dennis O’Reilly; Adam O’Leary, Paidi Kavanagh, Tiernan Gahan, Sean Flusk, Padraig Kelly; Niall O’Donovan, Gordon Prestige; Micheal Gough, Paul Moore, Aaron O’Brien; Brian Hurley, Tomas O’Reilly. Subs: Tom Byrne, Fionn Henry, Conor Healy, Finn Meenagh, Killian Brehony, Ben Clancy, Mossie O’Reilly. Mark Shannon; Ryan Kinsella, Oisin Keegan, Lorcan Toomey; Leo Byrne, Stephen O’Toole, Dermot Toomey; Alex Kavanagh, Joe McGuickan; Calum Carrinduff, Cian Keogh, Finn Byrne; Conaill O’Brien. Subs: Charlie O’Connor, Jack Byrne, Cameron Byrne, Corey O’Toole, Mark Murphy, Sam Healy, Alex Evans.
Christy O’Rourke (Coolboy)