’MORE THE MERRIER
Rangers rocked by brilliant fightback from Avonmore
AVONMORE B AUGHRIM RANGERS 3 3
THE supporters watching in Pat O’Toole Park were treated to a fantastic game of football between Avonmore and Aughrim in the Wicklow League’s Division 3.
Both teams left with a point apiece after an unbelievable comeback from Avonmore who clawed themselves into the game from a three-goal deficit.
The game started at an intense pace with Avonmore having the greater share of possession and looked threatening early on.
Avonmore went close in the seventh minute after some good play from Declan Breslin found Stephen Wall free in the box who blazed the ball over the bar.
Aughrim started to grow into the game and seemed to have a real threat in the form of Daniel O’Hare going forward.
The game opened up in the tenth minute when a mix up between the Avonmore centre backs let Shane O’Keeffe through on goal who fired low across the keeper to give Aughrim the lead early on.
Aughrim began to take control in the game now and looked to be the better team as they began to threaten the Avonmore goal much more frequently.
Daniel O’Hare was causing the Avonmore back four problems with his high pressure and aggressive runs with the ball.
Avonmore tried to break down the Aughrim back four and in the 28th minute Andrew Browne squandered a great opportunity to draw the sides level after a cross from the right hand side found Browne unmarked in the six yard box but his effort flew up and over the bar.
Late into the first half some good play from Ryan Cahill led to a late chance for Avonmore however his effort flew wide of the goal to allow Aughrim to take a one-nil lead into half-time.
Avonmore came racing out of the gates in the second half and tested the Aughrim keeper in the 48th minute with a low effort which produced a good low save.
This early pressure proved futile however as John Ansley fired a free-kick from deep which beat all the Avonmore players before bouncing in off the post to give Aughrim a two-goal lead in the 53rd minute.
Aughrim increased their lead further in the 58th minute after a short corner to the front post found Ben Leehy who swivelled to fire a low shot into the bottom corner to give Aughrim a three goal lead.
The hosts began to rally and in the 63rd minute Avonmore found a way back into the game through Andrew Browne. Some quick feet from Ryan Cahill found Browne unmarked in the six-yard box and the striker tapped the ball home to breathe new life into the Avonmore side.
Aughrim threatened again after some fantastic skill from substitute Shaun Doyle found Daniel O’Hare in space, however his shot cannoned off the post to keep Avonmore’s comeback hopes alive.
Ryan Cahill hit the post for Avonmore after some fantastic skill to beat multiple Aughrim players in the 86th minute and it looked as if Aughrim had done enough to hold on to earn all three points.
However, in the 89th minute substitute Ryan Byrne Greene found the back of the net with a fantastically inventive overhead kick from a Darren Beevor free kick to give the hosts a glimmer of hope.
This hard work paid off for Avonmore as with virtually the last kick of the game substitute Eamon Kennedy fired a ferocious effort into the right bottom corner from distance to seal a fantastic comeback for Avonmore.
The beware of bull sign hanging on the gate opposite the pitch seemed eerily appropriate as Avonmore produced an Istanbul style comeback that would rival anything seen at the professional level.
The Aughrim players and management will be kicking themselves at throwing away the chance to start their season off on the best possible note. Regardless, both teams will take positives and negatives from this game to take forward into what they hope will be successful seasons.