Young and hungry
AGB run riot over Avondale to set up clash with Bray
REACHING a championship final is the dream of most teams.
That being said, one would expect a semi-final match to be a battle to the death by both contestants.
However, the few spectators allowed into Aughrim for the first game on Saturday would have gone home bitterly disappointed with the fare provided.
AGB were runaway winners by a massive 19 points and had their final place safely and securely wrapped up before the first water break as they raced into a commanding 2-7 to 0-1 lead by then, the two rapid fire goals scored in the space of a minute before the break by corner-forward Darragh Culleton and midfielder Tommy New.
The near total collapse by Avondale is something I would scarcely have expected after been told before the off that the Dales had hammered the Arklow men by nine points when the sides first met in the league section.
However, from the throw-in, Avondale did burst up field on two promising attacks, but both finished wide.
Unfortunately, they were mere false alarms as thereafter AGB ruled the roost with the McBrides Hurley, centre-back Jack Furlong, Crowley and Tommy New et al putting on an exhibition.
Even corner-back Cian Cooney had the latitude to get forward and put his name on the scoreboard.
Corner-forward Darragh Culleton got the show on the road in the third minute. Two minutes later
Sean Hurley pounced on Michael Sheehan’s spilled possession for a point. Six Arklow players had posted scores before Avondale had their opening point by Donal McGraynor from a free in the 16th minute.
Before the water break even worse was to befall Avondale. In the space of a minute they were hit by two sucker punches, Arklow goals by Darragh Culleton and
midfielder Tommy New, and they were down to 14 players for ten minutes after Micheal Sheehan picked up black card.
AGB ahead at the first water-break by what looked to be an unassailable 2-7 to 0-1 lead. Game over.
Avondale fared a little better in the second quarter - on the scoreboard at least.
Donal McGraynor pointed his
second free and corner-forward Jack Manley pilfered a fine brace. But still AGB had marginally extended their half-time lead to 3-9 to 0-4, the third goal just before the break a veritable rocket from 3040 meters distance by midfielder Sean Crowley.
Avondale did not raise a flag of any colour throughout the entire second half.
Indeed, the life was long gone from this game before then. AGB put the icing on the win with five unanswered points in the second half, all singles from Sean Hurley, Shane and Daire McBride, Cian Cooney and Niall Higgins.
Kyle O’Connor; Cian Cooney (0-1), Kyle Dowling, Corey Mills; Thomas Lynch (0-1), Jack Furlong (0-1), Hugh O’Brien; Sean Crowley (1-0), Tommy New (1-0); Shane McBride (0-2), Cormac Hyland, Sean Hurley (0-3); Darragh Culleton (1-3, 3f), Daire McBride (0-2), Neil O’Reilly.
Subs: Donal O’Keeffe for D Culleton, Garrett Kenny for S Hurley, Luke Cummins for C Cooney, Niall Higgins (0-1) for C Hyland.
Dan Murley; Sean Kinsella, Kevin Sheehan, Aengus O’Brien; Ciaran Penn, Shane Byrne, Paul Gahan; Shane McGraynor, Michael Sheehan; Ryan Kenny, Karl Phelan, Cian Ward; Jack Manley (0-2), Donal McGraynor (0-2, 2f), Calum Pursey. Subs: Kevin Fitzpatrick for P Gahan (injured), Anto Byrne for D McGraynor, Shane Byrne for D Murley, Ian Heffernan, Ross Merry for C Ward.
Brendan Furlong (Tinahely)