Albion happy with hard-earned point
ALBION Rovers battled strong winds as well as tough opposition as they returned home from Cavan with a well-deserved point on Sunday afternoon.
The game was not a great spectacle as the weather dictated much of the play and chances were at a premium.
The Monasterboice side started slowly, with Virginia having a lot of the ball in their own half, but on the 20-minute mark the first chance of the game fell to Helder Goncalves who beat the full-back, cut inside
VIRGINIA CELTIC ALBION ROVERS 0 0
and pulled the trigger, only for his shot to hit the side netting.
Albion’s debutant between the stick Niall McDonnell was then called into action, saving a shot from distance.
Albion almost took the lead on the stroke of half-time as Steo Martin caught a ball on the volley from outside the area but saw his shot go just over the bar.
The second half was a somewhat stale affair as the weather got worse and Albion’s best chance fell to Kevin Kelly who got on the end of a James Walsh flick-on but nodded the ball wide of the upright.
Best on the day for Albion were McDonnell, Mota, Harding and K Kelly.
ALBION ROVERS: N McDonnell, K Harding, K Kelly, H Mota, N McEvoy, D Kirwan, S Martin, S Kelly, H Goncalves, A Morgan, S Doherty, A Byrne, D Smith, T Kavanagh, A Gartland, D Delaney, G Lynch, J Walsh. Tully Bookmakers Cup first round (extra time/ pens):
A Reserve
P Boyne Harps 5 Kentstown Rovers 5 Hazel Lane United 6 Ardee Celtic 3rds 5 Square United 6 Trim Town 5 Albion Rovers 5 Carrick Rovers 5 Enfield Celtic 3 Electro Celtic 5
B Reserve
P Athboy Celtic 6 Torro United 6 Bailieboro Celtic 6 Robinstown 5 Donacarney Celtic 5 Johnstown 3rds 5 Virginia Celtic 5 OMP Utd 3rds 5 Glenmuir 4 Kilmessan 4 Park Summerhill 5
W 5 3 3 3 3 2 2 1 1 0
W 5 4 4 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 0
D 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1
D 0 1 0 1 2 2 2 1 0 0 1
L 0 1 3 2 3 3 3 2 2 4
L 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 3 3 3 4
F 21 11 20 15 17 23 11 7 5 5
F 13 19 14 13 10 12 8 8 7 6 2
A 8 7 11 11 20 14 26 11 8 19
A 6 8 10 14 9 11 10 13 9 11 11
Pts 15 10 9 9 9 6 6 5 3 1
Pts 15 13 12 10 8 5 5 4 3 3 1