AUGHLISNAFIN U-14’s played against Drumaness in the East Down U14C Championship semi final last Saturday morning.
Final score Aughlisnafin 4-4 Drumaness 9-9
Despite the heavy overnight rain the conditions were mild although greasy underfoot. Drumaness were strong favourites to progress and so it proved to be the case although the ‘Fin battled to the end.
Drumaness took the lead with two points in succession and could have had more scores in the opening ten minute period if not for the tenacious defending of full back Callum Haynes. In the Fin’s first attack a well worked move saw Cathal Murphy fire the ball high into the Drumaness net to take an unlikely lead.
Drumaness were jolted into action and they hit back with a goal of their own almost immediately. Drumaness had the upper hand and continued to put pressure on the Fin defence with Haynes, Jack Matthews and Faelan Murphy working overtime. Again the ‘Fin managed to break forward and Murphy grabbed a brilliant second goal after good work from captain Eoin Lundy and Shea Croskery. Drumaness stunned a second time had to make their chances count and eventually managed to get a flurry of scores, which included two penalties, as the ‘Fin tried their best to break out. On rare forages up field chances went begging before Croskery managed to tag on a point before the short whistle. HT Aughlisnafin 2-1 Drumaness 6-4.
The ‘Fin had it all to do in the second half but Drumaness scored another goal and two points to give them an unassailable lead. The ‘Fin to their credit continued to make a game of it and in their best spell in the game scored 1-3 in succession. The goal came from Eoin Lundy after he took a pass from the impressive Cathal Murphy.
Oran Flanagan sent over a free kick and Croskery grabbed his second and third points of the game. Eoin Travers had been switched to half back and was making an impact sweeping up possession. Eventually Drumaness slammed in another goal but this was negated when substitute Jack Toner marked his return from a lengthy lay off to fire to the net. Toner was unlucky to drill a shot wide of goal moments later. Drumaness added another 1-3 before full time to progress to the final against St John’s.
Aughlisnafin : M Croskery, C Haynes, J Matthews, A Lenaghan, J Allen, F Murphy, E Lundy (1-0), O Flanagan (0-1, 0-1 free), D Toner, S Croskery (0-3), C Murphy (2-0), E Travers, R Quinn Subs: C Matthews, R King, J Toner (1-0), A Flanagan
The Seniors played hosts to St Michael’s on Friday evening in Annsborough. The ‘Fin were quick of the mark with Niall Lennon slotting over the first point of the game after a well worked move straight from the throw in. Paul Flanagan sent over a second point for the ‘Fin a minute later. A third point in as many minutes for the home team came from the boot of Ciaran Rice from a free kick.
In the fourth minute Paddy McClean scored a superb point on the end of a move that was started in defence by Sean Fitzsimmons. St Michael’s opened their account two minutes later with a point from a free. This was negated by a pointed free from the impressive Rice. The Magheralin side then scored two points in succession to reduce the deficit to two points with 16 minutes gone. A surge forward by left half back Noel Travers saw him bear down on goal before he was hauled down in the large parallelogram and Paul Flanagan sent the resultant penalty to the net.
Rice edged the ‘Fin further ahead with his third from placed balls. The ‘Fin were creating plenty of chances in the first half but were not making them count. St Michael’s weathered the storm before countering and grabbing a goal against the run of play to make it a three point game. Chris Doran and Rice tagged on two more points before the short whistle.
 Half time Aughlisnafin 1-8 St Michael’s 1-3.
Three minutes after the restart Rice sent over his fifth point of the game and the visitors replied in kind. Sean Willoughby added another two points for the Fin either side of a St Michael’s point. Rice then sent over his fourth from a free kick and moments later grabbed the killer goal. The goal came from a well worked move. Duffy sent a long ball down the line for Rory Murphy who soloed infield before finding Rice who took a reverse pass from Lennon and sent the ball to the net. As the darkness came down fast St Michaels’s scored a consolation point before Gabriel Tumilty blew up full time.
Final score Aughlisnafin 2-12 St Michael’s 1-6
The ‘Fin had sterling performances in defence from Francis Boden, Anthony Quinn, Noel Travers, Sean Fitzsimmons and Niall Duffy. Paul Flanagan put in a decent shift in midfield alongside the impressive Chris Doran. In the forward division Willoughby, McClean, Lennon and Murphy all worked hard throughout with Rice the standout on show with a personal tally of 1-6.
It was a hardworking team performance and it was a good response to the previous week’s disappointment in the championship. Next match is away to Killyleagh next weekend. The Wolfe Tones have defeated the Fin twice this season and so the lads will be looking to avoid a hat trick of losses to them and at the same time climb a place in the league table. With both teams level on 14 points from 20 games it adds a bit more emphasis to what is essentially a dead rubber game with only one game remaining after this one.
Aughlisnafin : M McClean, F Boden, J Brannigan, A Quinn, S Fitzsimmons, N Duffy, N Travers, C Doran (0-1), Paul Flanagan (1-1, 1 pen), E McGlue, C Rice (1-6, 0-4 frees), R Murphy, P McClean (0-1), N Lennon (0-1), S Willoughby (0-2) Subs: T Byrne, G Lenaghan
Aughlisnafin have been placed in Section C of the U12.5 (Year 8) Championship and their opening game is away to Dromara on Sunday 22 September. This will be followed by games at home to St Paul’s (Sept 29) away to Teconnaught (Oct 6) and at home to Kilclief (Oct 20).
Well done to Roisin McComiskey who helped Dundrum U-14’s to the top of the Ladies Summer League after a superb win over Saul following on from an equally brilliant win against Loughinisland the previous week. Roisin will be joined by her clubmates Rachel Quinn and Cliona McComiskey when they attend the Down Ladies U-15 Development Squad who will be training in Annsborough over the next few weeks.
Aughlisnafin GAC will be hosting a recreational football tournament this Saturday at Annsborough Playing Fields. The social 7’s will be incidental contact only and squads should have a maximum of ten players.
Please email pro.aughlisnafin.down@gaa.ie to confirm interest. An Riocht, St John’s, Dromara and Annsborough have confirmed attendance. It is hoped the Fin will have two teams on the day.
Aughlisnafin GAC are raffling off two tickets for the All Ireland Football final. For a chance to win your name can be entered into the draw for just £5. Tickets now available from any member of the committee and senior men and ladies squad.
The club will be hosting a car boot at Donard Park on Saturday 21 September as a fund raiser for the juvenile members of the club. If anyone wishes to avail of a plot it is £5 per car. Others who wish to donate items to the club for their stall at the car boot to help raise funds it will be gladly accepted.
The club will be organising a trip for its juvenile members to the second International Rules Test at Croke Park on Saturday 26th October. More details nearer the time:
J Quinn (5) was the 49 Club winner.
Lotto 2, 6, 10, 17. Orla & Darragh Quinn matched 3 and won £50. Jackpot £5,700.
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