ACFL Div 2: Annaclone 2-11
Ballyholland 0-09
Annaclone continued their good run of
form with a great win at home to
Ballyholland on Friday night. With the
Harps back to full strength with their
county contingent and Annaclone without
Colm Farrell, Gary Byrne and Gerald
Fegan, some would have made this a step
too far for the locals. In the first 5
minutes the visitors knocked over two
early points and were playing by far the
better football. An Aidan Fegan free
settled the home side, and points from
Martin Farrell and Paul Byrne nudged
them ahead. From that kick out Brendan
McArdle made a fine catch and made a
strong run through the middle, just at
the 20m line Brendan drove the ball low
to the keepers left and put Annaclone 5
points ahead. Colm Fegan drove over a
long range point shortly after before
Ballyholland rallied and took 3 good
unanswered points. Again it was Colm
Fegan who stepped up with another fine
score from long range, and Paul Byrne
followed that up with his second of the
game. A long ball to the edge to John
Fegan on the edge of the square resulted
in Aidan Fegan punching the ball to the
net to put seven between the sides. Colm
Fegan’s free just before half time left
two goals between the sides at the
interval. The second half was a
scrappier affair with both defences
coming out on top. Brendan McArdle and
Paul Murphy exchanged scores early in
the half, while Martin Farrell added
another midway through the half.
Annaclone produced some of the best
defensive work seen lately mainly
through Gary McArdle, who seemed to
catch everything on the edge of the
square, and Niall Higgins, who made some
fantastic blocks and when he stopped
Ronan Murtagh in his tracks deep in the
second half it relly signalled
Annaclone’s intent. Aidan Fegan finished
the game off with two frees to leave 8
points between the sides at the end of
play.
The full back line was immense
throughout, with Paddy Byrne keeping
right from the goalmouth, and the half
back line foraged well at the end of the
match, with Pete McColgan keeping Ronan
Murtagh very quiet. Martin McAleenan and
Brendan McArdle won a huge amount of
ball in the middle of the park and were
well supported by the half forward line.
Up front Paul Byrne and Martin Farrell
ran Ballyholland ragged and John Fegan
caused the visitors a lot of problems on
the edge of the square.
This week Annaclone travel to
Ballymartin on Thursday night, throw in
at 7.15pm.
Team: P Byrne, N Higgins, G McArdle, E
McGivern, C McConville, P McColgan, T
Pyers, M McAleenan, B McArdle (1-1), C
Fegan (0-3), J Fegan, S Pyers, P Byrne
(0-2), A Fegan (1-3) and M Farrell
(0-2). Subs: O Pyers for SP, S Byrne for
PB, D McCusker for CF, K McNeill, S
Quinn, B Fegan, M Wallace and B McGivern.
