ACFL Div 2: Clanna Banna
1-06 Annaclone 1-16
Annaclone came out on top
away to near neighbours Clanna Banna
last Monday night. A huge crowd
converged on Cottage Park, the largest
gate seen in many years. The ‘clone drew
first blood with points from Gary Byrne,
Brendan McArdle and Martin Farrell. Just
when it looked like Annaclone might pull
away, Colin Gribben fisted a cross field
ball to the back of the net to level the
game. Colm Fegan and Stephen McArdle
exchanged points before Annaclone
stepped the tempo up with 5 unanswered
points before half time, 3 from Aidan
Fegan and 2 from Colm Fegan.
Brian McGivern had to be
alert to keep Banbridge at bay just
before half time and keep 5 between the
teams at the interval. Colm and Aidan
Fegan exchanged free kicks with Rory
Hill and Jonny Burns at the start of the
half but disaster struck for the Bann
when Jonny Burns got his marching orders
for an of the ball incident. Annaclone
responded with 3 scores from Martin
McAleenan, Colm Fegan and Colm Farrell.
Clanna Banna then responded with 3
points of their own from Brian Donaghy,
Rory Gillan and Paddy Feeney, but they
couldn’t break through for that illusive
goal to close the gap, mainly due to a
fine performance from Gary McArdle at
full back.
The frustration began to
show on the home team, and when Michael
Kennedy was dismissed for dissent it was
all but over. Aidan Fegan grabbed
another two points before Paul Byrne put
his brother Gary through for a goal in
the dying minutes.
Team: B McGivern, K
McNeill, G McArdle, E McGivern,
C McConville, P McColgan, T Pyers, M
McAleenan (0-1), B McArdle (0-1), C
Fegan (0-5), C Farrell (0-1), G Byrne
(1-1), Paul Byrne, A Fegan (0-6) & M
Farrell (0-1). Subs used: M Wallace for
K McNeill, J Fegan for E McGivern, G
Fegan, S Byrne, O Pyers & M McNeill.
