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Aghaloo Cruise Into Last Eight
Saturday 31.08.2024
Aghaloo showed just why they are many people’s favourites for the Junior Championship this season with a superb second half display and a comprehensive win over neighbours and rivals Eskra. Goals are usually big scores in championship matches and Aghaloo’s ability to create goal scoring chances was one of the main factors in their 5-13 to 0-11 win. Indeed had they shown a bit more composure in possession they could have won by an even greater margin.
Aghaloo’s first half profligacy meant there was little between the sides on the scoreboard as numerous goal scoring chances were spurned or blasted wide. The opening half of the game was pacy and competitive at times but lacked composure and quality finishing.
The teams were level on four occasions during that first half and with five minutes of the opening period remaining only a single point separated them as Aghaloo led 1-4 to 0-6. Man of the match James O’Hara (1-1), Tiernan Donnelly (0-2) and Ruairi Mc Glone with the early scores for the border men while Eskra kept themselves in the contest with points from Joe Mc Carroll (2), Cormac Hughes, (2) Connor O’Hagan and Aaron Kelly.
The game changed completely with seconds left in the half and Aghaloo 1-4 to 0-6 ahead. Match referee Mickey Kelly awarded a penalty to Aghaloo following an incident in the square and scoring machine Niall Mc Elroy dispatched it to the back of the net to send his team in at the break leading 2-4 to 0-6.
Buoyed by that score Aghaloo came out with the shackles off and hit 2-4 inside the opening six minutes of the second half as goals from Jody and Ruairi Mc Glone plus points (3) from Tiernan Donnelly put the game beyond the reach of the Emmetts. A Joe Mc Carroll free gave his side some brief respite but there was no stopping Aghaloo. Another O’Hara point and his team’s fifth goal from the fleet footed Tiernan Donnelly left the score 5-9 to 0-7 midway through the second half.
Both sides added four points to their match totals during the remaining minutes with Joe Mc Carroll, Cathal Meegan, Luke Kelly and Paul Shiels on target for Eskra while Donnelly, O’Hara, Ruairi Mc Glone and Niall Mc Elroy chipped in with points for Aghaloo. The game as a contest was over long before the final whistle as Mickey Donnelly’s side cruised to a 5-13 to 0-11 win.
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