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Aghaloo Upset the Odds to Oust Aghyaran
Saturday 22.08.2020
LCC Group Tyrone IFC
Aghaloo 3-9 Ahyaran 1-8
Mickey Donnelly admitted as much after the dust had settled. Aghaloo came into the game as outsiders. Few people outside the panel offered them any hope of overcoming an Aghyaran side that had made a wonderful start to the league campaign and were scoring points for fun.
The fun ended early on at Healy Park last night as Aghaloo bounced out of the blocks and led 1-2 to no score after just three minutes. Ruairi McGlone was on the scoresheet inside 20 seconds with a point and followed that up with a well taken goal in the 3rd minute following a poor kickout from Benny Gallen in the Aghyaran goals. Tiarnan Donnelly struck again with a point only a few seconds later much to the appreciation of the Aghaloo supporters in the main stand.
Ronan McHugh has been Aghyaran’s top scorer this season but it was another McHugh, Ethan that finally got the St Davog’s men going in the 6th minute with a point from play. The same player followed that up with his second point in the 10th to leave Aghyaran trailing by a goal. Benny Gallen landed a long range free two minutes later to narrow the gap to two points. Aghaloo dug deep and responded with a point of their own from Jody McGlone. Aghaloo appeared comfortable at that point but following the water break Aghyaran found new life and they capitalised.
First Ronan McNamee landed an excellent long range point, before Ronan McHugh hit a point from play and as the seconds ticked towards the half time break he pounced again for a brilliantly taken goal to leave the half time score Aghyaran 1-6 Aghaloo 1-5.
Mickey Donnelly’s half time words produced a storming second half display from Aghaloo. They quickly got the scores level through a Niall McElroy free and pushed on with further points from Stewart Douglas, Ruairi McGlone and McElroy again. Aghayan midfielder Paddy McNulty responded with a point from play and then found himself sitting on the sideline seconds later following a black card which came after an earlier yellow card infraction.
Aghyaran threw caution to the wind and ultimately that’s what cost them in the end. Benny Gallen was caught way outside the box for Aghaloo goal number two as Ruari McGlone palmed the ball to an empty net. A point from Connor Mullen eased them further ahead and great defending from Caolan Boyle and Padraig McGeary won important turnover ball for Aghaloo.
Another Gallen free, only Aghyaran’s second and last score of the second half, offered some light for Aghyaran but that light was firmly extinguished as Niall McElroy side footed his goal in the final minutes following another unsuccessful excursion from goalkeeper Gallen.
Final Score – Aghaloo 3-9 Aghyaran 1-8
Aghaloo Scorers – Ruairi McGlone 2-2, Niall McElroy 1-3, Jody McGlone 0-1, Tiarnan Donnelly 0-1, Stewart Douglas 0-1, Connor Mullen 0-1
Aghyaran Scorers – Ronan McHugh 1-2, Benny Gallen 0-2, Ethan McHugh 0-2. Paddy McNulty 0-1, Ronan McNamee 0-1
Referee – Cathal Bell (Killeeshil)
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