Excellent Personal Returns Illuminated Some Dull Games.

Monday 29.08.2011

Club

Gaelic football is very much a team sport and the honours that really matter are won and lost as a team. However there are occasions when individual performances or feats are worthy of mention and can make a trip to a match worthwhile. Well that was certainly the case during the weekend’s championship games where spectators were treated to some fine scoring displays which lit up what was for the most part some rather forgetful games.
The fun began on Friday night when Eoin Mc Cusker of Dromore ran the Moy defence ragged on his way to a personal scoring return of 1-7. Indeed the pacy corner forward could well have hit another four of five points but for some wayward shooting when well positioned. Following on from the Dromore man’s impressive scoring we were then treated to an exhibition of strong running, accurate free taking and fine finishing from Coalisland’s Paddy Mc Neice as he led the Killyclogher defence a merry dance on his way to a personal tally of eight points. That haul accounted for exactly half his team’s total on the night and was hugely impressive shooting for such a young player.
The fine run of scoring continued on Saturday as Galbally’s Declan Murphy caused havoc all afternoon in the Strabane rearguard. The recently returned Murphy was on fire in Loughmacrory hitting five points from play in the opening thirty minutes as his side gave the Sigersons a lesson in team play and finishing. The flying forward only added a further point in the second half but was the shining light on what was a fairly poor, but high scoring game.
Four games took place on Sunday at two venues and once again it was the individual returns that caught the eye as Srephen Donaghy of Loughmacrory displayed skill and finesse to land 2-3 and created his team’s third goal as well. Later on that evening Eskra’s Peter Hughes was the name on most people’s lips as he produced an excellent display of creating and finishing moves. The bustling wing forward, just back from America scored nine points in all with right and left foot and two with the fist to cap a superb display for his team.
So while it was not always high quality football on view over the weekend and some games disappointedly lacked a championship feel, the individual showings of the four players above made the trips to the matches more than worthwhile.