St Davog’s Advance

Saturday 07.09.2019

Championship Football

Aghyaran 1-12 Augher 0-10

Aghyaran will play Galbally in the last eight of the LCC Intermediate championship after they had five points to spare over Augher at Plunkett Park in Pomeroy on Saturday afternoon.

Aghyaran were the better side in the first half but Augher stayed in touch and there were only two points between them at then break. Ethan McHugh opened the scoring in the 2^nd minute with a tremendous effort with the outside of his boot from the left wing before Augher levelled through Dara Donnelly. Either side of that Donnelly score the St.Macartans posted three wides.

Wing half back Ryan Hilley then joined the attack to put the St.Davogs back in front after a dozen minutes before a Benny Gallen “45” left it 0-3 to 0-1 at the end of the opening quarter. Augher though were beginning to come into the game and full forward and leading scorer Darragh Kavanagh levelled matters with a well taken brace from play.

In the 19^th minute Aghyaran regained the lead when centre half forward Paddy McNulty rose highest to get on the end of a Gallen free to fist the ball over the bar and moments later Augher keeper Dwayne Connolly was forced into tipping a rasping shot from Brian Penrose over. Centre half back Finbar McQuaid then charged forward for an inspirational score as Augher closed the gap. Two Gallen frees stretched Aghyaran’s advantage to three before Martin McElhatton had the final say to leave it 0-7 to 0-5 at the short whistle.

Halftime substitute Conor Hackett narrowed the gap thirty five seconds after the restart before Aghyaran keeper Niall Hilley made a great save to deny Aiden McElroy a goal. Moments later though McElroy levelled matters with a well taken point. A Gallen free than gave the St.Davogs a lead that they were never to lose before the only goal of the game arrived in the 39^th minute. Brian Penrose and Paddy McNulty were involved in the build up with Cathal Browne sending a rocket to the top left hand corner of the net that gave keeper Dwayne Connolly no chance.

Gallen then knocked over a “45” as the winners moved five clear, 1-9 to 0-7. Augher were in trouble but they rallied to reduce the deficit to a single score thanks to efforts from Raymond and Aiden McElroy. They failed to score again though as a close in free from Gallen was followed by one from play from the same player, his 8^th of the contest.