The
Reserve footballers got the season
off to a promising start with
a narrow but deserved victory
in Saval. Our team was made up
mostly of minors and thirds with
only about four recognised seconds
players available due to senior
commitments. Saval included several
senior players.
Redmond
Cunningham opened the scoring
blazing over a point and Ruairi
Doran soloed in for another before
Conor Sloan placed Paddy Cole
for a goal. Though Noel Mc Ardle
added another point Saval were
coming more into the game and
five successive scores left the
minimum in it, 1:3 to 0:5.Then
Damian Sherrys shot came back
off the post and Conor Sloan reacted
quickest to poach a goal. However
by the break the lead was down
to the minimum 2:3 to 0:8.
Though
Noel Mc Ardle got the first score
of the second half, Saval shot
into the lead with a Stephen Sands
goal after an acrobatic save from
Gavin Finnegan had kept out his
first attempt. Noel levelled with
a free before Paul Greenan restored
Savals lead and then Sands latched
onto a poor kickout to bury a
second Saval goal. Four points
down An Riocht showed great fight
to come back. Again Sloan did
the approach work for Cole to
goal and Redmond squeezed over
a point. Saval weren’t done
however and two more points from
Vincent Sands with time running
out looked to have won them the
game.
Doran
pulled back a point to leave one
in it. Sub Paddy Cunningham won
the kickout played the ball in
high, Sloan got under it and knocked
it to Doran who deftly placed
the ball wide of the keeper for
our fourth goal. Mc Ardle fired
over on the kick out and we were
a goal to the good. Back came
Saval deep into added time but
Haverns high ball was ferociously
punched away by Finnegan and full
time was blown.
So
an encouraging start, but no doubt
harder games lie ahead starting
with the visit of Liatroim on
Sunday. Thanks to all the players
who turned out, attempts are being
made to arrange a Thirds game
on Sunday also to ensure everyone
gets a game.
Team:
G Finnegan B Maginn S Clarke S
Mc Ardle C Flanagan (capt) A O’Hanlon
C Mc Veigh D Sherry Conor Walsh
M Taylor R Doran P Cole N Mc Ardle
C Sloan R Cunningham.
Subs R Mc Cartan W Morris N Curran
P Cunningham D Morgan E Binks
P Cousins M Small.
