Ahane 2-8 Fr.Casey’s 0-13
Ahane grabbed victory from the jaws of defeat with a great second half fightback to overturn an eight point deficit and win by a solitary point against a gallant Fr. Casey’s team this evening. Fr. Casey’s led by six points at the interval, then stretched it to eight entering the final twenty minutes before Ahane clawed there way back courtesy of two converted penalties to emerge winners on a final score 2-8 to 0-13.
Ahane started the first hand quite well but fluffed two chances before Evan O’Neill got them off the mark with a fine point from play. Fr. Casey’s leveled matters within minutes. William Shanahan was then fouled on the thirty and Dan Morrissey converted the resultant free to restore Ahanes one point advantage. From then on it was pretty much all Fr. Casey’s as they dominated the midfield battle and their half backs drove at Ahane. They quickly leveled matters with a fine point from play, then took the lead with a converted free and then went on to score a further six points from play as Ahane struggled to secure possession from their own kick-outs. Ahane interupted this scoring spree with a solitary point from a free by Dan Morrissey when William Shanahan was fouled. Half time 0-9 to 0-3 to the men from Abbeyfeale.
Ahane needed to get a good start in the second half but again stuttered in attack. Fr. Casey’s countered and drew two quick frees in succession which were successfully converted to give them a commanding eight point lead. Ahane began to win more of the midfield exchanges and the introduction of Barry Neville to corner forward at the break began to pay dividends. The first glimmer of hope came when Ahanes Barry Neville converted a penalty after Evan O’Neill was pulled to the ground in front of goal. James O Mara made a brave save form the kick but Barry followed up to knock the rebound to the net. Evan O’Neill then followed up with another minor from play within five minutes to reduce the deficit to four and suddenly Ahane were back in this game. Minutes later Dan Morrissey converted a free to leave them trailing by just three points with fifteen minutes to go. Casey’s rallied and were rewarded with a good point from play but Ahane were now commanding the middle and quick ball into the full forward line yielded yet another penalty. Evan ‘coolness personified’ O’ Neill stepped up to slot it home to leave Ahane trailing by just the one. Ian Mooney now playing a stormer at wing forward won the resultant kick-out, passed to Brian O’ Keeffe who then laid it off to William Shanahan who converted and the sides were level. Two minutes later Iain Mooney secured possession, then went on a searing run thru the Casey’s defence and scored a point to give Ahane the lead with four minutes remaining. Bary Neville followed this up two minutes later to extend the lead to two. Fr. Casey’s never gave up and were rewarded with the final point of the match before the referee blew full time to give Ahane an unlikely one point victory on a score-line 2-8 to 0-13.
Team Lineout: John Hourigan made a vital save in the first half to keep Ahane in the game, Ryan McAuley, Richard Ryan and Brian O’Keeffe gradually took control in the full-back line. Michael Ryan, Alan Cuneen and Seamus Hartnett had a torrid time in the first half as wave after wave of attack came through the Casey’s midfield. They finished strong though. Dan Morrissey (0-3 frees) and Larry Hanley had a mixed evening in midfield, they dominated for most of the second period but struggled to gain any meaningful possession in the first half. Our half forward line Sean Moran, William Shanahan (0-1) and Ian Mooney (0-1) also struggled in the opening half but fared much better in the second with Iain Mooney in particular dominating and leading the Ahane comeback. Connor McNamara, Paul Fanning and Evan O’Neill ( 1-2) made up the full forward line and were a handful for the Casey’s fullback line when in possession. Andrew Minihan, Barry Neville (1-1) and David Marsden were able replacements on the night with Barry coming in at half time for Connor McNamara and David coming on for Sean Moran midway thru the second half. Next outing is against Mungret Friday Aug. 20th.
