Saturday 30th March

2002 Intermediate League

Aughnasheelin 2-06 Fenagh St. Caillins 0-07

Fenagh St. Caillins kicked of the 2002 Intermediate league against Aughnasheelin on Saturday last in Pairc Sean. This was to be our first competitive meeting with Aughnasheelin since defeating their second team in the Junior Division 4 league final back in 1998. This game was approached cautiously, it being Fenagh St. Caillins first experience of playing in the Intermediate ranks since the first team was promoted back in 1981. Playing against a strong Aughnasheelin first team rumor was that they would win easily. As it turned out the game was a tough and tight affair with Aughnasheelin emerging very lucky winners by five points. Major talking points of the game were undoubtedly the two goals conceded by Fenagh. The first occured early into the game when a mix up in the Fenagh defense gifted Aughnasheelin with their first, the second and most cruel occured with approximately 10 mins to go, a solitary point separating the teams with Aughnasheelin in front. Fenagh goalkeeper Anthony Gill took his kickout, with the ball in the air Fenaghs T.P. McLoughlin advanced to contest the ball with Aughnasheelins Niall Murray, he was then incredibly obstructed by the Referee, Aughnasheelin than won the ball freely and was kicked in to Aughnasheelin full-forward Sean Mahon whom buried it into the Fenagh net. The heart seemed to go in Fenagh and Aughnasheelin held on for the win. Fenagh St. Caillins will look on this game with regret, had we taken our chances we would have won the game and gained two valuable points but the rustiness of the first game of the year was clear to see.

Fenagh will be happy with the return of Bobby O'Rourke and Caillian McLoughlin, Bobby had a tremendous game at center-back and Caillian also cleaned up at full forward, although I think he's still kicking as a defender, no doubt that will improve. The old reliable T.P. McLoughlin played well at midfield, he was telling me Monday morning that his arms were sore, I'm not surprised with all the high fielding he was doing throughout the game. Center-forward Donal Leydon was all over the pitch and scored some nice points with both right and left feet. Peter Honeyman and Anthony Gill also had good games. It was great to see Johnny McGovern back, sorely missed during the latter part of last year, its as if the puzzle is complete with him back from injury. Good luck to Aughnasheelin in the rest of the league.

C. Redican


Aughnasheelin win derby battle

SCORE BOARD

Aughnasheelin ....... 2-6 St. Caillin’s .......... 0-7

Aughnasheelin opened their Masonite Division Two campaign with a hard local derby fought win over neighbours Fenagh St. Caillin’s in Fenagh last Sunday morning.

Sean Mahon got the first score of the game from a free before Aughnasheelin capitalised on a bad mistake from Fenagh when an attempted back pass to keeper back-fired and Niall Murray nipped in to hammer the ball to the net.

Donal Leydon and Sean Mahon twice swapped points before Killian McLoughlin finished the scoring for the half with a Fenagh point to leave Aughnasheelin leading by 1-3 to 0-3 at halftime.

The second half saw Fenagh step up the pace with two quick points from Donal Leydon but Sean Mahon settled his side with a free. Again the Fenagh defence was caught napping when Niall Murray made a great catch and found Mahon with a great pass and the Aughnasheelin gave keeper Anthony Gill no chance.

Paul Conefrey replied for Fenagh with a point but Mahon again cancelled the score and then added another. Conefrey had the last score of the game with a point as Aughnasheelin ran out five point winners.

It was a great result for Aughnasheelin who lined out without their County Minors Gavin & Barry McWeeney and Wayne Gilgunn while they also lost two players through injury during the course of the game.

Aughnasheelin

Martin McHugh, Vincent Cull, Ray Flynn, Kevin Cull, Derek Moran, Richard McManus, Sean Tubman, Peter Roddy, Damien Flynn, Niall Murray, Brendan Sammon, Conor Flynn, Ollie Mahon, Sean Mahon, Shane McNulty. Subs: Brendan Kellegher for K. Cull, Tommy Tubman for McNulty.

St. Caillin’s

Anthony Gill, Noel O’Rourke, Ciaran Redican, Shane O’Rourke, Peter Honeyman, Bobby O’Rourke, Johnny McGovern, T.P. McLoughlin, Gerry Butler, Sean Logan, Donal Leydon, Paul Conefrey, Kenneth Kilkenny, Killian McLoughlin, Daragh Barden. Sub:

Eamon Tubman for S. O’Rourke.

Ref: S. Heron.


Leitrim observer