17th March 2006 - County Minor Football League in Cromane

St. Mary's 0-11 V 2-07 Annscaul

St. Mary’s Minors took a knock at the first fence on Friday evening last when they were defeated by Annascual in the first round of the County Minor Football league in a bitterly cold Cromane. St. Mary’s playing with the wind in the opening half  went in at the break 2 points to the good, but a magnificent second half from Annascaul killed off a spirited Mary’s side.

It took the sides 8 minutes to break the deadlock, and Paul O’Donoghue was the man to do it, when he split the Annascaul defence in two and pointed from 25m, O’Donoghue turned provider 5 minutes later when he won the kick out and put Sean Cournane in front of the post to double his sides advantage, while Cournane added a second 4 minutes later when captain Vinny Moriarty assisted him. Annascaul finally mustered their first attack of the game and in doing so Stephen Pierce put Kevin Greensmith in front of goal and he sipped the ball to the back of the net to level the game. St. Mary’s retaliated in fine form adding three more points from play coming from Vinny Moriarty, Sean Cournane and Michael O’Shea. Annascaul then managed only their second shot on goal after 27 minutes and in doing so Aidan Creen punished the Mary’s defence as he drew the game level with a long range goal. The Mary’s added two points before the break the first a great effort from Paul O’Donoghue and a free from Sean Cournane to leave the half time score St. Mary’s 0-8 Annascaul 2-0.

Annascaul started the second half brighter with the wind advantage when Shane Horgan pulled off a great save from Eoin O’Neill, but within a minute O’Neill made up for it with a pointed 45’. The west Kerry charge were now dominating all over while the Mary’s had trouble getting the ball past the half way line, Annascaul added points from Shane Foley, a cracking point from Aidan Creen and after winning the kick out Eoin O’Neill was on target again. St. Mary’s finally found range as Mark McGillicuddy added his sides first of the second half, but to no avail as O’Neill and Creen added points each for Annascaul, while Paul O’Donoghue added two final points, but these came too late as O’Neill again rounded the game off with a point to leave the final score St. Mary’s 0-11 Annascaul 2-07.

St. Mary’s will rue missed chance in the first half where they kicked 11 wides with the wind while still scoring 8 points, they will play Skellig Rangers next in this competition, who this weekend overcame an under strength Reenard side.