Gowna hold on for a one point win

ACFL Division 1

Mullahoran 1-16

Gowna 2-14

It was Gowna who claimed the points in their tightly contested derby with Mullahoran at Our Lady of Lourdes Park last Friday. The home side were under the management of Daniel Smith and Tommy Maguire after the midweek departure of manager Shane McCabe. Both sides entered the game with five points on the board and sitting midtable, so there was more than just local bragging rights on offer.

The Dreadnoughts got off to a strong start with an Enda O’Reilly free quickly followed by a point from Fionnan O’Reilly after just one minute. Two attacking marks for the visitors from Conor Casey and Robbie Fitzpatrick levelled matters with the clock reading five minutes.

A free at either end from Enda O’Reilly and Robbie Fitzpatrick maintained equilibrium momentarily as Mullahoran were about to hit a purple patch. Centre forward Tom Harten edged the home side in front before Ryan O’Reilly doubled their lead with a well taken point.

Two points from the in-form Fionnan O’Reilly on the 14th and 17th minutes saw Mullahoran extend their lead to four. Gowna needed to change the momentum of the game and once Daire Madden sent over his first of the evening on the 19th minute his confidence was in and ready to add more. Two more Madden points and one from Robbie Fitzpatrick levelled the sides for the third time with four minutes remaining in the half.

A converted ’45 from Cormac O’Reilly was cancelled out at the other end by a TJ Fitzpatrick effort and on the 30th minute Conor Casey split the posts for the second time to give the visitors a one-point lead at the break.

At the start of the second half Gowna caught Mullahoran napping and punished them with an Aaron Brady goal. Once awake Mullahoran hit three points in a-row from Cormac O’Reilly(2) and Enda O’Reilly leaving just a point between the teams.

Adding to his three first half points, a little bit of luck fell Daire Madden’s way as his shot ended up in the Mullahoran net with nine second half minutes played. A well taken Cormac O’Reilly point and a mark converted by TJ Fitzpatrick followed by a Robbie Fitzpatrick free meant Gowna held a five point lead entering the final quarter.

The remainder of the game was end to end football starting with an Enda O’Reilly free being cancelled out by Daire Madden’s fourth point. With eight minutes remaining Mullahoran’s battling quality paid off thanks to a Fionnan O’Reilly goal closing the gap to two points.

Two Mullahoran points from Enda O’Reilly(free) and Ryan O’Reilly were balanced by Aaron Brady and Daire Madden as the game entered injury-time. Two minutes into injury-time an Enda O’Reilly free left the minimum between the sides and Mullahoran went in search of an equaliser. Winning possession they were awarded a free but with the last shot of the game Cormac O’Reilly’s effort went wide of the mark.

Mullahoran: Evan Byrne, James Coyle, Darren Sheils, James Reilly, Cormac McKeogh, Sean McKeogh, Daithi Sheils, Caolain O’Reilly, Cormac O’Reilly(0-4,1f,1’45), Ryan O’Reilly(0-2), Gavin Brady, Tom Harten(0-1), Eddie Dalton, Enda O’Reilly(0-6,5f), Fionnan O’Reilly(1-3). Subs: Jason Donohoe, Cormac Galligan.

Gowna: Ronan Bannon, Fionnan Brady, James Madden, Cormac Brady, Oisin Fleming, Mark McKeever, Sean Hartin, Robbie Fitzpatrick(0-4,2f,1m), Aaron Brady(1-1), TJ Fitzpatrick(0-2,1m), Daire Madden(1-5), DJ Madden, Ryan Madden, Conor Casey(0-2,1m), Darragh McConnon. Subs used: Shane Hartin, Ryan Brady, Mark Brady.