Monday, 20 May 2013

Aidan’s dig deep to grind out win

George Bannon IFC

St. Aidan’s 2-12

Kilglass Gaels 1-6

St Aidan’s are the favourites to win the Roscommon IFC this year, but they had to produce a good second half display to overcome a spirited Kilglass Gaels in this well contested championship tie played in Knockcroghery last Saturday evening.

Kilglass were the better side early on but once St Aidan’s got going in the second half they stormed to victory. Kilglass broke fast from the traps at the start of the game. After Johnny Coyne opened the scoring for Aidan’s, Kilglass went on to score 1-3 without reply.

Points from Kevin Feeney and David Nugent saw Kilglass into the lead. Barry Conroy then scored a well-worked goal and a pointed free from Roger Hogan saw Kilglass ahead by five points.

But Aidan’s started to play after that. Terence Kelly and Keith Waldron scored fine points to get them back into the game and then towards half time John Rogerson scored an opportunist goal to tie up the scores. A David Feeney point in injury time saw Kilglass ahead at half time by 1-4 to 1-3.

But there was only one team in the game in the second half as Aidan’s took over. Points from Johnny Coyne, Terence Kelly and the very impressive David Hoey saw them lead by two after seven minutes.

Then Aidan’s got their second goal when Seanie Higgins’ shot rebounded off a post and sub Martin Connolly scored from close range.

Aidan’s were on a roll now and they scored four more points without reply. Two points from David Feeney were of consolation value only for Kilglass Gaels and Aidan’s finished with points from Terence Kelly and Keith Waldron.

St Aidan’s: M Kenny; C Dowd S Byrne J Coyle; A Higgins (0-1) E Mulry J Moran; J Kenny D Hoey (0-1); F Coyne J Coyne (0-2) K Waldron (0-2); T Kelly (0-6) M Mc Laughlin J Rogerson (1-0). Subs: M Connolly (1-0) for Mc Loughlin, S Higgins for F Coyne, P Neary for Rogerson, Ml Connolly for Dowd, E Rogerson for J Coyne.

Kilglass Gaels: C Duffy; D Mahon L Cox R Gearty; D Nugent (0-1) D Cox R Dooner; T Cox D Conellan; B Conroy (1-0) T Diffley C Diffley; R Hogan (0-1) K Feeney (0-4) G Tully. Subs: U Flynn for Hogan, S Farrell for Nugent.

Referee: Vivian Hardiman.