Annaghdown claim Galway SFC Group Four top spot after draw with Oughterard
ANNAGHDOWN’S 2-15 to 1-18 draw with Oughterard on Sunday evening in Pearse Stadium was enough for them to finish top of Group Four in the Galway Senior Football Championship.
With the sides level entering injury time, Annaghdown opted to retain possession for the final four minutes. It was risky, but they denied Oughterard the chance to turn them over and avoided defeat. That was enough to secure top spot in Group Four and for Annaghdown to advance directly into the last eight, despite Tuam Stars beating St James in the other game.
The experience of James Healy, Michael Naughton, Darragh Meehan, Johnny Creaven, Diarmuid Kilcommins and Damien Comer has been crucial to the Annaghdown squad, while manager O’Brien has also introduced a number of players from last year’s U19 team that narrowly missed out on a North Board final.
Oughterard, meanwhile, have bounced back impressively since their opening-round defeat to Tuam Stars in Group Four. Niall Lee, brothers Cian and Ryan Monaghan, and James Webb all impressed for the west Galway outfit.
Diarmuid Kilcommins, Ethan Forde, Cathal Heavey, Damien Comer and Stephen Curley delivered big performances for the men in maroon and white.
Kilcommins opened the scoring with an excellent two-pointer into the breeze before Cathal Heavey pushed Annaghdown 0-3 to 0-1 ahead after six minutes. Oughterard responded through two Niall Lee scores to level after 15 minutes.
Annaghdown had chances to regain the lead, with Stephen Curley denied by Oughterard goalkeeper Ciaran Noone, while efforts from Kilcommins and Olan Kelly drifted wide. Curley then dropped a shot short before Eoin Reddington raced into the square and punched the ball to the net. Curley followed with a close-range free to put Annaghdown 1-4 to 0-3 ahead after 18 minutes.
Oughterard refused to fade, with Eric Lee’s two-pointer and another Niall Lee score reducing the deficit to one. Heavey and Creaven responded to restore Annaghdown’s three-point advantage.
Diamruid Lee’s charges then began to take control, with Matthew Tierney converting a free off the deck before Cian Monaghan and Ciaran Noone put them ahead for the second time. Damien Comer replied with a free on the stroke of half-time to leave the sides level at 1-7 to 0-10.
Annaghdown made a strong start to the second half, outscoring Oughterard 1-4 to 0-1. Eoin Newell showed great composure to finish past Noone and Annaghdown led 2-10 to 0-11 after 45 minutes.
Oughterard rallied again, with Cian Monaghan, James Webb and a long-range free from Noone reducing the gap to three with nine minutes remaining.
Eric Lee then burst through the Annaghdown defence and struck the crossbar, with Niall Lee reacting quickest to fire the rebound past James Healy. Tierney followed with a superb two-pointer to put the men in green and white 1-16 to 2-11 ahead.
The Group Four table toppers refused to panic. Comer was fouled, allowing Curley to tap over, before goalkeeper Healy stepped up to convert a two-point free and 45, putting Annaghdown 2-14 to 1-16 ahead after 59 minutes.
Oughterard’s ability to score two-pointers has been a feature of their championship campaign and Ryan Monaghan landed their fourth of the evening to level the contest for the fourth time on 60 minutes.
Both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils, with Annaghdown now facing a four-week wait until the quarter-finals. Oughterard, meanwhile, will look to book their place in the last eight when they face Dunmore MacHales in the preliminary quarter-final.
ANNAGHDOWN: J Healy (0-3, tpf, 0-1 45); J Creaven (0-1), M Naughton, R Duggan; O Kelly, D Hegarty, D Meehan; J McDonnell, D Kilcommins (0-3, tp); E Reddington (1-0), C Heavey (0-2), E Forde; E Newell (1-0), D Comer (0-1, 0-1f), S Curley (0-5, 0-4f). SUBS: R Sheridan for Hegarty (49), C Quinn for Heavey (55), R Gleeson for Reddington (57), J Lynn for McDonnell (60).
OUGHTERARD: C Noone (0-3, tpf, 0-1f); K Noone, J Webb (0-1), P Gibbons; E O’Sullivan, C Forde (0-1), A Tierney; M Tierney (0-3, tp, 0-1f), C Donoghue; C Monaghan (0-2), R Monaghan (0-3, tp), J Lowry; E Lee (0-2, tp), P Walsh, N Lee (1-3, 0-1f). SUBS: D Kenny for Donoghue (49), Cormac Forde for Colin Forde (49).
REFEREE: James Molloy (Salthill Knocknacarra).