Moycullen living dangerously but manage to shade verdict

Annaghdown 1-11

Mike Rafferty at Pearse Stadium

WHEN champions are under pressure and the opportunity arises to take advantage of their plight, you have to take them and that in part tells the story from this senior football championship Group 3 contest at Pearse Stadium on Sunday

Having also edged out Claregalway by a single point margin in the first round, Moycullen looked to have some authority about them for a long spell in the opening half, but the concession of a goal just before the break left them just a point up at the interval.

Then for a time on the resumption, Annaghdown stepped it up a few gears and took the lead for the first time in the game, but inexplicably just seemed to take the foot off the gas and let Moycullen back into it. It was their time, but they let the opportunity slip.

Annaghdown made four second half changes were made to freshen matters up, but there was no instant reward. Gradually, Moycullen responded to the challenge presented and a Neil Mulcahy goal was a reward for them hanging in there and when Conor Bohan got their last point of the game on 55 minutes, they had opened up a four point gap.

In a nervous closing ten minutes, they needed it all as the North Galway side scored the last three points of the game and despite forcing the pace, came up just short. For the duration, this was like a chess match. It was typical of the modern game where possession and the hand pass are good and kicking is a lost art.

Both sides had their fair share of turnovers, but at times the game cried out for a long delivery to the inside line where specialists like Dessie Conneely and Frankie Burke might have thrived on a supply in the vast space available.

While Annaghadown had their chance, Moycullen looked a more poised outfit and while they maybe dropped off the pace for a spell, they displayed a calmness and control in their recovery. Overall, it was a merited win, but they must be concerned at only scoring 1-3 (0-2 frees) in the second half.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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