Macroom take step towards PIFC knockout stages with impressive win over Aghada
Mark Corrigan in action for Macroom. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Macroom are back in business after a thoroughly deserved victory over Aghada in this Premier Intermediate Football Championship game played at Ovens.
This was a huge game for both sides as all four teams in this group drew their opening games. But in truth, Macroom were dominant from start to finish with a superb team performance.
Defensively John Murphy was magnificent while Tony Dineen dominated the midfield exchanges. Upfront Pa Lucey was unerring from placed efforts while Alan Quinn sealed the victory with an individual performance of 1-4.
Aghada registered the opening score of this game with a fine score from Tim Hartnett after an excellent probing run from Diarmuid Phelan. Macroom had plenty of possession in the opening exchanges and they had a glorious goal chance after Eolan O’Leary put Dylan Twomey through but his shot went inches wide.
Macroom, who played with a decent breeze, opened their account after a speculative effort from Pa Lucey which bounced over the bar for a two-point score. The Muskerry side were dominating possession in the opening quarter with Tony Dineen landing a second two-point effort from distance. A brilliant individual score from Alan Quinn increased their lead, 0-5 to 0-1 after 15 minutes.
Aghada gave themselves a lifeline with a couple of well-taken scores from Tim Hartnett and Diarmuid Phelan. But Macroom responded with the score of the game, a superb two-pointer from corner-back John Murphy, 0-9 to 0-3 at halftime.
On resumption, Macroom stormed forward and a Pa Lucey placed effort extended their advantage. Aghada replied with a lovely point from Jamie O’Hanlon, who clipped over from an acute angle.
Lucey has always been a prolific free taker and he converted a superb effort from a really acute angle into the breeze. Another excellent effort from Alan Quinn gave Macroom a significant lead, 0-12 to 0-4 after 40 minutes.
Macroom were defending brilliantly also and snuffed out numerous Aghada attacks with the aforementioned John Murphy and Rory Buckley clearing their lines with confidence. Lucey kept up his excellent kicking to land another free. The victory was well and truly sealed when Quinn back-heeled to the net after an excellent pass from Oisin O’Sullivan.
As always, Aghada battled to the end and a super shot from corner-forward Jamie O’Hanlon was brilliantly stopped by Macroom goalkeeper Declan Kiely.
It was one of those nights for the East Cork side where absolutely nothing went right. Another late effort from O’Hanlon hit the post to add to their frustrations.
However, they did get the final scores of the game when Cian Hegarty landed a 45 while substitute Diarmuid Bryne landed a two-point score on the stroke of full-time.
Aghada will have to regroup now as they face Castletownbere in their final group game which looks a tough assignment.
The Macroom faithful were relieved with the result here but they showed tremendous character all over the field and will hope to build on this team performance when they face Kiskeam hoping to progress to the knockout stages having escaped relegation last season.
There has been huge work going on at underage level at the Macroom club and this emphatic victory will be a real boost to everyone after a number of frustrating seasons at this grade.
P Lucey 0-7 (1 2pt f, 0-3 f), A Quinn 1-4, Tony Dineen (1 2pt), J Murphy (1 2pt) 0-2 each.
D Byrne (1 2pt), T Hartnett, J O’Hanlon 0-2 each, D Phelan, C Hegarty (45) 0-1 each.
D Kiely; J Murphy, R Buckley, R Sabas; M Cronin, M Corrigan, A Quinn, T Dineen; C Dineen; D Creedon, S Kiely, E O’Leary; P Lucey, D Twomey, O O’Sullivan.
D Horgan for D Creedon (40), M Condon for John Murphy (58, inj).
R Savage; R Murphy, J Colbert, J Norris; J Tynan, E Leahy, K O’Shea; T Hartnett, J O’Donoghue; C Hegarty, S Morrissey, S Maloney; J O’Hanlon, D Phelan, J McKenna.
D Wallace for J Tynan (40), D Byrne for S Morrissey (40).
Andrew Whelton (Clonakilty).
App?
