After a few false starts due to the bad weather over the last few weeks Ahane and Garryspillane finally got to play each other last night in Mick Neville Park in Rathkeale. With the wind beginning to rise and a light mist falling it was not exactly the best conditions to be playing a match in, nevertheless both teams were fired up and hit the ground running.

Not thirty seconds into the game Garryspillane got the first point of the game, and coincidentally it would be the only time they led for the match as not two minutes later Ahane’s number 15 Mark Donnellan rattled the back of Adam Sheehan’s net, which was met with cheers from the Ahane crowd who had travelled to Rathkeale. Straight away from the puck out Ahane won the ball and it fell to wing forward Willie Brennan who drilled the ball into the back of Sheehan’s net once again. Three minutes gone on it stood as Ahane 2-00 Garryspillane 0-01. However the Garryspillane forwards put seriouts pressure on the Ahane back line who were anchored by Padraig Harnett at centre back and Andy Rowsome at full back, both of who had great games. A shot from one of the Garryspillane forwards got through the defence, but fear not as William O’Leary in the Ahane goal pulled off a super save that saw the ball go out for a Garryspillane 65’ which was put over the bar by Dylan O’Shea. Seven minutes in and Daniel Minehan got his name on the score sheet and got Ahane’s 1st point of the game. O’Shea kept the Garryspillane scores ticking over as he scored a point from another placed ball. Ahane’s free taker Adam Murrihy slotted over two points from placed ball in quick succession to see Ahane keep the gap at six points. 17 minutes in and Eoin Sheehan scored Garryspillane’s 4th point. With 23 minutes gone and the wind and rain continuing it stood as Ahane 2-05 Garryspillane 0-05. Adam stepped up again in the 24th minute and scored an absolute beauty of a point which was followed minutes later by Mark Donnellan who scored a fantastic point from out near the sideline. Dylan O’Shea kept Garryspillane within the six points reach as he put another free over the bar. Ahane’s forwards worked tirelessly through both halves, they attacked and defended and there was some great interlinking play between them. As the whistle for half time was blown the score was Ahane 2-07 Garryspillane 0-08.

The second half started and it was Garryspillane that again started stronger as they got the first point of the half. Five minutes in and the Ahane backs were under pressure, Evan O’Leary, Andy Rowsome, and Adam Myers dealt with it well and a great clearance from Adam at corner back landed with Ciaran Barry who got his first point of the game and Ahane’s first point of the half. The pressure continued in the Ahane defence and only for a vital block by Andy Garryspillane could have had their first goal of the game. Ten minutes gone and Daniel Minehan got his second point of the game, the scores stood as Ahane 2-09, Garryspillane 0-10. Ciaran Barry got his second point of the night from a free and although Garryspillane had come out fighting in the second half Ahane managed to handle the pressure and keep them at bay. Garryspillane did however score the next three points unanswered and the closed the gap to 3. The nail biting had began on the Ahane sideline, but Adam widened the gap once again with a free and Willie Brennan added on another to put 5 points between the teams. Garryspillane got another point however the score that sealed the game was a goal which came from substitute Kevin Morrissey which was met with screams of delight from the Ahane crowd and sideline. They say goals win games and that sentiment was true in this game, it ended on a score line of Ahane 3-12 Garryspillane 0-14.

Ahane next play Ballybrown on Wednesday 11th March in the LIT Gaelic Grounds at 8pm. Keep on eye on our social media pages in case there is any changes to the fixture!

Ahane Team:

W. O’Leary; A. Myers, A. Rowsome, E. O’Leary, A. Carroll, P. Harnett, A. Shanahan; C. Barry (Capt), A. Murrihy; W. Brennan, D, Minehan, R. Fox, R. Reale, D. Cullimore, M. Donnellan.

Substitutes:

P. O’Grady (for R. Fox 2nd 1/2), S. O’Grady, K. Morrissey (for D. Cullimore 2nd 1/2), P. O’Donohoe (R. Reale 2nd 1/2), M. Hickey, J. Barry.