Ahascragh/Fohenagh bailed out by Farragher’s late point

Abbeyknockmoy 0-19

Ahascragh/Fohenagh 1-16

Ivan Smyth at Duggan Park

A 66th minute Barry Farragher point secured a replay for Ahascragh/Fohenagh in this entertaining senior B relegation play-off at Duggan Park on Saturday. With the sides entering this game as the joint lowest scorers in the group stages of the senior championship, confidence would not have been high within either camp. However, they served up a compelling tussle which both teams will feel they could have won.

This encounter saw the teams both enjoy three-point leads but neither were able to capitalise on this. A Mark Kelly goal early in the second half appeared to be enough for an Ahascragh/Fohenagh win, but Abbeyknockmoy battled away with Cathal Cooley’s accuracy from placed balls almost securing them the victory. The draw was a fair result with both sides needing to do it all over again to decide who will be relegated to the intermediate championship.

Ahascragh/Fohenagh struck first through Cathal Mannion after his brother Padraic provided the assist. Caelom Mulry replied for Abbeyknockmoy with Cathal Mannion and Cathal Cooley exchanging scores. The sides shared the next four points as Brian Flaherty and Cooley scored for Abbeyknockmoy with Cathal Mannion and Sean Bleahene hitting back for Ahascragh/Fohenagh.

Bleahene struck his second point of the day to put Ahascragh/Fohenagh back in front. Cathal Mannion added a free before Caelom Mulry responded moments later. Gerry Farragher and Brian Cooley’s Abbeyknockmoy side decided to try use high balls in on top of Caelom Mulry in centre forward but Padraic Mannion was winning the aerial dual. However, Ahascragh/Fohenagh failed to take advantage of this as they struck six first half wides compared to Abbeyknockmoy’s two.

Darragh Glynn pushed Ahascragh/Fohenagh two points ahead once more but Abbeyknockmoy began to vary their attacking game as they struck five of the last six scores in the opening half. Cooley pointed a free to reduce the deficit to a point. Caelom Mulry and Eoin Blade combined with the latter striking a score before the same pair combined once more with Mulry notching a point.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.