Mannion’s 15-point haul fires Ahascragh/Fohenagh to last four spot

Ahascragh/Fohenagh 0-19

Ballinderreen 0-16

Fourteen-man Ahascragh/Fohenagh pulled out the necessary scores when required in the final 10 minutes last Sunday to book a place in the intermediate hurling semi-finals.

In a game not without incident, the east Galway side lost midfielder Laurence Tully in the 24th minute after his challenge into Gary Forde was deemed worthy of a red card. But with the extra space, the Mannion brothers (Padraig and Cathal) made it count especially in the closing stages.

When Shane Coen pointed his 10th score in the 50th minute to give Ballinderreen a 0-14 to 0-13 advantage, the South Galway side seemed in control but Cathal Mannion levelled 60 seconds later before giving Ahascragh/Fohenagh the lead for just the second time.

It was one that Eugene Freyne’s side never relinquished as Padraig Mannion added another white flag and when his run earned a ’65 two minutes after, Cathal split the posts for a 0-17 to 0-14 scoreline.

Coen and Allen Martyn reduced arrears to the minimum but Ballinderreen were now on the back foot and in contrast, Ahascragh/Fohenagh were oozing confidence with Cathal Mannion scoring from play in injury time before a short free from Padraig allowed Cathal another on the left flank as he put three between them for the result.

Things started so differently in this replay as Ballinderreen sent over the first three points. Shane Larkin took Kevin Lane’s pass for the first; Coen opened his account with a well taken sideline; while Lane also troubled the umpires with the third.

Ahascragh/Fohenagh, however, were building up wides but finally got off the mark in the seventh minute with Mannion’s first free.  Ronan Kelly added a second and there was never more than two between them until Ballinderreen went in 0-9 to 0-8 ahead at half-time.

A contest that was tough and tense, some wild challenges always suggested trouble lay ahead and it was Tully who took the early bath for his challenge on Forde in the 24th minute. But even with the numerical edge, Ballinderreen couldn’t put some distance on the scoreboard.

Coen added five points and Lane another with Mannion contributing four along with Padraig Mannion and Kevin Gavin to keep Ahascragh/Fohenagh in touch.  It could have been different as Ahascragh/Fohenagh had the best goal opportunity in the 19th minute when Cathal Mannion’s run down the left created a chance with Kelly just missing the crucial touch.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.