Oranmore/Maree rally from big deficit to take the spoils

Oranmore/Maree 2-18

Athenry 2-13

ORANMORE/Maree survived a couple of early setbacks to hand Athenry their first defeat in this year’s Senior B championship on Saturday. Last year’s Intermediate champions trailed by as much as nine points at one stage in the first half, but they turned things around superbly and looked in control long before the final whistle sounded.

Goals from Dónal Parr and Cian Burke had got Athenry off to a great start but Oranmore/Maree hit their opponents for 1-6 without reply at the end of the first half. Aided by a strong wind after the restart, Oranmore/Maree continued to make hay and they outscored Athenry 2-10 to 0-8 in the final 30 minutes.

Fresh from claiming a Division 2 league title, Oranmore/Maree made a flying start to the game with Niall Burke getting them off the mark inside the opening 10 seconds but it was Athenry who soon raced into the lead. Mark Hannon raised a white flag before they struck the game’s first goal in just the third minute.

Jack Carr cut through on goal but rather than shoot himself, the full forward opted to pass inside to Dónal Parr, who made no mistake with the finish. Ronan Hardiman followed that up with a super score from under the stand and things could have been even better for his side had Athenry been awarded a penalty after 12 minutes when Carr was fouled two yards inside the large square only for referee Michael Conway to award a 20m free which Cian Burke duly tapped over.

Oranmore/Maree came close to grabbing a goal of their own only for Paddy Rabbitte to deny Seán McInerney. Éanna Burke did finally get their second point of the day in the 20th minute but things were about to get worse for Oranmore/Maree before they got better.

Athenry struck for their second goal immediately after Burke’s point. A long ball into Carr broke to Cian Burke about 20m out and the half forward finished powerfully to the roof of the net to put Athenry in command. Another free from Burke and a good score from Paddy Hannon left their side nine points to the good, 2-5 to 0-2, after just 21 minutes.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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