In a novel Thursday evening Connacht Gold SFC fixture, Glencar Manorhamilton got their second win of the competition over Aughawillan.
Seven first-half two pointers sent Glencar Manor on their way. However, they were made work for it by a dogged and determined second-half performance from the hosts, writes Darren Mulvey.
Glencar Manor started with the aid of the breeze and made their intent clear from the off. Dominating the early exchanges to lead 0-6 to 0-0 after 10 minutes.
Two Barry McNulty two pointers sandwiched between points from play from impressive first year senior player Jack Kelly.
Kelly went on to land a two-pointer of his own from play; stung the hands of Aughawillan keeper Colin Maguire with a shot and tap over his first free of the evening all by the 16th minute.
McNulty notched his third two pointer courtesy of a free that was advanced for dissent and brought back out. Aughawillan opened their account on 19 minutes through their own impressive first year senior forward Jamie Plunkett.
Kelly, McNulty (2pf) and Evan Sweeney (2p) would all keep the Manor scoreboard ticking before Aughawillan's next score came through Niall Stringer on 28 minutes. Stringer immediately followed up with his and his side’s first pointer of the half.
Sweeney hit back instantly from almost the exact spot as his first two-point effort. Veteran Morgan Quinn, introduced on 21 minutes converted a free to leave the score at 0-18 to 0-5 in favour of Manor at the break.
Aughawillan were not content to take that score line lying down and went straight on the attack on the changeover.
However, poor efforts from Morgan and Sean Quinn drifted short and wide, before McNulty converted a Manor free to extend the lead.
Another Aughawillan fight back
That would be their last score for 15 odd minutes as the hosts grew into the contest, again mainly through winning primary ball at midfield.
Fergal McTague, Tom Plunkett (2p) and Morgan Quinn (f) all rattled off scores before Manor manufactured a brilliant goal chance. Kelly squaring to Sweeney at the back post but his shot was bravely blocked by cornerback Yann LeGuen, and resulted in Tom Plunkett raising his side’s third orange flag also.
Aughawillan kept pushing the pace against a Manor side that seemed to want to defend their way to victory. It yielded more scores through Jamie Plunkett and Niall Stringer, before the hosts struck the game's only goal.
Tom Plunkett firing high into the net with no chance for Manor keeper Shaun Sheridan.
Aughawillan had outscored Manor 1-8 to 0-1 since the break and now only trailed by three. However, the goal woke Manor up, and they hit the next three-points on the spin from Patrick Montgomery, McNulty and Sweeney.
Aughawillan kept pushing hard for the levelling scores and a super Rory McTague two-pointer after a Jamie Plunkett free had the gap back to three again.
The Willies nearly managed to force the game level. Manor required a game saving clearance off the line by James Hughes from a Tom Plunkett goal bound effort, but they were able to break and points from play from Kelly and Sweeney were enough to see Manor over the line despite a late two pointer from Tom Plunkett to leave three between the sides at full time.
Glencar Manorhamilton, now with two wins, will face Leitrim Gaels at home in Round four. Whereas, Aughawillan, with one win, will travel to play county champions Mohill.
