JUNIOR B FOOTBALL:
Austin Stacks 3-14; Legion 2-12.
We emerged winners in this very entertaining, high-scoring game number five in this seven round Co. League played in a wet Derreen on this Friday evening (17th June).
We got off to a brilliant start when St. John Hegarty put Danny Carroll through for a super goal after just fourteen seconds. By the sixth minute we had added three points with Darragh O’Brien on target twice and Danny Carroll also.Legion got back into the game by the 13th minute with two points from play and a goal from a penalty.
It was tit for tat during the second quarter which we just shaded, scoring four points to three for the opposition. Darragh O’Brien (2), St. John Hegarty and Danny Carroll (free) were on target for us which left us two clear at half time (1-7 to 1-5).
Darragh and Danny were on target again early in the second half but Legion responded with two also.
Then in the 37th minute the score which we needed to put daylight between the sides came when Tommy Costello send in a long ball and Ciaran O’Connell gathered it beautifully and slotted to the net (2-9 to 1-7). Two minutes later Legion pointed and from the kick-out attacked again and could have got back in the game but for a super save by Paddy Fitzgibbon.
By the end of the third quarter we had stretched our lead to six with points by Dale Counihan and Darragh O’Brien.
However, Legion responded well and in the next six minutes had reduced the deficit to two when they tagged on four points without reply.
But then a minute later, a move started by corner back Denis O’Neill was finished to the net by Dale Counihan.
Points by Jonathan Conway, Danny Carroll and Darragh O’Brien (his seventh of the game) followed to leave us in a comfortable position as the end approached.
Legion did score a goal on the stroke of time but it was too little too late from their point of view.
Team: Patrick Fitzgibbon, Des Fitzgerald, Seamus Bastible, Denis O’Neill, Denis Costello (Capt), Alan Crean, Tommy Costello, Sean Purcell, Jonathan Conway (0-1), Ciaran O’Connell (1-0), Darragh O’Brien (0-7), St.John Hegarty (0-1), Eoin Colgan, Thomas Moore, Danny Carroll (1-4 – 1 free).
Subs: Dale Counihan (24m) (1-1), Padraig Breen (42m), Trevor Barrett (49m).
We now travel to Milltown on next Friday evening (24th June) to play the local side in the second last round. Throw in at 8pm.