Liatroim stay on right track

26 April 2017

AFTER contrasting fortunes in their opening two league games, Liatroim hosted Darragh Cross on Friday night with the sides at opposite ends of the Division 2 table at this early stage.

The Cross got off to a solid start, and after 12 minutes held a narrow lead after points from Michael Monan, Lee Morrison and Marcus Miskelly, in response to PJ Davidson and Pearse Og McCrickard scoring for Liatroim at the other end.

Miskelly then shot on the run to push Darragh two clear, but McCrickard, Davidson and Liam Doyle wiped that out in a couple of minutes.

In an end-to-end half, with some fine scores from play at either end, Shane Murray finished off a good run with a point before Miskelly curled over another to snatch the lead back for the visitors.

Liatroim finished the half well, though, and their pacy wing half backs Mark Cunningham and Darren O’Higgins both raised the white flag, either side of a score from talismanic full forward McCrickard to leave them leading by 0-8 to 0-6 at the break.

Liatroim led by three points after seven minutes of the second half, with Davidson and Gerard McAnulty scoring either side of a Lee Morrison free for Darragh.

The game was level again soon after when a Shane Murray pass found Marcus Miskelly hovering on the edge of the D, and with great strength and poise he held off a defender and fired low past the ‘keeper.

A point from play at the other end was followed by quick frees from Doyle and McAnulty to restore Liatroim’s three-point cushion before Callum Murray pointed in reply.

The Fontenoys got five of the next seven points, through McCrickard (2), Davidson, Donnacha O’Higgins and Liam Doyle, with Stephen Brannigan and Lee Morrison pointing for The Cross to leave the visitors them five behind.

Midfielder Daryl Heaney then found himself in a pocket of space and pointed for Darragh. Minutes later Heaney did well to out-jump the ‘keeper on a high ball, ping around the square, to get it over the line and make it a one-point game

From the kick-out, Liatroim worked the ball to Liam Doyle who put over a classy score from wide on the right touchline. Darragh had a few half chances thereafter, notably when a free came back off the post and led to a goalmouth scramble, but Liatroim held on to maintain their winning start to the season.

Darragh Cross: Rory Miskelly, Stephen Brannigan (0-1), Paddy Branney, Eamon Sweeney, Callum Murray (0-1), Mark McMahon, James Murray, Daryl Heaney (1-1), Oisin McConvey, Anton McGrattan, Marcus Miskelly (1-3), Shane Murray (0-1), Barry Ward, Michael Monan (0-1), Lee Morrison (0-3, 2F) Subs used: Michael Boyle, Matty Hardy, Aaron Brennan.

Liatroim 0-19

Darragh Cross 2-11

ACFL DIVISION 2

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