Croskery makes presence felt as ‘Fin seal final place

16 September 2020

AUGHLISNAFIN progressed to the Parador Lodge Down JFC final with a six-point victory over Dundrum on Saturday at St John’s with Shea Croskery one of the constant thorns in the side of the opposition.

The Fin pulled clear in the second half after the two teams went in all square at the half-time interval.

Both teams began the contest brightly, although it is fair to say that in the opening five minutes, they each were wasteful with the early chances that they created.

Aughlisnafin’s Tiernan Noade pointed early. He engineered a neat counter-attack as Dundrum looked to build some early advantage. Just a minute later however, Dundrum registered their first score of the match, Neil Rodgers with it.

However, the ‘Fin were not about to let the opposition built up a cushion and Breannain McComiskey knocked a free over the bar to make it 0-2 apiece.

Dundrum’s Chris Hogg engineered some space well for himself before scoring from an acute angle.

Then came a crucial moment in the contest as Aughlisnafin found the back of the net. On the counter, Shea Croskery supplied a killer pass to Chris Doran and he thumped the ball home to make it Dundrum 0-3 Aughlisnafin 1-2.

Dundrum’s Rodgers added another minor score just before the first water-break. On 20 minutes Aidan Fegan of Dundrum pointed a free. However just a minute later, Aughlisnafin’s Doran did likewise.

Dundrum had a golden opportunity to keep the scoreboard moving, but Kyle Glavin hit the ball badly wide. It was a chance which seemed more difficult to miss, and ultimately a moment which would swing the balance critically.

Croskery pointed for Aughlisnafin to swing the momentum once more.

He was proving to be a real catalyst for the ‘Fin as the game progressed. Eamon King landed a crucial goal for Dundrum right at the end of the period. At half-time, it was level pegging at 1-5 each.

In the second period, Aughlisnafin hit the ground running, Oisin O’Toole firing over a neat point to put them one ahead. However Dundrum’s John Hurley then redressed the imbalance.

Oran Flanagan then fed Croskery and he beautifully landed a wonderful counter-attacking score. However six minutes into the half Dundrum goalkeeper Kieran Walsh pointed a free to again make it level at 1-7 to 1-7.

Dundrum’s David Blaney pointed smartly after some patient build-up play and Hogg also pointed.

However Aughlisnafin fired over two scores back in quick time through Shea Croskery as the sides were neck and neck once more at 1-9 each at the water-break.

Croskery pointed again soon after, with substitute Ruairi Croskery adding another score to put the ‘Fin 1-11 to 1-9 to the good. Captain Donagh Steele then stretched the lead with another minor score.

Dundrum then gifted Aughlisnafin’s Croskery the ball under no pressure and he duly scored.

Dundrum keeper Walsh pointed a free to keep his side in with a shout of snatching something as the game moved into its closing stages.

However Aughlisnafin’s McComiskey landed a wonderful score on the counter to put four between the teams.

Croskery and McComiskey then added insurance points as Aughlisnafin progressed on a 1-16 to 1-11 winning scoreline.

Aughlisnafin: M Croskery, J Matthews, S McCann, N Travers, C Matthews, O O’Toole (0-1), T Noade (0-1), D Steele (C) (0-2), O Flanagan, S Croskery (0-7), B McComiskey (0-3), F Murphy, A Garland, C Croskery, C Doran (1-1). Subs: S Willoughby, R Croskery (0-1), L Ward, R Quinn, B Ogle, R Murphy, J Brannigan, A Lenaghan, D McKibbin, E Travers, B Willougby, M Stratton.

Dundrum: K Walsh (0-2), D McComb, R Carey, C Miskelly, S Keenan, J Hurley (0-1) T McShane, A

Fegan (0-1), N Rogers (0-2), R McGuigan, C Hogg (0-2), K Glavin, D Blaney (0-2), M McGrattan, E King (capt, 1-0). Subs: P Curry, C Mulholland, A Doyle, D Brennan, D Flaherty, S McGeown, S McShane, B Kearney, A Byrne.

Dundrum 1-10

Aughlisnafin 1-16

PARADOR LODGE DOWN JFC SEMI-FINAL

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