Eurotech Junior Football League

Scotstown 1-7 Aghabog 1-12                                    20/4/13

Aghabog moved to the top of the JFL with a five-point win away to Scotstown on Saturday. Seán O’Brien kicked 1-5 and Shane O’Brien, Gary McBride, Pauric McPhillips and Damian Smyth also played key roles for Aghabog, who only trailed for three minutes of the 60+. David Caulfield and Damien F McKenna led the Scotstown junior side.

Scotstown got the first point through Emmet McCrudden, but a Seán O’Brien free and points from play by Damian Smyth, O’Brien and Paddy O’Flanagan gave Aghabog a three-point lead after ten minutes. Damien F McKenna got one back for Scotstown, who closed to within one when Paul Sherlock linked up with Barry McMeel to split the posts and they drew level, courtesy of Adrian Carbin, who then edged them ahead from a free after a foul on Sherlock. Damian Smyth raced through after good link-up play with Shane O’Brien to bring Aghabog back on level terms and further scores from Shane and Seán O’Brien (the latter from a free) sent them in leading by 0-7 to 0-5.

Mark McKenna and David Caulfield both fired possible goal chances over early in the second half to level it up, only for Seán O’Brien to get on the end of a Smyth pass and fire to the net. Points from Seán O’Brien and substitute Francie Dolan opened up a five-point gap, but Scotstown got back into it when Damien F McKenna sent in a high ball which Declan McCarville punched off the crossbar, with the rebound falling for Caulfield to pull on it and raise the green flag. Aghabog made a couple of goal chances at the other end, but the first saw Shane O’Brien drive wide after good work by Dolan and Seán O’Brien, who then hit the post from a penalty after the referee had adjudged that Paddy O’Brien had been denied by a foot-block. Shane O’Brien converted frees for fouls on Dolan and Smyth, either side of a point from play by Seán O’Brien, as Aghabog made their superiority count in the last ten minutes. Scotstown finished with 14 men after Matthew McCague was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Shane O’Brien. Aghabog are now top – at least until Sunday – while Scotstown remain in search of their first points in this competition.

Scotstown: C Mohan; L McDermott, M McCague (Capt.), R McKenna; D McKenna, N Sherry, M Clerkin; D F McKenna (0-1), B McMeel; D Caulfield (1-1), M McKenna (0-1), E McCrudden (0-1); A Carbin (0-2, 1f), D McCarville, P Sherlock (0-1).

Subs: E Murray for D McKenna (inj., 38 mins), C McAleer for McCrudden (46), M Corrigan for Clerkin (inj., 50), K McKenna for McDermott (inj., 60).

Aghabog: D Norris; M McBride (Capt.), P McPhillips, M Fox; S Brady, G McBride, J Mullen; S Greenan, S Dolan; D Smyth (0-2), Shane O’Brien (0-3, 2f), C Logue; Seán O’Brien (1-5, 0-2f), P O’Brien, P O’Flanagan (0-1).

Subs: F Dolan (0-1) for S Dolan (H-T), P McCabe for Logue (38).

Referee: D Hurson (Drumhowan).