Report - ACFL Div 1 Shandonagh vs Rosemount
Match photos can be found at https://photos.app.goo.gl/EtTbJRcsu5hbAXFt8

Last Friday Shandonagh took on Rosemount in a glorious evening's sunshine with the Shandonagh pitch looking magnificent thanks to the grounds committee. It was a solid start to the game by both teams with Rosemount getting a fortuitous early goal but the Shandonagh men shook it off immediately as they stuck to their plan. The crosshairs needed a bit of adjusting as Shandonagh hit a few wides during this first period. Shandonaghs first score was a lovely goal by Kevin Boyle when the hard working Cormac Coyne managed to knock a high ball down into the path of the supporting Boyle who calmly dispatched it past the keeper. Up the other end Shandonagh were lucky to only concede a point after a Rosemount shot hit the crossbar and went over for a point. Shandonagh continued to attack with some slick work down the line and Brian Kavanagh on the receiving end who passed to the on running Brendan Killian but the final shot just went wide of the post. Shandonaghs second score was another goal and a great one as an inch perfect pass by Kevin Boyle threaded through the Rosemount defence found young Jake Costello at full flight and he let off a rocket of a shot that nobody could follow until the back of the net was lifted out of it. Shandonaghs first point of the first half took a long while to come with Brian Kavanagh converting a free. Towards the end of the first half Kavanagh was again involved when he spotted the run of Mickey Boyle and a smart pass resulted in a mark for Boyle which he duly put over the bar. It was a very entertaining first half with end to end football and Shandonagh coming away with more wide shots than they would normally. Half time score was Shandonagh 2:02, Rosemount 2:04

Rosemount started the second half stronger getting the first two points. Shandonagh kept at it and Mickey Boyle was unlucky not to get a third goal. Shandonagh lost a bit of composure during this period with simple balls being given away putting themselves under needless pressure. The Shandonagh defence was severely tested during this period and stood up very well to the Rosemount attack. Jack O'Brien is making the cornerback position his own with every game he plays and with the likes of Adam Cronin and Jake Costello coming on with every game the Shandonagh panel is developing a great depth. Shandonagh came more into it 15 minutes into the second half and Ryan Norris was unlucky not to come away with a score when he let off a powerful shot from the right hand side but the narrow angle was just covered by the Rosemount defence. A number of missed chances happened during this period with frees and shots at goal going only inches wide. The introduction of Adam Treanor and Daniel Scahill provided an extra gear in the Shandonagh attack as these boys know how to move at speed. Cormac Coyne was back in defence helping out when the ball was worked up the field after some hard running by Adam Traynor, Coyne received the final pass and neatly slotted the ball between the posts from the 50 meter line. Shandonaghs third goal came from a great team effort and attack up the right wing. A precise kick out by Cian Molloy was passed to Brendan Killian who bore down on the Rosemount goal. The speedster Ryan Norris popped up in support to take the pass off Killian and Norris saw Kevin Boyle in the centre with the looped hand pass over the Rosemount defence palmed in for a goal by Boyle. Cormac Coyne finished off the scoring for Shandonagh at the end of the second half with a point from play. The slow start to the second half and the missed opportunities went against Shandonagh in this match. Had even half the missed chances been converted then it would have been a completely different game towards the end but we live and learn. Shandonagh finished the second half stronger but couldn't close the gap with the full time score being Shandonagh 3:06, Rosemount 3:10

Plenty of positives to be taken from this game with some great fielding and running from the Shandonagh men.

Team:
Cian Molloy, Ben Treanor, Maitiu Scully, Jack O'Brien, Jake Costello, Adam Cronin, Gareth Carr, Alan Hickey, Luke Tynan, Tom Molloy, Kevin Boyle, Brendan Killian, Cormac Coyne, Brian Kavanagh, Mickey Boyle

Subs:
Adam Treanor for Luke Tynan, Daniel Scahill for Ben Treanor, Conor McCrossan for Alan Hickey, Ryan Norris for Tom Molloy, Damian Moran for Jake Costello