Headford GAA Club

Our Junior side earned their first point of the league following a draw in their second game of Division 5 away to Mountbellew/Moylough last Friday. Final score 1-12 apiece. 

 

The first half was played at a high pace, with flashes of great quality play from both sides throughout. The sides traded early points in the first ten minutes with Cathal Newell finding his range early for Headford with 2 points. But in the next 20 minutes we really asserted ourselves on the game. Paraic Walsh, Justin R and Shane Walsh all got in on the scoring as we opened up the Mountbellew defence on several occasions Cathal Newell was outstanding in this period adding a further 1-3 to his tally, his goal coming after a fine team move. At half time we held a commanding 1-8 to 0-5 lead. 

 

After the break the home side came out looking to reduce the deficit as quick as possible. They got off to a good start and pointed from the restart. A fine Alan Toher point was our response as we looked to keep Mountbellew at arms length. They started to get a real grip on the game however and pointed with their next 2 attacks. Shane Walsh hit a lovely score from a free but the home side were putting on all the pressure, which told when a long ball found their corner forward and he rattled the net. Midway through the half we had only scored twice and the gap had been reduced to just 2 points. Cathal pushed the gap out to 3 again as we started to get back into the game. We had chances to stretch the lead further but instead it was the home side who were reducing the gap as the final whistle grew closer. They eventually levelled with 2 minutes to play and were in the ascendancy. However Shane Walsh looked to have won us the points when he fired over from long range with time almost up. We failed to hold on though as some sloppy mistakes when in possession cost us and Mountbellew were good enough to capitalise and earn themselves a draw with the final kick of the game. 

 

This was a good team performance but the lads themselves will be frustrated after such a fine first half showing to not come home with the victory. On the evening Alan Toher, Darragh Bane, Shane Walsh and Cathal Newell deserved credit for their displays.