St. Aidan's outgunned by St. Clare's

St. Aidan’s High School, Derrylin 1-07 St. Clare’s College, Ballyjamesduff 3-13

An outgunned St. Aidan’s side had a much-improved second-half against a vastly taller and stronger St. Clare’s, Ballyjamesduff in wet and miserable conditions in Teemore.

The result of this affair was never in doubt as the Cavan college quickly took command in all sectors and their marked advantage in physique meant they were odds on to win most of the 50/50 contests, especially in heavy, greasy conditions.

The wind-assisted winners were not flattered by their half-time lead of 3-09 to 0-03. Their goals came from the excellent Sean Cusack, Fionn Galligan and the gifted Ari Sosy.

Ethan Brown who hit all of St. Aidan’s scores, hit three points in this half.

The Derrylin lads added 1-04 to their opponents 0-04 in a much better second-half display which gives them some comfort.

Cusack and Galligan eased the Cavan lads quickly into a 0-03 to 0-00 lead before Brown got St. Aidan’s off the mark with a point from play after a fine move after nine minutes.

St. Aidan’s then had a great chance of a goal when Ruairi McManus went on a 60-metre run but his shot just flew across the goal and wide.

Cusack and Dylan Farrelly made it 0-05 to 0-01 as Derrylin were finding it almost impossible to get their hands on the ball.

Brown did manage a point but the Cavan tide could not be stemmed.

Brandon Cusack and Denis Sweeney added points before Sean Cusack and the elegant Sosy found the net in the space of three minutes to put the winners in front by 2-06 to 0-02.

Fionn Galligan hammered home a third goal and they had further points form Galligan, Sosy and Denis Sweeney just before the break as Brown replied with a pointed free for St. Aidan’s.

The breeze dropped in the second half as Galligan added to the winner’s tally.

But whatever manager Richie O’Callaghan said to his charges at the break, they put in a much improved second-half display.

Allied to this, St. Clare’s hit a total of nine wides overall while having considerable possession.

Ruairi McManus made another searing run through St. Clare’s defence and was pulled down and Brown converted the resultant penalty in the 37th minute.

The Cavan lads could only manage four more scores in this half from Galligan, Sosy and Cusack.

Meanwhile a much better Aidan’s tacked on 1-04 with all the scores coming from Brown.

St. Clare’s were more defensive in this half but were never really troubled.