League

Ballygarvan Stadium
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Britt Harkin got the match started through his kick off. Through an outstanding action, after 3 minutes, Shannon Ferguson successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. An unexpectedly hard shot by Roordan Sheridan in the 8th minute of play forced Ballygarvan AFC's goalkeeper Fachtna McDonald to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Roordan Sheridan fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 18th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Fachtna McDonald having to interfere. Burke McFrank charged in rather forcefully in the 21st minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Burke McFrank the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 21st minute, Burke McFrank hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 23rd minute, Beehan Hutton hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Kyle Harkin might have been able to make a better finish in the 26th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Shannon Ferguson. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Kyle Harkin ran back to his position shaking his head. 28 minutes into the game, Bowen Kelly was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Ballygarvan AFC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Athnaleenta the free kick. After 28 played minutes Ballygarvan AFC got a freekick which was hit by Bowen Kelly. An unexpectedly hard shot by Roordan Sheridan in the 31st minute of play forced Ballygarvan AFC's goalkeeper Fachtna McDonald to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Fachtna McDonald took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Bercan Byrne, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After having played for 34 minutes, Britt Harkin managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ballygarvan AFC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Britt Harkin was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Roordan Sheridan sent away a hard shot on goal in the 42nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Shannon Ferguson took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Britt Harkin, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 47 played minutes Ballygarvan AFC got a freekick which was hit by Burke McFrank. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-1 lead.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Roordan Sheridan stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. With a little luck, Ballygarvan AFC's Fachtna McDonald got control of the ball when Blavock McMichel tried to sneak it across the goal line. The supporters of Athnaleenta booed when Ballygarvan AFC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 59 match minutes in a wonderful position. Bowen Kelly didn't get a good kick on the ball. After 61 minutes of play Ballygarvan AFC's Bowen Kelly was too eager in his attempt to stop his opponent and brought him down. With that he got his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. After a rather tough play, Ballygarvan AFC's Bowen Kelly got a free kick in the 61st minute. 62 minutes into the match, Roordan Sheridan had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Fachtna McDonald. Ballygarvan AFC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Roordan Sheridan was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-3. A hard shot 67 in the game by Bercan Byrne from a close distance when the talented Fachtna McDonald managed to make a qualified save. Ballygarvan AFC's players were relieved. After 69 minutes, Boethis Horgan mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Ballygarvan AFC and the Athnaleenta players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 70th match minute, Ballygarvan AFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Boethis Horgan to maneuver through the defense. Fachtna McDonald made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Roordan Sheridan in the 71st minute of play. When Bercan Byrne came up free with the goalie in the 80th minute, the Athnaleenta fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Bercan Byrne couldn't finish the play. Ballygarvan AFC's Fachtna McDonald proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 82nd minute of the match, managed to save Ballygarvan AFC from getting a goal against them. With his leg Fachtna McDonald managed to avoid a goal in the 86thth minute, when Athnaleenta's Bercan Byrne fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. The Athnaleenta supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Athnaleenta would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.