ACL Division III

Keady Michael Dwyer’s : 1.12 – Clonmore : 0.06

McGleenan Park played host to the Dwyers’ latest ACL Division 3 fixture on Friday night, Clonmore providing the opposition in a game played in optimal conditions for a game of football. Keady dominated most of the possession and came away with a fully deserved 1.12 to 0.06 victory and another valuable two league points. The Dwyers never looked like letting this game slip out of their hands and perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the win was the wide range of scorers and the variety of the scores.

Keady started the first half with intent, quickly going ahead with from a fine point from Chrissy Woods and a score from the relentless Ryan McGale. Within minutes Keady had edged further in front, McGale finishing off a well-worked team move to put three points between the teams and the Dwyers winning individual battles all over the pitch. Clonmore’s attempts to hit their first score of the game were proving futile as Barry Toal, Paul Gollogly and Conor Nugent effectively prevented any attacks from the visitors. It was Keady who got the next score of the game as Mark Hughes showed great composure to fire over the bar under pressure from the Clonmore defense and Keady came extremely close to putting daylight between the teams as the ball was worked into Chrissy Woods in space who brought the ball into the box only to see his placed shot smartly blocked by the sprawling Clonmore ‘keeper. Hughes doubled his tally with another score from the left before Clonmore got themselves on the scoresheet at last with an ambitious effort. The teams exchanged scores as a point from Woods was cancelled out by a score from the visitors before Ryan McGale put Keady firmly in control with a well taken goal after good work in the build-up allowed him the space and time to slot the ball past the goalkeeper. The deficit was briefly reduced by a score from Clonmore unitl McGale accurately converted a free after Ryan Comiskey was abruptly stopped in his tracks. The first half ended with a converted free from Clonmore but the scoreline of 1.7 to 0.4 was somewhat flattering for the visitors as Keady had controlled the game up to this point.

The second half began at the same pace as the first and again it was the Dwyers who started the stronger side. Christopher Courtney got the point his workrate deserved as he finished off a move between the Keady forwards and despite being forced onto his weaker foot he was able to steer the ball over the bar. The next score came as Paul Murray made use of his new more attacking role by beating his man with a quick turn of pace and firing the ball over for a fantastic score. At this stage the Dwyers were looking comfortable on the ball and were giving plenty of options for the man on the ball and this nearly brought Keady’s second goal of the game as a crossfield ball from Paul McCormack was caught by Ryan McGale who showed great vision in finding the on-running Murray in space only for his to see his shot cannon back off the crossbar with the ‘keeper well beaten. However another score from Murray gave the Dwyers a nine point margin before a soft free given away in the Keady box was converted by the visitors. Further scores from Kevin O'Neill and Mark Hughes ended the scoring for Keady in a low scoring second half and a point from Clonmore was nothing more than a consolation score as the Dwyers finished 1.12 to 0.06 winners.

This was an entertaining game of football and a match where Keady seemed the only likely winners throughout and this win leaves Keady five points clear of nearest rivals St. Peter's at the top of the league after St. Peter’s draw against Clonmore on Sunday.