Annacotty Edge out Janesboro in Tight affair

Aisling Annacotty consolidated their top half position in the PJ Matthews Premier League with a 2-1 victory over rivals Janesboro on Sunday morning. With both sides level on points heading into the game, it was a valauble win.

The home side started brightly and came close when former Janesboro striker Shane Clarke’s header forced a save from John Mulready and Conor Coughlan’s follow up was blocked by Ryan Doherty.

Janesboro engineered a big chance of their own soon after when Ger Barry played Arron Nunan through and he forced Brian O’Connor into action to palm the ball behind.

Shortly afterwards, Coughlan’s low drive was saved by Mulready and another former Janesboro player Thomas Clarke missed a guilt edged opportunity when he headed wide from eight yards.

The visitors went close to taking the lead when a goalmouth scramble resulted in a close range Nunan effort being cleared off the line by Shane Tracy. At the other end, Tracy beat the offside trap to square the ball for Shane Clarke to slide the ball into the net.

Mike Aherne’s team began the second half with a purpose and the recently returned Evan O’Connor’s shot was parried by Mulready into the path of the onrushing Aaron Murphy but the striker couldnt adjust his feet in time to finish.

It wasnt long before Shane Clarke heaped more misery on his former club as he powered home from the edge of the box following a cross from Kennedy N’dip.

Shane O’Hanlon’s new look Boro side were given a lifeline when they were awared a penalty and Thomas Lyons duly converted the spot-kick to halve the deficit. As Janesboro pushed for a leveller, Lyons tested O’Connor with a free-kick which the netminder was equal to.

Aisling managed to close out the game and gain a valuable three points to send them 3 points ahead of today’s opponents in the league.

Aisling Annacotty: Brian O’Connor, Kennedy N’dip, Thomas Clarke, Graham Bourke (Nathan O’Callaghan), Killian Maloney, Conor Coughlan (Declan Cusack), Shane Tracy, Tommy Canty (Paudie Walsh), Evan O’Connor (Ben Coleman), Shane Clarke, Aaron Murphy.

Janesboro: John Mulready, Sam Ogandane, Owen Tracy (Paul Storan), Ryan Doherty, Jason Cross, Thomas Lyons, Aidan Hurley (Jordan Boland), Ger Barry (Tony Mamsbuena), Aaron Grant (Conor Lynch), Aaron Fitzgerald (Patrick Whelan), Arron Nunan