Aughnasheelin cruise to victory over second string Melvin Gaels

Aughnasheelin chalked up a runaway 21 point win on Sunday over Melvin Gaels in a lively and high scoring Fresh Today Junior A championship tie that was played at a  windswept Melvin Park Kinlough.

Aughnasheelin, who were relegated last year with Aughavas and Drumreilly, certainly proved to be too powerful for Melvin Gaels second string, especially considering that the Kinlough side's first string won the 2024 Leitrim IFC final.

Wayne Gilgunn and Ben McGirl impressed for Aughnasheelin while Jamie Moore and Liam McSharry did likewise for Melvin Gaels. However, his overall performance for Aughnasheelin gets Fintan Fitzpatrick the game's star player nod.

When Wayne Gilgunn finished a well-worked 25th minute goal to the Melvin Gaels net he put Aughnasheelin on the road to victory. On Sunday Aughnasheelin will entertain Glenfarne Kiltyclogher in Aughnasheelin while Melvin Gaels will travel to take on Aughavas.

Melvin Gaels, who were aided by a near gale force wind at times in the first half, opened the scoring with a good two point free by Sean Carolan Morris in the game's first minute. Aughnasheelin, who were facing the strong breeze, got on level terms over the next five minutes thanks to Fintan Fitzpatrick who split the uprights from placed balls.

Fitzpatrick put his team in front for the first time after shooting his first point from play on the seven minute mark.  Aughnasheelin  stretched their lead to three points over the next five minutes after Fitzpatrick fired over twice in succession for the visitors.

During the next two minutes, Melvin Gaels managed to reduce the deficit to the minimum when Liam McSharry tapped over a free awarded for a foul on Jamie Moore and then Moore fired over for the Kinlough men.

Dean Flanagan hit back with a point but Melvin Gaels upped their game again to get on level terms on the 22 minute mark after Liam McSharry & Aaron Brennan added a point apiece.

The Gaels regained the lead on 22 minutes when Daithi McGloin split the uprights. However the Gaels lead proved to be short lived as Wayne Gilgunn fired to the Kinlough men's net two minutes later at the end of a well orchestrated move.

This goal put Aughnasheelin into a lead they never  surrendered. In the remaining minutes of the half, Aughnasheelin increased their advantage with two Fitzpatrick points as well as a Sean McWeeney free, while Ben McGirl also chipped in with a point.

Aughnasheelin enjoyed a 1-11 to 0-7 lead at the break. After the restart neither side managed to raise a flag of any description in the opening four minutes which was the longest scoreless period in this shoot-out contest of 45 scores in total.

Fintan Fitzpatrick got the scoreboard ticking again when he whipped over a 35th minute point while Sean McWeeney fired over a point for the visitors. Sean Carolan Morris got Melvin Gaels second half scoring opened when he tapped over a 36th minute free. 

Aughnasheelin  increased their lead when adding four points during the next four minutes with  Fitzpatrick slotting over a two point free  while Cillian Cullen and Niall Gallagher chipped in with a point each.

Aughnasheelin now enjoyed a 15 point lead, which was only slightly reduced when Sean McGloin hit back with a 41st minute Melvin Gaels point. There was no let up by the visitors as they stretched their lead further with a two pointer from play by Ben McGirl while Fergal Flynn and Cillian Cullen shot a point each for the rampant Aughnasheelin men.

Melvin Gaels had a let off when Fergal Flynn blazed a goal chance wide off the butt of the  left upright. To their credit Melvin Gaels never gave up as was evident when Liam McSharry fired home a 45th minute pile driver past  Kevin McWeeney.

Two minutes later Jamie Curran added another well-taken goal to  reduce Aughnasheelin's lead to 11 points with 13 minutes left. After that, Fintan Fitzpatrick (free) and Daithi McGloin traded points at opposite ends in the 49th and 50th minutes, respectively.

Aughnasheelin continued to keep the pressure up on Melvin Gaels as they shot an unanswered 2-4 as the clock ticked down towards the final whistle. Aughnasheelin twice found the net with a goal apiece from Fitzpatrick and McWeeney who toe poked home from close range after being put through by Ben McGirl.

Fitzpatrick put over a two pointer free, as well a one pointer free and a point from play while Ben McGirl also added a point. Aughnasheelin introduced Leitrim's 1994 Connacht final winning Leitrim goalkeeper and 55 year old cancer survivor, Martin McHugh on the 54 minute mark.

McHugh replaced Kevin McWeeney between the Aughnasheelin sticks. McWeeney moved outfield to left corner forward berth from which position he scored his side's third goal, just two minutes after being relieved of his goalkeeping duties at the other end of the pitch.

Near the end, Martin McHugh showed some of his Connacht final of 31 years ago shot stopping skills when he prevented a goal bound Conor Maxwell effort from entering his net. 

Following that, Melvin Gaels closed the scoring in the game when former Leitrim Minor Sean Carolan Morris tapped over a free just before the long whistle as Aughnasheelin moved top of the table.

AUGHNASHEELIN

Scorers: Fintan Fitzpatrick 1-15, 8f; Ben McGirl 0-4, 1 tp; Wayne Gilgunn & Kevin McWeeney 1-0 each; Sean McWeeney 0-3, 2f; Cillian Cullen & Shane Gallagher (tp) 0-2 each; Dean Flanagan, Niall Gallagher & Fergal Flynn 0-1 each

Team: Kevin McWeeney; Brian Boyle, Paul Earley, Wayne Gilgunn; Niall Gallagher, Sean McWeeney, Francis McGirl; Cillian Cullen, Dean Flanagan; Shane Gallagher, Fintan Fitzpatrick, Fergal Flynn; Senan McTague, Ben McGirl, Diarmuid Flynn. Subs: Tommy Reilly for Flynn (50); Martin McHugh for Flanagan (54); Darren Gunn for Cullen (56)

MELVIN GAELS

Scorers: Liam McSharry 1-2; Sean Carolan Morris 0-4, 3f; Jamie Curran 1-0; Daithi McGloin 0-2; Aaron Brennan & Sean McGloin 0-1 each

Team: Kevin McGloin; Conor Maxwell, Paddy Hartnett, Oisin Fox; Daithi McGloin, Jamie Moore, Luke Clancy; Sean McGloin, Sean Carolan Morris; Cael Clancy; Aaron Brennan, Paul McGowan; Liam McSharry, Jamie Curran, Conor McGowan Sub Dan Regan for P McGowan (45)

REFEREE: Eugene McHale