Bors stay alive as Annaduff show grit to earn Smith Monumentals IFC draw

​You know leaving a game that when both teams are equally frustrated and, at the same time, delighted, a draw was a just result as Annaduff and Bornacoola served up a thrilling and dramatic Smith Monumentals IFC third round tie in Mohill’s Philly McGuinness Park last Saturday.

​Both sides will feel, with some justification, that they left this one behind them but they also know they were perilously close to getting nothing out a game that turned early on the eighth minute dismissal of Annaduff’s Dan Bosquette, a decision that inflused a Bornacoola team desperately in need of a win with fierce belief.

Belying their position at the bottom of the table, the Bors tore into their neighbours and with Damian Moran sending over bombs from distance and Ronan Mulligan a real handful in attack, it looked as if they were going to shock the leaders as they eeked out leads on five occasions during the second half only for Annaduff to reel them in.

But Annaduff’s resolve is as fierce as ever and with big impacts from subs Kenny Cox, Kyle Russell and Alan Glancy, they found a way back into the game and will consider they could have snatched it at the end, Darren Cox driving a quick free to the net in added time only to see it called back.

They’ll take heart too from the fact that they got something out of a game where they were a man down for over 52 minutes and still managed to come away with a draw says a lot about their resolve while Bornacoola, the odds still against them, will take huge heart from the fight and never say die spirit they displayed. However, the Bors are now in a precarious position going into the final round, needing help from other results to see if they can avoid the relegation final.

Annaduff got off to a brisk start, Darren Cox landing a two pointer inside a minute while Senan Mooney added a fine score a minute later. Conor Reynolds converted a free but a Sean McNabola two point free suggested Bornacoola were in for a rough evening.

But the game took a twist when referee Michael McGirl brandished a red card to Annaduff’s Dan Bosquette, although Annaduff initially made light of it as Eoin Gill fisted over a point and Darren Cox scored from a tight angle.

Bornacoola, however, got on top in midfield with Conor Reynolds taking a return from a quick free to point before adding a free. Sean McNabola converted a free but Bornacoola got a huge boost when Damian Moran leathered two huge two pointers before Ronan Mulligan tied the scores after 25 minutes.

Darren Cox edged Annaduff back in front but a Conor Reynolds free left it level at 0-9 apiece at halftime and a buoyant Bornacoola surged in front with Ronan Mulligan landing three excellent points in the first six minutes of the second half, Annaduff keeper Shane Cox making a vital save to deny a goal bound Conor Reynolds after a great move.

Sub Kyle Russell, barely a minute on the field, hit back with an Annaduff point and a free from McNabola and a good Senan Mooney score after good work from Cox and Dillon Keane tied the scores after 41 minutes.

The tide of the game changed swiftly – Conor Reynolds (free) and Ronan Mulligan edged Bornacoola two in front as Annaduff missed chances, including a Russell goal chance but the Bors had a set-back when Keelan Lyons was sin-binned for blocking Cox off the ball.

Darren Cox landed a massive two point free to level the game after 51 minutes but Bornacoola hit back with another huge Mulligan point, set up by good work from Conor Reynolds, Shane & Cian Mallon in a lovely incisive move.

But a huge turnover by Dillon Keane and quick free released Kenny Cox who fed the ball over the defence for sub Alan Glancy to drill a low shot to the Bornacoola net and, more importantly, a two point lead.

Bornacoola weren’t about to lie down and from the kickout, they worked the ball to sub Sean Muldowney for an excellent point before Damian Moran hit his third two pointer of the game to edge the Bors back in front, a lead that didn’t last long as Kyle Russell battled his way through tackles to score an equaliser.

Annaduff went in front with a Darren Cox point but Conor Reynolds equalised before a free in the first minute of added time put Bornacoola in front. Annaduff forced a late equaliser thanks to a Darren Cox free but it could have been much more, Cox claiming a mark but seeing his goal bound shot smoothered by keeper Daniel Farrell.

Cox did take the mark quickly, planting the ball in the net but referee McGirl pulled play back and Cox tapped over to ensure both sides got something out of an enthralling encounter.

ANNADUFF

Scorers: Darren Cox 0-8, tpf, tp, 3f; Sean McNabola 0-4, tpf, 2f; Alan Glancy 1-0; Senan Mooney & Kyle Russell 0-2 each; Eoin Gill 0-1

Team: Shane Cox, Keelan Lynch, Conor Reynolds, Luke Fitzsimons, Eoghan Ridge, Dillon Keane, Shane Morrison, Dan Bosquette, Eoin Gill, Jason Ward, Darren Cox, Rossa O’Shea, Sean McNabola, Jack Hughes, Senan Mooney. Subs: Kenny Cox for Fitzsimons (34); Kyle Russell for Hughes (36); Alan Glancy for S McNabola (49); Frank McNabola for Mooney (59)

BORNACOOLA

Scorers: Conor Reynolds 0-7, 5f; Damian Moran (3 tp) & Ronan Mulligan 0-6 each; Sean Muldowney 0-1

Team: Daniel Farrell, John McGarry, Jake Shields, Brian Duffy, Allan Croghan, Kevin Mulligan, Sean O’Riordan, Damian Moran, Liam Jones, Robert O’Beirne, Anthony Mulligan, Kealan Lyons, Ronan Mulligan, Cian Mallon, Conor Reynolds. Subs: Shane Mallon for McGarry (22); Jonathan Boyle for K Mulligan (35); Kian McCormack for Jones (49); Sean Muldowney for O’Beirne (53); Mervyn Howard for O’Riordan (61)

Referee: Michael McGirl