Seniors Extend Winning Streak to 6 Games

26 May 2009

ACL Div 2 Maghery Sean Mac Dermott's v Silverbridge Harps

This Div 2 fixture was played in perfect conditions at Felix Hamill Park amid a colourful display of blue and yellow, club colours of both teams. It was a game that lacked much atmosphere or a sense of urgency overall, and was indeed slow to ignite.

Spectators were kept waiting until the 13th minute for the first score, after both teams registered numerous wides and Maghery's Aidan Forker had a goal disallowed. When it did come however, it came in the shape of a Seamus Forker point. He sent over Maghery's first after a lively Shea Robinson was fouled and took a quick free to Forker who in turn split the posts from about 30 yards out.

The captain was the scorer of the next point too, this time a free resulting from a foul on Paul Forker. Ronan Lappin then got in on the action and when he fielded well in the middle of the park, Paul Forker was on hand to collect the big midfielder's pass and sent over an excellent point from play for the MacDermott's, giving them a three point to no score lead entering the second quarter.

Maghery’s defence was again very good, goalkeeper Kieran Fox, full back Eamon Toye and corner back Seamus Mc Conville putting in solid displays when high balls were pumped in towards their square. However, sustained Silverbridge pressure resulted in the visitors winning a free and converting for their first score in the 19th minute. Outfield Maghery’s Stephen Fox was winning good ball from the kick outs, and when his pass found Shea Tennyson upfront, Tennyson fisted to an on-running Ronan Lappin who fired over another Maghery point, the MacDermott’s fourth of the game.

Centre-half back Stephen Cusack then got his name on the score sheet, hitting over two, before Silverbridge converted a second free in the 27th minute. Just before the half time whistle blew, the south Armagh team found themselves reduced to 14 men when their number 12 was dismissed for a foul on Aidan Forker.

HALF TIME SCORE: MAGHERY 0 – 6,  SILVERBRIDGE 0 – 2.

Resumption of play saw both sides exchange scores, 2 points a-piece. Then Eamybo Cusack swung over for Maghery from a tight angle way out on the right hand wing in the 8th minute, to advance the home sides tally to nine. Silverbridge kept in touch with a free four minutes later and another from play in the 16th minute, and there were 3 in it.

Conor Forker then scored an inspirational point for the loughsiders a minute later. His point was the end result of a great Maghery move, involving the two Cusack brothers, Paul Forker and Seamus Forker. It seemed to settle the homeside and spur them on to producing the excellent flow of football we’ve witnessed to date from them this season. Seamus Forker sent over another two in a row for the boys in blue and yellow, and their lead was extended to 6.

The north Armagh hosts now seemed to be experiencing the benefit of the extra man, and Stephen Cusack scored a superb individual point in the 19th minute after collecting the Silverbridge kick out and soloing down towards their posts, sending over his sides 13th score. Substitute Michael Robinson clocked up another for Maghery on the ‘Fox Scoreboard’, when he drove over a magnificent point from out on the left wing.

The visitors notched up another score in the 24th minute with a well taken free. But when Stephen Fox was abruptly halted while clearing the ball out of the Maghery back line a minute later, Seamus Forker’s free kick from where the ball landed counted as the MacDermott’s 15th, with 5 minutes left on the clock. The visitors kept battling and a flurry of activity in the Maghery square resulted in a Silverbridge penalty being awarded and subsequently scored, leaving 5 between the sides and 4 minutes of play remaining.

The home side kept battling too, however, and when Stephen Cusack connected with cousin Seamus Forker, he popped the ball unto Conor Forker who picked out his younger cousin Aidan making a run towards the goals. And the youngest of the Forker clan showed great confidence and skill, making no mistake in blasting the ball to the back of the nets, sealing another comprehensive league win for the MacDermott’s.

FULL TIME SCORE: MAGHERY 1 – 15,  SILVERBRIDGE  1 – 07.