The Numbers View – Annaghmore v Sarsfields

Annaghmore v Sarsfields

Senior Championship Qualifier Round 1 – 25-08-17

Sarsfields and Annaghmore couldn’t be separated as they played out a 2-15 to 3-12 draw, after extra time. Sarsfields netting late on in both normal time and extra time to earn themselves a draw. Annaghmore will see this as one they throw away however, as they led the game 2-15 to 2-12 before an Eamon McGeown goal in the final seconds of extra time drew the game.

Sarsfields started confidently with points from Eamon McGeown (2) and Michael Stevenson, to march into a 3 point lead, two of which came from winning the Annaghmore kick outs, as they won 100% of their opposition’s 4 restarts. Annaghmore responded with 2 points from their opening 2 shots through Conor Cullen and the influential Oisin Mac Iomhair.

The Annaghmore defence began to get on top as they turned over 50% of Sarsfields attacks in the first 10 minutes. Another Oisin Mac Iomhair score levelled the game before Michael Stevenson edged Sarsfields in front 0-4 to 0-3, with 2 of their scores originating from turnovers. Mac Iomhair then struck for the third time before Sarsfields hit a purple patch in the final 5 minutes of the half, scoring 1-2 during this time.

Sarsfields continued to dictate the midfield battle as 1-1 of their final scores came from Annaghmore kick outs, winning 75% of Annaghmore’s kickout in the first half. A Paul McGaughey goal split points from Eamon McGeown and Sean McAlinden to leave Sarsfields 1-6 to 0-4 ahead at the half time break.

1st Half Overview

Although Annaghmore only won 3 of their 12 restarts in the first half, two of them ended with scores. They had 9 shots on goal in the opening 30 minutes, with a 44% shot accuracy along with 2 wides while dropping 2 short. The other 2 points from Annaghmore initiated from turnovers, as they had 17 turnovers, 15 of which occurred in their defensive third, while only conceding one foul in their defensive third of the field during the first half.

Sarsfields shot accuracy was slightly better than their opponents; 47% of their 15 shots being converted into scores. Their conversion rate was poor considering they had 27 attacks. They kicked 5 wides and dropped 3 shots short.

2nd Half

Sarsfields’ good form continued into the second period, a goal line clearance from Annaghmore’s Michael Devlin kept his side in the game. They did however win the resulting kick out as Paul McGeown opened his account with a long range effort, although his side would not score again for another 18 minutes.

Annaghmore reduced the deficit to 5 with a Daniel McGilly point before a Matthew McNeice save started a counter attack which produced a Matthew Willis point. Annaghmore then reduced the margin to the minimum with a goal coming from the resulting kick out. A scramble in the Sarsfields 6 yard box saw Eoin Walsh hit the ball to the net before another Oisin Mac Iomhair point left the score 1-7 each.

Two more Annaghmore scores from Matthew Willis and Neil McConville put their side 2 up with 4 scores of their overall tally coming from winning Sarsfields kick outs. A Michael Stevenson point brought Sarsfields back into the game, leaving their shot accuracy at 43% from 21 shots.

Similarly Annaghmore converted 42% of their 26 shots, having 33 attacks throughout the game. Their next shot looked to have confirmed victory when Oisin Mac Iomhair scored his side’s second goal from a counter attack. Following Sarsfields being turned over in attack, meaning 4 scores of Annaghmore’s 2-9 came from turnovers.

Sarsfields had a chance to score a second goal but had to settle for a point with Christopher McGaughey converting a 45 after a save from Matthew McNeice. However they did not have to wait long as they soon had McNeice picking the ball out of his net after Michel McKenna palmed home a goal to level the score 2-9 a piece at full time.

Normal Time Overview

Annaghmore improved dramatically in the middle of the park in the second half, winning 75% of their own kick outs, while winning 8/12 of Sarsfields restarts, producing 7 scores of their 2-9. Their other 4 scores came from turnovers, with a total of 23 turnovers coming in their own defence.

Sarsfields main source of scores was turnovers; 7 in total, 3 coming from Annaghmore kickouts and 1 from a throw up. Sarsfields had 45 attacks throughout the hour with 21 coming up the right hand side. From the 45 attacks they had 27 shots with 41% of these converted to scores.

Extra Time

Oisin Mac Iomhair seemed to inspire his team to victory with 3 points at the start of the first half of extra time. Sarsfields substitute Caoimhin Robinson pointed before Michael McQuade extended Annaghmore’s lead to three. Paul McGeown reduced the margin to 2 soon after to leave the half time score 2-13 to 2-11 with 10 minutes of extra time remaining.

A Paul McGeown point left Sarsfields within a one, though Annaghmore pushed on again with points from Martin Tennyson and Conor McCann to extend the lead to three. When an Annaghmore win seemed probable, Sarsfields had time to snatch a draw with a dramatic late goal from Eamon McGeown.

Full Time Overview

Sarsfields broke even from their own kick outs winning 50% of their 24 restarts. However this only provided them with 2 of their scores while 20% of their scores came from winning 11/23 Annaghmore kick outs. Both sides ended the game with 36 turnovers, while 9 of these produced scores for Sarsfields.

Annaghmore got 6 scores from turnovers, with 27 of the 36 coming in their own defence. Annaghmore played with great width during the game with 80% of their attacks coming down the wings, producing 37 shots. 46% of these shots were converted to scores, kicking 10 wides.

Annaghmore: Matthew McNeice, Michael Devln, Patrick McQuade, Neil McConville (0-1), Michael McNeice, Martin Tennyson (0-1), Daire McConville, Daniel McQuade, Michael McQuade (0-1), Eoin Walsh (1-0), Ciaran Mac Iomhair, Matthew Willis (0-2), Connor Cullen (0-1), Oisin Mac Iomhair (1-7), Conor McCann (0-1). Subs: Daniel McGilly (0-1) for M. Tennyson, Shea Reavey for C. Mac Iomhair, Paul Tennyson for D. McGilly, Caolan McGilly for C. Cullen, John McCormack for D. McConville, C. Mac Iomhair for D. McQuade.

Sarsfields: Christopher Scullion, James McAlinden, Peter Stevenson, Declan Breen, James Niblock, Sean McAlinden (0-1), Paul Magee, Brian Lavery, Christopher McGaughey (0-1), Michael Stevenson (0-3), Paul McGaughey (1-0), Eamon McGeown (1-3), Conor Creaney, Paul McGeown (0-3), Kevin O’Hagan. Subs: Brian Kerr for C. Creaney, Michel McKenna (1-0) for J.Niblock, Thomas McAlinden for K. O’Hagan, Caoimhin Robinson (0-1) for P. Magee.