Morgan and Quinn give the Comrades their first win of the season
Second half strikes from Michael Morgan and Conor Quinn gave us our first win of the season after a testing week.
On a day where the weather couldn’t make up its mind if it was summer or winter, the game started at a good pace, with both teams trying to get on the front foot. Annagh United managed to get the early lead after a cross field ball found Teggart free on the left hand side of the box, and he fired past Walker after 10 minutes. After this we weathered the storm, both literally and on the pitch, as Annagh continued to press forward looking for second. As the half progressed, we had a number of half chances, with Brian Healy shooting from distance testing their keeper, and Bryce Gray coming close. Half time score 1-0 to Annagh.
The second half was barely going before Michael Morgan picked up the ball just inside the Annagh half, and drove at the defence, before unleashing a shot that came off the underside of the bar and nestled in far corner of the net. It was the tonic that the Comrades needed, and we started to take control of the battles all over the pitch. In what was a very entertaining second half, neither team were settling for the draw, and on 60 minutes Morgan went on another run beating 3 men on the edge of the Annagh box before having the ball nicked away just as he was about to strike. We continued to press forward with Healy going close. Caolán Donnelly returned from injury replacing Michael Mervyn and Conor Quinn came on for Bryce Gray as we went to 4 at the back. It proved to be the match winning decision, with Quinn picking up the ball on 80 mins and firing it low past Craughwell to turn the game around, scoring his first goal for the club after his summer move.
Annagh threw everything at us, but the defence stood strong, and young Jack Johnston came on for his senior competitive debut in place of Morgan to give us fresh legs in front of the back 4. A late penalty shout for Annagh was rightly waved away, and the final whistle blew signalling our first win of the season, in front of the cheering Dixon Park crowd.
After a stormy week, on a day where the sun shone, and the rain drove hard, the Comrades weathered it all, and took a valuable 3 points.
Man of the Match: Michael Morgan
A big thank you to our match sponsor Fleming & Cuthbert Funeral Directors, and ball sponsor Country Diner Catering.
