Anne’s turn fortunes around to top league
By Hayden Moore
AFTER narrowly escaping the clutches of relegation last year, St Anne’s have completely reversed their fortunes by going 13 games unbeaten to ultimately capture the Adult Football League Division Seven crown.
The Bohernabreena side produced a superb display to claim the title with two games to spare as they beat Scoil Ui Chonaill 11-11 to 2-10 at home and rocketed their goals tally to 63 for the season.
St Anne’s AFL Seven team went from just avoiding relegation last year to being crown champs
Former intercounty player Daniel Watson was on hand to kick a huge 4-4 salvo but Jamie O’Neill, in his first senior season, also managed 2-1 to see his side over the line.
Also registering goals were Gerry Doyle, Aaron Shanahan (2), Stephen Turner and Philly Robinson while Adam Doran, Dylan Nevins and Craig McKeon struck over the bar with their efforts.
The Bohernabreena club staved off their seeming impending relegation last year by going on a run of three wins and one draw in their last five games and have built on that form since.
The management team of Alan McAnally and Johnny Flood put together a blend of experience through the likes of Watson, Doran and Shanahan, and youth with the highly influential O’Neill and Nevins coming into the fray from minor.
Speaking to The Echo after their massive coup, player trainer Adam Doran spoke of how the panel just clicked this season and how they are not stopping there.
“That blend has just worked very well for us this year,” he said.
“We fought tooth and nail last year in AFL7 to actually remain in the league. We just avoided relegation and we went on a four or five game unbeaten run at the end of last year to keep us in the league. Since then we haven’t stopped.
“We’re about 14 months unbeaten in the league and we do intend on going unbeaten for the entire season. We intend on taking 15 games out of 15 and getting those 30 points.
“We’re not sure that a team in Anne’s has ever done this in an adult league season, so, that’s something that we’re striving to achieve.”
Next up for Anne’s is a trip to Innisfails on Sunday August 18 before their home-coming on September 1, when they host Kilmacud Crokes in their final game of the season.
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