Match of the Week: Late goal secures win for AGPFC

A GOAL with three minutes left on the clock, from Harkus Suigunskas, proved to be the winner when AGPFC met Dunshaughlin Youths on Esker Drive in this UCFL Premier Division clash on Saturday afternoon.

A game that looked destined to end in a draw was decided when Jamie Kelly pumped a huge free kick down the field from just outside his area, Suigunskas ran on to it and before a defender could close him down he smashed home.

It was a cruel blow to the visitors who had battled their way back into this game and could have easily got a share of the spoils, had James Rathigan’s last minute effort hit the target instead rolling inches wide.

This game got off to an explosive start with two goals inside the opening nine minutes, before dropping off and coming back to life after 25 minutes.

The visitors were first on the scoresheet, when Darren Beattie fired in a fierce shot from the edge of the area that Alan Cassidy could only parry into the path of Freddie Kavanagh, and he made no mistake from close range.

But their celebrations had barely died down when they found themselves pegged back, as Anthony Molloy played a ball over the defence and Suigunskas was on to it in a flash and slipped the ball home.

AGPFC scored in the final minutes of the match to take all three points.

The home side then went in front on 25 minutes after Ryan McLeonard won the ball in midfield, released Charlie Cooper and, in turn, he set up Jack Fitzgerald for number two.

For the following 20 minutes, and the first five minutes of the second half, it was all AGPFC, but they just couldn’t add that killer punch and 53 minutes were made pay as Rathigan brought the visitors level.

There were chances at both ends, but nothing clear cut, until Suigunskas delivered the killer blow in the dying minutes.

All in all a good game, considering both were missing players from their squads, so the return leg will be very interesting when they meet again.

AGPFC: A. Cassidy, J. Kelly, D. Gaffney, M. Carney, J. McEntee, R. McLeonard, C. Cooper, D. Connor, J. Fitzgerald, A. Molloy, H. Suigunskas., A. O’Kearney, L. Reid, S. Muir, L. Solamain.

DUNSHAUGHLIN YOUTHS: A. Lawlor, C. Hoey, E. O’Connor, N. Dundon, R. Walker, D. Benson, C. Heary, J. Rathigan, D. Beattie, F. Kavanagh, S. Joyce, C. O’Brien, P. Keane, D. Scott.

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