St Oliver Plunketts-Eoghan Ruadh 0-8 Ranelagh Gaels 1-4

RANELAGH Gaels dropped their first league points of the season in a disappointing AFL Division 8 defeat to St Oliver-Plunketts-Eoghan Ruadh on Sunday.

The Gaels could have won this game against the Junior C Championship holders, who played much of the second half with 14 men after one of their defenders saw red.

They had plenty of possession and chances in this game in the Phoenix Park, but getting the ball over the bar proved a problem and only two points were registered after the break.

It all started well with Enda Marren kicking a sweet early point and this was followed by even better when Paul O’Mahony got the game’s only goal to give the visitors a great platform.

But Plunketts started to work their way back into the game and they were able to pick off their scores more easily. By the break the sides were level – 1-2 to 0-5.

After the change of ends on a sunny but breezy day in the 15 Acres Ranelagh virtually owned the ball, but they couldn’t make this count in terms of scores.

The Gaels really got a grip on this game in terms of territory and possession once they had the spare man but there was only frustration in front of goals.

There were plenty of positives to come out of this game however, not least of which was the way the Gaels outplayed the Junior C champions for long stages.

The weekend also marked the return to action of a number of regulars who had missed the early part of the season due to injury, thus strengthening manager Liam O’Hagan’s hand.

Fullback Martin Egan, midfielder and captain Brian Regan and wing forward Enda Marren all started while Denis Doolan was thrown on at full forward late on in the desperate late search for a goal.