Cloughbawn’s late show

CLOUGHBAWN REALT NA MARA 4-10 3-8

A FRANTIC last ten minutes which saw Cloughbawn score four goals was the highlight of this Joyces Expert Intermediate ‘A’ football championship Group A game in Oylegate on Sunday.

In a tense encounter in which the referee had to be on this toes to manage, Cloughbawn finished strongly to run out five-point winners.

Cloughbawn made the early running and could have had a couple of goal chances, but Réalt na Mara goalkeeper Kiran Gigi made some smart saves.

Réalt na Mara were guilty of some wayward shooting early on but they burst into life in the 16th minute when Johnny Sinnott was on the end of a sweeping move to find the net and put them ahead by 1-1 to 0-1.

There were some big hits in the opening period and a lot off-the-ball tussles but not much quality play.

Cloughbawn wing-back Gavin Murphy did his best to inject some life into the game with an excellent run and point in the 25th minute, and as the half-time whistle went Réalt na Mara were ahead by 1-4 to 0-4.

The second period began with a Patrick Naughter free, and ten minutes in the Gorey District side got their second goal when Shane Quinn was on hand to tap in after the Cloughbawn goalkeeper fumbled a high ball, putting his team five points ahead.

The game turned with eight minutes to play when Cloughbawn were awarded a penalty which full-forward Martin Kehoe expertly converted to narrow the gap to two points.

Cloughbawn then made it a one-point game and, with the final whistle approaching, Colm Kehoe went on a superb run and found Páidí Kehoe who buried a shot in the top corner to put them 2-10 to 2-8 in front.

The madness did not end there though, and there was still time for Martin Kehoe and Bob Whitty to find the net for Cloughbawn and Patrick Naughter to get a consolation goal for Réalt na Mara, with the Enniscorthy District side snatching victory on a final scoreline of 4-10 to 3-8 to move on to four points.

Cloughbawn: Paul Foley; James Dempsey, Colin Doyle, Aaron Byrne; Harry Kehoe (0-1), Johnny Cullen, Gavin Murphy (0-2); David Doyle-Murphy, Barry Kehoe; Luke Cummins, Colm Kehoe (0-1 ‘45), Stephen Dooley; Bob Whitty (1-2), Martin Kehoe (2-4, 1-0 pen., 0-2 frees), Páidí Cullen. Subs. - Páidí Kehoe (1-0) for P. Cullen, inj. (26), Kyle Murphy for Dempsey (30).

Réalt na Mara: Kiran Gigi; Eddie Redmond, Seamus Doyle (0-1), Aidan Murphy; John Doyle, Colm Cosgrave, Johnny Sinnott (1-0); Colm Kennelly, Stephen Redmond; David Doran, Killian Doyle, Adam Fleming; Seán O’Brien (0-1), Patrick Naughter (1-5, 1-4 frees), Shane Quinn (1-1). Subs. - Jimmy Murphy for Fleming (53), Harry Byrne for Sinnott (57), Eoin Corcoran for Quinn (58).

Referee: Mick Lanigan (Shelmaliers).