SHIELD SUCCESS
Gusserane/Clongeen in mighty form
CLUAIN O’RAHILLY’S MONAGEER-B’VOGUE 5-11 2-4
CLUAIN O’RAHILLY’S powered past Monageer-Boolavogue with a devastating brand of attacking football to claim the New Ross Standard Under-14 football Division 2 shield in St. Patrick’s Park on Monday of last week.
The Gusserane/Clongeen combination were seriously unlucky to drop out of the Division 3 championship, after putting it up to a talented Oylegate-Glenbrien in a close, competitive quarter-final encounter.
They lost that game by just two points but that defeat has certainly galvanised the New Ross District side and they bounced back with two fine performances on their way to this shield success.
In truth, they were dominant in this game. They had two gems of attackers in Shane Culleton and Dean Sinnott, and both made the art of goalscoring look like a formality.
With those around and behind the duo adept at providing the ammunition, Clúain O’Rahilly’s were simply unstoppable.
Monageer-Boolavogue almost certainly their Division 4 hurling championship final against Duffry Rovers, scheduled just six days after this decider, in the back of their minds as their main goal.
Getting off to a slow start didn’t help their focus either. Fionn Mullally, Sinnott and Michael Mulligan all had scores on the board when hot-shot Sinnott netted the first major of the tie.
Dylan Brady had no chance with that goal, or the two rockets scored by Culleton to make it 3-3 to 0-1.
Eoin Gahan was a constant source of attacking intent at the other end. He registered two superb points to give Monageer-Boolavogue a little confidence going in at the break (3-4 to 0-3).
Yet, it was Clúain O’Rahilly’s who started the second-half on the front foot.
Sinnott completed his treble with two quick goals, while points from Jack Rossiter, Shane Ryan and Culleton increased the advantage to 19.
Showing unbelieveable resolve, Monageer-Boolavogue pulled a goal back when Eoin Dolan rattled the net after James Donnelly’s initial shot was blocked.
Ryan Collier created a major for Patrick Redmond as the gap narrowed further.
Cormac Kiely popped over a classy point while Liam Burke hit the target for the champs too.
Fighting until the end, Jason Breen rounded out the scoring for Monageer-Boolavogue but there’s no denying that it was Clúain O’Rahilly’s night in foggy Enniscorthy as they headed for home with the shield.
Clúain O’Rahilly’s: Bryan Hopkins; Cathal Murphy, Seán Whelan, John Whelan; Eoin Power, Michael Mulligan (0-1), Patrick Finn; Michael Dundon, Adam Whelan; Fionn Mullally (0-2), Shane Ryan (0-2), Cormac Kiely (01); Eoghan Twomey, Shane Culleton (capt., 2-2), Dean Sinnott (3-1). Subs. (rolling) - Jack Rossiter (0-1), Luke Murphy, Liam Burke (0-1), Jack Roche, Jack Boyd, Martin Doyle, Darragh Donnelly, Eoghan Stafford, Paul Murphy, Keith Kelly, Ryan O’Grady, Seán Whelan (inj.).
Monageer-Boolavogue: Dylan Brady; Joe Ivory, Alan O’Neill, Killian Murphy; Rúairí Lacey, Darren Kelly, T.J. Breen; Eoin Doran (1-0), Eoin Gahan (0-3, 1 free); Jason Breen (0-1), Fionn Walsh, Patrick Redmond (1-0); James Donnelly, Ian Rigley, James De Lacey. Subs. (rolling) - Ben Rossiter, Fionn O’Leary, Jim Gahan, Ryan Collier, James Donnelly, Johnny O’Brien, Niall Dolan, Evan Pender, Conan Carthy.
Referee: Damien Donovan (Volunteers).