Cloonacool are caught cold
Connacht Gold Jnr ‘A’ C’ship Semi-Final
Cloonacool 1-5
Shamrock Gaels 0-9
S
HAMROCK Gaels copied the stunning comeback example set by St Molaise Gaels the day before. A gritty one-point defeat of Cloonacool last Sunday, 0-9 to 1-5, in this slow-burner of a Connacht Gold Junior ‘A’ Football Championship semi-final, puts the second XV of Shamrock Gaels into a county final. Last Saturday’s win for St Molaise Gaels over Owenmore Gaels, also in the semi-final of this competition, means that two second string but talented teams have progressed to the decider on Sunday week, October 9. Cloonacool have only themselves to blame here.
Despite a wonder goal from full-forward Hughie Marren as well as attacking industry from Rian Moylan plus Eoin Carty’s midfield toil, the south Sligo club failed to protect a four-point advantage.
Although leading 1-5 to 0-4 in the 46th minute when Rian Moylan belted over a stunning point, Cloonacool didn’t score again.
In the gloom, brought on by misty conditions, Shamrock Gaels got to work. While they may have waited until the 49th minute for their first score of the second-half – a superb point from Brian Boyd – the eventual winners registered another four points to get over the line by the narrowest of margins.
When Shamrock Gaels’ attack found both its feet and shooting boots, some of their scores were delightful. Seamus Hailstones found the target in style and Brian Boyd scored twice more – his third point was a mighty effort from the right side. This score, which put Shamrock Gaels in front for the first time since Dylan McKenna’s 18th minute point, came in the first minute of added time.
Brian Boyd’s other point was good, too, but what made this score stand out was work of two substitutes – Patrick Kenny’s length clearance upfield to Luke Flynn, who then gave the ball to Boyd to do his thing.
With five of their six starting forwards on target and Frank Quinn a useful target man – although Shamrock Gaels prospered when they varied their game – this was no smash and grab result from the winners. Could wasteful Cloonacool have done things differently? An early goal would have helped and with just 17 seconds on the clock Eoin Carty’s gallop on goal ended with an off target shot.
A scrappy opening half, with more mistakes than magic, was scoreless until a fine point by Cloonacool’s Conor Prendergast in the 15th minute. Shamrock Gaels then turned decisive – Frank Quinn pointed a free and was then involved in the canny move, along with Brian Boyd, that led to Dylan McKenna’s point.
Cloonacool were showing a greater attacking intent – a storming run by centre-back Oisin Grehan came to nothing – and they ruined copious amounts of possession by kicking nine first-half wides.
Such wastefulness is almost unforgivable.
The game’s only goal was a beautiful score. Eoin Carty transferred possession to Rian Moylan and his offload to Hughie Marren resulted in a spectacular finish – Shamrock Gaels goalkeeper Ultan McKenna, had no chance of saving it.
But this goal would prove to be the second of just two first-half scores from Cloonacool – a meagre return considering the amount of ball they had and opportunities created. Shamrock Gaels were hardly setting records in the scoring department but they reacted to Marren’s goal by kicking two points – Patrick Barrett and Stephen Willis were each on target with quality finishes.
Cloonacool, who were clinging on after establishing a four-point lead in the second-half, only kicked one wide in that second period.
Shamrock Gaels ended up with nine wides of their own, with six second-half misses to go along with three wasted shots in the first-half.
Player of the Match: Hughie Marren Shamrock Gaels: Ultan McKenna, John Craig (c), Declan Willis, Shane McCann, Patrick Barrett (0-1), Eoin O’Connell, Gavin McMorrow, Conor Merrick, Aaron McKenna, Conor Kearns, Brian Boyd (0-3), Dylan McKenna (0-1), Stephen Willis (0-2, 1f), Frank Quinn (0-1, 1f), Seamus Hailstones (0-1)
Subs used: Daire Kearns, Luke Flynn, Patrick Kenny, Joe Quinn
Cloonacool: Niall Brennan, Liam Carty, Fergus Leonard, Conor Gavigan, Padraig Murtagh, Oisin Grehan, Conor Prendergast (0-1), Eoin Carty, Jordan Brennan (c), Ronan Leonard, Jason Brennan, James Lawrence, Rian Moylan (0-1), Hughie Marren (1-3, 3f), Sean Carnahan
Sub used: Ciaran McIntyre
Referee: Ronan Hynes