Clyda ease past Ballyclough to set up final meeting with Kildorrery and Kilshannig
Clyda Rovers 1-10 Ballyclough 0-5
CLYDA Rovers emerged deserving winners over Ballyclough in the JBFC(2) semi-final at Killavullen on Wednesday.
Conor Crowley opened the winner’s tally with an early pointed free. Joe Joe Noonan levelled from a free in the 5th minute. Both sides were off target. Clyda had points in the 15th and 17th minutes by Conor Crowley and Adam Walsh as they moved 0-3 to 0-1 ahead. Rovers keeper Gearoid O’Shea made some excellent saves throughout the second quarter as Ballyclough piled on the pressure. Gavin Carey had a very good point for Clyda in the 22nd minute. Timmy Murphy was denied by Gearoid O’Shea in the closing moments as the winners held an interval lead 0-4 to 0-2.
Ballyclough made a number of changes for the second half they moved substitute Dylan Hyland into goal with John Finnegan going to full forward. Good play by Joe Joe Noonan led to a well executed point by Jimmy O’Shea. Clyda dominated from here on. Their full backs Sean O’Connor, Eamon Doherty and Cathal Green were in great form. They brought on Matthew McEntee who did very well. Points by Adam Walsh (2) and Tim Buckley made it 0-7 to 0-3 by the 48th minute.
Liam Fitzgerald kicked a very good point for Ballyclough Clyda Rovers finished very strong. Jack Phelan had two points with Adam Walsh (free) making it 0-10 to 0-4 after 55 minutes. Jimmy O’Shea had a late pointed free for Ballyclough. In injury time Mark O’Sullivan worked well with Matthew McEntee who placed Tim Buckley for a goal that was followed by the final whistle.
Clyda now await the winner of the other semi-final between Kildorrery and Kilshannig. CLYDA ROVERS: G O’Shea, S O’Connor, E Doherty, C Green, P Forde, G Carey 0-1, D Fitzgerald, C O’Connell, K Crowley, J Phelan 0-2, C Crowley 0-2 (0-1f), A Walsh 0-4 (0-3f), D O’Sullivan, T Buckley 1-1, C Roche. Subs: M McEntee for C Roche, D Flanagan for D O’Sullivan, S Kelly for C Crowley, G O’Hanlon for P Forde, E Sheehan for A Walsh, M O’Sullivan for K Crowley.
BALLYCLOUGH: J Finnegan, D O’Neill, D Fitzgerald, J Bolster, P Cotter, D O’Connell, M Murphy, J O’Shea 0-2 (1f), J J Noonan 0-2f, D McCarthy-O’Sullivan J Clifford, T McAuliffe, K Finnegan, L Fitzgerald 0-1, T Murphy. Subs: D Hyland for J Bolster, L Fitzgerald for T Murphy, D Jones for K Finnegan, T Murphy for M Murphy, K Finnegan for L Fitzgerald,
REFEREE: Michael Sheehan (Liscarroll)