O’Reilly guides super Clara Gaels to victory
at Rathnew CLARA GAELS 2-18 CLAN NA GAEL (AET) 2-16
CLARA GAELS won the under-13 ‘D’ Shield final in Rathnew last Saturday morning after an epic battle with a talented Clan na Gael outfit. The sides were only separated after extra-time with Clara coming back from a 12-point deficit during the first half of normal time.
Clan na Gael, aided by a stiff breeze, started excellently with three early points, the pick of which came from Daniel Moraghan who used the breeze to land from distance.
On 10 minutes Clara got their first point from Calem Nangle who turned on a sixpence before drilling over. The remainder of the half saw Clan na Gael dominate with full-back Sebastian Debairead snuffing out any threat inside and Charlie Ward being to the fore around the middle.
It was from a Ward free that Clanna Gael plundered their first goal. The talented midfielder floated a ball into the danger zone with Billy Mansfield rising highest to punch home.
Two Ward frees extended the lead before the second Clan na Gael goal. Great hassling from Michael Prendergast and Finn Kelly saw the ball squirm to Sean McDonald whose effort at a point hit the upright but corner-forward Liam Clarke reacted quickest to palm the rebound to the net.
When another Ward free and a delightful effort from Finn Kelly were added the scoreboard read Clan na Gael 2-7, Clara 0-1.
However, the fight back began for Clara at this point with Joseph Jacob and a long-range Aaron Conway effort closing the first half scoring.
Whatever was said at half-time must have worked a treat because Clara came out a transformed team in the second half. Nangle pointed immediately before finding Mark O’Reilly close to goal and the attacker rocketed a shot into the top corner of the Clan na Gael net.
Ward showed superb leadership to settle the Clan na Gael ship with two points from play.
However, Clara were looking more and more dangerous. A monstrous point from Gavin Cullen was added before the crucial second goal to bring Clara right back into it. Jacob fed Conway who jinked right and left before powering an effort low and hard past Clan na Gael keeper Daniel Corrigan.
Once more, Ward steadied Clan na Gael with a score, however a run of four Clara points, the pick of which was Conway’s from way out the field, tied things up going into injury time.
Sean McDonald pointed off the ground to edge Clan na Gael clear. However, silky corner-forward Jamie Townsend forced us into extra-time with a divine point from the right wing.
The first period of extra-time saw Clara lose a man to a red card and fail to take advantage of the wind as the six points were shared between the sides.
Against the breeze and a man down Clara needed a man to step up and that man was Mark O’Reilly.
After Ward nudged Clan na Gael ahead again with a free O’Reilly struck three in a four-minute spell, he then turned provider to set up Luke Joynt for an insurance point. Clan na Gael battled till the end; Prendergast forcing a fine save from Clara keeper Darcy Santos late on. But Clara held out for victory.
A tremendous game with Clan na Gael most unlucky to come up short. Finn Kelly, Liam Clarke and Ward were especially impressive for them.
Clara were immense after their slow start with Aaron Conway, Mark O’Reilly with his heroics in extra-time and Joe Jacob to the fore.
However, man of the match had to be Gavin Cullen.
- Clara Gaels: Mark O’Reilly 1-5, Aaron Conway 1-3, Gavin Cullen 0-4, Joseph Jacob 0-2, Calem Nangle 0-2, Luke Joynt 0-1, Jamie Townsend 0-1
Clan na Gael: Charlie Ward 0-8, Billy Mansfield 1-1, Daniel Moraghan 0-3, Liam Clarke 1-0 Sean McDonald 0-2, Finn Kelly 0-1, Michael Prendergast 0-1
Darcy Santos; Aaron Conway, Taylor Delamere, Joseph Jacob; Gavin Cullen, Calem Nangle, Luke Joynt; Jamie Townsend, Sean Dunne, Oscar Dowling; Kevin Dunne, Naoise Wheeler, Mark O’Reilly; Alex Bailey Johnson, Leon Bolton, Jamie Kennedy, Jake Manley
Scorers CLARA GAELS:
Daniel Corrigan; Tony Prendergast, Sebastian Debairead, Reece Bradshaw; Ben Maguire, Daniel Moraghan, Finn Kelly; Ben Morgan, Charlie Ward; Michael Prendergast, Sean McDonald, Jamie McGolderick; Cian Power, Billy Mansfield, Alex Condon, Liam Clarke
CLAN NA GAEL: REFEREE:
Trevor Culbert (Rathnew)