Clann na nGael 1-7 Moylagh 1-6

Bhí chuile duine ag súil go mhór leis an gcluiche in aghaidh Maolach inniu, ach níor maireachtáil an gcluiche suas go dtí ionchais an lucht féachanna. Bhí na dá foireann caifeach os comhair na gcúl agus bhí siad diomailteach le pasana búnusach. Bhí an t-ádh le Clann na nGael sa déire agus fuair siad amach as príosún leis an bua. 

Moylagh and Clann Na nGael have created a small rivalry over the past few years with the sides meeting four times throughout the 2019 campaign. Moylagh clinched victory in both League fixtures, including the League final in Pairc Táilteann that July, but it was Clann who claimed the Junior Championship following a replay in Ashbourne. 

Moylagh started this game the brightest and forced Ráth Cairn man Eoin Griffin into a spectacular save after three minutes. The game however took on a very defensive approach as Moylagh held onto the ball in their own half and attempted to draw Clann Na nGael onto them.  This resulted in a very low scoring first quarter with both sides kicking wides and no scores being registered in the first 10 minutes.  

Moylagh finally broke the deadlock with a point from a 13th minute free and Clann went into the water break losing by the minimum, a point to no score.

Clann Na nGael pushed up after the water break, increasing the pressure on Moylagh and refusing to allow them easy possession in their own half. This succeeded in creating several scoring opportunities, but they were unable to take advantage of them and kicked some poor wides from good positions.  

Moylagh slotted another free after 20 minutes and Clann responded with the first point from play after 23 minutes with a good score by Diarmuid O’Donnchadha.

Darragh Swaine who battled hard and despite having limited space managed to tag on another score soon after. Clann had started to get forward a bit more but Moylagh were working hard to prevent them from getting into the ideal scoring zone.

Moylagh continued to hold the ball in their own half until their corner back, Shane Gibney broke forward at pace and was denied by some excellent Clann Na nGael defending to prevent what would have been a certain chance on goal.  The Athboy / Ráth Cairn outfit went on to kick two more wides before Éamon O’Donnchadha and a Jack Doherty  free put Clann Na nGael four points to two ahead.   Moylagh were awarded a free five minutes into injury time which they converted to leave one point between the sides at half time. Clann na nGael’s wide tally had reached eight by the end of the half, summing up how frustrating things had been for them. 

Clann started the second half the brightest with Micheál O’Coffaigh making an excellent run up the field from wing back to fist the ball over the bar.  Moylagh quickly replied with a point of their own before disaster struck for Clann, as Moylagh broke quickly and slotted away their goal chance to make it a four-point game going into the second water break. 

Moylagh kicked their next score with 49 minutes on the clock, but this was their last score as they tried to hold onto their lead and restrict Clann Na nGaels scoring opportunities. Darragh Swaine kicked another lovely point with eight minutes of normal time remaining and kicked another to make it a two-point game going into additional time. Eight minutes of added time were played due to the stop start nature of the game and number of players who needed treatment on the pitch in the second half.    

Cian Swaine had a half chance five minutes into added time, but it wasn’t until the dying moments of the game when Clann finally made their move. A high ball into the square was caught excellently by Darragh Griffin who was dragged down resulting in a clear penalty. Ryan McNamee took responsibility for the penalty kick, as he was informed by the referee that it would be the last kick of the game. Despite many distractions and a delay of about two minutes before the penalty could be taken, he dispatched the ball into the top right corner of the net and ensured that Clann Na nGael got out of Ballinlough with a win.

This was a hard-fought win by Clann Na nGael with an impressive determination to continue playing to the final whistle by the entire team.  

Clann na nGael: 1, E.Griffin, 2. Killian Swaine, 3. Darren Kelly, 4. Carl Kelly, 5. Ryan Mc Namee (1-0Pen), 6. Jack Doherty (0-1F), 7. Micheál O’Coffaigh (0-1), 8. Cian Swaine, 9. Diarmuid O’Donnchadha (0-1), 10. Luke Swaine, 11. Phillip Garry, 12. Éamon O’Donnachadha (0-1), 13. Sam Black, 14. Darragh Swaine (0-3), 15. Tómas Doyle

Subs: Darragh Griffin for Phillip Garry, Gerry O’Sullivan for Luke Swaine, Paul Tuite for Carl Kelly.

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