Clann na nGael 6-13  Kilmainham 1-10

The winter jackets were out yet again, on what was a blustery afternoon in Boardsmill. Clann na nGael and Kilmainham went head-to-head to see who took the all-important second position in group C of the Balreask Arms Junior Football Championship.

The strong breeze made life awkward for both teams, with the first fifteen minutes of the tie being strung with errors. Darragh Griffin opened the shooting with a bad wide for Clann na nGael, with the ball and ground appearing to be greasy, as players from both sides fumbled on plenty of occasions. Clann na nGael were the first side to get on the score sheet, as Ben Corkery slotted over his first free of the match. Dylan Morgan replied quickly, slotting a free of his own for Kilmainham, before Liam Kelleher did well to win a free which was once again slotted over by Corkery.

The following five minutes were riddled with errors, with Clann’s forwards dropping three efforts short, and Morgan also dropping a free short for Kilmainham, which was well dealt with by the Ráth Chairn man in the nets, Eoin Griffin. Former Meath stalwart, Mickey Newman scored a well taken free to tie the sides level after 12 minutes. However, the sloppiness continued, with both teams wasting opportunities, until Diarmuid O’Donnachadha made a blistering run through the Kilmainham defence in the 18th minute. His effort was well saved by the Kilmainham goalkeeper, but Liam Kelleher was in the right place at the right time, finishing off the rebound to score the first of Clann’s goals. Kilmainham replied with a score of their own, before Eamon O’Donnchadha got his first of the afternoon. Kilmainham broke again, and some quick passing led to a goal chance, but Eoin Griffin who looked comfortable made a good save, which eventually led to a point for Kilmainham.

With Clann’s lead cut to one, Eoin Griffin found his cousin Darragh with a kickout, who made a blistering run through the middle of the park. Griffin played it to Corkery, who’s direct running caused havoc all afternoon. Corkery turned the pace on, put the head down and riffled the ball into the top-left corner from 25 yards out to put five between the sides. Darragh Reilly, who did an excellent job marking Mickey Newman, created another turnover, getting the ball up the field before Darragh Griffin was fouled on the sideline. Clann called on Eoin Griffin to march down the field to take the toughly angled free, which he slotted over the bar.

Clann na nGael practically killed the tie just before half time, as Paul Tuite who was excellent throughout, made a dangerous break, before Eamon O’Donnchadha buried the ball to the back of the net to put Clann 8 points clear. Mickey Newman kicked a 45’ for Kilmainham before Cian Swaine ended the half with a lovely point from play to keep the gap at 8.

Kilmainham started the second half quickly and were very unlucky not to have a goal of their own. Griffin made a good save from the first effort, before the rebound fell to Newman who cracked the crossbar with a powerful effort, which resulted in a point. Clann responded with a point of their own, a well taken 45’ by Jack Doherty. Ben Corkery added yet another free to his final tally of 1-06, before Kilmainham broke and scored again. This tit for tat scoring lasted for another ten minutes, with Kilmainham struggling to lower the gap below 8-points, the advantage Clann brought in at half time.

With 20 minutes left Thomas Doyle and Corkery quickly slotted two free’s over the bar to put 9 between the sides, with an excellent Diarmuid O’Donnchadha break setting up the later of them. Kilmainham needed a goal of their own, and in the strangest of circumstances, they got one. A long ball in caught Eoin Griffin completely off guard, bouncing on the 13-yard line and flying over his head into the corner of the net. A minute later, Newman had a chance to cut the gap to just 5 points, but his effort from a 45’ went narrowly wide.

Griffin got the resulting kickout off the mark fast, and Eoin Kelleher made an excellent run down the middle. Kelleher gave the ball to Thomas Doyle, who found himself through on goal, but he unselfishly fist passed the ball across the box, where Seán Óg Tiernan palmed the ball into the back of the net. Less than a minute later, Tiernan found himself on front of goal yet again, burying the ball into the left side of the goal to completely seal the tie. Eamon O’Donnchadha kicked two more points from play in the final ten minutes, before Clann stalwart Darren Kelly let himself free from centre-half back and slotted the ball into the bottom corner with the last kick of the game.

In what started as a cagey affair, Clann na nGael found their feet and played some excellent football in what turned out to be a straightforward win. Best for Clann were Ben Corkery, Paul Tuite, Eoin Kelleher, Darragh Reilly, Eamon O’Donnchadha and Ógi Tiernan.

With second place in the group secured, Clann na nGael will play in the quarter final in two weeks’ time.

Clann na nGael: 1. Eoin Griffin (0-01f), 2. Phillip Garry, 3. Darren Kelly (1-00), 4. Darragh Reilly, 22. Thomas Doyle (0-01f), 6. Jack Doherty (0-01, 45’), 7. Diarmaid O’Donnchadha, 8. Cian Swaine (0-01), 9. Eoin Kelleher, 10. Seán Óg Tiernan (2-00), 11. Darragh Griffin, 12. Ben Corkery (1-06 (0-04f)), 13. Liam Kelleher (1-00), 14. Eamon O’Donnchadha (1-03), 15. Paul Tuite

Subs:

Darragh Swaine (19) for Liam Kelleher (13), Aaron Ennis (18) for Darragh Griffin (11), Willie Gleeson (26) for Paul Tuite (15). 

 

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