MFC Div 3 final: Title for Carnlough after titanic battle

Eoin Ennis gains possession for Carnlough Gaels during the MFC Division 3 final against Clonard at Dunganny

Carnlough Gaels 2-00-16 (22) Clonard 3-02-06 (19)

Carnlough Gaels and Clonard met on a drizzly wet Tuesday evening in Dunganny, the game originally fixed for Thursday evening but brought forward to Tuesday for reasons only known to the powers that be, but it mattered naught as both sides put on an enthralling display with Carnlough Gaels coming out on top in a titanic battle after extra time. PHOTOS

It was actually Clonard who came out of the blocks fastest with a goal in the opening seconds before adding a point from play and another well taken goal in the third minute to leave them leading by seven before Carnlough Gaels even realised the game had started !!

The combination side finally settled with points from Luke Harte and Conor Yore but Clonard were still flying high and added a point in the ninth minute, and a third goal from their big full forward a moment later to leave nine points between the sides.

A fine ball in from Hugh O’Reilly saw Dan O’Brien fire over in the 11th minute, before the impressive Sean Martin landed a free on the 14 minute mark.

Carnlough Gaels got their third point in a row when Evan Yore got his first score of the game in the 18th minute to reduce the deficit back to six points.

And that’s how the score line would stay for the remainder of the half as both sides failed to capitalise on further scoring opportunities before Referee Henri Clifford blew the half time whistle, Carnlough Gaels trailing on a score line of 0-05 to 3-02, five scores each but Clonard with those all important goals.

From the restart Carnlough Gaels started with a ferocity that was missing in the first half and Evan Yore pointed early on when Drew Donaghy and Conor Yore combined well in the build up.

The deficit was reduced further when an Evan Yore pass found Paddy White in the perfect position and the big man fired to the net to leave just two points between the sides.

Suddenly the game was on and Carnlough Gaels were on the front foot with Drew Donaghy’s driving run cutting through the heart of the Clonard defence before Sean Martin finished to goal in the 34th minute to leave the Carnlough Gaels men a point up.

With the turnaround complete, the lads weren’t done yet with Conor Yore setting up Drew Donaghy for a score in the 40th minute, before Dan O’Brien released Sean Martin, and while he had plenty of work to do to retain possession he worked ever so well to turn his man and fire over in the 43rd minute to leave three points between the sides.

Luke Harte made it a four point lead when he pounced on a misplaced Clonard free in their own half and Evan Yore added another from a free in the 47th minute to cap an outstanding 20 minutes of football from the Carnlough Gaels side where they hit 2-05 without reply.

Clonard finally made one stick and what a score it was as a fine two point effort was sent over in the 53rd minute.

That score was followed by up with another point in the 54th minute and a superb score in the 55th minute to leave the gap down to one point.

A quickly worked free from Hugh O’Reilly to Sean Martin, saw Conor Yore released for a fine score in the 58th minute to allow Carnlough Gaels some breathing space but a free for Clonard on the stroke of full time saw their big full forward step up and strike an absolutely superb two point from from distance to level the sides and send the game to extra time.

So when Referee Henri Clifford blew the full time whistle we were all square on a scoreline of Carnlough Gaels 2-11 to Clonards 3-08.

With tired minds and bodies all over the pitch everyone was aware that every score got in these ten minute periods would be worth gold dust, and it was Carnlough Gaels who drew first blood when Evan Yore pointed a free in the 61st minute.

With players flagging all around him Hugh O’Reilly showed immense resilience as he sent over an extraordinary point in the 63rd minute, things hadn’t always gone his way in regular time but O’Reilly really stepped up when his team needed him.

A Clonard free just before half time kept them in it, so when Referee Henri Clifford blew the half time whistle Carnlough Gaels led by a singular point on a scoreline of 2-13 to Clonards 3-09.

Clonard levelled the sides in the opening minute of the final period of play but those who could withstand the pressure and exhibit more stamina and endurance were going to be the winners of the day and no-one epitomised that more than Hugh O’Reilly as he landed two scores in quick succession to put Carnlough Gaels back in the driving seat.

An Evan Yore free in the 77th minute left three in it and while Clonard had several chances towards the end of the game they couldn’t engineer that badly need goal chance, a high ball going in but Robert O’Brien coming out like a man possessed with the Size 5 under his control.

With that and the ball away from danger Referee Henri Clifford finally called time on want was a heart-stopping, exhilarating game of football played in a very sporting manner by two teams who gave absolutely everything for their sides.

In the end Carnlough Gaels just showed that little bit more grit and determination to play through the pain barrier and emerge as victors on a scoreline of 2-16 to Clonards 3-10.

All that left then was for Minor County Chairman Niall Gogarty to hand the Division 3 Cup to Co-Captains Dan O’Brien and Sean Martin.

Carnlough Gaels Team: Darragh Smith, Adam Darcy, Eoin Ennis, Edward Farrelly, Liam Farrelly, Robert O’Brien, Conor Finn, Hugh O’Reilly (0-03), Conor Yore (0-02), Drew Donaghy (0-01), Dan O’Brien (0-01), Paddy White (1-00), Sean Martin (1-02(1f)), Evan Yore (0-05(3f)), Luke Harte (0-02)

Subs: James Brooks for C.Finn 57’ Jack McDonnell for E.Farrelly 75’

Referee: Henri Clifford