This article is from page 112 of the 2009-10-27 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 112 JPG
THAT goals win matches is an over- used cliché when it comes to sport, but there isn’t a better phrase to describe the influence of Clooney/ Quin’s hat-trick of goals on the end result of this Junior A football final.
Clooney/Quin last won this title in 2004 and five years later they were certainly up for capturing it again. From the thrown-in controlled ag- gression and determination could be seen in the 15 players sporting the green and red jerseys.
It would be unfair to claim Kilfeno- ra were not psyched up for this game but the extra sense of self-belief the mid-Clare men had, dragged them over the line in a winning position.
As always in finals a certain number of players come to the fore. That was the case for both sides.
For Clooney man of the match Cil- lian Duggan was one of their heroes on the day. This year has seen Dug- gan shine as the hero on a number of occasions with his club’s senior hurl- ing team but also in his role on the All-Ireland winning U2] Clare team. After this game one could clearly see he is equally effective in the large ball game.
Duggan lined out at centre-forward
but he played almost in centre-back. He covered huge spaces and was key to some of the strength shown by the Clooney defence. It was fitting it was he that caught the dangerous ball into the Clooney/Quin box as Kilfenora chased a goal in the final moments. His clearance at the end set up Fergal Lynch to knock over the final insur- ance point to leave four between the sides.
Kilfenora fought hard and their key player brought them to the edge of victory also. Killian Malone was their star forward and free taker. His total of seven frees kept his team in the game. Sometimes kickers of placed balls receive too much praise but some of his efforts with the out- side of his boot would be admired by any kicker in any sport.
Aidan Malone opened the scoring for Kilfenora after seven minutes. This score was quickly cancelled out by a superb kick by midfielder Fer- gal Lynch, but Kilfenora through Pat Connole retook the lead again from the resulting kick-out. A competitive game was certainly in the offing.
With just over 15 minutes elapsed, Clooney/Quin took their first goal. John Earls’ wayward effort for a point landed in the hands of Dug- gan. He burst past a few defenders
before hand passing over to the un- marked Ciaran Quinn who palmed the ball into the net. Momentum had switched again.
It took ten more minutes for Kil- fenora who were beginning to gain control to get back level on a score of 1-1 to O-4 with their points com- ing from Malone and full-forward Austin Kelly. Malone and John Earls then exchanged frees just before nor- mal time in the first-half concluded. Injury-time however allowed one more score in the half with an excel- lent point by centre-forward Connole giving his side a one-point margin at WDNR ASAI E
The start of the second-half in many ways ruined Kilfenora’s chances of a win. In the opening five minutes they did not convert their good start into scores. Four scoreable chances were sent wide and they lost by four points. Finals don’t allow for these margins ORONO r
Clooney/Quin then stole their second goal of the afternoon. Re- plcement Cathal Egan reacted first when a 45 was not properly cleared.
Kilfenora needed to fight again and they did. They grabbed the next two points without reply to get them- selves back into the game again.
Then Lynch woke up again and re- ally ended Kilfenora’s challenge with the third and final goal of the game. One on one with the keeper he was never going to miss and he drove the
ball into the top corner.
Surely it was over and they would definitely die now, but they still re- fused to give in. Malone showed great composure to convert four frees in a row to leave only a goal between the teams.
A tense finish arrived but Clooney Quin through Lynch got the final score on the counter.