This article is from page 71 of the 2011-05-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 71 JPG
Éire Óg 4-11 – Ennistymon 1-07 at Cusack Park, Ennis
A STORMING last ten minutes helped Éire Óg win this prestigious title for the first time since 2000. In a highly entertaining game played in blustery conditions at headquarters, the Townies outscored their opponents by 1-6 to no score in the final ten minutes.
Ennistymon played with the aid of a very strong breeze in the opening half but trailed at the break by two points at 1-4 to 0-5. The vital score came from mdifielder James Woods in the 28th minute to separate two very evenly matched sides.
The leaders stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half with two goals in the opening five minutes. Firstly Conall Ó hAiniféin was fouled in the square and substitute Paddy O’Malley scored the resultant penalty with his first touch. Than only a minute later, O’Malley turned provider for Eanna Fennell to score Éire Óg’s third goal. Indeed, O’Malley was to have a huge influence on the destination of the title as he went on to score 1-5 in his second half cameo.
Ennistymon replied with a goal of their own as James McConigley dispatched his side’s penalty to the net in the 38th minute. And were it not for some great goalkeeping from goalkeeper Nathan Murray, the cup could so easily be heading north to Ennistymon as on four occasions during the game, he denied the Ennistymon forwards especially McConigley twice in the second half.
However, goals win games and when Éire Óg substitute Sean Hanrahan raised another green flag in the 50th minute, the Éire Óg players finally believed it would be their day and duly followed up with points from Paddy O’Malley (4) and Nicholas Twumasi to seal a well deserved victory for the Townies.
Éire Óg
Nathan Murray, Kieran Malone, John Allan, Martin Darcy, James Wylde, Dylan Casey, Dara Walsh, James Woods (1-0), Lee Quirke, Kaylan O’Loughlin (Capt.), NicholasTwumasi (0-2), EvanToomey, Eanna Fennell (1-2), Conall Ó hAiniféin (0-2), Gary Roche.
Subs
Paddy O’Malley (1-5) for Roche, Brian Flanagan for O’Loughlin (inj), Michael Moloney for Darcy, Sean Hanrahan (1-0) for Casey, Patrick Chesser for Quirke
Ennistymon
Sean Noonan, Dara Crowe, Shane Doyle, Cathal Nagle, David Fitzgerald, Kieran Vaughan, Kevin Hehir, Mattie Kinch (Capt.), David McCarthy, SeanTwomey (0-1),Aaron McNulty (0-1), John Dillon (0-1), James McConigley (1-2), Barry Keating (0-2), Joseph Gallagher
Subs
Cathal Frawley for Doyle, Shane Doyle for McNulty
Referee
Michael Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane)