This article is from page 80 of the 2011-08-30 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 80 JPG
DEFENDING champions Ennistymon qualified for their third successive Under 21A final on Sunday evening after two second half goals put them firmly on the road to victory.
Playing with the wind at their backs, the holders started the brighter and moved into a 0-3 to 0-0 lead, only to see Miltown peg them back to level terms. However, the north Clare side stepped up another gear to hold a 07 to 0-3 half-time advantage which perhaps didn’t seem enough considering the conditions.
Miltown, who had already knocked out the B champions St Breckan’s in the quarter-finals, duly came storming back into the game on the restart and with Eoin Cleary in top scoring form, they got to within two approaching the midway point of the half.
However, the challenger’s momentum was dashed at the turn of the final quarter when substitute Brian Houlihan grabbed a much needed goal for Ennistymon, largely against the run of play. And having taken the wind out of Miltown’s sails, they struck with a second sucker-punch only minutes later when Joey Rouine doubled their goal tally, an advantage they would hold until the end.
Victory sets up another mouthwatering final clash with Cratloe, a rematch of the 2009 final and a battle of the last two county champions at this level.
Ennistymon
Noel Sexton, Michael O’Dwyer, Enda Ralph,Aidan Slattery, Michael Houlihan, Sean O’Driscoll, Kieran Monaghan, Ronan Linnane,
Cathal Malone,Alan Horan, Michael McDonagh, Cathal McConigley, Joey Rouine, Sean McConigley, Danny Rouine
Subs
OisinVaughan, Brian Houlihan, Ciaran Devitt
St Joseph’s Miltown
Padraig Queally, Eoin O’Brien, David Cleary, Colin McGuane,Tiernan O’Friel, Gearoid Curtin, Donal Keane, Daragh McDonagh, Peter Cleary, DavidTalty, Micheál Malone, Conor Cleary, Eoin Cleary, Joe Curtin, Seanie Malone
Subs
Thomas Flynn for J. Curtin, Niall McGuane for O’Friel
Referee
Michael Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane)