This article is from page 67 of the 2011-09-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 67 JPG
St Joseph’s D/B 3-09 – Shannon Gaels 0-11 at Pairc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty
THE PRECARIOUS nature of the senior championship was exemplified by this dramatic group changer. The Gaels, after a rousing victory over Miltown last time out, were within touching distance of the last eight while point-less Doora/Barefield were in the relegation zone with a big victory needed to emerge. And even then they needed a favour from east Clare side Cratloe in the other group game.
Things weren’t going their way either in the early stages as the Gaels eased to a 0-5 to 0-1 lead by the end of the opening quarter with Michael Coughlan and John Paul O’Neill converting eyecatching points while David Neylon was causing concern for St Joseph’s last line. Indeed, that four point advantage was maintained up to the 27th minute before a dramatic u-turn took effect.
How did it happen? Well, it was a combination of Shannon Gaels hitting the self-destruct button while Doora/Barefield developed a keen eye for goal that saw Enda Lyons set up late goals for midfielders Kevin Dilleen and Alan O’Neill. By the break, Doora/Barefield had exacted an eight point shift at 2-5 to 0-7 to leave shellshocked Shannon Gaels praying for the half-time whistle.
To their credit, the Gaels didn’t fold and came right back at their opponents with three unanswered points in the opening five minutes of the restart through Michael Coughlan (2) and Brian O’Shea to cut the deificit to the minimum.
However, with Sean Flynn using his roving role to perfection and goalkeeper Declan O’Keefee both effective from kick-outs and placed balls at the other end, St Joseph’s stopped the rot with points from David O’Brien and an O’Keeffe ’45. They also had a goalbound shot excel lently saved by Keith Ryan from the impressive Enda Lyons before making amends with the killer blow in the 50th minute when Alan O’Neill fed Cathal O’Sullivan for their third goal.
That major sucked the remaining life out of the Gaels’ challenge and while David Neylon remonstrated with referee Michael Rock for an effort that he felt crossed the line soon afterwards, they would only score one more point through Sean Reynolds. Meanwhile, the now inspired St Joseph’s finished strongly through Declan O’Keeffe and John O’Brien to seal a memorable victory and book their place in the quarter-final against Doonbeg.
St Joseph’s Doora/ Barefield
Declan O’Keeffe (8) (0-2 1f, 1’45), Stephen Collins (8), Declan O’Halloran (7), Ger Fannin (8), Gavin O’Sullivan (8), Damien Kennedy (7), Mark Rafferty (7), Kevin Dilleen (8) (1-0),Alan O’Neill (8) (1-0), David O’Brien (8) (0-4), Sean Flynn (9) (0-1), Greg
Lyons (7), Enda Lyons (8), Cathal O’Sullivan (7) (1-0),Aidan O’Connor (7) (0-2f)
Sub
John O’Brien (7) (0-1).
Shannon Gaels
Keith Ryan (6), Frank Cleary (6), John Neylon (7), Fergal Kenny (6),Tomás Madigan (6), Brian Bermingham(6),Tomás Cleary (6), Micheál O’Donoghue (6), Sean Reynolds (6) (0-1), Bryan Cunningham(7) (0-1), John Paul O’Neill (8) (0-1), John Bermingham(6), Brian O’Shea (6) (0-2), David Neylon (6) (0-1 1’45), Michael Coughlan (6) (0-5 4f)
Subs
ShaneTubridy (6) for O’Shea, Nigel Hehir (6) for Coughlan.
Man of the Match
Sean Flynn (St Joseph’s Doora/ Barefield) Referee Michael Rock (Ennistymon)