This article is from page 67 of the 2011-03-22 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 67 JPG
O’Callaghan’s Mills 3-11 – Clarecastle 4-07 at Cratloe
IN THE END, only an injury-time Adrian Donovan ’65 with almost the last puck of the game separated the sides but in truth, even if Clarecastle had secured a draw, it would have been a major escape having played second fiddle for much of the game and only grabbing a late lifeline after some fortunate goals.
All this was in contrast to a near perfect start that saw the Magpies storm 1-3 to 0-0 clear early on with Conor O’Gorman grabbing the goal and Aaron Considine converting all three points. Unfortunately, far from settling the side, the Magpies failed to build on that lead and would only score one more point in the half through Patrick Casey as the Mills finally found their feet.
By half-time, three Adrian Donovan placed balls and further points from from Eoin’s, McInerney and McGrath slashed the deficit to only two at 1-4 to 0-5.
The Mills maintained that pattern after the break and took the lead for the first time in the 35th minute when Eoin McGrath pulled to the net from close range followed by another brace of points to take a 1-7 to 1-4 advantage.
Clarecastle’s attempted fightback through a pair of Aaron Considine frees was interrupted by a second Mills goal, this time with Ian Donnellan pulling through a crowded goalmouth.
By the 50th minute, the Mills had pushed 2-9 to 1-6 ahead but far from seeing out the game, a dramatic yet bizarre finale lay in store.
Goalkeeper Henry Skehan did well to keep out a Stephen O’Halloran shot only for the clearance to go straight to John Reidy who managed to find the net from 40 metres as Skehan lost his footing.
Crucially the Mills responded immediately to the set-back, with James McMahon pulling to the net followed by an Eoin McInerney point but even then a seven point lead wasn’t enough. An Aaron Considine free and a goal from a deflected David Green shot saw the Magpies recover to within a goal and in the 61st minute, a Conor O’Gorman ’65 again came off the stick of a defender to nestle in the corner of the net and tie up the game.
However, the Mills showed their character once more and were handed a highly controversial penalty as Eamon O’Connor seemed to legitimately hook Ian Donnellan on his way towards goal only for referee Damien Fox to signal a penalty. With only seconds remaining, Adrian Donovan unconventionally chose to go for goal instead of securing the win with a point and was almost punished when his effort was stopped for a ’65. However, this time he kept his cool to convert the placed ball and send his side into a quarter-final meeting with Whitegate.
O’Callaghan’s Mills
Henry Skehan, Sean O’Gorman, Gerry Cooney, Michael McGrath,Aidan Fawl,Adrian Donovan (0-4 2f, 2’65 s), Darren Cooney, Kevin O’Callaghan, Eoin McInerney (0-2), Eoin McGrath (1-1), Ian Donnellan (1-0),Aidan O’Gorman (0-1), ColmMcHugh (0-1), James McMahon (1-0), Jamie Lynch (0-2f)
Clarecastle
Jamie Coughlan, Gearoid Ryan, Eamon O’Connor,Austin Guckian, Cormac Donnellan, Stephen O’Halloran, Fearghus Ryan, Patrick Casey (0-1), John Reidy (1-0), Mark Foley, David Green (1-0), Conor O’Gorman (2-0), Seanie Dilger,Aaron Considine (0-6 3f), Michael Casey
Subs
Gary Porter for P. Casey (40 mins),Tom Kelleher for Guckian (47 mins), James McAllister for Foley
Man of the Match
Adrian Donovan (O’Callaghan’s Mills) Referee Damien Fox (WolfeTones)