This article is from page 67 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 67 JPG
Crusheen 3-13 – Clarecastle 0-13 at Gurteen
JUNIOR A champions Crusheen proved they are not willing to just make up the numbers at the next level by taking down last year’s semifinalists Clarecastle in a battle of the second strings on Sunday. After an evenly matched first half, the game was effectively decided in a seven minute spell just after the restart when a Paddy O’Grady goal either side of Paddy Donnellan’s dismissal for the Magpies put Crusheen firmly in the driving seat to victory.
It’s was a different tale in the first half as with the aid of an angled crossfield breeze, Clarecastle picked off some good points through Briain Lynch, John Pyne, Andrew Page and the impressive Adam Healy but still found themselves trailing by the minimum at the break at 1-09 to 0-10 thanks to a Crusheen goal in the 24th minute.
A strong feature of Crusheen’s line up was the fluidity of their attacking unit and it caused some consternation for Clarecastle’s backline who found it difficult to track their runs with Alan Tuohy, Jamie Fitzgibbon, Gearoid O’Doherty and Niall Fitzgibbon profiting. It was in one such overlap that allowed Brian Dillon to get beyond the last line and take out the last defender with a pull to the waiting Paddy O’Grady to finish.
The junior A champions produced a carbon copy two minutes after the restart when Dillon again handpassed to the unmarked O’Grady to bat to the net despite protests of a square ball. Clarecastle’s woes were heightened soon afterwards when Donnellan received his marching orders for a late pull on Thomas Vaughan while O’Grady completed a hatrick as further points from Jamie Fitzgibbon and substitute Darragh O’Doherty put them ten points clear by the turn of the final quarter.
In saying that, despite being a man down and playing into the conditions, the Magpies could have got themselves a lifeline had they converted any of their goal chances. Stuart McMahon had a shot excellently saved by goalkeeper David McMahon: Briain Lynch had an effort flash just wide and after three Adam Healy placed balls from distance, the Magpies needed to goal a 58th minute 20 metre free but Healy sent it wide.
Instead, Crusheen never panicked and hit on the counterattack to secure a valuable first victory and establish themselves in their new surroundings.
Crusheen
David McMahon, Donal Dillon, Brendan McMahon,Tony McMahon, Jason Greene, Conor Hayes, Donal Wylde,Thomas Vaughan, Conor O’Loughlin, Niall Fitzgibbon, Jamie Fitzgibbon, Gearoid O’Doherty, Briain Dillon, Patrick O’Grady,AlanTuohy
Subs
Darragh O’Doherty for O’Loughlin (41 mins),Trevor Corbett for B. Dillon (50 mins)
Clarecastle
Jamie Coughlan, BlaiseTalty, Eoin Brennan, Kieran Lynch, Paddy Donnellan, Garrett Barry, Cathal Lynch,AdamHealy,AndrewPage, Eamon Concannon, John Pyne, Jamie Fahy, Briain Lynch,Alan O’Loughlin, Niall Dunne
Subs
Anthony Griffey for Talty (24 mins), Fergal Griffin for Concannon (35 mins), Stuart McMahon for K. Lynch (44 mins), Niall Quinn for Pyne (45 mins)
Referee
Ger Lyons (Ruan)