This article is from page 62 of the 2011-06-07 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 62 JPG
Wolfe Tones 6-9 – Clarecastle 1-4 at Cusack Park, Ennis
WOLFE TONES maintained their clean sweep of the under 14 grade by capturing their third successive title in emphatic style on Friday. Having already achieved a Féile double in both hurling and football, the Shannon side created further history by beating Clarecastle for the second successive hurling decider of the year.
The strong favourites led from start to finish, but while the 3-5 to 1-3 half-time scoreline failed to reflect a relatively even opening half, there was little doubt about the destination of the title on the turnover as Wolfe Tones ruthlessly put their rivals to the sword to preserve their firm grip on the grade.
A strong start and finish to the first half put Wolfe Tones on the road to victory and while their opening goal was indeed contentious due to a square ball, they might have opened the scoring after only 25 seconds when Brian O’Connor caught a Brian Conway delivery but struck wide from close range. Clarecastle failed to heed that warning, however, and after eye-catching points from midfield duo Dean Devanney and Darragh McMahon and five Clarecastle wides in the same period, the Féile champions finally raised their first green flag when Jack Cunningham passed across the square for Conway to finish.
Clarecastle opened their account in the 12th minute when a good passing move involving Darren Crowe and Jack Murphy eventually ended with Conor Ryan in front of goal but his rasping shot just cleared the crossbar. That score gave the Magpies confidence but just as they were beginning to find their feet, they were hit by a second Wolfe Tones goal in the 19th minute when an Aron Shanagher pull inside saw Jack Cunningham just beat goalkeeper Jake Kearney to the ball to flick to the net.
The Magpies replied immediately with a Darren Crowe point, and the wing-forward was again involved in Clarecastle’s goal in the 22nd minute when supplying the waiting Conor Ryan to make no mistake this time around and cut the deficit to five.
However, Wolfe Tones were given the perfect boost entering the interval when a Cian Pettigrew delivery broke to Jack Cunningham to find the top corner of the net and give his side a 3-5 to 1-3 advantage.
The second half was a somewhat scrappy affair with several stoppages but the deciding score came only six minutes into the half when Jack Cunningham again found the net, this time from a rebound after a Jake Kearney save to wipe out Darren Crowe’s opening point of the half.
It gave Wolfe Tones further belief while the Magpies heads lowered, with the Tones spinal core taking control and seeing out the game. Kevin Justice at centre back and the midfield pairing of Darragh McMahon and Dean Devanney ruled the middle while for the Magpies Paul Dolan, Hayden Starr, Kevin Mulcaire and Ronan Garvey repelled further damage on the scoreboard as did goalkeeper Keanrey who made another impressive double save in the 50th minute.
However, the Magpies were powerless to halt chief marksmen Jack Cunningham and Aron Shannagher who between added a further 2-3 to cement Wolfe Tones standing as the undisputed kingpins of the Under 14 grade for 2011.
Wolfe Tones
Cian Collopy, Ross O’Connor, Daniel Clair, Michael Hayes, Robbie Meaney, Kevin Justice (Capt.), Sean Costelloe, Darragh McMahon (0-1), Dean Devanney (0-2), Evan O’Gorman, Aron Shanagher (1-1), Cian Pettigrew(0-2), Brian Conway (1-0), Jack Cunningham(3-3 2f), Brian O’Connor (1-0)
Subs
Conor Ferins for Conway, Shane Nihill for O’Connor, Eoghan Gough for O’Gorman
Clarecastle
Jake Kearney, Kevin Hartigan, Darragh Crimmins, Fiachra Cooney, Josh Kelly, Paul Dolan, Hayden Starr, Darren Crowe (0-2),Adam Cassidy, Ruairi Crimmins, Conor Ryan (1-1), Jack Murphy (0-1), Stephen Barry
Subs
Jack Hayes for Kelly (Inj), Jordan Barnes for Ryan, Mark McAuliffe for Barry, Dean O’Hara for Murphy
Player of the Game
Dean Devanney (Wolfe Tones) Referee Neil O’Brien (O’Callaghan’s Mills)