Clonakilty 2-9, Ilen Rovers 0-11
Senior Football (Kelleher Shield)
Ahamilla, Sun, Feb 28, 2010 - 13:30
Clonakilty 2-9 Ilen Rovers 0-11
Two goals scored and two great saves proved the difference between two evenly-matched teams in this highly entertaining opening-round Kelleher Shield game in Clonakilty on Sunday afternoon last. It was eleven scores each at the end of a lively hour but two of Clon’s scores were green flags while Ilen were prevented from matching it by two point-blank saves by Clon goalkeeper, James O’Brien.
A strong breeze dictated the trend of the play and with the breeze to their backs, Clon dominated the first half. With midfielders Timmy Anglin and Seán Nagle on top in the midfield area and wing backs, Danny Fitzpatrick and Dave O’Regan winning a lot of possession, Clon hit the front fast with two cracking points from Cork player, Conor McManus. Ilen had their own ace in Kevin O’Sullivan who had a great duel with full back, Tony Anglin, but Ilen were too reliant on O’Sullivan for scores. He swapped points with Colin O’Donovan and Eddie Sheehy, lively at corner forward, did likewise with Timmy Anglin.
Clon got the first vital break in the ninth minute when Alan Holland had the misfortune to see his close-range shot rebound off the angle of the post and crossbar and straight from the clearance a high ball into the Ilen goalmouth was finished to the net by impressive Clon full forward, Eugene McCarthy. A six-point turnaround, as they say in other sports. A point from Colin O’Donovan saw Clon leading by 1-5 to 0-2 at the end of the first quarter.
In the 17th minute, Clon goalie, James O’Brien, brought off his first magnificent save, from Alan Holland, but Ilen were improving and Kevin O’Sullivan was coming much more into the game. Brian O’Sullivan, working hard on the forty, swapped points with Dave O’Regan before Kevin O’Sullivan kicked two good points against the breeze.
Just when it seemed Ilen, for whom Paddy Minihane, Danny O’Donovan, Conor O’Driscoll, Alan Holland and Kevin O’Sullivan were doing very well, might close the gap before half time, Clon struck for their second goal, when wing back, Danny Fitzpatrick, ghosted in behind a lax defence to fasten onto a quick free from Barry O’Mahony and finish expertly to the net. Kevin O’Sullivan did well to point a 45 before half time and it was Clon in front, 2-6 to 0-6 at the break.
Clon got a morale-boosting first point in the second half, from Conor McManus, but weren’t to score again for eighteen minutes as Ilen piled on the pressure. Points from Brian and Kevin O’Sullivan closed the gap to five but the Clon defence were playing intelligent football, guarding their goal well, even though goalie O’Brien had to bring off a point-blank stop from Kevin O’Sullivan. It was 2-7 0-8 as the last quarter began and Clon had a badly-needed point from Donal Lyons to maintain the two-goal gap. Even though Kevin O’Sullivan, free, and Conor O’Driscoll pointed to close the gap to four again, it was becoming obvious that the young Ilen side lacked the cutting edge to get the goal they needed to close the gap.
Sub, Seán Quirke, eased the pressure on Clon with a point and even though Kevin O’Sullivan had the last point from a free, Clon, with a number of young players on their side, were the deserving winners of a most entertaining game by 2-9 to 0-11. Referee, David Whyte, St. Mary’s..
Scorers; Clonakilty – Eugene McCarthy 1-0, Danny Fitzpatrick 1-0, Conor McManus 0-3, Colin O’Donovan 0-2, Dave O’Regan, Timmy Anglin, Seán Quirke and Donal Lyons 0-1 each. Ilen Rovers – Kevin O’Sullivan 0-7, 0-3 frees, 0-1 a 45, Brian O’Sullivan 0-2, Conor O’Driscoll and Eddie Sheehy 0-1 each.
Clonakilty – James O’Brien, Mark Sheehy, Tony Anglin, Timmy O’Sullivan, Danny Fitzpatrick, Liam Lyons, Dave O’Regan, Timmy Anglin, Seán Nagle, Donal Lyons, Howard Kenny, Colin O’Donovan, Conor McManus, Eugene McCarthy, Barry O’Mahony. Subs, Seán Quirke, Liam Cahill.
Ilen Rovers – Daniel Hickey, Cian O’Driscoll, Kieran Daly, Paddy Minihane, Ciarán Cotter, Brendan Duggan, Danny O’Donovan, Conor O’Driscoll, Aidan Coughlan, David Whooley, Brian O’Sullivan, Shane Holland, Eddie Sheehy, Kevin O’Sullivan, Alan Holland. Subs, John Wycherley, Donie Duggan, Finbarr O’Donovan. “Cois Farraige”
05 Mar 2010 01:55 by TL