Senior Footballers Dig Deep to Book League Final Spot
Clon Senior Footballers are through to the Division 1 Football League final after coming away with the result they needed against neighbours Castlehaven on a damp and gritty Sunday morning in Ballinacarriga.
All Clon needed was a win or a draw …. and sure enough, in a classic West Cork derby that ebbed and flowed, it ended all square. That’s enough to keep Martin O’Brien’s side ticking along nicely, with a league final against St Finbarr’s now on the cards next weekend.
It didn’t come easy though. At one stage late in the second half, Clonakilty trailed by two and looked in real danger of surrendering their final spot to Nemo. But when it mattered most, they dug in, found the scores, and edged themselves into a three-point lead deep in injury time.
Castlehaven, for their part, never rolled over. Micheál Maguire – who had a stormer with 2-5 – buried a goal from a close-range free with the last kick of the game to bring the sides level, but Clon had done enough.
Dream Start for Clon
It couldn’t have started much better. Within four minutes, Conor Daly rattled the net with a cracking finish into the top corner, and Darragh Gough added a free to make it 1-1 to no score.
Castlehaven responded in kind. Jamie Walsh pointed before Micheál Maguire seized on some loose Clon defending and buried a brilliant goal to level things up at 1-2 apiece after just eight minutes.
From there, it was tit-for-tat. Chris Kenneally and Ross Mannix edged Clon back in front before a Dara Ó Sé two-point free gave them a bit of daylight, 1-6 to 1-3.
Still, the Haven weren’t going away. They finished the half the stronger as Walsh, Maguire (free) and Seán Browne picked off scores. The sides went in with Clon just a point up, 1-7 to 1-6.
Second Half Battle
The momentum was with Castlehaven early in the second half. Jamie O’Driscoll tied it up straight away before another Maguire free nudged them in front for the first time.
It was a dogfight from there. Gough levelled, the teams swapped points, and sub Liam McCarthy made his mark with a point. Maguire added another to leave it 1-11 to 1-9 heading into the final 10.
Clon refused to lie down. Gough nailed a two-point free and then three on the bounce had them three clear. James Campbell, just on the pitch, curled over a beauty as Clon pushed for home.
Then came that late twist …. Maguire’s second goal, again from a free, meant the sides finished locked on 2-12 to 1-15. A draw on paper, but Clonakilty walked off the field knowing the job was done.
Scorers
Clonakilty: Conor Daly 1-3 (0-2f), Darragh Gough 0-4 (1x2pt free, 0-1f), Dara Ó Sé 0-4 (1x2pt free), Chris Kenneally, Ross Mannix, Seán McEvoy, James Campbell 0-1 each.
Castlehaven: Micheál Maguire 2-5 (1-3f), Seán Browne, Jamie Walsh 0-2 each, Andrew Whelton, Jamie O’Driscoll, Liam McCarthy 0-1 each.
Clonakilty Team:
M White; L O’Donovan, D Darragh, C Kenneally; D Lowney, J O’Mahony, B White; B Ridgeway, D Ó Sé; R Mannix, S White, S McEvoy; L Griffin, C Daly, D Gough.
Subs: C Ustianowski for S White (44), C O’Donovan for L O’Donovan (injured), C Ryan for R Mannix (47), J Campbell for B White (52).
Castlehaven Team:
D Cahalane; J O’Regan, O Daly, S Walsh; S O’Connell, R Minihane, J Walsh; A Whelton, S Browne; M Crowley, C Maguire, J O’Driscoll; K O’Donovan, D Whelton, M Maguire.
Subs: R Whelton for S O’Connell, L McCarthy for A Whelton (HT), D O’Donovan for D Whelton (44), G O’Driscoll for M Crowley (58).
Referee: John Ryan (Macroom)
