Clon Win Thriller After Extra Time in Ahiohill
On Thursday June 11th, Clonakilty played Kilbree in the Carbery Junior A Division 1 Hurling League Final in a windy Ahiohill. Kilbree played with the breeze in the 1st half but Clon got the first score from a good free by Brian White in the 1st min. Kilbree replied with the next 2 pts, 1 a free, before a very good pass by David Lowney set up Chris Kenneally for a lovely pt after 4 mins. Kilbree then scored 2 more pts before Brian pointed a free after a foul on Niall Barrett. After 9 minutes a breaking ball fell the way of a Kilbree forward who put it past the unlucky Shane Collins for a goal.
Cian O’Donovan who had an outstanding match was struck off the ball but thankfully was ok to continue. Brian pointed a free after 10 mins to leave the score at 1.4 to 4. There was no score in the next 7 minutes mainly due to some superb defending by Ciaran Crowley, Shane Deasy and Mike Noonan. Jack O’Mahony was an excellent shield and both he and Niall were getting on a lot of breaking ball. Kilbree scored a pt after 17 mins but Clon replied with another free on 20 mins after good work by Jack McLoughlin and Isa Khan. Kilbree were starting to get on top and scored the next 3 points to leave it a 1.8 to 5 points after 29 minutes. Just before half time Cal O’Mahony and Chris did important work that led to a free and Brian pointed a very crucial score. 1.8 to 0.6 to Kilbree at half time.
Clon had just 2 subs and the returning Kevin Cormican came on at half time and added much needed strength and guile to the forward line for the rest of the match. Clon had the wind now and the very effective Kieran Calnan scored a great point on 32 mins to leave 4 between the sides. However Kilbree were defending well against the breeze and managed to work the ball well to their forwards who drew 3 fouls in a row that were pointed. Clon 7 points down now. 38 mins gone. Brian pointed a free on 42 mins but Kilbree replied to again leave 7 between the teams after 44 mins. Young Ml Francis Collins came on to make his adult hurling debut on 44 minutes. Then came a big breakthrough for Clon. Great work by David saw Brian getting the sliothar 20 yards from goal and he rifled it into the back of the net. Game on! Kilbree got another pt on 47 mins but 2 more frees from Brian on 48 and 50 to leave just a goal between the sides. Eoin McCormack was dominating in the half back line now and although Kilbree scored a point on 51 mins, David and Jack O’Mahony scored wonderful points to leave just 2 between the teams after 53 mins. A big turning point came in the 54th minute. Shane Collins saved a shot from point blank range and from the clearance Brian scored an absolute beauty of a point. 1 between them with 5 to go. However all looked lost as a soft free and another pt for Kilbree left a goal between the teams with time almost up. David Lowney then got the ball 60 yards from goal and beat 4 players before being hauled to the ground for a free about 49 yards from goal. Some backchat from the Kilbree players saw the ref move the ball to the 20 metre line. Last chance saloon and Brian delivered for Clon when needed most by beating 5 players on the line with an incredible goal. A draw after 60 minutes. 2.13 to 1.16. Extra time to follow.
Clon only had 2 subs so Cal and Isa had big contributions still to make as they were introduced again for injured players during extra time. Clon played with the wind in the 1st period and with Mike Noonan now further out the field, Cian in control in the full back line, two great scores by Chris and Brian followed by a free by Brian after Kevin was fouled left Clon 3 up. But on the stroke of half time, a soft free saw Kilbree bring it back to 2 pts. HT in ET score was 2.16 to 1.17 to Clon. The 2nd half of extra time was a pure rollercoaster ride. Kilbree brought the game back to the minimum after 75 minutes. However a lovely pt by David and a monster free into the wind by Brian after Jack O’M was fouled again left Clon up by a goal with 3 mins to go. However Kilbree weren’t finished just yet and scored 2 more pts, one of them turned over the bar from close range by the alert Shane Collins. Finally the ref blew up the game. 2.18 to 1.20 the final score. Time for the Clon players to celebrate their close win. What a performance full of the honesty of effort the mentors have continually asked of this group. Well done to Captain Fantastic Jack O’Mahony who received the trophy from Carbery Board Chairperson David White. Congrats to all the players who played in the League this year and a special mention to the management team of Seamus, Liam, Brian and Sean.
The scorers were: B. White 2.12 (1.10f), D Lowney and C Kenneally 0.2 each, J O’Mahony and K Calnan 0.1 each.
Team was: S. Collins, C. O’Donovan, M. Noonan, S. Deasy, K. Calnan, C. Crowley, E. McCormack, J. O’Mahony, N. Barrett, C. O’Mahony, B. White, D. Lowney, I. Khan, J. McLoughlin, C. Kenneally. Subs were K. Cormican and MF Collins.
