Clon Minors Book Semi-Final Place After Glanmire Win
Clonakilty’s Minor footballers made it three wins from three in the Cork ETB Rebel Óg U18 Premier 1 Football Championship on Wednesday evening, overcoming Glanmire in Ahamilla to finish top of Section 2 and book their place in the semi-finals.
The final margin was seven points, but this was a far tighter contest than that might suggest. Glanmire stayed within striking distance for much of the evening and it took a late Nathan O’Sullivan goal to finally put daylight between the sides.
Clon had to reshuffle before a ball was kicked. With Dylan Falvey unavailable, midfielder Ewan Knowles took up duty between the posts, while captain Ben Coffey was also absent through injury. James Costello took on the captain’s role and produced a tremendous performance at full-back, marshalling a Clon defence that once again proved exceptionally difficult to breach.
Glanmire were quickest from the traps, Tom O’Flynn opening the scoring inside the first minute, but their lead was short-lived. Tom Whooley and Matthew Lyons soon had Clon in front before Eoin Considine levelled matters after six minutes.
Then came the first big moment of the night.
Whooley gathered possession out near the right wing with plenty still to do. He slipped past a couple of challenges, headed for goal and, when the chance presented itself, finished calmly to the net. It was a fine individual score and gave Clon a lead they would hold for the remainder of the match.
Glanmire responded well. Donagh Healy and Considine kept the scoreboard moving and there was no shortage of work for the Clon defence, but Costello and those around him stood firm.
At the other end, Jack Byerley picked up where he had left off after his hat-trick against Na Piarsaigh. Three points before the interval helped Clon establish a 1-6 to 0-4 half-time advantage. There might even have been another goal, but Glanmire goalkeeper Zach Deane produced an excellent save from Matthew Lyons after advantage had been played.
Five points is a useful lead in football, but never quite enough to allow anyone get too comfortable.
Glanmire introduced Alex Maher at half-time and he made an immediate impact, helping the visitors cut into Clon’s advantage. They began to ask more questions, but Clon’s defence kept providing answers.
A second goal looked possible when a Byerley effort came back from the crossbar, while another Whooley effort was bravely blocked by Fionn Conway.
Bill Bennett was then sprung from the bench and made an immediate impression, kicking two excellent points at an important stage of the game.
As the minutes ticked away, Glanmire had little option but to push forward in search of the goal that might turn the contest. Knowles, looking very much at home despite his unfamiliar surroundings between the posts, denied both Isaac Barrett and Considine when called upon.
And then, with Glanmire committed forward and the game deep into injury time, Clon broke.
The ball was worked quickly through the hands, Nathan O’Sullivan found himself in the right place at the right time, and he finished the move to the net. That was that.
Clonakilty had their third win from three games and, just as importantly, top spot in the group and a place in the Premier 1 semi-finals.
It has been a hugely encouraging championship campaign so far. Clon have conceded just one goal across their three group matches, and against Glanmire that defensive resilience was again matched by enough quality at the other end to get the job done.
Scorers
Clonakilty: T. Whooley 1-3, J. Byerley 0-5 (0-3 frees), N. O’Sullivan 1-0, B. Bennett 0-2, M. Lyons 0-1.
Clonakilty Team
E. Knowles; L. Kelleher, J. Costello, E. Minihan; S. O’Donovan, F. O’Donovan, MF Collins; E. Nolan, É. Déiseach; F. O’Mahony, D. Donovan, C. O’Gorman; J. Byerley, T. Whooley, M. Lyons.
Substitutions: I. Smith for S. O’Donovan (25, injured), N. O’Sullivan for C. O’Gorman (33), B. Bennett for D. Donovan (42), E. Murphy for I. Smith (60, injured).
