Late McMonagle goal settles tie in Clogherinkoe's favour
St Laurences Oisin Grufferty is closed down by Clogherinkoe's matchwinner Cein McMonagle
At times they seemed determined to let the opportunity pass, but Clogherinkoe eventually emerged as deserved winners over St Laurence’s in the Preliminary Round of the Joe Mallon Motors Senior Football Championship at Manguard Park on Saturday afternoon.
Having led by an Aedan Boyle goal at half-time, Cloghs managed to squander no less than four goal chances early in the second half and that kept St Laurence’s in touch right until the last kick of the game when Céin McMonagle’s goal finally secured a win that sees Clogherinkoe retain senior status for another year and proceed into the winners’ section of the round robin stages.
St Laurence’s started the strongest and were 0-4 to 0-2 ahead inside the first eight minutes with TJ Nolan weighing in with two points and veteran Pádraig O’Neill and Felix Lawlor adding to those. Céin McMonagle replied with two frees for a Clogherinkoe side missing their overseas talisman Jack Robinson.
Daniel Grehan scored with a fine left-footer, but Larries hit back through a Tom Dooley free and one from play from wing-back Niall O’Connor to put them 0-6 to 0-3 ahead.
Clogherinkoe looked like they would rue a number of poor wides but on 20 minutes they levelled matters when Eoghan McMonagle worked the ball into livewire Boyle and the former Kildare underage player finished to the net for the first-half’s crucial score.
Cloghs hit their stride after that with four of the final five points of the half, Jimmy Lynch weighing in with two including one excellent left footed effort from play.
Half-Time: Clogherinkoe 1-7 St Laurence’s 0-7.
Lawlor opened the second half with a point for Larries before Clogherinkoe’s squandermania commenced.
First, Paul Clynch denied Andrew Hill from close range, before McMonagle broke through only to drag his shot across goal and wide. Next to fluff his lines was Mark Nolan who rounded Clynch but was brilliantly denied by corner back Michael O’Sullivan as he was about to pull the trigger.
McMonagle did manage a point off the post before Killian Galligan dragged the fourth goal chance across goal.
Larries hit back from those let-offs with two points from Tom Dooley and one from Kevin Eustace to make it a one-point game, but they wouldn’t score after the 45th minute.
McMonagle’s 13-metre free crept just over the bar nine minutes from time and despite Larries best attempts they were caught four minutes into injury time when Boyle’s interception set up McMonagle and on this occasion he made no mistake with a blistering finish.
CLOGHERINKOE: Keith Wilkinson; David Hill, Eoghan McMonagle, Joe Mulraney; Andrew Hill, Gavin Scanlon, Niall Walsh; Mark Grehan, Killian Galligan; Daniel Grehan 0-1, Mark Nolan, Aedan Boyle 1-0; Jimmy Lynch 0-2 (f), Céin McMonagle 1-6 (3fs,1’45), Ciarán Flynn 0-1. SUBS: Dean Hanley for Walsh HT, Ben Kenny for Flynn 51, Conor Swan for Lynch 58 ST LAURENCE’S: Paul Clynch; Michael O’Sullivan, Eoin Curley, Brendan Keatley; Stephen Mann, Oisín Grufferty, Niall O’Connor 0-1; Niall Clynch, James Donnelly; Jack Dargan, Tom Dooley 0-3 (1f), Kevin Eustace 0-1; TJ Nolan 0-2 (1f), Pádraig O’Neill 0-1, Con Killeen 0-1. SUBS: Felix Lawlor 0-2 for Mann 4, Joe Hanamy for Killeen 47, Darragh Miley for O’Neill 51, Adam Steed for Dargan 57, REFEREE: Raymond Kelly.
