O’Donoghue goal wins 'A' Championship for Clane after extra-time drama
The first Joe Mallon Motor Senior 'A' Football Championship winners, Clane Photo: Sean Brilly
A goal for Clane from super sub, Cian O’Donoghue, three minutes into the second period of extra time turned out to be the winning score as Clane and Eadestown served up an extra time thriller in the Joe Mallon Motors Senior Football “A” Championship in almost perfect conditions in Cedral St Conleth’s Park on Friday night.
While this may be a second-tier competition for those who fell off the senior championship journey earlier in the autumn both Clane and Eadestown showed massive determination to finish the season with a piece of silverware in a game that could rival any County Final of a tier above.
Each team enjoyed periods of dominance but when either team thought the game was theirs, back came the other with two pointers or goals. In a fast free flowing game, allowed to be so by Referee, Fergal Barry, Clane took a lead of six points in at half time, after playing with the stiffening breeze, only to be hauled back by Eadestown early in the second half and the Sky Blues led by two with ten minutes remaining. Clane levelled again but a Cian Bolton goal gave Eadestown a three point lead again as full time approached. Clane responded to send the game to extra time where Eadestown led by a point after the first period but a point by Shane O’Sullivan and O’Donoghue’s goal early in the second period settled the game in the All Whites favour.
The game opened in a whirlwind fashion with Eadestown leading 1-3 to 1-2 after seven minutes despite playing against the breeze. The goals were scored by Niall Cummins for Eadestown and Shane McCormack for Clane. A couple of two pointers, one from a free by Clane top scorer, Brian McLoughlin quickly turned the game in Clane’s favour but Eadestown responded with three points from corner forward, Eoin Conneff, playing against the club of his father, Micheal. As half time approached, Daniel Colbert reacted quickest to a McLoughlin shot off the upright to fire home a second goal for Clane and Sean Mealiffe’s charges went in six points to the good at 2-10 to 1-7. An early two pointer from a Ben Fitzsimons free began the Eadestown comeback and that comeback was complete when Eoin Conneff got through for a second goal for Emmet Bolton’s men. The O’Sullivan brothers, sub, Killian and full forward, Shane brought us level again with six minutes left on the clock only for full forward Cian Bolton to get through for a fine goal as the final whistle approached. McLoughlin and Shane O’Sullivan (free) sent us into extra time at 3-15 to 2-18.
Playing against the breeze in the first period of extra time it was Eadestown who took the initiative but a Shane O’Sullivan two pointer helped Clane reduce the deficit to a single point after the first ten minute period. All the remaining scoring came in the first three minutes of the second period with first Shane O’Sullivan firing over the point to level the scorers again and Cian O’Donoghue starting and finishing a move from midfield involving the McCormack brothers, Shane and Sam, by palming to the Eadestown net for the final and decisive score.
Cian Burke; Harry O’Neill, Conor Walsh, Hugh Prendergast; Calum Doran, Cian Shanahan, Rhys Vaughan; Daragh Mullahy 0-1, Daniel Colbert 1-1; Shane McCormack 1-1, Brian McLoughlin 0-11 (1tp,1tpf, 3fs), Sam McCormack; Adam Fitzpatrick, Shane O’Sullivan 0-6 (1tpf), Eoghan Maguire 0-1. Subs: Cian O’Donoghue 1-0 for Rhys Vaughan 41, Eoin Twohig for Adam Fitzpatrick 47, Killian O’Sullivan 0-1 for Calum Doran 48, Sam Reilly 0-1 for Sam McCormack 59 Sam McCormack for Harry O’Neill 2 E/T, Cormac Vizzard for Eoghan Maguire 12 E/T.
Charlie Carroll; Cian Cahill, John Lawlor, Paul O’Dwyer; Daragh Jameson 0-1, Jack Sargent, Sean Hynes 0-1; Michael O’Brien, Niall Cummins 1-3 (1tp); Ben Fitzsimons 0-3 (1tp), Pauric Tuohy 0-2, Tom Boran 0-1; Eoin Conneff 1-6, Cian Bolton 1-2 (1tp), Max Sargent. Subs: Conor McCarthy for Max Sargent 35, Rian Boran for Michael O’Brien 42, Harry Carroll for Paul O’Dwyer 48, Conor Morrin for Ben Fitzsimons 58, Ben Fitzsimons for Conor McCarty H/T E/T.
Fergal Barry.
