ST JOSEPH’S SPANISH POINT have won the county senior schools football final.
St. Joseph’s Spanish Point 1-8
CBS Ennistymon 1-7
Venue: Cooraclare
In what was a hugely tight tense stop start affair a two wonder scores decided this County final.
Munster Final hero Josh Maloney who could not start due to injury came on and with his side trailing by three points with ninety seconds to play, Maloney rifled a beauty into the top corner to level the contest.
With the game seemingly destined for extra time, midfielder Evan Cahill had other ideas when landing what can only be described as a sensational point three minutes into additional time.
Spanish Point were awarded a free forty yards from goal and Cahill stood over it. With the huge wind blowing into his face Cahill kicked a monster high up into the night sky to huge roars of delight from the St Joseph’s Spanish Point faithful.
There wasn’t time for any more as referee Pat Keane blew his full time whistle with a pitch invasion of supporters highlighting what it meant to the West Clare school.
The first half was a war of attrition with the play constantly being stopped for silly indiscretions and over carrying. Amazingly there was a total of 29 frees awarded and this really did prevent any free flowing football. An Evan Cahill 45 opened the scoring in the fourth minute.
We had to wait a further ten minutes for the next score which was a well taken Conor Rynne equaliser. The hugely impressive Paudie Considine then kicked a beauty to give Ennistymon the lead. Spanish Point regrouped and kicked four of the next five scores including two Cathal Talty beauties before a late Mark Callinan point ensured there was only a point in it at the interval with St Joseph’s leading 0-5 to 0-4.
On the resumption a slick passing move found Euan Lineen unmarked and he slotted over to increase the lead to two points. The game then turned when substitute Ricky Wynne raided for 1-1. A super offload by Mark Callinan found Wynne on the overlap and he buried his shot low past the helpless Tomas Sexton.
Minutes later Wynne landed a monster point from an acute angle punching the air in delight as his side now led 1-5 to 0-7. The title now looked destined for the reigning champions as two sensational frees from almost ridiculous positions were expertly converted by Paudie Considine.
Fifty eight minutes in trailing by three we then had the grandstand finish from the Munster Under 19 D champions and from the brink of defeat the title was on its way to Spanish Point.
Nobody in attendance could believe what unfolded but Maloney’s goal will live long in the memory such was the quality of the strike. Cue unbelievable celebrations and the bandwagon will continue with an All Ireland semi-final in two weeks time. On this form who would bet against them.
Afterwards The Clare Echo man of the match was awarded to full back Gary Donnellan who was immense throughout.
Scorers for St Joseph’s Spanish Point: Josh Maloney 1-0, Cathal Talty 0-3, Evan Cahill 0-3, Euan Lineen 0-2
Scorers for CBS Ennistymon: Ricky Wynne 1-1, Paudie Considine 0-3, Conor Rynne 0-2, Mark Callinan 0-1
St. Joseph’s Spanish Point
1: Tomas Sexton(Kilmurry Ibrickane)
2: Shay Gleeson(Kilmurry Ibrickane)
3: Gary Donnellan(Cooraclare)
4: Conor Kearney(Kilmurry Ibrickane
17: Cormac Byrne (St.Joseph’s Miltown Malbay)
6: Diarmuid Comber (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
7 : Cillian Keavey (St.Joseph’s Miltown Malbay)
8: Paul Frawley (St.Joseph’s Miltown Malbay)
9: Evan Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
10: Sean Neylon (St.Joseph’s Miltown Malbay)
11: Oisin Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
12: Darragh Townsend (Cooraclare)
13: Finn O’Driscoll (Cooraclare)
14: Euan Lineen (St.Joseph’s Miltown Malbay)
15: Cathal Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
Subs: Josh Maloney (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for Cormac Byrne (40)
CBS Ennistymon
1: John Nea (Kilfenora)
2: Cian O Conchuir (Inagh Kilnamona)
3: James Cullinan (Inagh Kilnamona)
4: Joe Hanrahan (Liscannor)
5: Kevin Nunan (Ennistymon)
6: Sean Conneally (Ennistymon)
7: Daithi Fitzgerald (Ennistymon)
8: Joshua Vaughan (Ennistymon)
9: Mark Kelleher (Ennistymon)
10: Macdara O’Keefe(Ennistymon)
19: Conor Rynne(Inagh Kilnamona)
12: Brian McNamara (Ennistymon)
13: Mark Callinan(Inagh Kilnamona)
14: Paudie Considine (Ennistymon)
15: Joshua O’Brien (Corofin)
Subs: Ricky Wynne (Inagh Kilnamona) for Nunan (27) (inj)
Seanie McMahon (Ennistymon) for O’Keefe (38)
Caoimhin O’Donovan (Corofin) for O’Brien (53)
Referee: Pat Keane(Lissycasey)
