*Cratloe’s Jamie Moylan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.Â
Two goals from team captain Jamie Moylan, one in each half, proved key as Cratloe qualified for the under 21 B football championship final when accounting for Wolfe Tones.
Cratloe 2-8
Wolfe Tones 0-8
Venue: Gurteen
While Wolfe Tones enjoyed their fair share of possession, their attack struggled to break down a well marshalled Cratloe defence.
Scores were hard to come by, especially in the opening half at the end of which the winners were in front, 1-3 to 0-4.
Wolfe Tones supporters weren’t happy with the free count in the first half at the end of which Cratloe had been awarded twelve frees by match official Gary Twomey to the Shannon side’s five.
Overall, Cratloe were a better balanced side and deserved the win which has set up a final date with St. Breckans.
The game was six minutes old before the opening score came, Wolfe tones captain Tadhg Fitzgerald pointing.
A further five minutes went by before Cratloe got on the scoresheet, Jamie Moylan shooting low to the corner of the net. Keelan O’Donoghue followed with their first point when he converted a 13m free, the ball having been moved forward after the referee penalised Wolfe Tones for dissent.
An Aaron Shinners two pointer closed the gap to the minimum but two pointed frees by O’Donghue for the winners at either side of one from a Shinners free left two between the sides at the break.
O’Donoghue added to his tally when he converted another 13m free in the first minute of the new half before Wolfe Tones substitute Dara O’Callaghan pointed to leave two still between the sides.
A few minutes later Cratloe were fortunate not to concede a goal, clearing the ball off the goal line as Wolfe Tones piled on the pressure.
The winners dominated the next fifteen minutes and after points from Ollie Sherlock, O’Donoghue and Sean O’Gorman, full forward Moylan struck for their second goal at the turn of the final quarter.
To their credit, Wolfe Tones didn’t throw in the towel and in the final ten minutes they outscored their opponents 0-3 to 0-1 but despite their best efforts they failed to get through for a goal which they needed.
Marc and Ian O’Brien, Denis Mundy, Cathal Lohan, and Jamie Moylan were prominent for the winners while Sean Murphy, Aaron Shinners, Kyle McInerney, Tadhg Fitzgerald and Damien Lyne did best for Wolfe Tones.
Scorers; Cratloe; Jamie Moylan (2-0); Keelan O’Donoghue (0-5, 4f); Sean O’Gorman (0-2), Ollie Sherlock (0-1)
Scorers Wolfe Tones: Aaron Shinners (0-4, 1TP, 1f); Tadhg Fitzgerald (0-2), Dara O’Callaghan, Sean Murphy (0-1) each;
Cratloe:
1: Cian O’Gorman;
2: Éanna Collins,
3: Marc O’Brien,
4: Morgan Leahy;
5: John Moloney,
6: Denis Mundy,
7: Ian O’Brien;
8: Cathal Lohan,
9: Riain McNamara;
10: Rian O’Donoghue,
11: Ollie Sherlock
12: Tadhg Lohan;
13: Sean O’Gorman,
14: Jamie Moylan,
15: Keelan O’Donoghue;
Subs:
18: Harry Strogen for J. Moloney (35);
17: Michael Flanagan for T. Lohan (38)
19: Ultan Donnelly for S. O’Gorman (55) (inj)
Wolfe Tones;
1: Conor Walsh;
2: Kyle McInerney,
3: Ronan Walsh,
4: Luke Keating;
5: Niall Fitzgerald,
6: Sean Murphy,
7: Sean Aylmer;
8: Aaron Shinners
9: Damien Lyne;
10: Shay Waller,
11; Niall Fitzgerald
12; Daithi Casey;
13; Jamie Bryant
14; Oisin O’Rourke,
15; Ben O’Connell;
Subs:
18: Daithi O’Calaghan for Bryant (half time);
24: Colin Riordan for B. O’Connell (44);
22: Eddie Meaney for D. Casey (47);
21: Daithi Lenihan for S. Waller (55)
Referee: Gary Twomey (Ennistymon)
