*Clare players celebrate with the Kennedy Bowl. Photograph: Joe Buckley
Clare have been crowned winners of the Kennedy Bowl following a comprehensive win on Saturday morning.
Clare 3
Galway 0
Venue: University of Limerick
It is the third time in the forty year history of the Kennedy Cup that Clare have won a trophy in the competition and the first in twenty one years since the county has claimed the Kennedy Bowl.
They were comfortable winners over neighbours Galway in UL on Saturday morning, kicking off an important weekend of underage soccer in the county with Clare’s U13 and U15 Gaynor Cup sides taking to the field on Sunday morning.
Avenue Utd’s Etnik Aliu struck for two goals to put the Banner in control with the physical Tiernan Adelu making his mark on proceedings once again by registering Clare’s third and final goal.
With only one defeat in their entire Kennedy Cup campaign, the collection of silverware is well merited for a Clare side that only conceded two goals, those efforts coming in their defeat to Cork. Over the course of the Kennedy Cup, Davy Wall’s side scored twenty goals.
Standout players throughout their season included goalkeeper Conor Wall, Bridge Utd’s Aidan Moloney, Oliver Hawes, Tiernan Adelu, Glen McNamara, Etnik Aliu and captain Matt Jones.
Wall of Shannon Hibs was joined in his management team by Ruan based Fabio Messori, Avenue Utd’s Paul Roche and TJ O’Dwyer of Shannon Town Utd.
Clare (4-3-2-1: Conor Wall (Shannon Hibs); Kyle Kirby (Bunratty Cratloe), Glen McNamara (Tulla Utd), Conor McFadden (Tulla Utd), Aidan Moloney (Bridge Utd); Matt Jones (Bunratty Cratloe), Adam Kilker (Tulla Utd), Etnik Aliu (Avenue Utd); Oliver Hawes (Burren Utd), Tiernan Adeul (Shannon Hibs), Jack Daly (Bridge Utd).
Subs: Callum Casey (Tulla Utd) for Hawes, Shay Waller (Shannon Hibs) for Kirby, Kevin Hanley (Shannon Hibs) for Jones, Darragh Baker (Tulla Utd) for Daly, Kyle McInerney (Shannon Hibs) for Wall, Daniel Brody (Sporting Ennistymon) for Kilker, Eoin Devenney (Sporting Ennistymon), Ryan McCarthy (Ennis Town FC), Liam Heffernan (Mountshannon Celtic).
