*Clondegad’s Seán McAllister scored the equaliser to force extra time. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLONDEGAD have qualified for the U21A football final after defeating Cooraclare by two points following extra time.
Clondegad 2-14
Cooraclare 2-12
(after extra time)
Venue: Ennistymon
According to the saying ‘hunger is the best sauce’ and Clondegad showed the greater hunger for victory over eighty minutes to set up a clash with Ennistymon in the U21A football final.
Cooraclare carried the favourites tag into this semi-final but they trailed for most of a tie which produced some exciting football for the big attendance.
Three minutes from the end of normal time Cooraclare took the lead when Simon Culligan landed a two pointer. However, with the game in the final minute Sean McAllister burst upfield and fisted over the equaliser to send the game into extra time.
There were a lot of turnovers by both sides as they sought to get a grip on the tie
Cooraclare opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Sean Molloy converted a 30m free but the lead was short lived as Luke Minogue landed the equaliser a minute later.
A long delivery from Eoin Kennedy slipped through the hands of Harry O’Gorman for the game’s opening goal in the twelfth minute and the winners followed with points from Thomas Hehir and Cormac Ó Muineachain to lead by five as the game entered the second quarter.
Both sides found scores hard to come by and the game was in the final minute of the half when the next score came, Sean Molloy finding the net for Cooraclare to leave his side trailing by two, 1-1 to 1-3, when the half time whistle sounded.
Cooraclare closed the gap to the minimum early in the second half when Sean Molloy pointed but soon after Clondegad struck a major blow when Thomas Hehir reacted quickest when the ball broke in the goalmouth and he first timed to the net to put his side four clear and leave Cooraclare with a big task.
They responded impressively kicking four unanswered points in the next eleven minutes to tie up the contest.
Midfielder Sam Garry kicked Clondegad back in front eight minutes from the end and a further five minutes went by before Simon Culligan kicked a two-pointer putting his side in front for the first time since they had landed the opening score. Clondegad refused to throw in the towel and Sean McAlllister deservingly tied up the game in the final minute of normal time
The winners went back in front in the opening minute of extra time when Daniel Costello pointed but Cooraclare quickly levelled before Simon Culligan struck for their second goal, a score that many felt would tip the contest in their favour.
Clondegad had other ideas and they responded with a two pointer free from Eoin Kennedy which was followed by the equaliser from Luke Minogue. Sam Garry then landed a two pointer from play and Clondegad went to half time in extra time leading on a score of 2-11 to 2-9.
Points from Eoin O’Connor and Cormac O Muineachain stretched he winners lead to four early in the second half of extra time and now it was Cooraclare’s turn to show that they weren’t going to go down easily.
Two points from Simon Culligan and one from Kevin Marrinan left one between the sides with a minute remaining.
Try as they did Cooarclare just couldn’t get in for the equaliser and it was Clondegad who had the final say when Eoin Kennedy converted a 13m free to spark off great celebrations amongst their followers.
Sean McAllister, Daniel Costelloe, Sam Garry, Cormac Ó Muineachain and Eoin Kennedy were prominent in what was an all-round good team effort.
Noel Gavin, Eoin Murphy, Sean O’Dea, Aidan Considine and Sean Molloy did well for Cooraclare who certainly missed Gary Donnellan in the second period of extra time after he was forced out of the game due to injury.
Scorers Clondegad: Eoin Kennedy (1-3, 1TP); Thomas Hehir (1-1); Sam Garry (0-3, 1TP); Luke Minogue, Cormac Ó Muineachain (0-2) each; Sean McAlllister, Daniel Costelloe, Eoin O’Connor (0-1) each;
Scorers Cooraclare: Simon Culligan (1-4, 1TP); Sean Molloy (1-3); Sean O’Dea, Seamus O’Connell, Aidan Considine, Darragh Townsend, Kevin Marrinan (0-1) each
Clondegad:
1: Sean O’Malley;
2: Dylan Killoughery,
3: Niall Carigg,
4: Alan Sheehan;
5: Cormac O’Muineachain,
8: Colm Meaney
7: Daniel Coselloe;
6: Sean McAllister,
9: Sam Garry;
10: Eoin O’Connor,
11: Eoin Kennedy,
12: Kieran McDonnell;
13: Thomas Hehir,
14: Robbie Markham,
15: Luke Minogue;
Subs:
19: Eoin Coote for Markham (HT)
18: Dara O’Neill for Sheehan (66)
Cooraclare;
1: Harry O’Gorman;
2: Aaron Townsend,
3: Noel Gavin,
4: Fionn Burke;
5: Gary Donnellan,
6: Eoin Murphy,
7: Jimmy Gallagher;
8: Gabriel Fennell
9: Sean O’Dea;
10: Kevin Marrinan
11: Aidan Considine
12: Jack Carey;
23: Dara Townsend
14: Sean Molloy
15: Simon Culligan
Subs:
26: Shane O’Connell for Marrinan (22)
19: Cian Corry for Donnellan (inj) (HT ET)
Kevin Marrinan for O’Connell (68)
Referee: Pat Healy (Kilmaley)
