*Paudie Considine kicked the winning score for Ennistymon. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
ENNISTYMON are one step away from capturing the John Marrinan memorial thanks to a one point U21A football semi-final victory over Kilmurry Ibrickane.
Ennistymon 1-15
Kilmurry Ibrickane 1-14
Venue: Páirc Cuar an Chláir, Cooraclare
In a most entertaining and well contested tie their ability to win primary possession around the middle third of the pitch proved crucial. That said this was a tie in which the outcome was in doubt right to the final whistle.
On a pitch which was in remarkably good condition despite the heavy rain in the days leading up to the game the sides were level on five occasions.
Points were exchanged in the opening minutes before Ennistymon captain John Vaughan landed the first two pointer of the contest in the seventh minute.
A two pointer from Mark Kelleher and points from Paudie Considne and Joe Concannon saw the winners open a four point lead by the twentieth minute.
At this stage team captain Josh Vaughan who had his left leg heavily strapped, was replaced by John Barry
Kimurry Ibrickane finished the half strongly with Cathal Talty kicking three points including a two pointer and one coming from Josh Moloney to send the teams to the interval tied at 0-8 each.
Ennistymon had a dream start to the second half when a Paudie Considine free rebounded off the upright only for Gearoid Barry to react quickest and send the ball to the net.
Kilmurry Ibrickane replied with a two pointer free from Conor Burke but Paudie Considine from a free and a two pointer from Fred Hegarty had the winners four clear with ten minutes played in the half.
Kilmurry Ibrickane quickly cut the lead to the minimum when Cathal Talty finished a fine more by shooting low to the net but points from substitute john Barry and one from Sean Rynne had the winners three clear entering the final quarter.
Four in a row followed from Kilmurry-Ibrickane, two coming from wing back Diarmuid Comber and the West Care side led by the miniuum with six minutes of normal time remaining.
Joe Concannon levelled just before he was replaced by the returning captain Josh Vaughan whose influence in the final minutes played a key part in his side’s victory.
What proved to be the winning score came a minute from the end of normal time when Paudie Considine converted a 20m free.
Just over four minutes of added time followed during which Ennistymon had the majority of possession.
Joe Casey, Brian McNamara, Sean Rynne, Paudie Considine and Fred Hegarty were prominent for the winners while Kilmurry Ibrickane who lined out without Ajay Daly and Tomás Sexton due to injury had strong performances from Josh Moloney, Diarmuid Comber, Cathal Talty and Conor Burke.
Scorers Ennistymon: Paudie Considine (0-4, all frees); Gearoid Barry (1-0); Fred Hegarty (0-3, 1TP); Josh Vaughan, Mark Kelleher 1 TP each Joe Concannon (0-2) each John Barry, Sean Rynne (0-1) each
Scorers Kilmurry Ibrickane; Cathal Talty (1-4, 1TP); Conor Burke (0-6, 1TP, 1f); Diarmuid Comber (0-2); Josh Moloney, Jason Cushen (0-1) each.
Ennistymon;
1: Conor Morrissey;
3: Joe Casey,
4: James Culinan,
2: Louis Griffin;
5: Daniel Brody
6: Conor Rynne
7: Brian McNamara
12: Josh Vaughan
9: Sean Rynne
10: Sean Connealy
11: Paudie Considie
8: Mark Kelleher
13: Joe Concannon
14: Gearoid Barry
17: Fred Hegarty
Subs:
26; John Barry for J. Vaughan (20)
Vaughan for J. Concannon (26)
Kilmurry Ibrickane:
1: Colin O’Neilll
2: Shay Gleeson
3: Conor Kearney
4: Matthew Campbell
5: Diarmuid Comber
6: Josh Mooney
7: Leo Switzer;
8: Evan Cahill
9: Killian Darcy
10: Colin Considine
11: Reuban Fallon
12: Cian Coughlan;
13: Jason Cushen,
14: Cathal Talty,
15: Conor Burke
Subs:
19: Oisin Sexton for C. Coughlan (48)
David O’Donoghue for L Switzer (54)
Referee: Eoin Keane (Corofin)
