*Coolmeen’s Aidan Corry. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
SUBSTITUTE BEN Cleary netted the all-important goal to help Coolmeen claim the last of the quarter-final places in the TUS Clare intermediate football championship.
Coolmeen 1-11
Michael Cusacks 0-12
Venue: Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown Malbay
This preliminary intermediate football championship quarter final tie on Monday night produced a hugely exciting final quarter.
Both sides enjoyed periods of dominance before a grandstand finish from Coolmeen saw them claim victory and the remaining quarter final spot in the race for the Talty Stores cup.
The excitement amongst both sets of supporters throughout the tie but particularly in the final period highlighted once again the importance of a GAA club in every parish.
Both sets of supporters really got behind their teams and the winners followers applauded their players loudly as they headed to the dressing room after the victory.
Coolmeen had the assistance of the wind in the opening half but their North Clare opponents put down a marker from the throw in which was won by Sean McNamara who raced through to give them the led with just twenty seconds played.
With team captain Dylan O’Halloran leading by example the winners responded with the next four points from Aidan Corry (free), O’Halloran, Rian and Mark Meaney to lead 0-4 to 0-1 after eleven minutes.
Scores from Thomas Roche and two more from McNamara had the score at 0-5 to 0-4 in the winners’ favour by the twentieth minute.
Further points from Corry (free), O’Halloran and a Cathal O’Connor ‘45 helped Coolmeen to lead 0-8 to 0-5 at the break.
Both sides made changes for the second half with Cusacks calling on Domhnall McMahon who has been struggling with injury while Coolmeen introduced Ben Cleary.
Straight from the throw in the ball was played into McMahon who was at full forward. He raced through and shot to the net but was penalised for over carrying and the score was disallowed.
Coolmeen attacked a minute later and their substitute Cleary rose highest to finish a delivery from midfield to the net but this was disallowed as he was adjudged to have been in the square ahead of the ball.
Two Sean McNamara points helped Cusacks reduce Coolmeen’s lead to the minimum before an Aidan Corry free eased Coolmeen’s worries.
With ten minutes to play Domhnall McMahon landed a two pointer to level the tie. Within a minute points were exchanged leaving the sides still deadlocked at 0-10 each.
With a minute of normal time remaining McMahon struck again for another two pointer and the North Clare outfit looked to be heading to the quarter finals.
From the kickout Coolmeen attacked and an excellent move ended with Ben Cleary shooting low to the corner of the net. Dylan Power quickly followed with a point but there was still drama.
Two attempts for two pointers from frees by McMahon went narrowly wide, the last being the final action of the tie.
Dylan O’Halloran, Thomas Coffey, the Meaneys, Cathal O’Connor and substitute Ben Cleary played key roles for the winners.
Sean McNamara, Conor McGann, Thomas Roche, Pappy Taaffe, Ruaidhri McMahon and substitute Domhnall McMahon were prominent for Michael Cusacks
Scorers Coolmeen: A Corry (0-4 4f), D O’Halloran (0-3), B Cleary (1-0), R Meaney (0-1), C O’Connor (0-1 1’45), M Meaney (0-1), D Power (0-1).
Scorers Michael Cusacks: S McNamara (0-6 1f), D McMahon (0-4 2TP), T Geoghegan (0-1), T Roche (0-1),
Coolmeen; Barry Vaughan; Gary Meaney, Thomas Coffey, Dylan O’Halloran; Rian Meaney, Brian Markham, Adam Wallace; Eoin O’Connor, Mark Meaney; Thomas Flynn, Dylan Power, Michael Kennedy; Jamie Brooks, Cathal O’Connor, Aidan Corry.
Subs: Ben Cleary for J. Brooks (HT), Joe Corry for M. Kennedy (50).
Michael Cusacks; John Fawle; Darragh Cassidy, Pappy Taaffe, Ruaidhri McMahon; Oisin McNamara, Conor McGann, Joe Clancy; Sean McNamara, Neil O’Loughlin; Seaghan Brosnan, Jack McGann, Tadhg Geoghegan, Thomas Roche, Joey Droney, Noel Hynes;
Sub; Domhnall McMahon for Brosnan (half time)
Referee: John O’Connell (Cooraclare)
