Lissycasey won’t forget the completion of Under 13 and 14 Division 1 Football titles in a hurry after having to do it the hard way in Cooraclare on Saturday afternoon.
Faced with all four seasons meteorologically (but mainly winter) as well as a vengeful St Josephs Doora/Barefield side who were beaten in the Under 13 Division 1 Semi-Final by the same opponents, Lissycasey admirably managed to literally weather both storms before prevailing after extra-time by 1-10 to 3-2.
The Parish, backed by a sizeable wind, began with an early brace of goals through Leon Talty and Shane Mescall to take a 2-1 to 0-3 advantage into half-time.
Inevitably back came Lissycasey on the turnover, led by ace forwards Diarmuid McMahon and Cian O’Callaghan who ended the afternoon with four points apiece. The main drama, outside of regular bouts of hailstones, was saved for the final minutes however as the sides each converted a penalty, first through Lissycasey captain Aidan Weaver before the equally influential Darragh Ball did likewise at the other end to force extra-time at 1-8 to 3-2. The additional periods didn’t quite sustain those dramatic heights as the arctic conditions finally took their toll, with Aidan Weaver and Cian O’Callaghan closing out victory for Lissycasey.
There was also double football success for Clooney-Quin who for the second successive final, edged out Cooraclare to add the Under 14 Division 2 crown to the Under 15 version garnered following a replay three months earlier. Swapping Cusack Park for a superbly reconstructed Ballynacally this time around, such were the conditions that Clooney-Quin would only score one second half point, fittingly through captain Patrick Finneran in the 38th minute but it would still be sufficient to get his over the line by 0-9 to 2-2. In contrast, Darragh McNamara (4) and Jerry O’Connor (2) were the scorers-in-chief as a wind-assisted Clooney-Quin eased 0-8 to 0-2 clear by half-time. Cooraclare duly rallied though but despite third quarter goals through Shane O’Connell and Darragh Townsend, were agonisingly unable to make up the ground.
Ennistymon centre-forward Daniel Brody also played a captain’s part in capturing the Under 14 Division 1 Shield at the expense of Clondegad by 2-7 to 3-2 in Miltown on Saturday. Brody’s sixth minute goal allied to some crucial points amidst a tense finish that included a Clondegad brace of comeback goals ensured a 1-5 tally that completed a memorable week for Ennistymon following their Minor Division 1 triumph at the same venue.
In keeping with Saturday’s double theme, Cratloe also secured dual Under 14 successes when their B hurling crown was bolstered by a Division 2 Football Shield following a 2-10 to 1-5 victory over St Joseph’s Miltown in Clareabbey.
With the wind at their backs, Miltown start brightly with a Eoin Devanney goal but only led by two by the break after Eanna Collins cancelled it out. A superb display from Tadhg Lohan along with a clinching goal through Ultan Donnelly sealed victory for Cratloe as the underage football season drew to a close.
The culmination of the Clare Under 15A Post-Primary Schools Hurling Championship takes place over the next 24 hours as the Cup, Shield and Plate honours are up for grabs.
The Championship decider pits an unbeaten Ardscoil Rís against St Flannan’s College Blue in Gurteen this evening (Thursday) at 7pm, with Gort Community College and St Joseph’s Tulla vying for the Shield in Tulla at 6.30pm.
Then on Friday afternoon, an All-Ennis Plate Final derby of Rice College and St Flannan’s White is scheduled for St Flannan’s at 3pm, with the Under 15B Championship Finals pencilled in for next week.
