Photos by Gerard O’Neill
Ennistymon 1-10
Corofin 0-6
Ennistymon bridged a twelve year gap when they were crowned Clare under 21 A football champions at Cusack Park this Wednesday afternoon.
A strong second half showing saw them win the John Marrinan memorial cup for the first time since 2010 as they accounted for Corofin before an official attendance of 950 patrons.
Having gone to the break on level terms (0-5 to 1-2) with their North Clare neighbours, they took control when play resumed and they landed seven unanswered points in the third quarter to take control of the tie.
“We are delighted to get the win. The 21 A championship is hard won. There is a perception out there that we have a number of 21 titles but we haven’t. We have hard luck in a number of them. We are contesting a lot and today we got the breaks. It was an attritional year on dual clubs and it showed today with several players missing from both teams. That’s the way the calendar is and you have to get on with it. The target is to keep developing players and keep working. The margins are so tight in Clare football. We will savour today and we will take it from there”, commented Ennistymon manager Brendan Rouine.
“We just weren’t sharp enough. They are a great side, they have won the 14, the 16, minor and now the 21. We have been at the end of all those beatings and we don’t seem to be able to reel them in. Both teams were missing a few players today. They were definitely on top and the better team by a long way”, commented Corofin manager Douglas Hurley.
Scores were difficult to come by in the early stages and the game was seven minutes old before Keelan Guyler put the new champions into the lead. A further six went by before Josh Ryan opened Corofin’s account.
Guyler quickly restored the winner’s lead before Ryan Barry got in for the game’s only goal after good work by Josh Guyler and Brendy Rouine.
Twenty minutes into the game Ennistymon lost Liam Cotter to a black and five minutes later they were down to thirteen as Sean Rynne suffered a similar fate. With numerical advantage Corofin enjoyed their best spell and points from Josh Ryan, Robin Mounsey and two superb long range efforts from Cillian McGroary saw them level the tie before the half time whistle sounded.
Cotter had served his ten minutes in the sin bin just before the teams went to the break and five minutes into the second period the winners were back to their full complement as Sean Rynne returned to the action.
By then Ennistymon were two points in front after Brendy Rouine had converted two frees.
The winners were now controlling play and growing in confidence by the minute. Further points from John Murphy, Brendy Rouine (‘45), Sean Rynne(2) and Josh Vaughan saw them open a seven point lead by the three quarter stage,
It was clear that Corofin needed a goal to have any chance of getting back into contention but the winner’s defence was in control with team captain Darragh Conneally, John Murphy and Ciaran McMahon to the fore
Corofin battled to the end but they had to wait until the fourth minute of added time for their only score of the half with Robin Mounsey pointing a 20m free.
**After the game Ennistymon captain Darragh Conneally accepted the cup from Clare GAA chairman Kieran Keating
Scorers;-Ennistymon; Brendy Rouine, (2 frees, 1, 45), Sean Rynne (1 free) 0-3 each; Ryan Barry (1-0), Keelan Guyler (0-2), Josh Vaughan, John Murphy (0-1) each
Corofin; John Ryan Robin Mounseh (frees), Cillian McGroary (0-2) each
Ennistymon; 1-Conor Gallagher; 4-James Cullinan, 3-Darragh Conneally (Captain), 7-Ciaran McMahon; 6-John Murphy; 27-Josh Guyler, 5-Liam Cotter; 8-Eoin Rouine, 9-Josh Vaughan; 5-Liam Cotter,11-Brendy Rouine, 12-Ryan Barry; 13–Keelan Guyler, 14-Sean Rynne,10-Darren McNamara
Subs; 18-Eanna Rouine for R. Barry (52), 15-Niall Hogan for Cotter (56); 23-Diarmuid Fahy for B. Rouine (58); 17-Ruairi Murphy for K. Guyler(60);
19 -Colm Kearney for D. Mc\Namara (63)
Corofin; 16-Keelan Mounsey; 2-Jack McDonagh, 6-Thomas Roche, 4-Gearoid Hanrahan; 5-Cillian McGroary, 3-Eoin Fitzgerald, 7-Cian O’Loughlin; 8-Kevin Keane (captain), 17-James Organ; 10-Josh Ryan, 11-Sean McNamara, 12-Cian Doolin; 13-Diarmuid Cahill, 14-Killian O’Connor, 15-Robin Mounsey;
Subs;-18-Adam O’Loughlin for S. McNamara (48); 30-Eoin O’Brien for C. O’Loughlin (52); 19-Colin Fitzgerald for Cahill (inj.,54), 20-Ashley Brohan for McGroary (63);
Referee;–Niall Quinn, Miltown St. Josephs;
