Lissycasey were crowned 2020 minor Division 2 football champions at Shannon on Friday evening when they emerged one point winners over the home sides, the final was cancelled last year due to another lockdown.
Lissycasey 1-9
Wolfe Tones 0-11
Venue: Shannon
This was an exciting contest in which the teams were level on four occasions and for much of the tie extra time looked likely.
Lissycasey started well and had the opening two points through Shane Griffin and Darren Keane but like scores from Gavin Carigg and Colin Riordan tied up the game after twelve minutes.
Lissycasey went back in front when Shane Culligan pointed a 20m free and this was followed by the game’s only goal which came from Luke Griffin whose low shot after a great run took a deflection off a Wolfe Tones defender on the way to the corner of the net.
The goal helped the winners to a two point interval lead, 1-4 to 0-5 but Wolfe Tones made the better start in the second half and three unanswered points had them ahead by the minimum margin five minutes into the new period.
A great Fionn Cotter point brought Lissycasey back on terms before Ben O’Neill restored the home side’s lead only for Shane Culligan to convert another free and level the game at the second water break.
The winners started the final quarter impressively with a point from Shane Griffin and a Shane Culligan point doubled their lead. Liam Murphy pulled one back for the home side before Shane Culligan put two between them again when he converted a free but the Shannon side weren’t finished and substitute Fionn McInerney brought it back to the minimum with three minutes remaining.
Try as they did the home side could not get back on terms and Lissycasey held on for a merited win.
Colin O’Shea, Ian Griffin, Fionn Cotter, Darragh Killeen, Shane Griffin, Cian Neylon and Daire Hill were prominent for the winners.
Martin Frawley on behalf of Coiste na nÓg Peil presented the cup to the winning captain Michael Madigan who thanked the team manager Martin Daly and his selectors before paying tribute to Wolfe Tones.
Lissycasey: Thomas Collins; Colin O’Shea, Ian Griffin, Billy DeLapp; Michael Meaney Michael Madigan, Kevin Shivers; Ronan O’Callaghan, Luke Griffin (1-0); Conor Meaney, Darragh Killeen, Fionn Cotter (0-1); Shane Culligan (0-5), Shane Griffin (0-2), Darren Keane (0-1);
Subs: Daire Hill for O’Callaghan; Jack Cahill for DeLapp; Cian Neylon for Keane
Wolfe Tones: Kevin Kelly; Tan Greene, Aaron Kelly, Liam Divilley; Mark O’Sullivan, Eoghan Casey, Tom Butler; Liam Murphy (0-1), Colin Riordan (0-2); Cody Waller, Darragh Treacy, Jack Ryan (0-3); Gavin Carrig (0-2), Craig Riordan (0-1), Ben O’Neill (0-1);
Subs: Sam Meaney for Greene (inj);; Lee Cregan for O’Sullivan; Fionn McInerney (0-1) for Treacy.
Referee: Robert Harte (St. Senan’s Kilkee)
