O’Callaghan’s Mills 2-8
Parteen-Meelick 0-11
Depending on your perspective, it was either a gritty Under 21C1 title winning display from
O’Callaghan’s Mills or a major missed opportunity for Parteen-Meelick in Gurteen on Thursday
evening.
In truth, there were strong strands of both as the Mills, despite only scoring a solitary point in the
last 20 minutes, did grind out their first Under 21 crown since 2017’s B triumph. However,
considering their final tally, to slump to twelve second half wides including six in the first seven
minutes of the restart was utterly unacceptable for Parteen-Meelick.
Add in a saved penalty in injury-time of the opening period and it’s an evening that Clare’s newest
club unit will look back on regretfully. Granted, the monumental loss of talisman Jack Kirwan was a
difficult blow to stomach while the foggy conditions were also difficult to get to grips with. However,
Parteen-Meelick ultimately could have won the match twice over and should have at least ensured
that they didn’t lose it.
Ironically, it was the Mills who would rue early missed chances as three wides were surpassed by
as many points for Parteen-Meelick, two from the stick of Peter Small. They should have added a
goal too after Sean Connolly played in Darragh McGleenan who shot was somehow kept out from
point blank range by goalkeeper Mikey Canny.
It took the Mills nine minutes to open their account but it would be worth the wait as Colm Cleary
found the net in a crowded goalmouth to level up the tie, with the sides locked on three more
occasions before Darragh Moroney added a second Mills goal on the half hour mark at 2-3 to 0-6.
It was a sucker-punch that Parteen-Meelick did get the chance to appease at the death when
Darragh McGleenan was unceremoniously brought down for a penalty.
However, Mikey Canny was equal to Peter Small’s effort to tip it over the bar at 2-3 to 0-7 by the
break.
Worse was to follow for Parteen-Meelick as six early wides were duly punished by a received
O’Callaghan’s Mills who responded with four of the next five points at 2-7 to 0-8 by the turn of the
final quarter.
The Mills failed to fully close out the contest though but despite a rousing late rally from Parteen-
Meelick including three unanswered points from Daniel Cooney, Peter Small and Rory McDermott
to slash the deficit to just two entering the final ten minutes, their profligacy continued to haunt
them, leaving fee taker Colm Cleary to fife the insurance point for a first Under 21C success since
2005.
Scorers fror O’Callaghan’s Mills: Colm Cleary (1-5, 5f); Darragh Moroney (1-2); Henry McGrath
(0-1)
Scorers: for Parteen-Meelick: Peter Small (0-5, 1 Pen, 4f); Dara Nolan (0-2); Sean Connolly,
Daragh McDermott (f), Daniel Cooney, Rory McDermott (0-1 each)
O’Callaghan’s Mills
1: Mikey Canny
2: Stephen Marsh
3: Mikey McMahon
5: Liam Boyce
18: Ronan O’Dea
6: Cormac Murphy (Captain)
4: Noel McGrath
8: Cathal McNamara
9: Fionn Hickey
15: Oisin Cleary
11: Darragh Moroney
12: Henry McGrath
13: Rory O’Neill
14: Colm Cleary
10: Mark Crehan
Sub
17: Dan Burke for O. Cleary (35)
Parteen-Meelick
1: Jack Cosgrove
2: Joe Sherlock
3: Tom Collins
21: Sean Nestor
5: Denis Hickey
6: Daragh McDermott
7: Danny Williamson
8: Daniel Cooney
9: Jason O’Reilly (Captain)
10: Rory McDermott
15: Dara Nolan
11: Mike McEvoy
13: Peter Small
25: Sean Connolly
14: Darragh McGleenan
Referee: Gus Callaghan (Feakle)
