O’Donovan goal seals U15 title for St Josephs Doora/Barefield

A compelling seesaw battle eventually went St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield’s way by the minimum after producing a dramatic six point turnaround to clinch the Under 15 Division 1 honours in Cusack Park on Monday evening.

St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 1-08
Lissycasey 0-10
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

In an evenly-match decider of nine goal chances, Padraic O’Donovan grabbed the decisive sole goal of the hour just before the last water break to finally reel in Lissycasey. And with momentum now in their favour, the Parish capitalised fully to kick three of the next four points to effectively cement the inaugural Under 15 crown.

It was all so different in the opening period when Lissycasey proved the more efficient side to kick six unanswered points through five different scorers (Ben Skerritt (2), Diarmuid McMahon, Aaron Clohessy, Stephen Davoren, and Daire Culliigan) on their way to a 0-7 to 0-2 cushion by the 35th minute.

Goal opportunities for Ben Skerritt and Noah Halpin were repelled however while down the other end, Doora/Barefield found it difficult to add to Padraic O’Donovan’s early brace as they slumped to four wides and also had a goal chance for Jack Dillon denied.

Indeed, without a score in almost 30 minutes, St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield quickly made up for lost time as an Eoin Ógie Fanning free was followed by a 1-1 blitz from O’Donovan who drilled his 43rd minute shot to the right corner of the net to level up the tie by the turn of the final quarter at 1-4 to 0-7.

That goal lifted the encounter to new heights as spurned goal chances for Doora/Barefield through Fanning and Jack Dillon were matched by Lissycasey’s inspirational centre-back Aidan Weaver who slalomed his way past three defenders before just clearing the crossbar at 1-5 to 0-8 entering the final ten minutes.

St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield’s influential twin threats O’Donovan and Fanning finally put clear daylight between the sides as both kicked crucial points before the captain earned a 55th minute penalty that the latter lifted over the bar at 1-8 to 0-8.

Under 14 champions Lissycasey refused to reach for the panic button however and by the first of three additional minutes, the defiant Daire Culligan had converted two points to cut the deficit to just one.

They would get one final opportunity but it drifted agonisingly wide as an elated St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield clung on for a famous win.

Scorers for St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Padraic O’Donovan (1-4, 2f, 1m); Eoin Ógie Fanning (0-4, 1Pen, 1f)

Scorers for Lissycasey: Daire Culligan (0-4, 2f); Ben Skerritt (0-2); Diarmuid McMahon (f), Aaron Clohessy, Stephen Davoren, Aidan Weaver (0-1 each)

St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield
1: Luke Kennedy

2: Ali Ghazi
3: Odhran Flynn
4: Diarmuid Boyle

10: Charlie Hannan
13: Sean Frawley
5: Conor Daly

8: Darragh Ball
9: Paddy Nagle

12: Liam Clune
11: Niall Talty
17: Mark O’Connor

14: Eoin Ógie Fanning
6: Padraic O’Donovan (Captain)
15: Jack Dillon

Sub:
7: Dara Bohannon for Flynn (30+4, inj)

Lissycasey
1: Josh Daniels

2: Ryan Courtney
3: Michael Kelly (Captain)
5: Cathal Casey