*Shane Fitzpatrick holds off both Ciaran McMahon and Josh Vaughan. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
PENALTIES should not be used to determine the winner of a county final, St Breckan’s coach Neil Hawes has argued.
In an entertaining contest in Doonbeg on Saturday, Ennistymon were crowned Clare U21A football champions. They became the first club to win the competition following a penalty shootout with St Breckan’s coming up just short following extra time.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Breckan’s coach Hawes admitted it was a very painful defeat given the manner of the loss. “We’re so disappointed for the boys but so proud of their performance, it is so disappointing, we lost four years ago by a point but I think it is totally wrong to decide a U21A final on penalties, the quicker the new President of the GAA Jarlath Burns comes in and changes this decision the better because it is so unfair on players. Even Brendan Rouine came to me and said it is no way to win or lose a final so that has to go, these are amateur players who will be so disappointed leading into Christmas, it is wrong, totally wrong”.
Hawes is adamant time can be found in the split season to allow for a replay when finals finish level following extra time. “I feel that if the game finished level after extra time that there has to be a window for a replay, there should be no penalties to decide a final, it is totally wrong. I know we came out the wrong side of it, credit to Ennistymon and congratulations to them but this game should be replayed next weekend without a doubt, it is wrong. It was a great advertisement for football given the conditions”.
A former joint manager of the Clare U21 footballers, Neil hailed St Breckan’s for managing to come back from six points early in the second half to take the lead approaching full-time. “These are a great group, they’ve so much heart and togetherness, they really play for each other, they are never beaten. They left everything on the field to be fair, we had one or two chances, when we were two points up I felt they get a soft free to get it back to one point, that is the way it goes but it is so disappointing, it is a sickener”.
Lining out with their talisman and his neighbour Jamie Stack was a huge blow to their cause. The St Breckan’s attacker is currently sidelined with an ankle injury that saw him forced to wear a protective boot instead of a pair of stylish Nike boots on the field. “Jamie is an unbelievable loss to us, he is such a big game player, he scores six or seven points every day he goes out so we were really trying to win it for him, it was so disappointing for him on a personal level to miss it. I’m so proud of the boys but I’m so disappointed for them, it a shame”.
