UNIVERSAL GRAPHICS JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
Clones 0-11, Eire Og 1-7.
Clones held out for the narrowest of victories in this fairly low-key and at times scrappy encounter, that was played in Clontibret on Saturday evening last. This was a game where missed chances for both sides was the main talking point but had Clones lost this game they would have had to look at their wasteful finishing that saw them hit 15 wides in all, 8 in the 1st half. Eire Og were a little less culpable in that regard hitting 7 wides in the 1st half but only one in the 2nd although a number of efforts did also drop short. Clones had the better of things in a low scoring 1st half, leading by 3 points to 1 going into the 2nd quarter but then hitting their best period of the half that saw them hit 5 unanswered points between the 17th and 23rd minutes to open a 6 points lead. Eire Og pulled one back before the break to leave 5 between them at half-time, Clones 0-7, Eire Og 0-2.
Eire Og got off to a great start to the second-half with a goal and a point inside 6 minutes, the goal by Francis McMahon, reducing the margin to the minimum. Eoin McQuaid pushed Clones two clear after 10 minutes but Francis McMahon pulled it back to a one point game entering the final quarter. An exchange of points between Eoin McQuaid and Michael Tierney left one between them with 7 minutes of normal time remaining with Clones then striking for 2 points on the trot from James McElwaine and Darragh Holland to open a 3 points lead with 4 minutes of normal time remaining. Eire Og to their credit kept going right to the end with points by Francis McMahon and Rigan McAree to reduce the margin to the minimum yet again, with Clones just about holding out and Eire Og failing to put the issue to extra time when an injury time free dropped short.
Teams and Scorers: Clones: Sarto Quigley, Darragh McDermott, Ethan Audley, Ben Daly, Dylan Hibbet, James Mealiff, Declan McQuaid 0-1, Fintan Kelly 0-2, James McElwain 0-1, Fabian Beggan 0-1 (f), Colm Connolly 0-1, Darragh Holland 0-2, Patrick McKenna 0-1, Matthew Newell, Eoin McQuaid 0-2. Subs: Evan Mulvanney for P McKenna, Luke Rehill for D McDermott, Eugene Holland for J Mealiff, Cian O’Connor for D Hibbet (Black Card).
Eire Og: James Morrow, Conor Ward, James Leonard, Blain Smith, Shane Monaghan, Darren McMahon, Ollie Treanor, Rigan McAree 0-1 (f), Corey McAree, Ryan Sherlock, Conor Leonard 0-2, Francis McMahon 1-2, Tommy Monaghan, Darrach McCluskey, Michael Tierney 0-2. Subs: Mark McBride for C Ward, Donal Tierney for R Sherlock, Ryan Sherlock for T Monaghan, Darren McAree for S Monaghan. Referee: Damien Boylan (Donaghmoyne).
By Majella Boyd Sun 13th Aug
