Clones Cyclone Blows Oram Away

Gerry’s Prepared Veg U13 Division 2 Shield Final  

Clones 1-20 Oram 3-7  

Clones’ sharper skills and accuracy on the ball proved the difference in this Division 2 Shield Final against Oram last Saturday morning in Scotstown.  

Played in sunny conditions, the St Tiernachs’ boys never looked in danger from the off, with eight different players getting on the scoresheet.  

The aforementioned set their stall out from the throw in, with Caolain Clerkin, Michael McCaughey and two points from Thomas Mulhall leaving them 0-4 to 0-0 ahead after 10 minutes of the opening half.  

Nathan McGovern then bagged a lucky goal for Clones, and this was then followed by a point from James Bell Johnston.  

It was 14 minutes before Oram registered their first point, courtesy of Glen Forde. The scores read 1-5 to 0-1 in favour of Clones.  

Both teams shared the next four points before Clones made their next burst. Four unanswered white flags from Callum McGorman, Matthew McCaughey and two from Caolain Clerkin left Clones 1-11 to 0-3 clear after 23 minutes.  

Glen Forde then slotted over a free to leave Oram 10 points in arrears at half time.  

Nathan McGovern raced up with the ball from the throw in to tag on another point for Clones on the resumption.  

Then, Oram suddenly bagged a goal through Aaron Laverty and a point from Glen Forde, and with the scores now 1-12 to 1-5, Oram were threatening a comeback.  

It never materialised however, as Clones hit the next five points without reply, thanks to Nathan McGovern, Caolain Clerkin, Darragh McElvaney and two Jamie McCaughey frees.  

Jamie Laverty and Sean McCooey then tagged on two points for Oram to reduce the margin to 10 with eight minutes to play.  

Caolain Clerkin pushed Clones’ lead out to 11 once more with a fine point, before Dillon Watters palmed home a goal for Oram at the other end to reduce the deficit to 8 points.  

Although Sean McCooey bagged his side’s third goal with a minute of normal time remaning, Oram never looked like mounting a miraculous comeback, and Clones closed out the game with a point from Euan O’Neill to deservedly take the title.  

CLONES: Odhran McPhillips, James Bell Johnston 0-1, Oisin Cosgrove, Darragh McElvaney 0-1, James Mulhall, Callum McGorman 0-2, Thomas Mulhall 0-3, Caolain Clerkin 0-5 (1f), Michael McCaughey 0-3, Nathan McGovern 1-2, Jamie Dowds, Jamie McCaughey 0-2 (2f), Nicky McGovern.  

Subs: Euan O’Neill 0-1 for Nicky McGovern, Rionn Branagan for Jamie Dowds, Matheus Granzotti for Jamie McCaughey.  

Oram: Ryan Kelly Lynch, Michael Mone, Jamie Laverty, Paudie Mone, Keith McMahon, Ben Mone, Jamie Watters (C), Brian McKernan, Dillon Watters, Patrick Laverty, Aaron Laverty, Stephen Kellyand Glen Forde.

Subs: Sean McCooey, James Carville, Matty Watters, Eoghan Hannon, Oisin Graham, Connell Cunningham and Coehn McCabe