In a tense encounter Clonmore deservedly came out on top of this vital Intermediate Championship game played in perfect conditions at Éire Óg’s Páirc Uí Bhriain on Saturday evening.
It was a case of third time lucky for Clonmore as they had lost twice to Naomh Eoin in the League, the most recent encounter being the 6-13 to 3-18 League Play-off defeat, which will be forever remembered as the day John Michael Nolan scored 5-1. While John Michael’s high fielding was again a feature of the game, he was never allowed a clear run at goal by the Clonmore men on this occasion.
Clonmore opened the game brightly and raced into a four point lead with points from Luke Connolly, Robert Bulmer, David Mulvany and Dylan Doyle. Goalkeeper Andy O’Brien opened the scoring for Myshall with a long range free before Scott Treacy swung over a beauty with his left boot to leave the score 0-4 to 0-2 at the first water break.
On the 15th minute Naomh Eoin were dealt a severe blow when Conor Foley received his marching orders from referee, Billy Fanning, but this seemed to spur the Myshall men into action and they quickly took the lead with another point by Scott Treacy and a well worked goal by Martin Clowry – 1-3 to 0-4 on 25 minutes.
Clonmore immediately responded with points from Con Murphy, Dylan Doyle and Shane McGrath to regain the lead and go into the half -time break ahead by 0-7 to 1-3.
As in the first half, Clonmore came racing out of the traps and had built up a 1-9 to 1-3 lead by the 40th minute, their goal a rocket from Matt Cullen that gave Andy O’Brien no chance. But Myshall were not going down without a fight and with the twin towers of JM Nolan and Martin Clowry now operating on the edge of the square, they proceeded to bombard the Clonmore rearguard with high balls.
Points from Scott Treacy, Adam Kenny and Eanna Kavanagh chipped away at the Clonmore lead and as the red & green clad backline struggling to cope with the physically of the Myshall men, they conceded a penalty which was expertly converted by Adam Kenny in the 54th minute.
Another Myshall point from Philip Smithers on the 56th minute left only a point between the teams - 1-11 to 2-7. The final minutes were very tense and both teams missed scoring opportunities as play swung from end to end. The final score of the game came from a free by Dylan Doyle in the 63rd minute to give the Clonmore men a narrow win and allow their supporters to breathe a massive sigh of relief.
Clonmore move on to play Kildavin/ Clonegal at 5pm next Saturday in Netwatch Cullen Park with Naomh Eoin facing Éire Óg at 7.30pm on Friday evening in Fenagh Training Centre.
Clonmore: Jordan Kane, David McCarney, Billy Lawlor, Shane Murphy, Paddy Gahan, Cormac Connolly, Matt Cullen (1-0), Luke Connolly (0-1), David Mulvany (0-2), Rory Maguire, Con Murphy (0-1), Enda McGrath, Shane McGrath (0-2) Robert Bulmer (0-2), Dylan Doyle (0-4,2f). Subs: Tom Pollard for David Mulvany (42m), Conor McCarney for Con Murphy (50m), Jake Hickey for Rory Maguire (50m), Sean Deay for Cormac Connolly (64m).
Naomh Eoin: Andrew O’Brien (0-1,f), Ross McEvoy, Michael Kavanagh, Tommy Nolan, Cathal Treacy, Martin Doyle, Eanna Kavangh (0-1), Philip Smithers (0-1), Adam Kenny (1-1, free & pen), Scott Treacy (0-3,1f), Keith Hogan, Conor Foley, James Smithers, John Michael Nolan, Martin Clowry (1-0). Subs: Dinny Joe Regan for James Smithers.
Referee: Billy Fanning (Ballon).
