News

ACL "C" semi-final Clonmore 2-10 Fighting Cocks 1-8

November 8, 2018

Playing fast intelligent football, Clonmore had a deserved win over a determined Fighting Cocks team who have just come down from senior ranks.

Clonmore made good use of the ball and moved it quickly into the full forward line of Niall Humphries,  Owen Coleman, Shane McGrath, who were on fire and proved a handful for the Cock's defence. After a free by Owen and tidy points by Shock and Ronan, the lively Adam Byrne was upended in the square for a penalty which was cooly converted by Owen to put us 1-3 to 0-3 up on 20 minutes. This was followed almost immediately by a cracking goal from Enda McGrath who found the top corner of the net with an unstoppable shot after good work by Shock and Niall. This left us in a strong position at half-time leading by 2-5 to 0-5.

Ronan gave us the perfect start to the second half with a point but it was a rearguard action for most of the half. The Cocks reduced the arrears to two points (2-6 to 1-7) on 36 minutes when they scored a penalty on the rebound after Paddy Byrne had done well to save the original shot. While we spent most of the second half defending, the trojan efforts of the backs confined the Cocks to scoring from frees by the former Blues player, Colin Quigley (who scored 1-7) and we maintained a 3/4 point cushion for most of the half. The score was 2-8 to 1-8 at the end of the third quarter.

On the break our forwards used their limited supply to good effect and points from Adam Byrne and two cracking long range efforts from Shock in the 50th and 57th minute closed out the game – 2-10 to 1-8. We are now playing Kilbride in the ACL "C" final next Friday, 8pm,  again in the County Training Centre in Fenagh.

TEAM: Paddy Byrne, Paul Byrne, John Kelly, Willie Byrne, Paddy Gahan, Gavin Byrne, PJ Byrne,  Ronan Doyle (0-2), Enda McGrath (1-0), Mark A Byrne, Colin McGrath, Adam Byrne (0-1), Niall Humphries (0-1),  Owen Coleman (1-1, 1f, 1pen) Shane McGrath (0-5, 2f), Subs: Enda A McGrath for Mark A Byrne, David McCarney for Paddy Gahan, Dale McNamara for Niall, Gary Byrne for Owen

PHOTO: Shane McGrath was in top form against the Fighting Cocks, scoring 0-5 (2 frees).