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IFC Q/Final Naomh Eoin 2-4 Clonmore 0-9

November 8, 2018

19 September 2009 – Intermediate Championship Quarter Final

 

Naomh Eoin goals dump Clonmore out of Championship

 

Naomh Eoin    2-4 Clonmore  0-9

 

Naomh Eoin advanced to the semi-final of the Intermediate Football Championship with a real “smash and grab” victory over Clonmore at Bagenalstown on Saturday evening.

 

As often happens, goals at vital times made all the difference in this game and after Clonmore had eased themselves in front on two occasions they were hit by two sucker punches by the Myshall men to leave the finalists for the last two years in a state of shock and wondering how they left this game behind them.

 

Clonmore started very brightly and went three points up within ten minutes with well worked scores from John McGrath, Enda McGrath and Gavin Byrne. Then disaster struck for Clonmore as a risky pass in the goalmouth was intercepted by the alert Myshall corner forward Colin Rea to score the softest of soft goals. Damien Roberts followed up with a brilliant sideline kick off the outside of his boot which landed on the roof of the net for a great score. Clonmore got back to level terms with a Con Murphy free to level the scores at half time – 0-4 to 1-1 – but this was poor return for all the possession they enjoyed in the first half.

 

Clonmore got their act together again in the second half and points from Niall Humphries, Jamie Doyle, Gavin Byrne and Ronan Doyle eased them into a 0-8 to 1-3 lead on 48 minutes, the Myshall scores coming from the influential Shane Kavanagh and lively corner forward Eanna Kavanagh.

 

But a two point lead is a dangerous one and in the 50th minute, Brian “Red” Murphy latched onto a long ball and turned to lash a great left foot shot to the roof of Stephen Byrne’s net for a very similar goal to Colin O’Neill’s goal for Cork in the All-Ireland final. Then Eanna Kavanagh added a fine point to put the Myshall men two points up – 2-4 to 0-8 on 50 minutes.

 

The last ten minutes saw Clonmore lay siege to the Naomh Eoin goal and when Gavin Byrne reduced the margin to the minimum on 59 minutes, it looked like a draw was on the cards. However, Naomh Eoin defended as if their lives depended on it and although Clonmore had a couple of chances to equalize in injury time, their efforts went agonisingly wide to leave the Myshall men delighted to hear the final whistle.

 

Naomh Eoin: Andrew O’Brien; Declan O’Brien, Eoin Murphy, Dinny Joe O’Regan; Trevor Minchin, Shane Kavanagh (0-1), Martin Murphy; Damien Roberts (0-1,S/L kick), Martin Clowry; Colin Rea (1-0), John Nolan, Ciaran Smithers; Brian (Red) Murphy 1-0), Seamus Smithers, Eanna Kavanagh (0-2). Subs: Robbie Nolan for C. Smithers (16mins), Dwayne Kavanagh for Rea (42mins), Robert Foley for S. Smithers (41mins), Michael Mullins for Clowry (45mins).

Clonmore: Stephen Byrne; Colin Doyle, John Kelly, John Connolly; Paddy Gahan, Pauric Lawler, Bobby Rooney; David Mulvany, Ronan Doyle; Gavin Byrne (0-3,1f), John McGrath (0-1), Con Murphy (0-1); Enda McGrath (0-1), Jamie Doyle (0-1), Niall Humphries (0-1). Subs: Con Cashin for Rooney (H/T), James Doyle for Mulvany (42mins), Ray O’Neill for Jamie Doyle (50mins).

Referee: Seamus Doyle (Fighting Cocks).