They say the scoreboard doesn’t lie but on this occasion it flatters Ballinabranna and does not reflect the defiant efforts of a very young Clonmore team which finished with five Minors on the pitch.
Coincidentally, the score was a reversal of the score in the League match last year at the same venue (2-12 to 0-9 to Clonmore – see report below), the difference being, on that occasion the scoreline flattered Clonmore !
B’branna had the advantage of the wind, sun and slope in the first half and built up a good lead of 0-8 to 0-3 by half-time after Clonmore had missed a great chance of a goal when the keeper saved well from the lively Shane McGrath. However, hopes of a second half comeback were dealt a major blow in the 35th minute when B’branna got in for a soft goal and added a string of points to make it 1-11 to 0-3 on 45 minutes.
Clonmore showed their spirit by battling back to 1-11 to 0-8 on 58 minutes with points from Gavin Byrne (0-3), Shane McGrath and Willie Rooney and Willie also had a goal-bound shot turned away by the keeper. That would have made it 1-11 to 1-8 with time just up but instead B’branna broke away to score a second goal which put a flattering look on the scoreboard.
Ballinabranna have been training hard since January and if their warm up is anything to go by they are taking things very seriously this year. But it’s only mid-May and as we know well, League success does not guarantee Championship success. On the night, B’branna were the better team but it’s up to us to learn from this experience and put in the work so that when we meet again in the Championship on 25 August (14 weeks time), it will be a ‘different ball game’.
Team: Paddy Byrne, Paul Hogan, Bobby Rooney, John Kelly, Enda McGrath, Willie Rooney (0-1), Willie Byrne, Gavin Byrne(0-5,3f), David Mulvany(0-1), David McCarney, Kevin McCarney, Paul Byrne, Jordan Kane, Shane McGrath(0-1), Dale McNamara. Subs: Mark D Byrne for Willie Byrne, Andrew Byrne for Dale, Willie Byrne for Kevin.
Next game: Home to Ballon on Monday, 27 May at 7.30pm (NOTE CHANGE OF DATE)
Photo: Five of the young players who played against Ballinabranna and all gave a good account of themselves: (left to right): Jordan Kane, Dale McNamara, Paddy Byrne, Mark D Byrne, David McCarney.
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Report from last year’s League Div 2 game:
30 May 2012: SFL Div 2 Ballinabranna 0-9 Clonmore 2-12
B’branna had the advantage of the wind, sun and slope in the first half and built up a good lead of 0-8 to 0-3 by half-time after Clonmore had missed a great chance of a goal when the keeper saved well from the lively Shane McGrath. However, hopes of a second half comeback were dealt a major blow in the 35th minute when B’branna got in for a soft goal and added a string of points to make it 1-11 to 0-3 on 45 minutes.
Clonmore showed their spirit by battling back to 1-11 to 0-8 on 58 minutes with points from Gavin Byrne (0-3), Shane McGrath and Willie Rooney and Willie also had a goal-bound shot turned away by the keeper. That would have made it 1-11 to 1-8 with time just up but instead B’branna broke away to score a second goal which put a flattering look on the scoreboard.
Ballinabranna have been training hard since January and if their warm up is anything to go by they are taking things very seriously this year. But it’s only mid-May and as we know well, League success does not guarantee Championship success. On the night, B’branna were the better team but it’s up to us to learn from this experience and put in the work so that when we meet again in the Championship on 25 August (14 weeks time), it will be a ‘different ball game’.
Team: Paddy Byrne, Paul Hogan, Bobby Rooney, John Kelly, Enda McGrath, Willie Rooney (0-1), Willie Byrne, Gavin Byrne(0-5,3f), David Mulvany(0-1), David McCarney, Kevin McCarney, Paul Byrne, Jordan Kane, Shane McGrath(0-1), Dale McNamara. Subs: Mark D Byrne for Willie Byrne, Andrew Byrne for Dale, Willie Byrne for Kevin.
Next game: Home to Ballon on Monday, 27 May at 7.30pm (NOTE CHANGE OF DATE)
Photo: Five of the young players who played against Ballinabranna and all gave a good account of themselves: (left to right): Jordan Kane, Dale McNamara, Paddy Byrne, Mark D Byrne, David McCarney.
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Report from last year’s League Div 2 game:
30 May 2012: SFL Div 2 Ballinabranna 0-9 Clonmore 2-12
The Intermediate team, which included seven U-21s, stood up to a strong physical challenge from bigger and more experienced opposition to emerge victorious in a bad tempered affair. The game was much closer than the scoreline suggests but was just what we needed after a few uncompetitive outings recently.
The first half was fairly even with the Clonmore backs working hard to keep out the bigger B’branna men and Owen Coleman slotting over four excellent frees off the ground plus one from play and another from David Mulvany who was moving well at centre-field. The score at HT was 0-6 apiece.
Clonmore started the second half strongly and points from PJ Byrne and Owen (2) put us 9 – 6 up, Owen’s second point could have been a goal as it rattled the crossbar before going over. Then a high lobbing dropping ball into the square from Shane Murphy was missed by the keeper and went straight to the net – the goalie no doubt distracted by the formidable presence of John McGrath in the small square – 1-9 to 0-6 on 40 mins. There was a a bit of niggle in the game from the start and mid-way through the second half the B’branna full-back was sent off.
Two more points by Owen put us 1-11 to 0-6 ahead but then we went to sleep and allowed them back into the game and at 1-11 to 0-9 they launched a few threatening attacks which could have yielded a goal. Thankfully, after a break in play, a well taken goal at the other end by the lively Kevin McCarney and a late point by PJ Byrne made sure of the points on a final scoreline of 2-12 to 0-9.
Good to see Willie Rooney back in action after being out injured for over a year and Owen Coleman was outstanding – kicking a whopping nine points, six from frees. Ronan Doyle also deserves a mention for his diplomatic skills during the break in play ! This was a good test both of individual players and of the strength of the panel and thankfully we came through it with flying colours. Onwards and upwards.
Team: Willie Rooney, John Kelly, Pauric Lawlor, Paul Hogan, Enda McGrath, Shane Murphy (1-0), Willie Byrne, Ronan Doyle, David Mulvany (0-1), Kevin McCarney (1-0), Niall Humphries, Jamie Walsh, PJ Byrne (0-2), John McGrath, Owen Coleman (0-9, 6 frees). Subs: Mark A Byrne for John McGrath, John McGrath for Owen Coleman
