Photograph by Mark Hayes
Banner 0-12
Clondegad 0-9
Banner GAA’s rise up the football ladder in Clare continued at Cooraclare this Tuesday evening when the Ennis club captured the Clare under 21 B title, defeatng Clondegad by three points.
A point adrift at the halfway point, the new champions found themselves two points down as the end of the third quarter approached.
The introduction of county senior hurling panellist Shane Meehan who had missed recent games including the semi-final win over Kilmurry-Ibrickane due to a groin injury, sparked a strong response from the Banner and they landed five unanswered points to lead by three as the game entered the closing minutes
As the game went into added time, Clondegad piled on the pressure in search of the goal that would take the tie to extra time.
Calls for a penalty for Clondegad were waved away and the Banner held on for a merited victory and their first title at this level.
Banner dominated the early exchanges, racing into a 0-4 to 0-0 lead after eleven minutes. Clondegad came storming back, two Daniel Kelly efforts cutting the winner’s lead in half by the twentieth minute.
The last six minutes of the half belonged to the Ballynacally-based side and they hit four unanswered scores to lead by the minimum, 0-6 to 0-5 at the half time break. They will rue some missed chances, particularly in the opening quarter as their tally of eight wides to one for their opponents in the opening half highlights
A Thomas Meeneghan free two minutes into the new half levelled the game for the second time before Clondegd kicked two in a row to go two clear with twenty minutes to play.
Meeneghan cut the margin to the minimum before Oisin McMahon fisted over the bar to level the contest for the third and final time.
From here on the Banner grew in confidence and they were deservingly ahead when the final whistle sounded.
Impressive for the winners were Mark Cleary, Niall Walsh, Aaron Kelly, Thomas Meeneghan, Diarmuid Toner, Oisin and Sean McMahon and Shane Meehan.
Clondegad’s best on the evening were Niall Carigg, Cormac Reidy, Cillian Gavin, Daniel Kelly and the Kirby twins
Scorers for Banner; Thomas Meeneghan (0-6, 4f); Diarmuid Toner, Oisin McMahon, Mufana Flynn Sean McMahon, Shane Meehan, Aaron Kelly (0-1) each;
Scorers for Clondegad; Daniel Kelly (0-6, 4f); Fiachra Kirby, Diarmuid O’Neill, Mossy Gavin (0-1) each;
Banner; 1-Mark Cleary; 4-Dylan Mooney, 3 Niall Walsh, 2 Ronan Marron; 5-Justin McGrath, 6-Aaron Kelly,, 7-Conor Dennehy; 8- Fuhad Akinwale, 9-Thomas Meeneghan; 10-Diarmuid Toner, 11-Oisin McMahon, 12-Mufana Flynn; 13- Cian Cullinan; 14 Matthew McGrath, 15-Sean McMahon;
Subs; 20-Shane Meehan for Dennehy (35); 23–Kenneth Higgins for Cullinan (45); 21-Brian Moloney for M. McGrath (56) 21-William Bellow for Mooney (54); 30-Eoin Walsh for Flynn;
Clondegad; 1-Oisin Griffin; 2-Niall Carigg; 7-Evan Flynn, 12-Patrick Sweeney; 5-Cillian Gavin, 6-Cormac Reidy, 20-Darren Devereaux; 8-Eoghan Gavin 9-Diarmuid O’Neill; 10-Fiachra Kirby, 11-Daniel Kelly, 26-Colm Meaney; 13-Cian Kirby, 14-Mossy Gavin, 15-Darragh Coote;
Sub; David Meaney for Coote (55)
Referee; Pat Keane, Lissycasey
