*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
NAOMH EOIN qualified for successive semi-final appearances in the Clare IFC for the first time after edging out the Banner.
Naomh Eoin 0-11
Banner 1-7
Venue: Cooraclare
From the moment that the TUS intermediate football draw pitted Naomh Eoin and the Banner in opposition, the view was that there would be little between the sides and so it proved.
In difficult conditions at Cooraclare this Sunday afternoon, the result was in doubt right to the final whistle.
Showing the greater hunger throughout the field, Naomh Eoin edged through to the semi-final in this the 50th year since the club was formed.
They were first on the scoresheet with Mark McQuaid pointing in the fourth minute but they would have to wait seventeen minutes for their next score.
In the meantime, the Banner struck for 1-2, the goal coming from Ronan Kilroy after Sean Roche had made an excellent save.
Surprisingly the Banner failed to build on this and it was the men from the Loop Head Peninsula who enjoyed the better of the exchanges in the ensuing quarter, landing four points without reply to level the game going into injury time at the end of the half.
After sixteen scoreless minutes, Banner hit the target with Sean McMahon converting a 20m free to give his side a 1-3 to 0-5 interval lead.
They were dealt a blow ten minutes from half time when they lost centre back Eoin Walsh to injury. He was replaced by Finn White.
Inside five minutes of the hew half, Naomh Eoin had taken the lead thanks to points from Sean Bonfil and Owen Lynch.
Ronan Kilroy levelled for the Ennis based outfit before Niall Bonfil and Thomas Meeneghan exchanged scores.
Niall Bonfil struck again atz the mid point of the half and a free from Conor Magners followed to put the eventual winners two clear.
Sean McMahon kept Banner’s hopes alive but a superb 35m free from Conor Magner had the West Clare supporters cheering loudly as it put the winners two clear with just three minutes of normal time remaining.
The banner battled to the end and a Shane Meehan point deep in stoppage time kept their hopes alive. Try as they did, however, they just could not get in for another point which would have sent the tie to extra time and Naomh Eoin held on for victory.
Cutting off supply to Shane Meehan played a huge part in Naomh Eoin’s victory on a day when Tomas, Sean and Niall Bonfil, Conor Magner and Mark McQuaid played key roles.
Cian Rynne, Mufana Fynn Thomas Meeneghan, Sean McMahon and Ronan Kilroy were prominent for Banner
Scorers Naomh Eoin: Conor Magner (all frees), Owen Lynch (0-3 , 1f) each; Mark McQuaid, Niall Bonfil (0-2) each Sean Bonfil (0-1)
Scorers Banner: Ronan Kilroy (1-1); Sean McMahon (0-3, 2 frees|); Cian Rynne, Shane Meehan (free), Thomas Meeneghan (0-1) each,
Naomh Eoin;
1: Sean Roche;
2: Adam Foley,
3: Tomas Bonfil,
4: Conor Tevlin;
5: Adam Haugh,
17: Declan Keniry
7: Mark McQuaid;
8: Sean Bonfil,
6: Conor Magner;
10: Fergal Keane,
11: Odhran Lynch
9: Gavin Magner
12: Eoin Hanrahan
14: Niall Bonfil
15: Owen Lynch
Subs:
13: Gearoid Lynch for G. Magner (55)
19: Seamus Boland for O. Lynch (60)
Banner
1: Mark Cleary
2: Niall Walsh
3: Kenneth Higgins
4: Cian Rynne;
5: Justin McGrath
6: Eoin Walsh
24: Mufana Flynn
8: James Coakley
9: Bradley Higgins
10: Conor Dennehy
14: Shane Meehan
11: Thomas Meeneghan
13: Ronan Kilroy
15: Sean McMahon
12: Brian McDonald
Subs:
18; Finn White for E. Walsh (inj.22)
20: Johnny Martyn for C. Dennehy (50)
25: Aaron Kelly for B. Higgins (57)
7: Fuwhad Akinwale for M. Flynn (inj. 59)
Referee: Pat Keane (Lissycasey)
