*Wolfe Tones celebrate. Photograph: Dermot O’Donnell
WOLFE TONES have completed an intermediate double to ensure they will be a senior dual club in 2025.
Wolfe Tones 2-11
Naomh Eoin 2-7
Venue: Cooraclare
A sixth intermediate football championship sees Wolfe Tones join Kilfenora and St Breckan’s at the top of the roll of honour list but they are unique by becoming the first Clare club to win both intermediate championships in the same year.
Their strong opening half display whereby they built up a five point interval advantage was crucial to this victory over Naomh Eoin. As what always seems to be the case with the Loop Head Peninsula based teams, it was a spirited performance from Naomh Eoin but their plethora of missed chances in the second half eroded any chance they had of forcing an epic comeback.
Intent was shown from the off by Wolfe Tones who were 1-2 0-0 ahead by the fifth minute, their determination to get an early grip on proceedings was aided by a potential sense of the occasion getting to Naomh Eoin in what was their first ever Clare IFC final appearance.
Spectators in Cooraclare were treated to a fine opening half but the second half was ruined by the conditions. A deluge of rain arrived during the half-time break and remained for the entire third quarter, easing up a fraction for the ending but there was also the matter of a swirling wind which changed direction. Some supporters are still drying out, particularly those who didn’t manage to find a spot in the stand.
Ex county minor Craig Riordan had the first two scores of the afternoon, converting a 45m effort after Adam Haugh made a brilliant sliding tackle on Dean Devanney to put the ball out and then Riordan pointed from play in a move made by Gary Leahy.
Corner back Aaron Brennan raided for the first goal of the game on the fifth minute, an example of how the Tones were picking holes in the Naomh Eoin defence and cutting through them.
This prompted a response from Naomh Eoin and their first score was a goal from captain Owen Lynch. A delivery into the danger area saw Lynch battle with Shane Nihill and goalkeeper Shane Russell, neither managed to claim the ball allowing the lively Lynch to pounce for goal.
Composure was demonstrated by Jayme O’Sullivan to convert the next two scores via placed balls for the Shannon side before Naomh Eoin hit back with points from Fergal Keaner and Eoin Hanrahan, both of which were well worked and had them trailing by two points with fourteen minutes on the clock.
Then the ease at which Wolfe Tones were cutting through the opposing defence became apparent again, Eoghan Casey and Dean Devanney fisting the next two scores.
Goal number two arrived on nineteen minutes for Wolfe Tones. Jack Ryan illustrated how he is a poacher on the soccer field when he was on hand to react to a rebounded Colin Riordan effort which bounced off the post.
Remarkably, Naomh Eoin again responded to the concession of a goal by scoring one at the other end. Again it was Owen Lynch with the finish, this time the creators were Seán and Niall Bonfil.
Both sides added two points each before the close of the half to leave the scoreboard reading 2-9 2-4 in favour of Wolfe Tones.
Scores were few and far between on the restart. Gary Leahy extended the gap to six points on thirty two minutes, it was one of only two scores from the winners in the second half, the other arriving via Craig Riordan from a free on forty one minutes.
Owen Lynch, Conor Magner and Seamus Boland all scored for Barry Harte’s side in the second half but they crucially spurned far too many chances. In total, they had eleven missed chances in the second half, nine in a row split between the third and final quarter which zapped any bit of momentum in their quest to turn the tide.
Reaching the final for the first time is an achievement for Naomh Eoin but they’ll point to their nervy start and wasteful second half when they reflect on where it went wrong on the big day, the missed chances saw them lack composure and panic in front of goals for the first time in the championship. Mistakes on their behalf were punished, Niall Bonfil had a cross field pass turned over by Craig Riordan which led to Aaron Brennan’s goal while Gavin Magner lost possession in the middle third in the move that ended with Jack Ryan’s green flag.
When they caused problems, it was through direct running and linking up with quick 1-2 sequences as evident by their spell at the end of the first quarter which coincided as the only occasion where they had successive scores from play in the game. Standout players on the day for them included Owen Lynch and Seán Bonfil while Conor Magner, Niall Bonfil and Odhran Lynch did well in patches.
Half time stats where Wolfe Tones had double the amount of scorers to their opponents would suggest they were the more balanced side. They got through for some easy scores in the opening half but were rewarded when they exploited gaps in the opposing defence while they had a one hundred percent accuracy with shots on goal. For the Munster club and their return to senior next year, the Tones will be well aware that a repeat of this second half display will not suffice, particularly with their struggles on their own kickout and only creating two scoring chances.
Johnny Bridges’ side set out targets for 2024 and have achieved them. Consistent throughout the championship, they have overcome each obstacle in their path and survived tough battles with Cooraclare and Kilrush Shamrocks prior to the final. Fresh from their hurling success, there is a bounce in Shannon which is a positive sign for Clare as the second largest town in the county needs to be a strong GAA force. Best for the winners were Jayme O’Sullivan, Gary Leahy, Craig Riordan, Conor Carrig and Aaron Kelly.
Scorers Wolfe Tones: Craig Riordan (0-4 1’45 1f), A Brennan (1-0), J Ryan (1-0), J O’Sullivan (0-2 2f), E Casey (0-1), D Devanney (0-1), A Kelly (0-1), B Murphy (0-1), G Leahy (0-1)
Scorers Naomh Eoin: Owen Lynch (2-2), F Keane (0-1), E Hanrahan (0-1), S Bonfil (0-1), S Boland (0-1), C Magner (0-1 1f).
Wolfe Tones:
1: Shane Russell
7: Aaron Kelly
2: Shane Nihill
4: Aaron Brennan
5: Jason McAuley
6: Jayme O’Sullivan
18: Conor Carrig
8: Joe McGauley
9: Brian Murphy
3: Eoghan Casey
11: Craig Riordan
13: Dean Devanney
12: Jack Ryan
30: Gary Leahy
14: Colin Riordan
Subs:
20: Niall Fitzgerald for Casey (36) (inj)
10: Chris Dunning for Ryan (44)
19: Tadhg Fitzgerald for Craig Riordan (50)
15: Eoghan Gough for Murphy (55)
22: Ben O’Neill for Leahy (61)
Naomh Eoin:
1: Sean Roche
4: Conor Tevlin
3: Tomás Bonfil
17: Damien Keniry
5: Adam Haugh
7: Mark McQuaid
6: Conor Magner
8: Seán Bonfil
10: Fergal Keane
11: Odhran Lynch
9: Gavin Magner
2: Adam Foley
12: Eoin Hanrahan
15: Owen Lynch
14: Niall Bonfil
Subs:
20: Seamus Boland for Keane (23) (inj)
Fergal Keane for Boland (HT)
Seamus Boland for Foley (36)
13: Gearoid Lynch for Haugh (40) (inj)
23: Fionn Doherty for G Magner (56)
Referee: Niall Quinn (St Joseph’s Miltown)
