*Aaron Kelly scored two goals for Wolfe Tones. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
WOLFE TONES’ bid to win an intermediate double for the first time is still alive after their footballers edged out Kilrush Shamrocks in an entertaining semi-final clash.
Wolfe Tones 3-8
Kilrush Shamrocks 2-10
Venue: St Michael’s Park, Kilmihil
Defender Aaron Kelly stepped up with an invaluable 2-1, the scores coming at vital times for Wolfe Tones as they made amends for last year’s five point semi-final loss to Kilrush Shamrocks.
Chasing a first intermediate football title in a decade, Wolfe Tones did well to weather stormy periods at the beginning of either half where Kilrush did best on the scoring stakes. Crucially for the Shams, they returned just 2-2 from play in the sixty minutes, it is the second game in a row where they kicked just two points from play but in the quarter-final they struck for five goals in their win over Cooraclare.
With so much on the line, both sides were cagey and nervous. Wolfe Tones were the more anxious early doors while a sense of panic seemed to creep into Kilrush’s play when the Tones began to find their groove.
Inside the opening four minutes of the game, Kilrush were awarded four frees and it was a placed ball from Conor Fennell which saw them open their account. He doubled their lead with another free on six minutes before an excellent Gary Leahy effort where he twisted in possession before firing over off his right boot saw Wolfe Tones register their first score on nine minutes.
Kilrush hit 1-1 without reply to lead by five points at the end of the first quarter. Don O’Driscoll fielded the ball before offloading to the on-rushing Ross Phelan who left Shane Russell with no chance of stopping his shot on goal.
Leahy and Fennell traded efforts before Craig Riordan converted his third attempt on goal to reduce the gap to four points. They almost had a goal but David Jones made an outstanding save to stop Colin Riordan.
Leahy’s first free of the afternoon cut the distance further and the sides were level at the break after Aaron Kelly raided for goal. Kelly’s major was the result of a well-worked team move, Dean Devanney was fouled by Tadhg Lysaght, the free from Leahy went to Colin Riordan who recycled back to Conor Carrig, he found Brian Murphy who carried cross-field to tee up Joe McGauley and he demonstrated an excellent hand pass to send Kelly through to unleash an effort which was deflected off Evan Power and beyond David Jones.
From the throw-in, Joe McGauley seemed to walk through the spine of the Kilrush defence before fisting over to put the Shannon side in front for the first time. Kilrush regained the lead with a Fennel free and a Sean Madigan effort, their first from play. They had four points in succession with another Fennell free and a nicely taken Gearoid O’Brien score to open up a three point advantage on thirty six minutes.
Substitute Chris Dunning was a calming addition for Wolfe Tones and he pointed soon after his arrival when a Gary Leahy shot rebounded in his direction for him to cooly slot over the crossbar.
David Jones produced a fine save to deny Brian Murphy on forty four minutes. Wolfe Tones were beginning to pile on the pressure and were one point adrift following scores from Aaron Kelly and substitute Niall Fitzgerald.
Momentum was back with the West Clare men when Gearoid O’Brien set up Phelan for his second goal of the game to restore a four point lead with thirteen minutes of normal time to play.
Their lift was short-lived as within three minutes, Wolfe Tones struck for a second goal. Jayme O’Sullivan lobbed a free in from an acute angle which Aaron Kelly reacted quickest to and bundled the ball over the line with power to make it a one point game.
Captain Dean Devanney then shoved the Tones ahead when he did very well to catch a dropping ball around the square before taking the ball around Jones and kicking to the back of the net to give them a two point cushion with fifty one minutes on the clock.
Devanney’s green flag was their last contribution to the scoreboard, they did have another goal, this time from Gary Leahy disallowed for a square ball but crucially only conceded one more score, another Fennell free and while there was no score in the final five minutes, it was still a tense battle to the end.
Lack of scores from play and a loose defence hurt Kilrush and ended their hopes of reaching successive intermediate finals. For the second game they contributed to a hugely entertaining spectacle but it was also the second game in a row where they returned just two points from play. For Daniel Ryan’s side, David Jones made excellent saves between the posts while Dylan O’Brien also impressed but they needed more from their experienced players.
Aside from a shaky start where there was a sense of panic among their players, Wolfe Tones showed a greater sense of maturity and leadership. This start also included them conceding far too many frees and the fact they conceded seven points from frees is definitely an area they have to tackle before the decider against Naomh Eoin. They used the ball well and didn’t run into blind alleys, their first half goal was an excellent example of how to use the ball and move from one area of the field to the other with purpose. Johnny Bridges’ side had strong performances from Aaron Kelly, Dean Devanney, Gary Leahy, Eoghan Casey, Joe McGauley and Jayme O’Sullivan and received a big kick off their bench including 0-2.
Scorers Wolfe Tones: A Kelly (2-1), G Leahy (0-3 1f), D Devanney (1-0), Craig Riordan (0-1 1’45), J McGauley (0-1), C Dunning (0-1), N Fitzgerald (0-1).
Scorers Kilrush Shamrocks: C Fennell (0-8 7f 1’45), R Phelan (2-0), S Madigan (0-1), G O’Brien (0-1).
Wolfe Tones:
1: Shane Russell
4: Aaron Brennan
6: Jayme O’Sullivan
2: Shane Nihill
5: Jason McAuley
7: Aaron Kelly
3: Eoghan Casey
18: Conor Carrig
9: Brian Murphy
8: Joe McGauley
12: Jack Ryan
11: Craig Riordan
13: Dean Devanney
14: Colin Riordan
30: Gary Leahy
Subs:
10: Chris Dunning for Ryan (35)
20: Niall Fitzgerald for Carrig (47)
19: Tadhg Fitzgerald for McAuley (52)
15: Eoghan Gough for Devanney (58)
24: Brian Monaghan for Colin Riordan (60)
Kilrush Shamrocks:
1: David Jones
4: Padraig Browne
3: Evan Power
2: Jimmy Browne
5: Sean Canny
6: Ross Cullinan
7: Dylan O’Brien
8: Sean Madigan
9: Ciaran Bermingham
10: Tadhg Lysaght
15: Conor Fennell
11: Gearoid O’Brien
13: Don O’Driscoll
14: Ross Phelan
12: Ben McKiernan
Subs:
18: Joe Miniter for J Browne (22)
17: Darragh Bolton for Lysaght (40)
20: Ewan Kelly for McKiernan (52)
Referee: John O’Connell (Cooraclare)
