Shannon Gaels retain senior status

Shannon Gaels 1-7  Ballyvaughan 0-6

THEIR first-half performance, following which they led 1-5 to 0-2 at half-time, helped Shannon Gaels to secure their senior status for 2010 in Miltown last Sunday.
Two weeks after the relegation semi-final had finished level at the same venue, following an injury time equaliser from the Gaels, the winners did just enough to hold off Ballyvaughan, who fought until the end but missed several chances from frees.
A David Neylon goal helped Shannon Gaels into a six-point interval lead. They spurned a couple of second-half goal chances, thus leaving the door open for Ballyvaughan to mount a comeback.
However, with the Gaels defence much tighter than it had been in the drawn game, they held off the challenge of the North Clare men to secure their first championship of 2009.
Eugene Flanagan, Tomás Madigan, David Neylon who scored 1-5, John Bermingham and Francis Cleary played well for the winners.
Ballyvaughan now play St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield in this Sunday’s relegation final in Ennistymon at 12 noon.
The winners will be a senior club next year, with the losers destined for intermediate football.

Shannon Gaels: Keith Ryan, Brian Bermingham, Tomás Madigan, Eugene Flanagan, John Bermingham, John Neylon, Tomás Cleary; Noel Kennedy, Francis Cleary; Michael Coughlan, Michael O’Donoghue, Brian Cunningham, David Neylon, John Paul O’Neill, Shane Tubridy (captain).
Subs: Brian O’Shea for Shane Tubridy, Eugene O’Neill for Brian Cunningham and Mike O’Shea for Michael Coughlan.
Ballyvaughan: Damien McNamara, Mark Walsh, Philip Monks, Damien Martyn; Mark O’Loughlin, Kieran Casey, Killian Mahon; James Hynes and Raymond Casey; Phelim Kyne, Stevie Hynes, John McCormack; Jason McDonagh, Cian Walsh, John Martyn.
Subs: Jack Queally for Cian Walsh and Setanta Moran for John McCormack.