13-man Clarecastle battle back to a draw

Clarecastle 1-10
Éire Óg 1-10
LEADING by two points in injury time, with a two-man advantage, Éire Óg looked certain winners in this Junior A football semi final at Gurteen on Saturday.

As normal time ran out it looked like all they’d have to do was use their numerical advantage to stack their defence and frustrate any frenzied Clarecastle attacks for a few moments.
But they didn’t do it effectively and after Eamon Callinan converted a free, Adam Healy tied it up, almost two-and-a-half minutes into injury time.
Having built up a four-point lead by the break, Clarecastle lost their way afterwards, before the late rally. Their half time lead was obliterated within two minutes of the resumption and for most of the second half they played second fiddle to the Ennis side.
At various stages mentors and players on both sides voiced dissatisfaction with Flan O’Reilly, sometimes understandably, but funnily enough the sendings off weren’t controversial, Alan Considine and Brian Keogh getting straight reds after striking incidents off the ball.
Éire Óg started best, the lively Brian McMahon getting them on the board within moments of the throw in. Eamon Callinan equalised from a free, before Graham Glynn and Aaron Considine swapped scores. Danny Russell, who was his sides primary attacking threat and who kicked some sumptuous points, put the townies back in front in the 16th minute, but for the rest of the half it was all Clarecastle.
Points from Aaron Considine and Kevin Clohessy gave them the lead for the first time, before Alan Considine, showed composure and precision to score his side’s goal in the 21st minute. Éire Óg players and officials were adamant there had been a foul in the build up, but regardless they were now four down.
The Ennis side had a couple of chances to narrow the deficit but some very poor finishing let them down before Eamon Callinan showed his opponents how it was done, stretching the Clarecastle lead with an excellent point from a tight angle in the 27th minute. Russell replied for the Ennis men before the break, leaving the score at 1-5 to 0-4.
At this point Clarecastle were looking better right throughout the field, and they could have been a little further ahead on the balance of play. However a storming start to the second half brought Éire Óg right back into it.
Russell pointed in the first minute, before a quick free from Graham Glynn found Gary Flynn and he finished to the net. Again the legitimacy of the build up to the goal was hotly disputed by the defence, with full back Jamie O’Connor picking up a yellow card after protesting.
In the 37th minute John Pyne pointed, although a goal was possible, and a minute later Adam Healy raised another white flag, leaving the score 1-7 to 1-5 in the Magpie’s favour.
However the momentum then swung behind Éire Óg, four points from Graham Glynn, three of them from frees, put them back in front.
Clarecastle cut the gap with a point from Dara Moloney but moments later Alan Considine was dismissed after O’Reilly consulted with his umpires.
Russell had his final point of the day in the 25th minute and in the 28th Brian Keogh was the second Clarecastle man to get the line. Again this came after an off the ball incident which left Brian McMahon requiring attention.
In arrears in injury time and with a numerical deficit, Clarecastle managed to summon the will to force a replay. After Eamon Callinan pointed a free they knew they had a chance and Adam Healy secured a job just seconds from the final whistle.
Overall a draw wasn’t an unfair result, as both teams had spells of dominance without ever really pulling away. However Éire Óg must have been very disappointed not to come out on top having had such an advantage so late on.
The Ennis men were well served by Robbie Malone, Brian McMahon and Danny Russell. Clarecastle’s better performers included Cathal Lynch, Conor Plunkett, Kevin Clohessy, Adam Healy and Eamon Callinan.

Clarecastle: Andrew Page; Seanie Moloney, Jamie O’Connor, Kieran Lynch; Dara Moloney, Cathal Lynch, Danny Scanlan; Eoin Brennan, Conor Plunkett; Kevin Clohessy, Adam Healy, Aaron Considine; Eamon Callinan, John Pyne, Alan Considine.
Subs: Brian Keogh for John Pyne.
Scorers: Eamon Callinan (0-3. 1f), Alan Considine (1-0), Aaron Considine (0-2. 1f), Adam Healy (0-2), Kevin Clohessy, John Pyne, Dara Moloney (all 0-1).
Frees: 19; wides: 5; 45s: 0
Yellow cards: Jamie O’Connor, Eoin Brennan.
Red cards: Alan Considine, Brian Keogh.
“We just persevered. We were four up at the break but we fell asleep and they dominated most of the second half. We showed spirit to come back and get a draw.” Clarecastle manager, Derek Dormer.

Referee: Flan O’Reilly, Cratloe.