Another title for Avenue

Avenue United 1   Ennis Town Rock 0

Favourites Avenue were crowned Clare Youths Cup champions at the County Grounds in Doora on Saturday but they were a little fortunate to overcome their neighbouring town rivals.

Ennis Town Rock enjoyed the better of the exchanges in the opening half before the all-important breakthrough came with almost half an hour played in the second period.
Disappointingly for Ennis Town, the crucial score came following a defensive error. Kaylan O’Loughlin’s free from the halfway line caused problems for the Ennis Town defence and the ball bounced over the head of goalkeeper Sean Kennedy for what proved to be the winning score.
In the ensuing minutes, O’Loughlin floated in a couple of more long range frees which certainly led to panic in the Ennis town defence.
The losers had the better of the exchanges in the opening half but failed to break down a strong Avenue defence.
Emannual Obadayi came close to scoring after 19 minutes while a Declan Ensko low drive just missed the target eight minutes later. Shortly before half time, the Avenue defence scrambled to clear their lines as the underdogs piled on the pressure.
Despite playing some impressive football, Ennis Town failed to break down a well-marshalled Avenue defence.
With the aid of the breeze in the second half, Avenue exerted more pressure and after ten minutes, a good move ended with Conor Ryan’s effort hitting the side netting. Midway through the half, Ennis Town goalie Sean Kennedy saved from Nicholas Ryan.
Avenue increased the pressure and forced three successive corners before the somewhat fortunate goal came.
In the final quarter both sides made changes and while Ennis Town battled to the end, they were unable to get through for the goal needed to force the game to extra time.
Understandably, Ennis Town were disappointed with the result but, on the evidence of this display, they shouldn’t have to wait too long before collecting a title.
They meet next weekend’s opponents again this Thursday evening, this time at Lees Road in the area final of the Munster FAI Youths Cup
Shane Daly, Joseph and Darragh Collins and Conor Brennan were prominent for them in Saturday’s final while Nathan Murray, Dean D’Auria, Kaylan O’Loughlin, and Eanna Fennell impressed for the winners.
After the game Clare league secretary Oliver Fitzpatrick presented the Michael O’Gorman cup to Dean D’Auria, captain of the winning team. Fitzpatrick also presented the winners and runners-up with their medals.

Avenue United: Nathan Murray; Cian Darcy, Simon McDonagh, Dean D’Auria (capt) Kaylan O’Loughlin, Sean Corry, Eanna Fennell, Donal O’Halloran, Darragh Kerins, Conor Ryan, Nicholas Ryan.
Subs: Michael Gallagher for C Ryan; Nicki Twumasai for O’Halloran; Cian Burke for Corry; Segun Junaid for Kerins; Gary Roche for N Ryan.
Ennis Town Rock: Sean Kennedy; Shane Daly, Wesley McDonagh, Neil Rutherford, Darragh Collins, Declan Ensko, Liam Corry, Joseph Collins (capt) Conor Brennan, Matthew Kearney, Emmanuel Obadeyi.
Subs: Eamonn Bracken for McDonagh; Darragh McNamara for Ensko; Ratheur Esredere for Rutherford; Alan Considine for S Corry.
Referee: Terry Kennedy; linesmen: Martin O’Brien and John Murray.