Cahill’s goal decides East Clare derby

 

Tulla United A 0   Mountshannon Celtic 1

The battle for semi-final places got underway at the Cragg in Tulla at 10.30am on Sunday morning with this East Clare derby.

The home side carried the favourites’ tag but when the final whistle sounded it was the visitors who have made their way through to the last four.

The all-important goal came half an hour into the second half. John O’Brien’s free kick from the left wing was met powerfully by Raymond Cahill who rose highest to head the ball into the corner of Dara Kelly’s net.

It brought a strong response from the home side who piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser. They came close on a few occasions but a combination of good goalkeeping from Colm Kavanagh and the woodwork denied them.

Tulla created the first chance but John Brigdale’s shot from the edge of the area was saved. Midway through the half Mountshannon’s Martin McNamara saw his effort from a free kick go narrowly over the bar.

The winners had a goal disallowed after 37 minutes when referee Martin O’Brien judged that Raymond Cahill was in an offside position when he was put through by John Scanlan.

Shortly before half time, Colm Kavanagh was called on to deny Shane Mason.

For the second half the visitors introduced Michael Barrett and Michael dooley for martin Cunningham and Cathal Moloney.

They had a great chance to take the lead 13 minutes into this period but John Scanlan failed to capitalise after Tulla goalie Dara Kelly slipped when attempting to clear his lines.

A tremendous tackle by Martin McNamara denied the home side at the mid-point of the half while, a minute later, John Moloney denied Tommy McKeown.

The breakthrough came with 15 minutes remaining and it made for a lively final period. Try as they did, however, Tulla could not break down a strong Mountshannon Celtic defence and the Scariff-based side held on for a narrow but merited win.

To add to the home side’s disappointment, they finished with 10 men after Niall Whelan was shown a second yellow card two minutes into injury time.

Mountshannon Celtic: Colm Kavanagh; John Moloney, John O’Brien, Martin McNamara, Padraig Brody; Michael Scanlan, Paul Dooley, Raymond Cahill, John Scanlan; Cathal Moloney, Martin Cunningham.
Subs: Michael Barrett for C Moloney; Michael Dooley for Cunningham.
Tulla United A: Dara Kelly; Shane Mason, Paraic O’Malley, Niall Whelan, Denis Murphy, Killian Bane, Colin Nelson, John Brigdale, Andy McMahon, Sunny Jay, Thomas McKeown.
Subs: Brian McInerney for C Nelson; Darragh Corry for McMahon; Aidan Fawl for Brigdale.