Captain strikes for vital goal

A GOAL in the closing stages sealed victory for Michael Cusack’s over Doonbeg in the Division 4 League final played at Ennistymon on Saturday. In winning, the North Clare outfit reversed the result from their earlier meeting in the competition.

Playing with the aid of a stiff breeze and controlling the middle of the field, Cusack’s dominated the first half and led at the break by 0-6 to Doonbeg’s 0-2.
The gap might have been greater were it not for some smart Doonbeg defending, which denied Cusack’s two goals.
Doonbeg started the second half in a very determined manner and gradually clawed their way back to draw level. The final 10 minutes saw the lead slip from Cusack’s but two points, one from Hugh Kelly and another from Patrick Hynes, left the narrowest of margins between the teams as the final whistle approached.
A short kick-out from Eoin Farrell found the ever-industrious Michael O’Connor and retaining possession, Cusack’s swept up the field and when Hugh Kelly’s shot came off the crossbar, captain Patrick O’Connor was on hand to finish the ball to the net. Time was now on the side of the men from the Burren who had two points to spare at the end.
The chairman of Bord na nÓg Peil, John Smith, presented the cup to the winning captain, Patrick O’Connor.

Michael Cusack’s: Eoin Farrell, Seaghan Brosnan, Niall Hehir, Justin Linnane, Rohan Rafferty (0-1), Séamus Ó Conghaile, Patrick O’Connor (captain) (1-0), Mark Shannon, James Hynes, Eoin Kelly (0-1), Fintan Conway, Robbie Cassidy, Michael O’Connor (0-1), Patrick Hynes (0-4) and Hugh Kelly (0-1).
Subs: Enda Hehir for Robbie Cassidy, James Droney for Eoin Kelly.
Doonbeg: Eamonn O’Dea; Eoin Conway, Cian Clancy, Nathan Capon;  James Griffin  Brian Egan, Sean O’Dea; Colm Killeen, Kevin Greene; Conor Downes, Eamonn Tubridy, Paudie Nugent; Diarmuid Ryan, Sean Killeen, Cian O’Mahoney.
Subs: Henry Lillis for Ryan.