Clooney-Quin and Kilfenora to contest junior A football final

Clooney Quin 1-9  Naomh Eoin 0-11

CLOONEY-Quin and Kilfenora will contest the final of the junior A football championship following their semi-final victories on Saturday.
They have both come through from the same group which, ironically, comprised just three teams, one less that the other three groups.
They met in round two of the competition and Clooney-Quin were victorious on a score of 3-12 to 1-15.
On Saturday, Clooney-Quin had just one point to spare over last year’s beaten finalists, Naomh Eoin, while Kilfenora had an easier passage when they proved too strong for Ennistymon at Miltown.
When Naomh Eoin held a three-point lead inside the final quarter, a place in the junior A final beckoned for the second year in a row.
However, Clooney-Quin had other ideas and they finished strongly to snatch victory and a final date next week.
Helped by a goal from full-forward Pat Gardiner, Clooney-Quin led by the minimum margin at half-time, when the score was 1-4 to 0-6.
The West Clare Side had the better of matters in the third quarter and, with good points from Seamus Boland and Michael Liddane, they went in front.
The penninsula side looked to be on their way to another final but Clooney Quin finished strongly and points from Fergal Lynch, Cathal Egan, Kieran Quinn and Ryan O’Neill gave them victory.

Clooney-Quin: Brian Kennedy; David Kennedy, Charlie O’Loughlin, Shane McNamara; Dara Hannon, Fergal Doyle, Mike McNamara; Fergal Lynch, Martin McInerney; Trevor Lee, Cillian Duggan, John Earls; Kieran Ryan, Pat Gardiner, Ryan O’Neill.
Subs: Cathal Egan for O’Neill; Kieran Quinn for Ryan.
Naomh Eoin: John Keating; Thomas Hanrahan, Kieran Lynch, Kieran Keating; Thomas O’Connor, Pat Geaney, Tony O’Doherty; Dermot Keating, Michael Cussen, Pat Foley, Seamus Boland, Gearóid Hennessy; Gearóid Lynch, Michael Liddane, John Walsh.
Sub: Martin Haugh for Walsh.

Kilfenora 3-11  Ennistymon 1-6

AN outstanding performance from young Killian Malone inspired Kilfenora to a comfortable win over Ennistymon in this junior A semi-final played at Hennessy Park in Miltown.
Lining out at corner-forward, Malone contributed all but five points to his side’s total and caused numerous problems for Ennistymon.
The 19-year-old scored three goals in the first half, one from the penalty spot, and Ennistymon had no answer to his pace on a day when they led at half-time on a score of 3-2 to 0-3.
Ennistymon, who opted to play without any member of their minor team which will contest the minor A final this Sunday, came a little more into the game in the second half and they had a goal from Robbie McDonagh. However, they failed to match the all-round balance of their neighbours.

Kilfenora: Liam Keane; Seán McMahon, Johnnie O’Gorman, Michael Theasby; Michael J Malone, Cathal Nagle, Seán O’Gorman; Liam O’Brien, James Keane; Paul Reddan, Pat Connole, Aidan Malone; Killian Malone, Austin Kelly, Noel Nagle.
Subs: Paudie Ireland for Seán O’Gorman; Noel Keane for Kelly; David McMahon for K Malone; Seán O’Gorman for N Nagle.
Ennistymon: James Shannon; Declan Rynne, Donagh Fawl, Willie Curtin; Brian Curtin, Brian Glynn, Aidan Slattery; Pat Rouine, Paudie Kelleher; Patrick O’Dwyer, Eoin Brennan, Robert McDonagh; Gearóid White, Noel Sexton, Seán O’Driscoll.
Subs: Robert McInerney, Brendan Hogan, Dara Conneely, Caoimhin Fahy.