Éire Óg Fawle as Kevin’s goal seals final place

Junior A football semi-final
Michael Cusacks 1-9 Éire Óg 0-8

Renowned Michael Cusack’s defender Kevin Fawle is not recognised as a goalscorer but should ultimate success come the way of the men from the Burren and Belharbour they will look back at Fawle’s 50th minute goal as one of the decisive moments of the year. Éire Óg will have left Corofin with deep regrets posting perhaps their least effective showing of the season that was well below their quarter-final showing against Cooraclare as Michael Cusack’s were very fortunate to get extra time before dispatching the challenge of St Breckan’s second string.
Éire Óg opened the scoring with goalkeeper Cian Howard kicking over their first score from a free and he added a second free after eight minutes. Domhnall McMahon operating at full forward with others pulled out kicked over Michael Cusack’s first score just before Jack McGann and McMahon once more were on the scoresheet after 13 minutes to take the lead.
Sean McNamara stretched Michael Cusack’s lead to two before Howard sent a free wide as Aidan Forde converted a 25th minute before Conor Kilcawley and Forde once more traded points. The final score of the first-half went the way of the winners as Jack McGann as Colm Clancy’s men went in (0-7) to (0-3) ahead at the break with Pappy Taaffe playing as a third midfielder.
Domhnall McMahon with six minutes gone in the second-half had the first score as he pushed Cusacks five clear and looking well on the way to success and a place in the final. Alan O’Neill and Gavin D’Auria gave hope to faltering Ennis sides challenge with two scores by the 52nd minute as the Droney cousins were thrown into action by Michael Cusacks as they were attempting to close out the game.
Aidan Forde and Sean Perrill exchanged scores by the 54th minute and now Cusacks were just a goal clear and really struggling against an improving Ennis side. A long ball was sent in caught by Domhnall McMahon who fed Kevin Fawle and his low effort went to the net to double the Michael Cusacks lead to six points with five minutes normal time remaining. Francie Keane and Cian Howard with a converted 45 were the final scorers of the hour as Joe Copley had to be alert to deny Conor Kilcawley’s goal bound effort as Michael Cusacks held on for a deserved four point success as once more a promising Éire Óg side came up in the Junior A championship

Michael Cusack’s: Joe Copley, Robbie Cassidy, Hugh Kelly, Ruadhri McMahon, Kevin Fawle, Conor McGann, Thomas Roche, Jack McGann, John Fawle, Tadgh Geoghegan Oisin McNamara, Sean McNamara, Pappy Taaffe Domhnall McMahon Aidan Forde. Subs: Joey Droney for Geoghegan, Cathal Droney for J Fawle, Seaghan Brosnan for Taaffe.

Scorers: Domhnall McMahon, Aidan Forde (0-3 each), Kevin Fawle (1-0),  Jack McGann (0-2),  Oisin McNamara (0-1)

Éire Óg: Cian Howard, Hugh Connolly, Stephen Dolan, Mark Collins, Alex McNamara, Fionnan Treacy, Kevin Brennan, Conor Kilcawley, Alan O’Neill, Kevin Moloney, Sean Perrill, Colin Reidy, Gavin D’Auria, Luke Moore, Andrew McElwee. Subs: Francie Keane

Scorers: Cian Howard (0-3), Alan O’Neill, Conor Kilcawley, Francie Keane, Gavin D’Auria, Sean Perrill (0-1 each)

Referee:  Robert Harte ( St Senans Kilkee)