Fitness tips the Scales for Tones

Wolfe Tones 1-12   Shannon Gaels 1-8

Bright sunshine was the order of the day at St Michael’s park in Kilmihil on Saturday afternoon when Wolfe Tones defeated Shannon Gaels in the final of the Senior B Football Championship for the Scales Trophy.

The trophy was presented to Clare GAA by the Scales family from Ennistymon and Liscannor in memory of Gerry and Michael Scales and this year’s finalists were each chasing a second win in the competition.

Before a small attendance, the standard of play was disappointing but the Shannon side deserved their win as they showed the greater hunger on the day and had the better of the second half exchanges.

The Gaels led by the minimum at half-time, 0-6 to 0-5 with all but a point of each side’s tally coming from their respective freetakers, Michael Coughlan for the Gaels and Kevin Cahill. The only scores from play in the first half came from Chris Dunning for the winners and Diarmuid Lorrigan.

Two minutes into the second-half Wolfe Tones went back in front and from here to the finish they held the lead. Chris Dunning found Gary Leahy with an excellent 35m pass and Leahy passed to the hardworking Brian O’Connell who found the net. Daniel Gallery, a substitute late in the first half, added a point and the Shannonmen were a goal clear five minutes into the second period.

The margin was down to two points at the turn of the final quarter but from here to the finish the superior fitness of Wolfe Tones was evident. They hit five unanswered points, all from play, from Gary Leahy (2) Chris Dunning, Brendan Hughes and substitute William Flynn to go seven clear by the end of normal time.

To their credit, the Gaels who were the defending champions, battled to the end and they were rewarded in the second minute of added time when Brian O’Shea scored their goal. However, it was too late to prevent the 2010 winners of this title from regaining the crown.

Team captain Brendan Hughes along with Barry Loughnane and Aaron Brennan were prominent in defence. Joe McGauley and Kevin Corbett won their share of possession at midfield while up front Chris Dunning, Kevin Cahill and especially Brian O’Connell were always prominent.

Team captain John Neylon, Tomas Madigan, Micheál and Diarmuid Lorrigan did well for a Gaels outfit that missed the injured John Paul O’Neill.

After the game, Clare GAA chairman Michael O’Neill presented the Scales Trophy to the winning captain Brendan Hughes.

Wolfe Tones: Peter Russell; Stephen McInerney, Craig O’Brien, Aaron Brennan; Barry Loughnane, Brendan Hughes (capt), Jamie Roughan; Joe McGauley, Kevin Corbett; Mick O’Connell, Chris Dunning, Jack Kelly; Brian O’Connell, Kevin Cahill, Gary Leahy.
Subs: Daniel Gallery for M. O’Connell; William Flynn for Gallery; Colm McCaul for Dunning.
Scorers: Kevin Cahill (0-4); Brian O’Connell (1-0); Gary Leahy, Chris Dunning (0-2 each); Brendan Hughes, Joe McGauley, Daniel Gallery, William Flynn (0-1 each).
Shannon Gaels: Keith Ryan; Micheál Lorrigan, John Neylon (Capt) Tomas Madigan; Declan Pyne, Brian Bermingham, Tomás Cleary; John Bermingham, Noel Kennedy; Diarmuid Lorrigan, David Neylon, Frank Cleary; Nigel Hehir, Padraig Neylon, Michael Coughlan.
Subs: Brian O’Shea for Hehir; Shane Tubridy for F Cleary.
Scorers: Michael Coughlan (0-6); Brian O’Shea (1-0); Diarmuid Lorrigan, John Bermingham (0-1 each).
Referee: Michael McGann, Michael Cusack’s.