HURLING: Final heartbreak for CBS Ennistymon

CBS Ennistymon 1-12

Coláiste Naomh Cormac 2-11

By Ivan Smyth

A 60^th minute Alex Kavanagh goal condemned CBS Ennistymon to their second All Ireland final defeat in the space of a week.

Jason Daffy’s side looked set for All Ireland glory when MacDara O’Keeffe and Josh Guyler points moved them 1-12 to 1-10 against the 14 men of Coláiste Naomh Cormac.

However, Adam Screeney, who was one of nine Coláiste Naomh Cormac players to have represented Offaly at minor level, fielded the next puckout as he powered through on goal. His rasping effort was blocked Kieran Daniels in the CBS Ennistymon goal. With the goal gaping Alex Kavanagh failed to make contact with the sliotar after the save.

In the same passage of play Coláiste Naomh Cormac’s Robert Boland managed to turnover possession and arrow a crossfield ball to the unmarked Kavanagh as he unleashed an unstoppable missile of an effort to the top corner of the net.

CBS Ennistymon poured forward in search of an injury time equaliser but Daniel Hand produced the score of the game when firing over a booming effort from inside his own half.

The North Clare side ran out of time as Coláiste Naomh Cormac edged this entertaining battle.

It was CBS Ennistymon who started quicker with a fine Sean Rynne point and a Guyler free moving the Clare side in to an early advantage. Daniel Hand got Coláiste Naomh Cormac, who had 14 players from Kilcormac Killoughey on the team, off the mark.

Jason Daffy’s side made the breakthrough after a Mark Callinan lineball caused havoc in the Coláiste Naomh Cormac defence. Oisin Kavanagh spilled possession as Niall Mullins scantered in to the opening space before firing to the corner of the net.

A Guyler point moved CBS Ennsistymon 1-3 to 0-1 ahead before Screeney (two) and Hand found the target. James Cullinan fired over a fine long distance point for the Munster chmapions before Alex Kavanagh netted after fine work by Screeney.

This tied the game at 1-4 apiece with a pair of Josh Guyler frees from CBS Ennistymon helping them lead by the minimum at the break as a Screeney point was the Offaly side’s sole response.

In a ferociously contested second half, Screeney managed to level the game at 1-6 apiece but a Guyler free and a Sean Rynne effort moved CBS Ennistymon two in front.

Three Screeney points helped to level the game with a MacDara O’Keeffe point CBS Ennistymon’s response.

Then referee Brian Keon deemed that Coláiste Naomh Cormac’s Richard Bracken, whose brother Charlie captained the side, illegally shouldered CBS Ennistymon centre back Ricky Wynne and did not hesitate to show the centre forward his second yellow card.

O’Keeffe and Guyler points moved the Clare men to the brink of victory.

However, they were caught at the death as Alex Kavanagh’s sensational injury time goal and Hand’s late point ensured the determined CBS Ennistymon challenge fell just short.

Ennistymon CBS Manager Jason Daffy gives the team talk before their Post Primary Schools Michael Cusack “C” Cup Final at Toomevara. Photograph by John Kelly

Brecon Kavanagh of Colaiste Cormac in action against Niall Mullins of Ennistymon CBS during their All-Ireland Post Primary Senior C Hurling Final at Toomevara. Photograph by John Kelly

Sean Rynne of Ennistymon CBS in action against Oisin Kilmartin of Colaiste Cormac during their All-Ireland Post Primary Senior C Hurling Final at Toomevara. Photograph by John Kelly

Keith Barry of Ennistymon CBS in action against Richard Bracken of Colaiste Cormac during their All-Ireland Post Primary Senior C Hurling Final at Toomevara. Photograph by John Kelly

Shane Woods of Ennistymon CBS in action against Oisin Kilmartin and Patrick Carroll of Colaiste Cormac during their All-Ireland Post Primary Senior C Hurling Final at Toomevara. Photograph by John Kelly

Liam Cotter of Ennistymon CBS in action against Leigh Kavanagh of Colaiste Cormac during their All-Ireland Post Primary Senior C Hurling Final at Toomevara. Photograph by John Kelly

Joshua Guyler of Ennistymon CBS in action against Charlie Bracken (C) of Colaiste Cormac during their All-Ireland Post Primary Senior C Hurling Final at Toomevara. Photograph by John Kelly

Joshua Guyler of Ennistymon CBS in action against Charlie Bracken (C) of Colaiste Cormac during their All-Ireland Post Primary Senior C Hurling Final at Toomevara. Photograph by John Kelly

Ricky Wynne of Ennistymon CBS in action against Daniel Hand of Colaiste Cormac during their All-Ireland Post Primary Senior C Hurling Final at Toomevara. Photograph by John Kelly

Sean Rynne of Ennistymon CBS in action against James Mahon of Colaiste Cormac during their All-Ireland Post Primary Senior C Hurling Final at Toomevara. Photograph by John Kelly

James Mahon of Colaiste Cormac in action against Sean Rynne and Joshua Guyler of Ennistymon CBS during their All-Ireland Post Primary Senior C Hurling Final at Toomevara. Photograph by John Kelly

An absolutely gutted Ricky Wynne of Ennistymon CBS following their Post Primary Schools Michael Cusack “C” Cup Final loss to Colaiste Cormac at Toomevara. Photograph by John Kelly

A disappointed Sean Rynne of Ennistymon CBS is comforted on the pitch following their Post Primary Schools Michael Cusack “C” Cup Final loss to Colaiste Cormac at Toomevara. Photograph by John Kelly

An absolutely gutted Ricky Wynne of Ennistymon CBS is comforted on the pitch following their Post Primary Schools Michael Cusack “C” Cup Final loss to Colaiste Cormac at Toomevara. Photograph by John Kelly

CBS Ennistymon: Kieran Daniels (Kilmaley), Coleman Kelly (Inagh/Kilnamona), Marc O’Loughlin (Corofin), Mark Callinan (Inagh/Kilnamona), Liam Cotter (Ennistymon), Ricky Wynne (Inagh/Kilnamona), James Cullinan (Inagh/Kilnamona), Shane Woods (Inagh/Kilnamona), Keith Barry (Inagh/Kilnamona), MacDara O’Keeffe (Ennistymon), Niall Mullins (Inagh/Kilnamona), Josh Vaughan (Ennistymon), Jamie Wynne (Inagh/Kilnamona), Sean Rynne (Inagh/Kilnamona), Josh Guyler (Inagh/Kilnamona).

Scorers for CBS Ennistymon: Josh Guyler (0-7, 0-5 frees), Niall Mullins (1-0), Sean Rynne and MacDara O’Keeffe (0-2 each), James Cullinan (0-1).

Coláiste Naomh Cormac: Harry Sweeney, Brecon Kavanagh, Charlie Bracken, James Mahon, Mark Mulrooney, Oisin Kilmartin, Patrick Carroll, Oisin Guinan, Colin Spain, Daniel Hand, Richard Bracken, Leigh Kavanagh, Alex Kavanagh, Adam Screeney, Robert Boland.

Scorers: Adam Screeney (0-7, 0-4 frees), Alex Kavanagh (2-0), Daniel Hand (0-4, 0-1 free).

Referee: Brian Keon (Galway).