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Kilfenora reach final after foiling Meelick’s late rally


KIlfenora 0-13
Meelick 1-8

Jubilation tinged with relief were the washed over Kilfenora’s footballers after surviving a spirited comeback from battling Meelick to qualify for the Junior A football championship decider for the second successive year.

Last year, Kilfenora were narrowly beaten by Clooney-Quin and this heartbreaking defeat whetted their appetite and hunger to make amends this season.
However, their best-laid plans were almost thwarted by a resurgent Meelick outfit who came within a whisker of reaching the decider after winning the Junior B crown three years ago.
The turning point came in the 52nd minute when Meelick’s first and solitary point from play, courtesy of their ace sharpshooter Pat Finucane who crowned a very good comeback, edging them 1-8 to 0-10 ahead for the only time in the game.
Meelick’s goalscorer Brian O’Neill had a great chance to put his side two points ahead but his shot dropped short into the hands of Kilfenora custodian, Liam Keane. The momentum was with Meelick at this stage having wiped out a four-point interval deficit.
From the resulting counter-attack Kilfenora corner-forward Austin Kelly won possession and equalised with a great point from play.
This helped Kilfenora regain the initiative and the North Clare men finished the stronger side with substitute Cillian Malone sealing their eventual two point victory with converted frees in the 55th and 56th minutes.
Meelick were rocked with another setback a minute into injury time when corner back Michael Kelly was sent off following a second yellow card. However, it didn’t really affect the outcome as the South-East Clare men didn’t have time to mount a bid to at least draw level.
While Meelick could have won this free-ridden tie, Kilfenora were better balanced and scored eleven points from play compared to just 1-1 from their opponents who were far too reliant on Pat Finucane’s accuracy from placed balls.
In fact, Finucane and Brian O’Neill were the only two starting Meelick forwards who found the target while four of their opponents front six raised white flags.
Kilfenora looked the more likely winners early on as John O’Gorman, James Keane and Jason Connole split the posts to leave them 0-3 to nil after just five minutes. Meelick found it very hard to win possession and even mount an attack, which prompted their manager, Pat O’Rourke to move Clare minor Niall Mullen from centre back to wing forward in a swop with Kevin Hartnett.
Inspired by Diarmuid Nagle, Cathal Nagle and Michael James Malone in defence, Pat Connole and Johnathan O Gorman in midfield and Jason Connole, James Keane and Austin Kelly up front, Kilfenora continued to dominate winning most of the breaking balls thanks to their impressive teamwork and workrate.
Twelve minutes had elapsed before Finucance opened Meelick’s account from a free and a minute later Gerry Markham was forced to tip a powerful drive from attacking wing back Michael James Malone over the crossbar.
Kevin Heasby pointed after collecting a Pat Malone long delivery and intercepted a backwards handpass from Meelick defender Gary Kennedy to put the winners 0-7 to 0-3 ahead after 20 minutes.
Austin Kelly and Finucane traded points from frees to leave the wind assisted Kilfenora 0-8 to 0-4 ahead at the break.
Two minutes into the second half, Meelick got the break they needed when Seanie O’Connor appeared to be pulled down after fielding Pat Finucane’s cross and Brian O’Driscoll took advantage of his deflection by rattling the roof of the net.
Even though Austin Kelly restored Kilfenora’s lead to two points from a free, the sides were all square in the 42nd minute when Pat Finucane converted two placed balls at the other end.
With Sean Cooney, Brian Barrett, Kevin Hartnett, Niall Mullen and Pat Finucane excelling in their respective positions, Meelick were now on a roll and went in front in the 51st minute when Pat Finucane notched their first point from play before Kilfenora finished with a flourish.

Kilfenora: Liam Keane; Shane Long, Diarmuid Nagle, Paudie Ireland; James Brady, Cathal Nagle, Michael James Malone; Johnathan O’Gorman, Pat Connole; Jason Connole, James Keane, Michael Theasby; Austin Kelly, Liam O’Brien, Kevin Theasby.
Subs: Cillian Malone 48 mins for Michael Theasby; Paul Reddan 50 mins for Paudie Ireland.
Scores: Austin Kelly (0-4, 0-1 free), Jason Connole (0-2), Kevin Theasby (0-2), Cillian Malone ((0-2, two frees), Michael James Malone (0-1), Johnathan O’Gorman (0-1). James Keane (0-1, free).
Frees: 19; wides: 5; 45s: 3.
Yellow card: Johnathan O’Gorman, James Brady, Liam O’Brien, Shane Long.
“I was worried enough when Meelick equalised but I thought Kilfenora would pull through at the end. The experience of reaching last year’s final and the last few years stood to us. I thought Kilfenora had more football and finished the stronger side. It is great to be back in a county final.”
Kilfenora selector,
Tomas Connole.

Meelick: Gerry Markham; Michael Kelly, Sean Cooney, Gary Kennedy; Brian Barrett, Niall Mullen, Eanna Mulvihill; Ian Griffin, Barry Hartnett; Stephen Hayes, Pat Finucane, Kevin Hartnett; Brian O’Neill, Gary Moloney, Seanie O’Connor.
Subs: Damien Moloney 54 mins for Brian O’Neill, Shane Daly 61 mins for Seanie O’Connnor.
Scorers: Pat Finucane (0-1, 0-7 from frees), Brian O’Neill (1-0).
Yellow cards: Gerry Markham, Sean Cooney, Seanie O’Connor, Michael Kelly, Michael Kelly.
Red card: Michael Kelly.
Frees: 26; wides: 5; 65s: 0.
“Brian O’Neill had a chance to put Meelick a point ahead but his shot fell short. Kilfenora went down the field and scored a point. That was a two-point turnaround, which was the turning point in the game. I knew it would be tough, I was hoping Meelick would reach the final. The goal after half-time brought us right back into the game and the lads battled well to draw level.“
Meelick manager,
Pat O’Rourke.

Referee: Fergal O’Shea, Shannon Gaels.

 

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