Meelick hang on to win Junior A title

Meelick 0-11   Kilrush Shamrocks 2-4

A cliff hanger in Corofin? Not really. The Shamrocks’ two late goals, one of them with the second last kick of the game, five minutes into injury time, meant the scoreline flattered the West Clare men.
Throughout, Meelick looked the better side and had a bit more class, best epitomised by centre-forward Patrick Finucane and man of the match Kevin Hartnett, who directed operations from the middle of the field.
While Meelick were deserved winners, the Shamrocks did show a lot of character, literally not giving up until the final whistle. Indeed if there had been a little more time they might have snuck an unlikely draw.
The South East Clare side started well and their forwards had already created a goal chance and dropped a ball into the goalkeeper’s hands, before Finucane had the first point of the day after four minutes. After combining with Kevin Hartnett, Finucane doubled the lead in the eighth.
Throughout the first half, Kilrush’s efforts to work the ball from defence to attack continually broke down and Meelick had a big advantage in terms of territory. However when John Kelly pointed in the 23rd minute, the Shamrocks were just a point behind, although they hadn’t really been in the game. In the closing minutes Finucane and Andy White had points for the winners, with Sean Naughton replying for Kilrush.
The West Clare side would have a slight wind advantage after the restart, but Meelick began to make their dominance count on the scoreboard. Niall Mullen kicked a fine score from distance in the second minute, and then Kevin Hartnett slalomed his way in from the left corner before fisting over the bar, creating a four point gap 0-6 to 0-2. Further scores from Gary Moloney and Hartnett put Meelick in a very strong position with 18 minutes left.
Cian Murray had the Shamrock’s first point of the second half in the 14th minute, but Hartnett raised two more white flags for Meelick. Kilrush midfielder Sean Madigan might have had goal on his mind in the 20th minute but his effort went over the bar while Oisin Hickey rounded off Meelick’s scoring in the 21st minute, giving them a seven point lead, but there would be drama late on.
Kilrush poured forward seeking a goal and they forced a penalty after a foul on Shane Carey after 28 minutes. It was duly converted by David O’Shea.
At the other end of the field corner-forward Oisin Hickey drew a good save from Ger Griffin, and Kilrush still had a glimmer of a chance. They kept pressing and five minutes after the end of normal time Cian Murray had a second goal. Unfortunately for him it was a little too late, as the final whistle sounded immediately after the kick-out.
There was no question that Meelick deserved their win, having a little bit too much throughout the field for Kilrush. However the West Clare men did show a lot of character and stuck to their task manfully, even when their cause seemed hopeless.

Kilrush Shamrocks: Ger Griffin; Michael Murray, Paul O’Sullivan, Shane Carey; David Shannon, Ross Cullinan, Donal Madigan; Sean Madigan, Matt Fitzpatrick; David O’Shea, Calum Bond, Sean Naughton; David Walsh, Cian Murray, John Kelly; David Walsh, Cian Murray.
Subs: Niall Brennan for Michael Murray, Daniel Ryan for Sean Naughton, Padraig Browne for Calum Bond, Jamie Gilligan for John Kelly, John Ryan for David Walsh.
Scorers: Cian Murray (1-1), David O’Shea (1-0, penalty), John Kelly, Sean Naughton, Sean Madigan (all 0-1).
Frees: 24  Wides: 5  45s: 0
Yellow cards: Matt Fitzpatrick, David Walsh.
“We went close but overall they were the better team on the day,” Jimmy Moloney, Kilrush Shamrock’s management team.

Meelick: Shane Daly; Mickey Kelly, Sean Cooney, Gary Kennedy; Stephen Hayes, Barry Hartnett, Eanna Mulvihill; Niall Mullen, Kevin Hartnett; William O’Shaughnessy, Patrick Finnucane, Gary Moloney; Andy White, Brian O’Neill, Oisín Hickey.
Subs: Darragh Quinn for Gary Moloney, Damien Moloney for Eanna Mulvihill.
Scorers: Kevin Hartnett (0-4, 1f), Patrick Finucane (0-3), Andy White, Niall Mullen, Oisín Hickey (0-1 each), Gary Moloney (0-1f).
Frees: 22  Wides: 7  45s: 2
Yellow cards: Niall Mullen
“I felt we were the better team but in the first half we missed some hand scores. You can live to regret that and we nearly did,” Pat O’Rourke, Meelick manager.