Missed chances cost Lissycasey

Cratloe 0-7
Lissycasey 0-6

COMPETITION favourites Cratloe qualified for the U-21A Football Championship final when they overcame the challenge of Lissycasey in a hard fought semi-final at Gurteen on Sunday evening. The losers, however, have reason to be disappointed as they failed to capitalise on a lot of good scoring chances.

In the second half, in particular, many of Lissycasey’s attacks ended with the ball being kicked into the hands of Cratloe goalkeeper, Jamie Joyce, the team captain.
However, credit must go to the South-East Clare outfit for the manner in which they defended throughout but particularly in the last quarter, when Paudge Collins and Conor McGrath regularly dropped back to help their defence.
From the start, it was clear this would be a close contest and the game was 12 minutes old before the first score was registered. It came to Lissycasey when Niall Kelly pointed after Sean Hayes’ effort had rebounded off the upright.
Straight from the kick-out, Cratloe launched an attack and Wes De Loughrey replied before Conor McGrath put his side in front at the start of the second quarter. Further points from Liam Markham (free) and McGrath saw the winners stretch their lead to four points but Lissycasey finished the half with an Enda Finnucane point from a 13m free, to leave his side trailing by two when the half-time whistle sounded.
With wind advantage to come, Lissycasey’s chances of causing an upset looked good but within a minute, Cathal McInerney converted a 13m free for the winners, putting down a marker that they would not be easily beaten.
Lissycasey had the better of matters for the remainder of the third quarter and points from Sean Hayes, Enda Finnucane and Niall Kelly brought the sides level by the midpoint of the half.
Indeed, Lissycasey could well have been in front at this stage but goalkeeper Joyce saved well from Matt O’Shea, while a combination of poor finishing and good defensive play on the part of Liam Markham and Sean Hynan meant Lissycasey never managed to get in front.
Early in the final quarter, Cathal McInerney kicked his side back into the lead with a fine effort from play and he added another from a 30m free six minutes from the end.
An excellent effort from Dermot Nagle closed the gap to the minimum again but try as they did, Lissycasey failed to add to their tally and Cratloe held on for victory by the minimum margin.
Jamie Joyce, Liam Markham, Wes De Loughrey, Conor Ryan, Cathal McInerney, Conor McGrath and Paudge Collins were always prominent for the winners.
Martin O’Connor, Cyril Sheehan, Enda Finnucane, Danny Clohessy, Sean Hayes and Niall Kelly fought hard for Lissycasey throughout.

Cratloe: Jamie Joyce; Gerry Cooney, Sean Hynan, Joe Conroy; Patrick Carey, Liam Markham, Wes De Loughrey; Conor Ryan, Shane Golden; Dean De Loughrey, Paudge Collins, Pa Sheehan; Cathal McInerney, Conor McGrath, Joseph O’Connor.
Subs: Sean O’Gorman for O’Connor and David Collins for Sheehan.
Scorers: Cathal McInerney (0-3, 2f), Conor McGrath (0-2), Liam Markham (f) and Wes De Loughrey (0-1) each.
Lissycasey: Kevin Moran; Cyril Sheehan, Martin O’Connor, Ronan McCarthy; Tom Collins, Francis Hayes, Cathal Doohan; Enda Finnucane, Matt O’Shea; Daniel Clohessy, Niall Kelly, Kevin Hanrahan; Sean Hayes, Eoin Fitzgerald, Dermot Nagle.
Subs: Michael O’Neill for Fitzgerald (half-time), Eoin Enright for Collins (50 minutes) and Fitzgerald for Hanrahan (51 minutes).
Scorers: Enda Finnucane (2f) and Niall Kelly (f) (0-2 each), Sean Hayes and Dermot Nagle (0-1) each.
Referee: John Hannon, Michael Cusack’s.