O’Neill’s goals steer St Joseph’s into final

St Joseph’s 2-7
Wolfe Tones 0-7

A GOAL in each half from 17-year-old Alan O’Neill put St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield into the Clare Senior Football Championship final at the expense of Wolfe Tones, at Cusack Park on Sunday.

On a damp afternoon and before a disappointing attendance, St Joseph’s, who had dumped champions Doonbeg out of the race in the previous round, proved to be the stronger side and deservingly came out on top.
While Wolfe Tones can point to some bad missed chances, they were the first to admit the better side won on the day.
The opening quarter of the game was particularly disappointing but Alan O’Neill’s first goal helped liven up the tie.
The first clear-cut goal chance fell to the Shannon side as early as the fourth minute but Stephen Monaghan was wide of the target after being put through by Chris Dunning. A minute later the Shannon men scored when Daniel Gallery converted a 45. They had another excellent chance in the 10th minute but Monaghan again was wide with his effort a minute before Cathal Duggan opened the winners’ account.
Alan O’Neill was wide of the target in the 13th minute after Enda Lyons had created the opening.
Two minutes later, when O’Neill won possession on his own 45, few would have predicted how this phase of play would end. The teenager took off on a solo run that ended with the midfielder shooting low to the corner of the net. It proved to be a blow from which Wolfe Tones never recovered.
Points were swapped twice in the next 10 minutes before David O’Brien and Kevin Dilleen kicked two good points to help their side to lead by four at the break, when the score was 1-5 to 0-4.
Wolfe Tones returned with county minor hurler, Aaron Cunningham in their attack and he was prominent in the opening stages and helped win the free that saw Stephen Monaghan score the opening point of the second half.
An excellent effort from Colm Mullen cancelled out this score and these were the only points of a disappointing third quarter.
Stephen Monaghan, who had a mixed day with his freetaking, pointed at the turn of the final quarter but shortly after O’Neill struck for the game’s second goal, which killed off any lingering hopes the Shannon side might have been entertaining of getting back into contention. O’Neill took a pass from Paul Dullaghan before drilling a low shot past Jason Casey in the Shannon goal. Enda Lyons followed with a point and the winners were seven points clear with just eight minutes remaining.
In the remaining time both sides made a number of changes but there was just one more score and it came from Stephen Monaghan, when he converted a 30m free.
Stephen Collins, Damian Kennedy and Ger Fannin were always prominent in the winners’ defence, while Alan O’Neill, Cathal O’Sullivan, Enda Lyons and Colm Mullen were others to make valuable contributions to this win.
Sean Brennan, Colm McCaul, Patsy Keyes and substitute, Aaron Cunningham did best for a Shannon side whose forward line struggled throughout.

St Joseph’s: Declan O’Keeffe; Damian Kennedy, Stephen Collins, Ger Fannin; Greg Lyons, Kevin Dilleen, Gavin O’Sullivan; Alan O’Neill, Mark Raftery; David O’Brien, Enda Lyons, Paul Dullaghan; Colm Mullen, Cathal O’Sullivan, Cathal Duggan.
Subs: Mark Hallinan for Raftery (33 minutes); Chris O’Brien for David O’Brien (54 minutes); Aidan O’Connor for Duggan (57 minutes); Ivor White for Mullen (58 minutes); Johnnie O’Brien for Dullaghan (63 minutes).
Scorers: Alan O’Neill (2-0); David O’Brien (0-2, 1f; Kevin Dilleen, Colm Mullen, Enda Lyons, Cathal O’Sullivan, Cathal Duggan (0-1) each.
Frees For: 17; Wides: 10.
Bookings: Mark Raftery (15 minutes); Greg Lyons (30 minutes); Cathal O’Sullivan (53 minutes).
“The two goals came at vital stages. It’s a great day for the club. The lads have worked really hard for the last six weeks and the results have come.” John Halpin, St Joseph’s manager.

Wolfe Tones: Jason Casey; Steve Carroll, Sean Brennan, Colm McCaul; Craigh O’Brien, Brendan Hughes, William Flynn; Patsy Keyes, Joe McGauley; Kevin Cahill, Chris Dunning, Kevin Corbett; Daniel Gallery, Gary Leahy, Stephen Monaghan.
Subs: Aaron Cunningham for Corbett (half-time); Stephen McInerney for Leahy (42 minutes); Darren Ryan for Cahill (52 minutes); Alan Hehir for Dunning (58 minutes). 
Scorers: Stephen Monaghan (0-5f); Daniel Gallery (0-1 45), Chris Dunning (0-1).
Frees for: 21; Wides: 11; 45s: 2
Bookings: Joe McGauley (60 minutes); Patsy Keyes (64 minutes).
“The first goal was a killer as we were in an attacking position when the ball was turned over and our forwards stopped working. Fair dues to Alan O’Neill, he worked his way through but we had fluffed two goal chances before that.” Brendan Reidy, Wolfe Tones

Referee: Michael Rock, Ennistymon