Second-half goals seal final place for champions

TWO second-half goals inside three minutes helped Ennistymon to quality for the 2011 U-21A football final, where the holders will play Cratloe.

Substitute Brian Houlihan scored the first of the goals, benefiting from a Cathal Malone lay-off. That score, in the 41st minute, came amid a spell of concerted Miltown pressure, during which they kicked three points to Ennistymon’s one.
However, Ennistymon took total control when Joey Rouine, employed as an extra defender against the wind in Quilty, buried the rebound after a Michael O’Dwyer shot hit the Miltown crossbar. Rouine excelled in this role and his goal left his team leading 2-8 to 0-6.
Playing with the breeze, Ennistymon led 0-7 to 0-3 at half-time. Michael McDonagh kicked two points from play, while Danny Rouine, from two frees, Alan Horan, Cathal McConigley and Seán O’Driscoll (free) notched up first-half points for the winners.
Eoin Cleary scored all of Miltown’s first-half points from frees. Four minutes from half-time Noel Sexton saved well from Conor Cleary when a Miltown goal could have changed the complexion of the game.
Miltown’s early second-half scores were separated by a superb Michael McDonagh point, following excellent Ennistymon possession play into the wind.
After this score both Gearóid Curtin and Micheál Malone lofted over classy points, suggesting Miltown would make a real fight of it.
Ennistymon’s goals, however, knocked the hope from Miltown and the reigning champions played within themselves and kept it simple for the last 16 minutes.
Perhaps if Eoin Cleary’s goal effort, six minutes from time, hadn’t been deflected for a 45’ and had rattled the net, Miltown might have had a chance of fighting back. They claimed a foot block and suggested their preference for a penalty and not a 45’. However, this was a suggestion that referee Michael Talty was unable to agree with. McDonagh kicked his fourth and classiest point two minutes into injury time, when he picked up a Cathal Malone cross-field ball and fired over with the outside of the right foot.
Ennistymon lined out without Micheál O’Loughlin and Oisín Vaughan, which underlines the depth of their panel.
Michael McDonagh scored four great points and also found a man with most passes, while Noel Sexton, Enda Ralph, Seán O’Driscoll, Cathal Malone and Joey Rouine all played crucial roles in Ennistymon’s win.
David Cleary, Micheál Malone and Eoin Cleary gave it everything for Miltown, who showed admirable resolve until Ennistymon hit them for the brace of goals.

Ennistymon: Noel Sexton; Aidan Slattery, Enda Ralph, Michael O’Dwyer; Ciaran Monaghan, Seán O’Driscoll, Michael Houlihan; Cathal Malone, Ronan Linnane; Alan Horan, Michael McDonagh, Cathal McConigley; Danny Rouine, Joey Rouine, Seán McConigley (captain).
Subs: Brian Houlihan for Cathal McConigley and Ciarán Devitt for Michael Houlihan.
Scorers: Michael McDonagh (0-4), Joey Rouine and Brian Houlihan (1-0) each, Danny Rouine (0-2f), Alan Horan, Seán O’Driscoll (f) and Cathal McConigley (0-1) each.
Wides: 6; frees won: 19; 45s: 0
Yellow cards: Ronan Linnane.
St Joseph’s, Miltown: Padraig Queally; Colin McGuane, David Cleary, Eoin O’Brien; Tiernán O’Friel; Gearóid Curtin, Donal Keane; Peter Cleary, Darragh McDonagh; Conor Cleary, Micheál Malone, Eoin Cleary; Seánie Malone, Joe Curtin, David Talty.
Subs: Tommy Flynn for Joe Curtin (injured) and Niall McGuane for Tiernán O’Friel.
Scorers: Eoin Cleary (0-5f), Gearóid Curtin, Micheál Malone, Seánie Malone (f) and Conor Cleary (f) (0-1) each.
Wides: 8; frees won: 38; 45s: 3
Yellow cards: Micheál Malone and Gearóid Curtin.
Referee: Michael Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane).