Whelan and Meaney score as Clondegad lower Banner

Junior B football final
Clodegad 2-11 Banner 2-8

A season of underachieving in the view of both clubs in the Intermediate championship came to an adult end in Lissycasey on Sunday afternoon in the Junior B county final decider. As with most Junior finals it can be a hazardous task to allocate a favourites tag so all was up for grabs before what was a disappointing following from the two clubs.
Scores were hard to come by the opening quarter with the two sides sharing a paltry five points as Clondegad led (0-3) to (0-2) before Ciaran Connelly struck for the first of four goals in the game. Within two minutes Banner had cut the lead of Clondegad to the minimum with their first goal as long time performer Fiachra Hayes who started in place of William Bello was their shooter. Clondegad full forward Oisin Griffin won a high ball and his breaking ball was doubled to the net by the inrushing Charlie Whelan as Clondegad once more held a lead of substance, (2-3) to (1-2). The games most effective performer was the powerfully built Banner corner forward Tomas O’Halloran as he kicked over his sides final score of the first-half only to see Clondegad grab a firm hold on proceedings with the final three scores of the half as Charlie Whelan and Brian Meaney were amongst the scorers to leave Clondegad (2-6) to (1-3) ahead facing the second-half in confidence.
There was a palpable sense of annoyance amongst Banner players retiring to their dressingroom that they had in their eyes played so much below par. For the second-half they required at least two goals to win the tie and hope Clondegad underplayed. Tomas O’Halloran started the second-half in positive style for the Banner before Charlie Whelan did likewise for his colleagues. Dan Daly gave huge hope for Banner with their second goal and following a truly spectacular score from Tomas O’Halloran beating three the deficit was down to two with 22 minutes left to play.
Clondegad’s Brian Meaney was not in the mood to have the title taken from them after such a commanding position after 30 minutes. He kicked three in the six minutes as Clondegad were now back in charge with a (2-10) to (2-5) entering the final quarter. Meaney went for goal three minutes later but Cillian Ryan kept Banner in the game with a superb save. Soon after Meaney once more was on hand with his sides final score to leave Clondegad six points clear.
Surprisingly, Clondegad began to surrender ground to Banner and fought out the last ten minutes of action in their own half as Banner attacked required two goals. All they managed were three points with Cian O’Connor and Thomas O’Halloran on the mark but it was not enough as Clondegad held out but not conceding a late goal to take the cup as some solace for a season of unfulfilled promise from their perspective.

Clondegad: Jonathan O’Donoghue, Aaron Lynch, Flan Enright, Darren Sheehan, Eoin Coote, Brian Gavin, Enda Breen, Sean Meaney, David Meaney, Ciaran Connelly, Paddy Frawley, Charlie Whelan, Stephen Neenan, Oisin Griffin, Liam Crowe. Subs: Martin Lynch for  Crowe,  Cody Killoughrey for Connelly, Jake Gallery for Frawley

Scorers: Sean Meaney (0-5), Charlie Whelan (1-2), Ciaran Connolly (1-0), Oisin Griffin, David Meaney (0-2 each),

Banner: Cillian Ryan,  John McAleer, Dara Moloney, Shane Garrihy, Fiachra Hayes,, Dylan Mooney, Ollie Gleeson, Shane Arthur, Tadgh Murphy, Sam Montwell, Cian O’Connor, Cormac Killilea, Tomas O’Halloran, David Walsh, Dan Daly. William Bello for McAleer, Keith Shea for Power, Shane Garrihy for Killile

Scorers: Tomas O’Halloran (0-6), Fiachra Hayes, Dan Daly (1-0 each) Cian O’Connor (0-1 each)

Referee: Noel Meaney (Coolmeen)