Experience the key as Clashmore see off Roanmore
Clashmore/Kinsalbegs Cillian O'Keeffe is challenged by Roanmores Gavin O'Brien during their JJ Kavanagh & Sons Co. senior football championship first round game at Dungarvan GAA club. Photos: Eddie Dee Photography.
Making their first appearance in senior championship football last Sunday in the Dungarvan club grounds Roanmore were given an early reminder of just what they will be up against when going down to a seven point defeat at the hands of seasoned senior campaigners Clashmore.
For Roanmore it was not a case of being outclassed by the opposition, far from it, for the city side enjoyed every bit as much possession as did their opponents but when scoring chances come a fair percentage of them must be converted and it was in that department that Clashmore had the upper hand with experienced players such as Paul O’Connor and Brian O’Halloran delivering.
Roanmore started confidently, retaining possession in the Clashmore half in the opening minutes but failing to land a shot at the posts. On gaining possession Clashmore were a little more direct and opened the scoring with a Paul O’Connor point in the 6th minute. Brian O’Halloran, operating at full forward, sent over his first point in the 10th minute quickly followed by another from O’Connor.
Roanmore were being pinned in their own half but defending well with Clashmore failing to score for a ten minute spell before Sam Pender gained possession and raced through the Clashmore defence to unleash a cracking shot that had goalie Jim Scanlon beaten but skimmed the upper side of the crossbar for his side’s first point. A minute later Ronan Fitzgerald fisted over for his side’s fourth point and Paul O’Connor added his third in the 24th minute. A point in added time by Eddie Nolan from a free left three points between the sides at halftime and Roanmore were by no means out of it. H.T. Clashmore 0-5 Roanmore 0-2.
Roanmore started the second half as they did the first retaining possession but this time they were first to score with Dean Reidy’s 33rd minute point cutting the Clashmore lead to two points. Roanmore continued to pile on the pressure but missed chances in front of the posts were costing them and when Paul O’Connor broke forward, as did Pender for Roanmore in the first half, his powerful ground shot crashed to the net, giving his side s five point lead.
Brian O’Halloran followed up with a point from a free after a foul on Sam Fitzgerald but Roanmore seemed to have pulled a point back when Dean Reidy sent over what seemed a great point from along the end line but one of the umpires did not concur and despite the protests of the Roanmore players the score was not allowed. Apart from not been allowed the score, Reidy was given a yellow card for his protests.
Roanmore continued to press on without scoring while Clashmore made the most of limited chances with Kyle Moloney and Brian O’Halloran making it a 1-8 to 0-3 game heading into the closing five minutes which were played mostly in the Clashmore half. The closest Roanmore came to a breakthrough was when Sam Pender had a run at goal but had his effort blocked down. There was one further score from an Eddie Nolan free but it was too little too late to make the slightest difference.
For the winners Paul O’Connor and Brian O’Halloran were the big men in attack with Ciaran Bourke, Cillian O’Keeffe, Kyle Moloney and Sam Fitzgerald also impressing. Roanmore’s best player was Dean Reidy backed up by Gavin O’Brien, Sam Pender and Conor Ryan.
Paul O’Connor 1-4, Brian O’Halloran 0-3 (2fs), Kyle Moloney and Ronan Fitzgerald 0-1 each.
Eddie Nolan 0-2 (Fs), Dean Reidy and Sam Pender 0-1 each.
Jim Scanlon, James Moloney, Ciaran Bourke, Kieran Connery, Cillian O’Keeffe, Ed O’Halloran, Cian Ryan, Declan Allen, Sam Fitzgerald, Aidan Trihy, Josh Fitzgerald, Ronan Fitzgerald, Kyle Moloney, Brian O’Halloran, Paul O’Connor. Subs used – Adam O’Sullivan, Shane Coughlan, Ben Lombard.
Dale Sheridan, Dean Walsh, Ethan Hayes, Conor Ryan, Gavin O’Brien, Rory Furlong, Brian Everard, Dean Reidy, Frank McGrath, Sam Pender, Billy Nolan, Brian Nolan, Eddie Nolan, Cian Wadding, Ethan Flynn. Subs used – Shane Mackey, Sean Roche, Sean Burke.
Killian O’Sullivan (Affane)
