Ferrybank defy the odds to knock Clonea out
Ferrybank's Mark O'Brien hand passes under pressure from Clonea's Conor Dalton and Billy Power. Photos: Maurice Hennebry.
Having suffered defeats to Abbeyside and Fourmilewater in the group stages and been touted as likely relegation candidates going into their first year back in the senior championship, resilient Ferrybank defied the odds and expert punditry in sun lashed Walsh Park on Saturday last. The Villagers produced a powerful second half display to overturn an eight point halftime deficit that saw them advancing to the championship quarter finals while consigning fancied Clonea to the relegation play offs.
After an exchange of points between Jason Gleeson and Neil O’Sullivan in the opening minute there was no indication throughout the first half that this game would play out any way other than according to script.
After four minutes the side remained level after a further exchange of points between Conor Dalton and Mark O’Brien (F). A minute later a goal from a 20 metre free by Jason Gleeson resulting from a foul on James Power was followed by four unanswered Clonea points, the first from Kieran Power and three from Billy Power (1F), between the fifth and seventh minutes.
A Ruadhri McGarrity point intervened before further points from Conor Dalton, James Power and the outstanding Billy power gave their side a 1-9 to 0-3 lead with just twelve minutes played. Two points from O’Brien frees either side of a fine score by Neil O’Sullivan kept Ferrybank in the picture as James Power failed to finish just a couple of metres out from an open goal. Clonea’s Adam Murray shared the next four points with Mark O’Brien before Billy Power broke through on goal only to see his shot deflected over the bar by Cormac O’Driscoll. A further clear goal scoring opportunity was missed by James Power as three Mark O’Brien points (2Fs) kept Ferrybank in the picture, trailing by just five points. Clonea closed their first half account in convincing manner with a point by Billy Power from a free on his own ‘45’ followed by points from Jason Gleeson and Gearoid Power, giving their side a 1-16 to 0-11 lead at the break.
The eight point halftime lead did not at all flatter Clonea who could easily have been a further nine points ahead had they taken at least three clear goal scoring chances and while Ferrybank were battling hard it was Mark O’Brien’s free taking that was keeping his side in touch.
Ferrybank started the second half with M. J. Sutton and Ruadhri McGarrity in a two man full forward line and Mark O‘Brien moving further outfield. From the throw in Ferrybank broke forward and following good interaction between Sutton and McGarrity the ball fell to Robbie Carew whose first time ground shot rattled the net with just a minute played. Before Clonea could regroup points from Neil O’Sullivan and Mark O’Brien had the deficit down to three points.
In the 36th minute Sutton was at full stretch to collect a high delivery and, racing through the Clonea defence, the big man sent a screamer off the stick wide of Paudie Hunt to the corner of the net. The sides were level and it was game on.
Points from Billy Power and Kieran Power seemed likely to steady the Clonea ship as they regained the lead but Ferrybank were hurling with the confidence of a team with nothing to lose. A point from Robbie Carew was followed by two from Mark O’Brien before Billy Power levelled again from a Clonea free in the 50th minute. Cormac O’Driscoll did well to deny James Power before Ferrybank put daylight between the sides, taking a 2-20 to 1-20 lead with points from Mark O’Brien and front men McGarrity and Sutton going into the closing minutes. With both sides adding late points Clonea cut the deficit to the minimum as the game went into added time but Ferrybank would not be denied as Mark O’Brien sent over the insurance point for a deserved two point victory.
Once again Mark O’Brien’s accuracy was a key factor in Ferrybank’s victory but it was M. J. Sutton who proved his side’s primary ball winner in the second half with his goal being the score of the game.
This defeat will be a bitter disappointment for a Clonea side that had sights set on a quarter final next weekend but must now regroup for a relegation playoff.
STAR MAN – MJ Sutton was huge for Ferrybank in this great win.
TURNING POINT – Sutton’s equalising 36th minute goal.
TALKING POINT– Ferrybank’s second-half fightback.
WHAT’S NEXT? – A quarter final for Ferrybank against Mount Sion while Clonea face neighbours Fourmilewater in a relegation playoff.
– Mark O’Brien 0-13 (10Fs), Robbie Carew 1-2, M. J. Sutton 1-1, Neil O’Sullivan 0-3, Ruadhri McGarrity 0-2, Luke Flynn and John Ahern 0-1 each.
– Billy Power 0-11 (5Fs), Jason Gleeson 1-4 (1-1Fs), Conor Dalton 0-3, Kieran Power and Adam Murray 0-2 each, James Power and Gearoid Power 0-1 each.
– Cormac O’Driscoll, Graham Coady, Ryan Tierney, Stephen O’Kane, Caolan Mac Cathmhaoil, Cormac Heffernan, John Ahern, Neil O’Sullivan, Izaak Richards, Darryl Griffin, Luke Flynn, Robbie Carew, Ruadhri McGarrity, Mark O’Brien, M. J. Sutton. – Naoise Mac Cathmhaoil for Richards and Seamus Burtchaell for Griffin (51), Damien Ahearn for C. Mac Cathmhaoil (61).
– Paudie Hunt, Willie Hahessy, Tom Walsh, Adam Murray, Reece O’Mahony, Ciaran Power, Mairtin Power, Stephen Curry, Ronan Eliffe, Conor Dalton, Billy Power, Kieran Power, Jason Gleeson, Gearoid Power, James Power. – Ger Hahessy for Walsh (36), Michael Curry for Eliffe and Francis Roche for G. Power (41).
– Michael O’Brien (Portlaw).
