Mackey goals decisive as Roanmore see off Clonea
Roanmore's Rory Furlong is tackled by Clonea's Billy Power during their JJ Kavanagh & Sons Co. SHC in Walsh Park. Photos: Maurice Hennebry.
Clonea would have been quietly confident going into their final group game on the back of an impressive opening round win over Tallow the previous week but found a determined Roanmore side a much tougher proposition in Walsh Park on Friday last.
From the start the city side set the pace and though Clonea did draw level on the scoreboard on six occasions they were never able to seize the initiative with two opportunist goals from Roanmore full forward Shane Mackey proving the difference between the sides at the final whistle.
Clonea showed two changes from the Tallow game with Conor Dalton and James Power starting in attack instead of Donncha Hassett and Francis Roche and had first call on the breeze blowing into the city end.
Roanmore’s Gavin O’Brien sent over the opening points from play inside a minute with Billy Power levelling matters from a free before midfielders Sean Burke and Rory Furlong gave Roanmore a two point lead after five minutes. The sides were level for the second time two minutes later with Ciaran Power and Billy Power on target for Clonea but in the 8th minute a bungled short puck out by Hunt in the Clonea goal saw the ball returned to Shane Mackey who shot to the net past the advancing ‘keeper.
The three point lead was short lived however as Clonea hit back with two points from Billy Power frees, the first from his own ‘45’, and a third from Kieran Power. Clonea had two chances to take the lead but Billy Power was off target from a free and play before Gavin O’Brien (F) and Sam Pender edged Roanmore back into the lead. Both sides shared the last six scores of the half with Gavin O’Brien adding three from frees and Gearoid Power, Jason Gleeson and Billy Power (‘65’) replying for Clonea. HT – Roanmore 1-9 Clonea 0-10.
Playing with the breeze the advantage was now with Roanmore but Clonea got the start they needed to the second half with Jason Gleeson sending over a close in free and Billy Power following suit from a free on his own ‘65’ to level the tie. Parity was retained with Lee Hearne and Gleeson (F) exchanging points before a great bout of teamwork set Sean Burke up for his second point before Gavin O’Brien made it a three point game, adding two more points from frees.
Before Clonea could regroup a defensive error saw possession lost and the ball going to Shane Mackey whose shot from close range found a path between the advancing goalie and defenders to the far corner of the net.
Trailing by six points going into the final quarter Clonea now had it all to do. Billy Power and Gavin O’Brien exchanged points as both sides began to introduce fresh legs. Clonea cut the deficit with points from Jason Gleeson and Gearoid Power but Roanmore hit back in kind from sub Josh Sheridan and Billy Nolan. One felt that Clonea needed a goal to turn things around but that did not look like coming against a resolute Roanmore fullback line.
The remainder of the game saw Clonea adding five points, four from Gleeson frees to two in reply from Gavin O’Brien (Fs), and one apiece from Sean Burke and Paul O’Sullivan to retain the four point margin at the final whistle.
Gavin O’Brien was, once again, Mr. Reliable for Roanmore backed up by Dean Walsh and Billy Nolan in defence, Sean Burke in midfield and Shane Mackey up front but overall it was the workrate of the Roanmore side that was most impressive.
For Clonea, Billy Power was the standout player with support coming from Ciaran Power, Mairtin Power, Kieran Power and Jason Gleeson.
– Gavin O’Brien for work rate and accuracy.
– Mackey’s second half goal gave Roanmore a six point lead.
– Micheal Harney and Ciaran Kirwan named on Clonea team sheet.
– Roanmore face Tallow with quarter final beckoning. Clonea await preliminary quarter finals.
– Gavin O’Brien 0-11 (9Fs), Shane Mackey 2-0, Sean Burke 0-3, Rory Furlong, Sam Pender, Lee Hearne, Josh Sheridan, Billy Nolan and Paul O’Sullivan 0-1 each.
– Jason Gleeson 0-8 (7Fs), Billy Power 0-7 (5Fs), Kieran Power 0-3, Gearoid Power 0-2, Ciaran Power 0-1.
– Jack Chester, Charlie Chester, Dean Walsh, Cian Wadding, Frank McGrath, Billy Nolan, Ian Chester, Sean Burke, Rory Furlong, Paul O’Sullivan, Gavin O’Brien, Conor Ryan, Sam Pender, Shane Mackey, Lee Hearne. Subs – Brian Nolan for I. Chester (40), Josh Sheridan for Hearne (49), Chris Dempsey for Pender (53).
– Paudie Hunt, Willie Hahessy, Tom Walsh, Adam Murray, Reece O’Mahony, Ciaran Power, Mairtin Power, Billy Power, Stephen Curry, Ronan Dalton, Michael Curry, Kieran Power, James Power, Gearoid Power, Jason Gleeson. Subs – Ronan Eliffe for S. Curry (44), Donncha Hassett for Dalton (47), Francis Roche for M. Curry (53).
– Seaghan Walsh (De La Salle).
