Reidy sneaks an injury-time victory for Roanmore in two-pointers controversy
One point or Two? Referee Ganin Whelan discuss a one point or two with his umpires while Clashmore goalkeeper Eoin Kelly looks on.
In a lively encounter between two understrength sides, an injury-time winner from Dean Reidy got Roanmore over the line against Clashmore/Kinsalebeg. Reidy’s lethal left boot produced three second-half points on a sunny and showery Saturday afternoon.
It was a game where players, officials and supporters came to terms with the new rules. Clashmore got hit with the 50 metre penalty on four occasions, and Billy Nolan tapped over three frees as a result. There were three debatable two-pointers. Sam Pender saw one downgraded to a white flag, Declan Allen was awarded an orange one even though his shot appeared to sail over the post, while Nolan also got the benefit of the doubt when Clashmore claimed that goalkeeper Eoin Kelly tipped the ball over. The two-point arcs looked very faint on the pitch. They could do with a repaint.
The Sky Blues had little time to switch codes after losing the senior hurling semi-final to Mount Sion. They only managed to squeeze in one challenge game against St Saviours. County footballer Brian Everard (hamstring) and county hurler Conor Ryan (knee) are out injured, while Cian Wadding will be departing for Australia soon. Fourteen squad members were missing in total. Dean Reidy, Rory Furlong, Billy Nolan and adventurous goalkeeper Josh Sheridan picked up the slack.
Clashmore took the field without the injured quartet of Tadhg De Burca, Brian O’Halloran, Sam Fitzgerald and Aidan Trihy. Josh Fitzgerald was away in Denmark. They didn't make any substitutions. Brian Lynch showed his inter-county class at midfield with his high fielding and his ball carrying. Shane Coughlan, Declan Allen and Cillian O’Keeffe also put in strong displays.
Nine minutes passed before Jonathan Walsh opened the scoring for Clashmore, but the quality improved as the match wore on. Sam Pender thought he scored a two-pointer into the dressing room end when his right-footed effort curled between the posts. Following consultation with his linesman, referee Gavin Whelan deemed that Brian Lynch got a touch on it and told the umpires to wave a white flag instead of an orange one. At the other end, a Paul O’Connor cross nearly picked out Declan Allen in front of goal but the ball was deflected away for a 45. Walsh sent it over the green and gold spot.
Roanmore went after two pointers in the first half and five balls dropped short into Clashmore goalkeeper Eoin Kelly. On 22 minutes, Brian Nolan’s effort didn’t have the legs but Billy Nolan kept it alive and found Paul O’Sullivan. Kelly saved O’Sullivan’s shot but Whelan spotted a foul and signalled a penalty. Rory Furlong sent Kelly the wrong way from the spot (1-1 to 0-2).
Shane Coughlan replied with the first of his three points from play. Furlong made a fine fetch from a Roanmore kickout and won a free. For Clashmore dissent, Whelan brought the ball up 50 metres and Furlong gladly knocked it over. A Walsh two point free, three minutes into added time, levelled the match at the break (1-2 to 0-5).
A Declan Allen two-point attempt appeared to curl over the post at the start of the second half, but an orange flag went up after Whelan spoke with his linesman. Brian Lynch then had a goal chance, but the ball spilled out of his hands.
Frees from Furlong and Nolan, the second of whom was moved up, tied the scores again. With Clashmore struggling off their own kickouts, defender Ed O’Halloran took over. Dean Reidy edged Roanmore ahead, but Lynch replied with a fine solo effort. Walsh regained the lead for Clashmore. Paul O’Connor set up a Shane Coughlan point before the full forward nailed one of his own off the outside of his right foot (0-11 to 1-5).
A disputed Billy Nolan two-point free brought Roanmore back into the game. Goalkeeper Eoin Kelly argued that he got a touch on it, which would turn it into a one-pointer. The orange flag was raised after Whelan checked with his umpires. Coughlan struck his third point, after shipping a heavy shoulder from Brian Nolan, to leave it 0-12 to 1-7 with three minutes left. Billy Nolan reduced the arrears to one after Sam Pender was impeded from a solo and go. On 62 minutes, a crossfield ball from Furlong picked out Brian Nolan, who teed up Reidy for the equaliser.
Clashmore roared for a foul on Cillian O’Keeffe in front of the dressing room goal but Whelan waved play on. Kyle Moloney then lost possession and Roanmore capitalised as Reidy swung over a 64th minute winner. The Sky Blues played keep ball, as the match ticked into the sixth added minute, before Whelan blew the final whistle.
Rory Furlong 1-2 (1-0 penalty, 2fs), Billy Nolan 0-4 (2fs, 1 2pf), Dean Reidy 0-3, Sam Pender 0-1.
Jonathan Walsh 0-5 (1 2pf, 1 45, 1f), Shane Coughlan 0-3, Declan Allen 0-2 (2p), Paul O’Connor, Brian Lynch 0-1 each.
Josh Sheridan; Frank McGrath, Dale Hayes, Darragh Power; Ethan Hayes, Charlie Chester, Brian Nolan; Rory Furlong, Billy Nolan; Dean Reidy, Eamon Power, Ethan Flynn; Sean Roche, Paul O'Sullivan, Sam Pender.
Dean Walsh for Dale Hayes (50), Gavin O’Brien for Roche (54).
Eoin Kelly; Adam O’Sullivan, Ciaran Bourke, Kieran Connery; James Maloney, Ed O’Halloran, Ed Lombard; Declan Allen, Brian Lynch; Kyle Moloney, Ronan Fitzgerald, Cillian O’Keeffe; Shane Coughlan, Paul O’Connor, Jonathan Walsh.
Gavin Whelan
Dean Reidy’s three second half points made the difference in the end.
Reidy’s injury time winner.
Those contentious two pointers!
These two teams will be back in action on Sunday in Fraher Field. Roanmore face Abbeyside/Ballinacourty while Clashmore/Kinsalebeg meet The Nire.
