Clans Denied Promotion in Intermediate Play Off Final

Monday, 22 February 2010 15:57

Sharon Geraghty.

The last week has been an exciting one for Clanna Gael, with the spotlight firmly on the Intermediate Football team and their efforts to secure Senior promotion.
The toll of a long season was not evident, as the hunger, focus and determination on display was hugely evident and impressive. Two tough matches in four days was a tall ask but the displays vindicated their place in the mix for promotion.
Much to their disappointment, in the end, it was not to be. INaomh Mearnogs proved to be one step too far for the Clans lads and ran out deserving winners to earn their place in the Senior ranks.

Intermediate Football League Promotion Play Off Semi Final
Clanna Gael 0-9 v Naomh Barrog 0-8

The opening exchanges of this encounter indicated two teams hungry to advance to a promotion play off final. The first point was secured in the 10th minute by Naomh Barrog. Clans got on the score board in the 15th minute, following an impressive move involving Stephen Mulreany, Ricky Joyce and Mark Campbell. Campbell drove through the heart of the Barrogs defence to slot the ball over the bar. Following good pressure from the Clans full forward line, a Clans free was awarded. This was converted by Martin McGahan. Clans extended their lead, following good link up play between Colly Reynolds and Damien Joyce, leading to Joyce slotting between the posts. Barrogs cut the Clans lead to the minimum 2 minutes later. Clans extended their lead in the 21st minute with another pointed free from Martin McGahan. Barrogs then scored two points to take the teams to parity. In the 25th minute, Clans took the lead again, with a super point from the boot of Joe Hennessy, following a good passing move involving David Lyons, Colly Reynolds and Ricky Joyce. The Clans defence was called into action over the next few minutes with Cormac McAleer making a super block in defence and Jason Redmond showing no fear to secure the ball and win a free out for Clans. The last score of the half was a free won by Colly Reynolds and popped over the bar by Ricky Joyce.

Half time score: Clanna Gael 0-6 v Naomh Barrog 0-4.

The defence were called into action from the throw in and were not found wanting. Kevin Munnelly and Peadair Gormley intercepted dangerous low balls early on, beating their markers comfortably. Clans got off the mark in the 12th minute, when Munnelly won the ball in defence and found Stephen Mulreany. Stephen provided a perfectly weighted pass to Joe Hennessy, who pointed from close range. Barrogs then turned defence into attack and Jason Redmond was called into action. He and John Lawless combined well to clear the danger. Clans then won a free. Mulreany quickly found Hennessy, who returned the compliment, for Stephen to add a further point. Barrogs then won a free and cut the margin to three. From the kick out, Barrogs claimed the ball, won a free and converted again. Ciaran Connolly then came off the bench for Clans and slotted in at wing forward. The next incident in the game resulted in John Lawless being sent to the line. What seemed like a tangle of legs saw the Clans number 3 receive a straight red. Arguably the next point was the score of the game and notched by Clans, following a passage of play that saw three Peadair Gormley, Anthony Darcy and Cormac McAleer combine to work the ball out of defence. McAleer scored a fine point after a good solo run. The last few minutes of the encounter were nailbiting as Barrogs fought their way back into the game with two unanswered points, both from frees.
The final whistle came to the delight of the Clans team and supporters alike. All thoughts quickly turned to Thursday night, where Naomh Mearnog awaited.

Full time: Clanna Gael 0-9 v Naomh Barrog 0-8.

Intermediate Football League Promotion Play Off Final
Naomh Mearnog 0-15 v Clanna Gael 0-10

This game ebbed and flowed during the first half and the large crowd were treated to some fine scores and impressive displays. The second half saw Mearnogs take the game to Clans. Unfortunately for Clans, they did not have the answer and Mearnogs ran out deserving winners on a scoreline of 0-15 to 0-10.

The first score of the game came in the 2nd minute and was secured by Mearnog. In the 4th minute, Clans responded, when Ricky Joyce pointed from play following impressive fielding by David Lyons and a nicely weighted pass to the hands of Joyce from Joe Hennessy. Clans quickly took the lead through a pointed free from Martin McGahan. Mearnogs then pointed a free to restore parity. In the 12th minute Mearnogs converted a further free. Clans then drew level midway through the half, when the combined play of the hard working Peadair Gormley, Anthony Darcy and Cormac McAleer broke down a Mearnogs attack. Cormac, turned provider, fed a low ball to Colly Reynolds, who took on his man and was dragged to the ground. The resultant free, from 40 yards, was an extremely well taken point from the boot of Martin McGahan. But the story, as the half unfolded, was that when Clans scored a point, Mearnogs always had a response and their scores seemed to come easier. Barrogs took the lead again with a well taken point from play. In the 27th minute, Mark Campbell did extremely well to rob his man of the ball and find McGahan. He was fouled and Ricky Joyce stepped up to point the resultant free. Again, it took only one minute for Mearnogs to get on the scoreboard again with a point from play. Clans responded, and drew the sides level for the third time, through a free won by David Lyons and converted by Ricky Joyce. The final two scores of this half went to Naomh Mearnog.

Half time: Naomh Mearnog 0-7 v Clanna Gael 0-5.

The early exchanges in the second half saw Clans kick two wides and two further efforts fall short of the posts. In the 5th minute, Mearnogs notched the first point of the half. Clans responded with a free from McGahan, following an excellent solo run by Gary Kavanagh. Shane Ryan, who proved a thorn in the Clans side for the best part of the game, then converted a fine individual point and took the Mearnogs lead to three. Clans then introduced Ciaran Connolly and Simon Beirne. The next ten minutes of the game were nip and tuck with both sides converting two points each, the Clans points courtesy of Ricky Joyce (both frees). The clock ticked into the last ten minutes of the game, with three points separating the teams. It was then that Mearnogs stepped up the pace and took the game to Clans. Four unanswered points in as many minutes took the lead to seven and effectively ended the match as a contest. Clans had no answer for the boys from Portmarnock. In the last two minutes, Clans scored two points, both from the in form Martin McGahan, but alas, it was too little too late - Clans faith had been sealed.

Clanna Gael:
Jason Redmond
Kevin Munnelly
Stephen Saunders
Peadair Gormley
Cormac McAleer
Mark Campbell
Anthony Darcy
David Lyons
Stephen Mulreany
Colly Reynolds
Damien Joyce
Martin McGahan
Ricky Joyce
Joe Hennessy (Captain)
Gary Kavanagh
John Lawless
Ciaran Connolly
Simon Beirne
Paul Duffy
Bernard Lawless
Colm McGarvey
David Ryan

Management
Brian Talty
Albert Hannon
Ronan Smyth