Goal-happy Clara deny wasteful Shamrocks minor “B” double

CLARA were the better team and definitely deserved to win but it was a lot more marginal than the six point winning margin indicates as Shamrocks were left to reflect on what might have been in a decent, entertaining Minor “B” Football Championship final in O'Connor Park on Saturday.

EJ Access Solutions Minor “B” Football Championship semi-final

Clara 5-6

Shamrocks 2-9

Goals were the key as Clara scored five compared to two for Shamrocks, who were seeking a unique minor “B” hurling and football double. While they were chasing the game for most of the second half, there was a definite opportunity for Shamrocks to do it. Clara were good but they were beatable and Shamrocks missed too many fairly simple chances to really test them, as well as conceding a couple of soft goals.

It was a competitive final, much more so than the final score might suggestions and there was a decent standard on offer.

The first half was a real topsy turvy affair with four goals and plenty of drama. A second minute goal from Dylan Deehan-Kavanagh gave Clara a 1-1 to no score lead but Shamrocks got a lucky break with a fortunate Evan Monaghan goal moments later after Clara goalie Neil Gaffey lost the ball. Playing with the wind, Shamrocks had a couple of costly misses as Clara led by 1-3 to 1-2 after 18 minutes.

An excellent 22^nd minute goal from county star Dylan Dunne gave Clara the initiative and they could have added a second one as Shamrocks goalie, Adam Carroll made a fine save from Aaron Kelly. Again, Shamrocks battled back very well and Sean Kenny brought them right back into the game with a terrific 24^th minute goal – showing great composure to pick his spot rather than going for power from ten metres for the best goal of the seven.

Carroll made another fine save in the 26^th minute, denying Rhys Johnson this time and a 32^nd minute two point free from the hard working Michael Lambe gave Shamrocks a 2-4 to 2-3 half time lead.

Both sides had missed chances in the first half but the impression that Shamrocks' ones would be more expensive was proven correct. A Lambe free extended their advantage on the resumption but Clara struck for a decisive 2-1 without reply in the space of a minute between between 35-36 minutes.

Aaron Kelly got the first goal after getting away from the Shamrocks cover a bit too easily and the second was a gift with Rhys Johnson finishing after Paudi Cleary lost the ball. Carroll again kept Shamrocks alive with another excellent save, this time from Dylan Dunne.

Shamrocks showed great character in the next few minutes, fighting for everything and attacking relentlessly. Frees from Conor Thornton and Colin Kinnarney reduced the gap to three points, 4-4 to 2-7 before Isaac Ryan settled Clara with a fantastic breakaway point.

Shamrocks kept driving and should have closed the gap. They had a couple more wides before Clara midfielder Leon Nolan received a deserved red card for lashing out at Niall Egan with fourteen minutes left. There was ample time for Shamrocks to rescue it but their attacking play was just not good enough.

Deehan-Kavanagh and Colin Kinnarney exchanged frees and Shamrocks spurned more chances before Clara wrapped it up with their fifth goal in the 55^th minute. Shamrocks were asleep as Deehan-Kavanagh took a quick free to Aaron Kelly who finished to the net. A 5-6 to 2-8 lead was more than a sufficient cushion and Shamrocks were gone – their attacking play was just not quite clinical enough the whole day. One of their best players Donal Dooley was sent off for a second yellow card in the 57^th minute and closing points from Michael Lambe and Darragh Monaghan were only of cosmetic interest.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Aaron Kelly (Clara): A lot of very good individual displays on both teams and the choice is Aaron Kelly who displayed precise finishing with 2-1 and used the ball very well in general play. Dylan Deehan-Kavanagh was a close second as he won a lot of ball and used most of it well in addition to his 1-3, 1-1 from play. Dylan Dunne had spells of genuine brilliance while Isaac Ryan did very well in their defence.
Shamrocks' goalkeeper Adam Carroll could have got the nod as his saves kept them alive for a long time while Donal Dooley, Conor Kinnarney, Conor Egan, David Coughlan and Michael Lambe also impressed for them.

THE SCORERS

Clara: Aaron Kelly 2-1, Dylan Deehan-Kavanagh 1-3 (2f), Dylan Dunne and Rhys Johnson 1-0 each, Isaac Ryan, Ben Melia 0-1 each.
Shamrocks: Michael Lambe 0-4 (1 x 2pf, 1f), Sean Kenny and Evan Monaghan 1-0 each, Colin Kinnarney (2f) and Conor Thornton (2f) 0-2 each, Conor Egan 0-1.

THE TEAMS

CLARA; Neil Gaffey; James McKenna, Daniel Stoyanov, Jack Griffith; Luke Finn, Callum Bracken, Isaac Ryan; Leon Nolan, John Carroll; Ben Melia, Dylan Dunne, Ryan Handy; Aaron Kelly, Dylan Deehan-Kavanagh, Rhys Johnson. Subs – Niall Clerkin for Melia (37m), Scott Mannerings for Johnson (41m), Jake Lynch for Finn (45m), Ronan Touhey for McKenna (54m), Tommy Molloy for Deehan-Kavanagh (59m),

SHAMROCKS: Adam Carroll; Ronan Guinan, Donal Dooley, Paudi Cleary; Eoin Monaghan, Conor Kinnarney, Conor egan; David Coughlan, Liam Grennan; Conor Thornton, Michael Lambe, Sean Kenny; Colin Kinnarney, Evan Monaghan, Niall Egan. Subs – Finn Coleman for Guinan (37m), Daithi Guinan for Cleary (39m), Darragh Monaghan for Thornton (56m), Fionnan Molloy for Evan Monaghan (57m),

Referee – Erin Martin, Ballinagar.