Fèile na nGael Match Reports

Semi Final

Sixmilebridge 0-6

Clooney Quin 0-4

(15Mins A half.)

At a sun drenched Gurteen on Bank holiday Monday, Sixmilebridge Under 14’s took on Clooney Quin in the semifinal of the Clare Fèile na nGael in what was a tension filled match from throw in to final whistle. With a place in the final at stake and 30 minutes in which to do it there was a sense of urgency from both teams from the very start.

The Bridge were edging the early exchanges and were rewarded with a well taken point from Noel Flynn in the third minute. The fact that the Bridge wouldn’t score from play again and still win the match shows how every ball was fiercely contested by both sides with both defenses having a strangle hold on the game.
Darragh Keogh pointed from a free in the 11th minute to level the match with the remaining 4 minutes belonging to the Bridge midfield and forwards who were getting on top. Clooney conceded three frees in very scorable positions which Evan Murphy converted leaving a half time scoreline of 0-4 to 0-1 in favour of the Bridge with the wind at their backs in the second half.

The second half started with Clooney going all out to close the gap as quick as possible and their determination paid off with a point from Daniel Palache in the first minute followed by another by Callum Bernie in the third minute leaving the minimum between the teams. Clooney then leveled matters in the 8th minute with a Liam Keating free and seemed to have momentum going their way.

The bridge had now introduced two subs Oisin Breen in for Morgan O’Connell ( corner back) and Conor Murphy for Cian Gleeson (wing forward) and they were certainly impact subs with the result that the Bridge would finish the last seven minutes the stronger of the two teams. Clooney were now, after all the energy exerted in drawing level under pressure from the Bridge all over the field and conceded two more frees in the 12th and 14th minute which Evan Murphy converted leaving the score at full time 0-6 to 0-4 in favour of the Bridge.

It would be unfair to pick any one player for special mention as every player on both teams gave it their all and it was the more balanced panel of the Bridge that just shaded it. Sixmilebridge were in the final for the second year in a row this time their opponents would be Ballyea.

Sixmilebridge: Cian Fawl, Michael Carey, Evan O Callaghan, Morgan O Connell, Scott Kirkland, Colin Kelly, Adam Murray, David Kennedy (Capt.), Evan Murphy, (0-5f), Cian Gleeson, Seamus O Connell, Colm Fylnn, Dara Casey, Luke O Halloran, Noel Fylnn (0-1) Subs: Conor Murphy for Cian Gleeson, Oisin Breen for Morgan O Connell, Oran Carey, Edmund O Grady, Jack Hughes.

Clooney Quin: Oisin McMahon, Evan maxted, Callum Bernie, David Considine, Matthew McNamara, Eoin Guilfoyle, Padraic Cleary, Darragh Keogh, Niall Murphy, Daniel Palache, John Conneally, Fionan O Sullivan, Jack O Neill, Dylan Cunningham, Callum Hassett, Stephen McSherry, Cormac Egan, Enda O Halloran, Tadgh McInerney, Ronan Harrington,

Referee: Jim Hickey.

Final:

Sixmilebridge 2-10

Ballyea 0-4

(20Mins A half.)

The final took place at 4.45 on the lower pitch in Gurteen and as a result the wind was now blowing across the pitch not favouring either team. It was watched by a large crowd who had stayed on from matches played earlier. Ballyea were first on the score sheet with a 3rd minute pointed free.

For the next 10 minutes the bridge dominated with Evan Murphy and Seamus O Connell pointing. Then from a Ballyea puck out which was excellently controlled by David Kennedy who sent a high lobbing ball toward the Ballyea goal which deceived the goalie and landed in the back of the net. The goal might have been lucky but the first touch displayed by Kennedy wasn’t and it put Sixmilebridge in the driving seat. Ballyea replied quickly with a point of their own but Dara Casey finished the first half with two more points for the Bridge leaving it 1-4 to 0-2.

The bridge made two changes at half time with Oisin Breen on for Cian Gleeson and Conor Murphy on for Noel Fylnn. They started the second half as they finished the first with Evan Murphy scoring two points, one from a free.one from play before Dara Casey showed a lovely first touch to control a ball that was getting away from him and scored a lovely point. Ballyea were matching the Bridge everywhere except on the score board and when Luke O Halloran ran at the Ballyea defense 12 minutes into the second half he only had one thing on his mind. He went for goal and got it and this finished the game as a contest. Further points from O Halloran and Conor Murphy left the fulltime score Sixmilebridge 2-10 Ballyea 0-4.

Sixmilebridge had retained their Clare Fèile na nGael title and will now go on to represent Clare in the national Fèile na nGael competition in Kilkenny/Carlow on June 16th to 18th where they will be hosted by Kilkenny club Dicksboro. Best of luck to the Bridge boys in Kilkenny.

Sixmilebridge: Cian Fawl, Michael Carey, Evan O Callaghan, Morgan O Connell, Scott Kirkland, Colin Kelly, Adam Murray, David Kennedy (Capt.)(1-1), Evan Murphy, (0-3 (1f), Cian Gleeson, Seamus O Connell (0-1), Colm Fylnn, Dara Casey(0-2), Luke O Halloran(1-2), Noel Fylnn (0-1) Subs: Conor Murphy(0-1) for Noel Fylnn, Oisin Breen for Cian Gleeson, Coby McDonald for Seamus O Connell, Dylan Dunne for Colm Fylnn, Cian Gleeson for Evan Murphy.

Referee: Jim Hickey.

No Ballyea team sheet available.

photos here...