Sixmilebridge 3-04 Clarecastle 2-10

Gurteen was the venue for this eagerly awaited Under 16A Semi-final between Sixmilebridge and Clarecastle last Sunday evening. On a blustery and sometimes wet evening with the swirling wind blowing across the field toward the club house favouring neither team but making scoring extremely difficult. The ‘Bridge were quick off the mark and on winning possession from the throw in, Jack Corry made a run at the Magpies goal laying off a lovely hand pass to Sean McNamara who had drifted inside unmarked. The Clarecastle backs were quick to react and closed him down before he got his strike away. For the next few minutes it was even enough until Clarecastle’s Oisin Casey finally broke the deadlock with a lovely pointed free on 5 minutes. The ‘Bridge fought on however and were really piling on the pressure and were unlucky when a powerful shot from Leon Kelly on 8 minutes was  well stopped by  Cian Broderick in the Clarecastle goal. They finally raised the green flag following a good run from Dylan Downes, who made an inch perfect pass to Conor Flynn who made no mistake rattling the Clarecastle net on 10 mins.  The momentum was with the ‘Bridge and their work rate was flat out all over the field. Adam Breen made a nice pass to Jack Corry who slotted it over the bar to put the ‘Bridge 3 points up on 12 mins. They got a bit of a let off 15 mins in when Clarecastle’s Dylan Brown made a run at goal with the ‘Bridge backs putting enough pressure on him to hit the ball wide. The rest of the half was even enough with both sides battling hard with scores at a premium. Clarecastle scored two more points thanks to Oisin Casey with Jack Corry scoring one for the ‘Bridge.  Clarecastle were unlucky on the stroke of half time not get a goal themselves when the ball broke loose in the ‘Bridge goalmouth with Josh Brack pulling on it first time only for it to go across the goal wide of the mark. Halftime score 1-2 to 0-3 in favour of the ‘Bridge.

While the first half started well for the ‘Bridge the second half start was a nightmare. From the throw in Clarecastle stamped their authority on the game. Josh Brack was tripped as he was running through with the ball giving Oisin Casey an easy 30 metre free in the first minute which he duly pointed. From the resultant puckout which was short, the ‘Bridge back line were caught off guard with the ever threatening Brack first to the ball giving Cian Fawl in the ‘Bridge goal no chance of preventing Clarecastle’s opening goal. It was Casey again with another fine point for Clarecastle a minute later and five minutes in Cian Fawl diverted another Clarecastle attack over the end line to concede a ’65. Just at that time at the other end of the pitch a bit of a row was breaking out between the ‘Bridge forwards and Clarecastle backs which was competently dealt with by referee Niall Malone. After Malone, had given a yellow card to a player from each team the game resumed with the result that Oisin Casey had almost 3 minutes to prepare for the ’65. With the sliotar well dried at this stage he made short work of it splitting the posts. In the space of 7 minutes Clarecastle had turned a 2 point deficit into a 4 point lead and the ‘Bridge looked rattled. Clarecastle tacked on two more points in the next 5 minutes to push the lead to six points but you have to give credit to this group of ‘Bridge lads, they never give up. They dug deep, every one of them got stuck in and when Dylan Downes was fouled making a run through the Magpies defense Adam Breen made sure of the free scoring a point. It was another Downes run on 18 minutes when he laid off a lovely hand pass to Leon Kelly who in turn set up Shane Whyte and made sure of it throwing the ‘Bridge a lifeline scoring a cracking goal reducing the deficit to two points with momentum shifting back to the ‘Bridge. The next ten minutes was frantic stuff with both teams giving it their all with each team scoring one point each. Coming up on 27 minutes Shane Whyte was very unlucky not to put the ‘Bridge ahead when a glorious goal chance got away from him trailing wide. From the puckout Clarecastle worked the ball up the field and into the hands of Josh Brack who scored his second goal and finished the game off as a result. Leon Kelly pulled a goal back for the ‘Bridge well into injury time with Oisin Casey closing out the scoring with a pointed free with the last puck of the game giving Clarecastle a three-point winning margin.

Clarecastle were worthy winners and now go on to play St. Joesephs/Doora/Barefield in the final.

For Clarecastle Oisin Casey was immense not only from his scoring but his work rate, Josh Brack caused constant problems in the forward line, Darragh Healy, Cian Broderick (Goalie), and Harry Ward were also very impressive.

For Sixmilebridge several players could be mentioned for their contribution last Sunday evening. The team itself should be acknowledged for how far they have come on this year. While the team sheet has the same names on it, it is a completely different team from the one that was well beaten in Gurteen on July 11th  in their opening game. Credit must be given to the mentors and the boys themselves for this improvement. The older boys will now go on to help the Minors with the rest of their championship, while the younger boys will be the driving force behind the under 15 championship aided and abetted by the under 14 Feile champs who are chomping at the bit to get going again.

Sixmilebridge Under16 Management team: Mike Quinn (Manager), Mike Toomey (selector), Sean Lynch (Selector and Trainer), Noel Casey (First Aid). The team was also helped by Cathal Lynch on Match Days.

Match Report by Fergal and Breda Kennedy