Dunsany 1-12
Clonard 1-8

The sun broke through the clouds in Dunsany for this final round FL Division 4 clash between Dunsany and Clonard on Wednesday evening. Dunsany went into the clash knowing that victory would mean promotion to Division 3 and a final date with Curraha.

It was Dunsany who started brightest with Shane Walshe pointing a free after 2 minutes. Dunsany soon doubled their lead with Mark Brennan striking. In the 11th minute Clonard struck a goal from the penalty spot after a heavy challenge from 'keeper Niall Flynn. Dunsany quickly responded with Brennan kicking his second point of the match.

Clonard were not going to lie down and hit a purple patch as they scored 3 points without reply between the 14th and 20th minute of the match. Flynn came out of his goals to kick a '45 to leave 2 points between the sides. In the 24th minute, Clonard's influential midfielder Adam Flanagan took a heavy knock on the knee and the contest was held up for 5 minutes while he received treatment. Eventually, he was stretchered off and was taken away by ambulance.

Dunsany were quickest out of the blocks after this pause as Pierre Fox pointed from play. Seconds later, Kevin Keena burst through the heart of the Clonard defence and placed the ball in the bottom corner of the net to give Dunsany the lead again. Declan Smyth finished the half with a point for the Skanesiders as they took a 3 point lead at the interval.

Dunsany started brightest in the second half with Walshe pointing a free after good work from Paddy Dunne. Walshe almost had another point but his free came off the post and landed with Brennan who was fouled in the box. However, Pierre Fox's resultant strike was well saved by the Clonard 'keeper. This seemed to wake Clonard up and they scored two quick-fire frees to reduce the gap to 2.

This would be as close as they would get as Dunsany kicked four points between the 43rd and 48th minute including a magnificent '45 from Flynn. Clonard, to their credit, continued to battle scoring 2 points in as many minutes to reduce the gap to 4 with 10 minutes left. Kerry native Alan Kelly got his second point of the match 6 minutes from time before Clonard wrapped up the scoring with another free kick.

There was jubilation at the final whistle as the men in red finally achieved promotion from Division 4 and they can now look forward to a final date with Curraha.

Dunsany: N Flynn (0-2, 45); R Montague, C Burke, P Burke; P Maguire, J Keena, P Dunne; S Brennan, D Smyth (0-2); M Brennan (0-3), K Keena (1-0), P Fox (0-1); S Walshe (0-2f), A Kelly (0-2), P Grimes.

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