Clonard 6-22 Eastern Gaels 1-3

One swallow, one fine day, or one result does not make a summer, but a win for Clonard in a wet Batterstown at midday on Sunday was a welcome ray of sunshine for the players and management of Clonard, who after some poor years for the club at adult level, have been trying to build a better future for the Clonard adult team this year.

Clonard were playing the newly formed Eastern Gaels club in Round 4 of the Junior B Football Championship, after two narrow losses and a draw in Group A to date. With Eastern Gaels only up and running this year, a first championship win was expected and thankfully it was delivered with some great skill and movement despite the wet conditions in Batterstown, whose volunteers should be very proud of their facilities and pitch.

Keelan Scott and Eoghan Connolly quickly opened the scoring for Clonard before Jason Dowdall fisted the ball into the net after he made an untracked run from midfield to get on the end of a ball lofted into his pathway.

Eoghan was again to the fore moments later, when he ran from deep and laid the ball off to Stephen O’Reilly for a well taken point. Jason Dowdall followed that with another nice point before Ryan Raleigh, who is only returning after a serious injury curtailed his year, was the beneficiary of hard work and a pass from Keelan Scott with Ryan showing his ability with a decisive left footed point from twenty metres out.

James Connolly then showed his skill with a beautiful point off his left foot after another piercing run and lay off by Eoghan Connolly to leave the score 1-6 to no score after 14 minutes.

Keelan Scott has been one of the stand out players for Clonard this year and his progress has been a joy to watch for supporters. His hard work in every game is paying off for the team and it was from his run moments later that Eoghan Connolly was able to benefit and finish to the net for Clonard’s second goal.

Adam Dowdall is another player who has stepped up this year, putting in the hard yards to make himself an option for passes from deep. While he often gets fouled and wins frees that has led to many scores for the team, it was James Connolly looping around that benefitted from Adam’s ball winning early on when he tapped over with his right foot to show his undoubted ability off both sides.

Clonard had to ask itself some very hard questions in late 2022 after a very disappointing year. The team had lost its way but it is being reinvigorated by some players this year who are trying to put in the individual effort and dedication required to improve themselves and the team. It is that honesty of effort and willingness to improve that is most pleasing for supporters. Daragh Weldon is one such player shouldering new responsibilities at a young age and it was his right footed point from twenty metres out that said a lot about the teams improvement this year under the new management. Eoghan Connolly chased a long ball into the forward line to keep it from crossing the right-hand sideline. He slid in on the wet surface to hook slightly infield to James Connolly who was getting over to support. James then used his burst of speed to make some space and head towards the centre but with Daragh coming around to offer another option in a better position, James became the supplier this time with a lovely lay off for Daragh to split the posts with a clean right footed strike from 20 metres out.

Adam Dowdall followed that with another point before the youngest of the three Dowdall brothers on the team, Eoghan, saved an opening goal effort from Eastern Gaels that was deflected for a 45, from which Eastern Gaels got their first point.

Older brother Jason, won the next kick out and he used his long range passing ability to find Adam, who duly won the ball but was fouled. Up stepped Keelan Scott to tap over the resultant free from out of his hands.

Eastern Gaels have to be given huge credit for continuing to put in effort and were rewarded with a goal from a ‘45’ moments later. 

However, Ryan Raleigh cancelled that out almost immediately when he clipped a ball that was skidding across the surface past the out-rushing keeper. Ryan’s work continued in the next play when he won the ball in midfield, and looked up to see Adam Dowdall again offering an option for the long ball inside. While slightly over cooking a nearly perfect pass, Adam was able to prevent the ball going out on the left, whereupon he spun around, headed for the centre to make a better angle for himself and struck the ball over the bar from 30 metres out.

Adam was the next to point after more pressure and a turnover from his brother Jason. This run of scores from Adam wasn’t a surprise to many who have being watching the new father make steps to becoming a real leader this year, for while Jason wore the Meath jersey at minor level, Adam is beginning to show supporters many of his brother’s same qualities through his work rate, strength and skill and his scoring burst was about to get better. 3-12 to 1-1 at HT

Keelan Scott knocked the throw-in down before Ryan Raleigh showed the appetite to win it and break the tackle before passing back to Keelan who was fouled on the ‘45’. His free dropped just short of the crossbar and ended up in the net.

Ryan Raleigh was fouled again after the restart, and when this free kick from far out again dropped slightly short of the crossbar, the keeper managed to fist it into the air. But while others looked up, Adam Dowdall was moving like a flash and leaped to catch it, spun out to make space for himself and drilled a low shot to the goalkeeper’s right. 

Clonard were now in full control with a strong second half opening and the game became more about finding a full performance, playing patterns and movement that will stand to them in tougher tests. Jack O’Donoghue, another summer absentee due to his travels, came on at half time and David Doyle came on to replace Andrew Hannon, another young defender who is playing admirably in his first year of adult football. 

Adam Dowdall had truly found his mojo at this point and when he made another run to receive a long pass, he turned and headed for goal. Adam had options from supporting runners inside, but made the decision to back himself with a low shot that was buried to the left of the keeper. 6-12 to 1-1 and it was a nice way to end his day, with another young man, Ciaran Murray, who has had his first year playing adult football curtailed due to some very unlucky injuries, coming on to replace him. 

Complacency and a few wayward passes set in for the next few minutes but Keelan Scott’s free taking was of an impeccable standard on such a wet day, both from the hands and off the ground. When Ryan Raleigh played a great ball into the path of the out running James Connolly, James was fouled and Keelan spilt the posts again.

Jack O’Donoghue started to grow into the game more now, winning many balls around the midfield. In one possession, he played a clinical chest high pass into another substitute David Rowley, who turned to point.

Recently returning footballer and student, Caolan Moriarty made a great catch to remind everyone of his abilities from his juvenile days and his initiative nearly resulted in another goal only for Eastern Gaels defenders to close tight and force a turnover in the wet conditions.

Another brace of quick points, one of which was from Eoghan Connolly after a fast flowing move from the back, was the precursor to a very composed looking Ciaran Murray slotting the ball over the black spot after being found by another long pass from Jack O’Donoghue. 

Clonard kept the pressure on with Jack Raleigh keeping a tight reign on the Eastern Gaels full forward who looked very capable of taking a score, and Kenneth Darby showing a great appetite and awareness around him to keep the ball moving through the middle. Johnny Fitzsimons was solid throughout as was Brian O’Reilly who was showing his leadership and concentration whenever involved, always looking to pick out the right option quickly.

Ryan Raleigh was showing some of the same quick thinking when Caolan Moriarty was fouled, and while most people’s first thought was to look for Keelan to step up, Ryan had other ideas when he saw another substitute on the day, David Doyle in space. David gratefully collected the pin point pass and notched up another score for the team. 

Stephen O’Reilly, older brother of Brian, who has also been hampered by injuries this year made a great catch moments later in midfield, which led to a foul on Jack O’Donoghue 40 metres from goal. Yet again, Keelan tapped over the free kick from off the ground. Someone must have pressed repeat as seconds later, Keelan was in no mood to miss and didn’t when Jack was pulled down again for a free kick 35 metres out.

Caolan Moriarty got himself on the scoreboard with a sure kick off his right with only seconds remaining but the last play was aptly left to Keelan Scott who took a final free kick off the ground from about 40 metres out, and while he slipped when striking the ball, it still scrapped over the bar. It was one just of those days.

Clonard have been on the end of some very tough results in the past five years and can sympathise hugely with Eastern Gaels on this result but Eastern Gaels are a new team in a highly populated area so there can be little doubt that they will have great days ahead.

As for Clonard, while it was a great scoreline, and the team has secured its first championship win in too long, it won’t count for much against Kilmainhamwood in two week’s time. Kilmainhamwood are topping Group A but Clonard can take confidence from their past few results that they are closing the gap on the wider field. Huge credit must go to the management team of Enda Leonard, Dermot Murray and Jamie Wilson who have been working tirelessly and diligently to put in place a new foundation for the future of this adult team – and there are plenty of positives to build on. A special mention too to Eoin Treacy who is having a great year on the pitch but missed this game because of injury. Eoin has been proving that a rejuvenated team doesn’t get all its new energy from younger blood! Let’s hope he returns from injury soon as do other unused substitutes on the day. More importantly, let’s also hope all players can keep improving and supporter interest keeps growing.

Clonard: Eoghan Dowdall, Andrew Hannon, Jack Raleigh, Daragh Weldon (0-1), Brian O’Reilly, Kenneth Darby, Johnny Fitzsimons, Keelan Scott (1-7), Jason Dowdall (1-1), Stephen O’Reilly (0-1), Ryan Raleigh (1-1), Caolan Moriarty (0-1), Adam Dowdall (2-3), James Connolly (0-2), Eoghan Connolly (1-2).

Subs: Jack O’Donoghue (for Johnny Fitzsimons), David Doyle (0-1) (for Andrew Hannon), Ciaran Murray (0-1) (for Adam Dowdall), David Rowley (0-1) (for James Connolly), Eoin Treacy, John Doyle, Sean Kenny, Cormac Fitzsimons, Jamie Wilson

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