Jun B FC: Clonard exit championship race

Clonard's Eoghan Connolly

Cortown 0-17 Clonard 1-13

Clonard exited the championship on score difference after the narrowest of defeats to Cortown in a windy but well-presented Ballivor surface on Sunday morning.

Cortown won the toss and opted to play with the significant wind advantage in the first half and led by double scores at the break, 0-14 to 0-7. Well taken points from play by Ryan Raleigh, Kayden Plunkett (2), and Dylan Duignan as well as a two pointer from Kian Campbell kept Clonard in touch at the break with unerring accuracy, while at the other end Cortown rued several missed two pointer efforts.

The expected wind advantage duly materialised for Clonard in the second half as they dominated proceedings all over the pitch and immediately registered scores from Eoghan Connolly and Dylan Flanagan. Crucially, Connolly's two pointer was degraded to single point after input from the linesman, having been initially awarded by the referee as a two-pointer. But Connolly did get further reward when he struck for goal with 10 minutes remaining following a failed short kickout by the Cortown keeper. The major put Clonard level. Another goal opportunity immediately followed for substitute Stephen O’Reilly, but his effort was blocked.

Aaron Scott then deservedly put Clonard ahead with a well taken point as Flanagan and Campbell continued to rule the middle sector, but a late two pointer from the ground by the Cortown keeper, against both the wind and the run of play put them back in front. 

But with increased dominance from Clonard, their second half wides tally mounted, finishing with two narrowly missed two pointer efforts in injury time, which let Cortown somehow hold on for the win, as Clonard suffered the cruellest of defeats. A draw or a win would have been enough to make a first semi-final in over 10 years but the loss left Clonard looking for score difference as news came though of Boardsmill's 26-point win over Eastern Gaels which saw them pip Clonard for qualification.

Despite the disappointment this young Clonard team can hold their heads high. It was an immense performance today, a hugely positive year with so many improvements, and they will justifiably look forward with great optimism to next year and many years ahead. 

Clonard: Paul Sheridan, Rourk Shaw, Jason Moore, Brian O'Reilly, Andrew Hannon, Jason Dowdall, Shane Walsh-Oxley, Kian Campbell (0-4), Aaron Scott (0-1), Dylan Duignan (0-1), Ciaran Murray, Ryan Raleigh (0-1), Kayden Plunkett (0-4), Eoghan Connolly (1-1), Alan Hannon.

Subs: Dylan Flanagan (0-1) for Andrew Hannon, Stephen O'Reilly for Dylan Duignan.