JACFC Div 4 final replay: Michaels edge out Clann na nGael

St. Michaels Jamie Farrelly

St. Michaels 0-15, Clann na nGael 0-10

St. Michaels survived a hard fought junior championship division 4 final replay edging out Clann na nGael in Martry on Thursday evening last. The winners were the better team for much of the opening half and were four points to the good at the break as the Athboy side produced a late flurry to close out the half. The second period was a much more attritional affair with scores at a premium and neither side able to establish sustained momentum.

Clann na nGael made the better start going 2 points up after four minutes, a quickfire double from top marksman on the night Ciaran Lynch brought the sides level on nine minutes. Lynch added another to put his side in front for the first time but the Gaels won their own kick-out and levelled the match for the second time. That score proved to be their last for a while as they didn't get on Martry's new scoreboard again until the 26th minute, meanwhile Cian McFadden, Ben Tobin, Diarmuid O'Malley and Lynch all posted minors for St. Michaels. Clann na nGael posted 3 points (1 free ) in the final four minutes of the half to trail by 0-06 to 0-10 at the short whistle.                                                     

Clann na nGael were first on the board in the new half with a point after five minutes, Lynch replied from a placed ball, ten minutes elapsed before either side troubled the scoreboard attendant again with Lynch again on target. Clann na nGael continued to force turnovers and there were times when St. Michaels struggled to play their way out of trouble but their defence stood their ground doing some trojan work in throwing their bodies in front of every Clann na nGael effort in the line of duty but the losers can only blame themselves as they were guilty of some very poor efforts in front of goal as a result of the tight marking of their opponents. 

Ciaran Lynch finished off an excellent night's work with a brace of minors in the final quarter while substitute Jamie Farrelly capped his return to the playing fields with a well struck minor in the 58th minute to secure a well deserved victory for his side.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          St. Michaels team and scorers: Josh Carolan; Ben Reilly, Brian Reilly, Luke Kelleher; Patrick Clarke, Harry Dunne, Ryan Gaffney; Paddy Finnegan, Paddy Fitzsimons; Ronan Lynch, Diarmuid O'Malley (0-2); Cian McFadden (0-2); Ben Tobin (0-1), David Lynch, Ciaran Lynch (0-9).                                                                  

Subs used: Jamie Farrelly (0-1) for Clarke, J.B. O'Reilly for R. Lynch, Scott Doyle for Fitzsimons,  Ray Reilly for Kelleher.                                                                                          

Referee: Gabriel Patterson          

Match report and photo: Pascal Reilly PRO.