Lethal Burke scores 6-7 in last two championship matches
Lethal Burke scores 6-7 in last two championship matches
Tadhg MacCárthaigh 2-15
Clann na nGael 0-9
TOM LYONS REPORTS
A FIVE-STAR scoring performance from ace full forward Paddy Burke saw a young but talented Tadhg MacCárthaigh side clinch the Clona Milk U21C football title in Dunmanway.
Fielding in this 12-a-side championship because of lack of numbers at this age group, this Caheragh side featured seven minors but what they lacked in quantity, they more than compensated for in quality.
Throughout the hour every single one of their players contributed handsomely to this welcome victory and in Paddy Burke they have a talented score-getter who kicked 2-5 over the hour.
Having led by five points at the break, MacCárthaigh’s put this game to bed when Burke rifled in his first goal in the 42nd minute and added the icing when he repeated the feat in the 56th minute.
‘Clann na nGael were well able to run the ball and they caused us a lot of trouble,’ said Tadhg MacCárthaigh manager Sean O’Sullivan.
‘We had watched them in the semi-final and knew it would be tough. We decided to hold the centre and it paid dividends in the end.
‘We got the goals in the second half which made all the difference. Paddy (Burke) was very sharp in the corner, he got 4-4 in the semi-final, he’s well able to score goals and he got two today.’
Points by Eoin O’Donovan and Charlie McCarthy for Tadhg MacCárthaigh sandwiched two clear goal chances but Clann goalkeeper Stephen Horgan proved equal to both efforts from McCarthy and Paddy Burke.
Clann’s first point came from a Shane O’Donovan free in the 17th minute. In fact, their three first-half points all came from O’Donovan frees as they failed to score from play despite the best efforts of Seamus O’Regan, Mark Shanahan, Kevin O’Mahony, Tim Roberts and Shane O’Donovan.
The Caheragh lads got more on top as the second half progressed, with Gavin Barnett, Thomas Daly and Sean McCarthy defending well, and they found the range up front with points from Paddy Burke (3), Charlie McCarthy, play and free, and Killian Murray.
Clann were dealt a big blow when hard-working Brian McCarthy was black-carded in the 30th minute. It was 0-8 to 0-3 at the break.
In a lively opening to the second half, Charlie McCarthy (free) and Dylan Murray (free) swapped points with Tim Roberts before Paddy Burke thundered into the action and rattled the back of the Clann net in the 42nd minute.
It was all MacCárthaigh’s now with Burke, McCarthy, Killian Murray and Eoin O’Donovan looking very lively up front.
Paddy Burke, after goalkeeper Horgan had brought off a great save, and Matt Shanahan swapped points and there was a gap of nine points between the sides as the third quarter ended.
Horgan was again the hero, saving from Killian Murray, before the Caheragh lads kicked three points in a row from O’Donovan, Burke and Murray to open a lead of 12 points, 1-14 to 0-5, with ten minutes remaining.
Although it was game over at that stage we actually saw the best of the Scorchers in the closing ten minutes when they threw caution to the wind and had a real go against a tiring MacCárthaigh side.
Three points in a row from Roberts, John Mulhern and O’Donovan had the lead down to nine but the goal that might have made a difference never came. It was at the other end of the field that we saw the green flag flying when Paddy Burke broke through for his second goal in the 56th minute.
Mark Shanahan and Eoin O’Donovan swapped points before the final whistle, the second half being played under lights, and it was welcome silverware for MacCárthaighs at the end.
Scorers
Tadhg MacCárthaigh: Paddy Burke 2-5, Charlie McCarthy 0-4 (2f), Eoin O’Donovan 0-3, Killian Murray 0-2, Dylan Murray 0-1f.
Clann na nGael: Shane O’Donovan 0-4f, Mark Shanahan, Tim Roberts 0-2 each, John Mulhern 0-1f.
Tadhg MacCárthaigh: Brendan Keohane, David O’Connor, Gavin Barnett, Mícheál McCarthy, Tom Daly, Charlie McCarthy, Sean McCarthy, Paul Keane, Killian Murray, Eoin O’Donovan, Paddy Burke, Dylan Murray.
Subs: Gavin Dineen for P Keane (53), Kieran Daly for D Murray (56), Eugene Daly for P Burke (56).
Clann na nGael: Stephen Horgan; Gearóid O’Donovan, Seamus O’Regan, Brian McCarthy Daniel McCarthy, Kevin O’Mahony, Mark Shanahan, Tim Roberts, Dylan Shanahan, John Mulhern, Joseph McCarthy, Shane O’Donovan.
Subs: Conor McCarthy for D Shanahan (25), Eoin O’Sullivan for B McCarthy (black, 30), Matt Malowski for J McCarthy (40).
Referee: Liam O’Shea (Carbery Rangers).