Clann na nGael 1-8

Araglen 1-3

BRENDAN KENNEALLY REPORTS

ON a night of dreadful weather, Clann na nGael overcame the very strong challenge of north Cork men Araglen in the quarter-final of the county confined junior B championship at Clondrohid.

The Scorchers laid the foundations of their victory in the first half when they outscored their opponents by 1-4 to 1-1. As the weather deteriorated further in the second half, the Drimoleague men withstood sustained pressure from Araglen and showed remarkable composure to take a deserved win.

Centre forward Robbie McQueen played a major role in his side’s victory. After Paddy McCarthy had opened the scoring with a tenth-minute point, Clann’s next attack saw Damien Fernandes upended by Araglen goalkeeper Seán Óg Doherty.

Referee Brian Crowley awarded the penalty that Robbie McQueen lashed to the net.

It was McQueen who had the vital score of the second half also. With a three-point interval lead, the Scorchers were in a vulnerable position but their cause was boosted by a superb two-pointer from play from the centre forward in the 35th minute, a score which gave them a cushion all through to the finish.

The accuracy of free-taker Paddy McCarthy was also vital when scores from play were scarce in the prevailing wet, wild and cold weather.

After Dan McCarthy had a Clann point in the 15th minute, Araglen hit back immediately with a goal from Conor Twomey in a goalmouth scramble, followed by a Hegarty point to reduce the deficit to a single point.

McCarthy punished Araglen with two points from frees to give the Carbery men some leeway on the scoreboard at the interval, 1-4 to 1-1.

Araglen, with the aid of the strong crossfield wind, were determined from the very start of the second half. But Robbie McQueen’s two-pointer was a key score as it meant Araglen always needed two scores thereafter.

Conor Riley’s point for Araglen cut the deficit to four, but Paddy McCarthy pointed a free on 41 minutes to leave five points between the teams.

Shane Keane had an Araglen point on 47 minutes, their last score, as marvellous Clann defending kept them at bay.

Paddy McCarthy shoved the game beyond Araglen’s reach with another point from a free in the 55th minute, as Clann na nGael reached the county semi-final.

Scorers

Clann na nGael: R McQueen 1-2 (1-0 pen, 2pt); P McCarthy 0-5 (4f); D McCarthy 0-1.

Araglen: C Twomey 1-0; A Hegarty (f), C Riley, S Keane (f) 0-1 each.

Clann na nGael: Eoin Daly; Ronan O’Driscoll, JJ Collins, Niall Keating; Eoghan Daly, Hugh O’Donovan, Jack Coveney; Luke Hurley, Kevin O’Driscoll; Daniel McCarthy, Robbie McQueen, Caolan O’Driscoll; Damien Fernandes, Eric Crowley, Paddy McCarthy.

Subs: Liam Farrell for E Daly (inj, ht), Will Donovan for E Crowley (35), Ryan Donovan for J Coveney (35), Jack Payne Murphy for K O’Driscoll (48), Cian O’Reilly for C O’Driscoll (59).

Araglen: Seán Óg Doherty; Seán Hegarty, Jason Hynes, Fionnán Hickey; Oisín Hogan, Jack Kearney, Shane Keane; Diarmuid Allen, Ben Carey; Conor Riley, Eoghan Leddy, Paul Hynes; Conor Twomey, Aaron Hegarty, Peter Finn.

Subs: Kevin Reidy for J Kearney (40), Thomas Kenneally for C Riley (49), Daniel Fitzgerald for A Hegarty (50).

Referee: Brian Crowley (Castlehaven).