Under 16 Footballers Pipped at The Death - Semi-Final Report

In Ballynacally last evening, our U-16 Football team came within a whisker of a County Final.

The boys certainly belied their underdog status to take the game to Coolmeen/Kildysart right from the throw-in.

In Ballynacally last (Thursday, April 15th) evening, our U-16 Football team came within a whisker of a County Final.

The boys certainly belied their underdog status to take the game to Coolmeen/Kildysart right from the throw-in.

Playing a wonderful brand of fast-moving football, Clooney Quin held the upper hand in the first half of this 50 minute game and led by 1-3 to 0-3 at the short whistle.

Richie Hennesey pointed a free in the 1st minute.

The Combination hit 2 from play in the 10th and 13th minutes to take the lead. Captain, Daire Kelly levelled from play after 24 minutes. A number of stoppages in the 1st half led to 5 mins. of injury time, and it proved to be a productive period for CQ. When Richie was fouled in the parallelogram in the 26th minute, Keith Hogan stepped forward from centre-back to rattle the net with the resultant penalty. The Combination replied with a point from play in the 28th with the last score of the half coming from Keith again – this time from play in the 29th.

Coolmen/Kildysart came out a transformed team after the break. They scored 2-4 without reply in 14 minutes to take a commanding 7-point lead. That may be enough to break the resolve of most teams – but not this Clooney Quin side!

They took a collective deep breath, rose from the canvas, and set about reclaiming their dominance. T Niall MacNamara got his hands on the ball in the 17th minute, and though tightly marked, he somehow got his kick in to find the top of the net. Ronan O’Donnell had a point from play a minute later. In the 19th a Keith Hogan pointed free from distance brought the deficit back to 2 points. A fantastic point from play by Niall McNamara had the minimum between the sides with 4 mins of ‘normal’ time remaining.

With 23 mins on the clock, Luke Harrisson got on the end of another good move to fist to the net and give Clooney Quin a 2-point lead.

The Combination got one back in the 25th minute to leave the tie delicately balanced. We thought we had seen the decisive score of the half when Richie fisted to the net as we entered ‘injury’ time. Unfortunately it was ruled out for a ‘square-ball’ infringement – the decisive score was to come at the other end. 

Coolomeen/Kildysart made one last attack and were rewarded with the ‘killer’ goal. The kick-out brought the final whistle and an end to our involvement in this year’s championship.

Final Score:

Coolmeen/Kildysart 3-8   Clooney Quin 3-6

ClooneyQuin: Seán Shanahan; Colm Loughnane, Colin Haugh; Aaron Duggan, Keith Hogan(1-2), Liam Henchy; Daire Kelly(0-1)., Ryan Taylor; Seán Keane, Richie Hennessey(0-1), Daniel Reddan; Niall McNamara(1-1), David Reynolds.

Subs: Luke Harrisson(1-0), Ronan O’Donnell(0-1), Conor Clune, Christopher McCarthy, Ruairi Nash, Ross Houlihan.