County Champions Survive Late Battle From Still Men

Shane Walsh and Brian O’Halloran impressed with their shooting for their respective sides in front of goal in the opening game in this year’s County Senior Football Championship at Fraher Field on Friday evening last.

It was hoped that a new look championship would bring new life to a competition which needed fixing with a number of years, but from what was seen in this game, this has not happened, or at least not so for this game, as only about 200 people made their way to Fraher Field for the game. Maybe it was the 8pm start on a cold night and the possibility of that the game could go to extra time that kept people away. For now we can only summarise as why the attendance was so small and have to hope that as numbers passing through the turn styles will pick up as the competition moves one and that some of the big guns are drawn against each other after the competition goes completely knockout.

The last big game that the county champions played was the Munster Club Final against Dr. Crokes in Mallow late last year, a game where they very much had to give second best to the side from the Kingdom, and for this game they had five changes to the starting team from that day as Conor Gleeson, Martin Walsh, Brian Wall, Liam Lawlor and Tom Wall who has since transferred back to his native Bonmahon club all needed replacing for this game with Diarmuid Murphy, David Meehan, Michael Moore, Maurice O’Gorman and Craig Guiry all coming into the team in their place.

Clashmore had first use of the strong wind that blew down the field towards the country goal, and surprisingly played with a large number of men behind the ball instead of going all out to put as many scores on the board as was possible and so put pressure on The Nire in the second half.

As a result they only hit four scores with the wind at their back, all of which came in the first quarter of this game.

Another reason for Clashmore not putting up more scores in the opening half was the discipline shown by The Nire defence who closed down there markers as quickly as possible and put in numerous fair challenges and when they did give away frees to their opponents it was often from a difficult position.

The Nire opened the scoring on three minutes with a point from Shane Walsh, only for it to be cancelled out with a good effort from wing back Ed O’Halloran two minutes later.

Paul O’Connor edged his side in front for the first time sixty seconds later only for Shane Walsh to land a free for the reigning champions on eleven minutes.

Brian O’Halloran and Declan Allen kicked Clashmore two points in front by the end of the opening quarter but while they had the wind at their backs in the opening half, the side in red and green would not score again until the seventeenth minute of the second half.

In those thirty one minutes which Clashmore failed to score The Nire were well on top.

They landed the last two scores of the opening half through Darren and then Dylan Guiry to go in at the break locked at four points each on the score board.

With the wind at their backs in the second half The Nire started well as Shane Walsh put over a brace of scores after which Craig Guiry got his name on the score sheet on forty one minutes when he gave his side a 0-7 to 0-4 lead.

But you felt that The Nire would need a goal to see off their opponents in this game and if a goal went in at the other end then maybe the champions could have to go through the championship via the scenic route if they are to retain the Conway Cup won last year.

Brian O’Halloran and Shane Walsh swapped scores before Dylan Guiry made it a four point game with eight minutes remaining in the game.

Five minutes from time it looked as if the game was going to have its first goal as Darren Guiry raced down on the Clashmore goal from the stand side of the field and as it looked he was going to rattle the net, he was fouled leaving Pat Casey no option but to award the champions a penalty.

Shane Ryan took responsibility for kicking from 12 metres but he saw his effort saved by Declan Coughlan in the Clashmore goal and as The Nire players followed by for a rebound Coughlan again saved, but for his bravery he picked up what looked like an accidental kick which resulted in him being treated for almost four minutes as he lay on the ground before he was replaced in goal by Eric O’Connor after it was decided that he was unable to continue.

When the game resumed it was Clashmore that proved to be the hungrier of the two sides and they kicked three points, two from Brian O’Halloran and one from Declan Allen to bring them within one of the champions, but time ran out on them and now if they are to win a place in the last four of the competition, they will have to do so coming through a complicated looking system over the coming months.

The Nire: Diarmuid Murphy; Justin Walsh, Thomas O’Gorman, David Meehan; Jamie Barron, Shane Ryan, James McGrath; Craig Guiry, Dermot Ryan; Seamus Lawlor, Maurice O’Gorman, Michael Moore; Darren Guiry, Shane Walsh, Dylan Guiry. Subs: Shane O’Meara for Maurice O’Gorman (40), Jake Mulcahy for Michael Moore (55), Kenny Brazil for Seamus Lawlor (61).

Scorers: Shane Walsh 0-5 (2f), Dylan Guiry 0-2, Darren Guiry, Craig Guiry 0-1 each.

Clashmore/Kinsalebeg: Declan Coughlan; Eric O’Connor, Ciaran Bourke, Ronan Fitzgerald; Sean Bourke, Gavin Dower, Ed O’Halloran; Jason Seaward, Tadhg Bourke; Brian O’Halloran, James O’Leary, Declan Allen; Aidan Trihy, Cillian O’Keeffe, Paul O’Connor. Subs: Ciaran Connery for James O’Leary (HT), Sean Fleming for Paul O’Connor (43), Paul O’Connor for Declan Coughlan (59).

Scorers: Brian O’Halloran 0-4 (1f, 1 ’45), Declan Allen 0-2, Ed O’Halloran 0-1.

Referee: Pat Casey (Affane).