Clane survive second half scare to get over The Bridge

Joe Mallon Motors Senior Football Championship Quarter Finals

Clane 4-9

Johnstownbridge 3-3

The temperature dropped and the wind increased as the final game in this four-match programme at Manguard Park on Saturday got under way at Manguard Park on Saturday and it was the favourites, Clane, last season's beaten finalists, who got off to the proverbial flyer when inside four minutes Oisin O'Sullivan saw his shot come off the butt of the left hand upright into the path of Brian McLoughlin (who only returned from abroad last week) toe-poked it over the line to give his side a great start and by comparison the very last thing that Johnstownbridge were hoping for.

Sam Doran got his side's opening point of the game after five, a fine long range effort but it was Clane who dominated all the early possession, however the swirling breeze which had caused a lot of teams problems earlier in the afternoon, continued to cause frustration to both teams but especially to The Bridge who hit no less than seven wides in the opening half.

A foul on Adam Fanning saw Brian McLoughlin convert the resultant free and when Fanning was fouled again, up stepped Sam McCormack to make it 1-2 to 0-1 after nine minutes.

Shane O'Sullivan added another white flag before Alan Fanning cut inside, crossed to Shane O'Sullivan who saw his shot rocket off the crossbar, only to find its way back to Fanning who fired over to make it 1-4 to 0-1 with 21 minutes on the clock.

Johnstownbridge' Joey Higgins came storming forward but saw his low shot go left and wide.

Sam McCormack found Shane O'Sullivan who fired over but just on the half-time whistle a ball in from Shane Flanagan broke, Dean Kelly gained possession and the Donegal man made no mistake finding the left hand corner of Cian Burke's net to leave the half-time score reading: Clane 1-5 Johnstownbridge 1-1.

Shane O'Sullivan added a quick point on the resumption as the rain poured down making life very difficult for both players and fans alike and to make things even more testing the swirling wind, at times, was getting up the more the game went on.

Both Sean O'Haire and Shane McCormack required attention, the former had to be off temporarily as Josh O'Donoghue fired over a free for The Bridge leaving it 1-6 to 1-2 with 41 on the clock.

While Clane were still in charge they were not putting their opposition away and four minutes later were hit Dean Kelly found Aaron McNally in the corner and he cut inside firing to the left corner of the net. Three minutes later and The Bridge were in again, this time Josh O'Donoghue sent in a high ball, again fielded by Kelly who turned and hit the net to leave it 3-2 to 1-6 in favour of Johnstownbridge and when Darragh Sloane split the posts there was now three points in it and a huge shock looked on the cards with ten minutes remaining.

In fairness Tom Cribbin's men did not panic and slowly went about reducing the deficit starting with a point from substitute Oisin Tighe.

Dean Kelly picked up a black card for JTB as Clane fired over the resultant free from the influential Sam McCormack.

With five to go a great move involving Cian Shanahan, Oisin Tighe and Sam McCormack ended with the big midfielder blasting to net.

And it didn't stop there, two minutes later a ball from the far post saw Tighe palm to the back of the net and when Cormac Vizzard hit the final point of the game, it was Clane, albeit after getting one hell of a shock from a very game Johnstownbridge, march on and will now player the winners of the Naas v Moorefield quarter-final in the semi-final.

MAIN MAN

Sam McCormack

Another impressive display from the Clane number 9 who is not just playing excellent football but is also getting forward to find the net, just as he did in the last game, this time he found the onion sack twice. A player to keep a close eye on.

TURNING POINT

After conceding two quick second half goals Cllane were in trouble but a fine move involving three players ended with Sam McCormack finding the net to give his side the edge once again.

TALKING POINT

No doubt Tom Cribbin will not be overly pleased when his side went three points behind with just ten minutes to go but very pleased with the response he got from his side. As for Johnstown'

bridge, all things considered, both Cribbin boys out with injury, losing Cathal McNally early on, they showed commendable desire and courage.

WHAT NOW?

Clane, last season's beaten finalists are into the last four awaiting winners of Naas and Moorefield; for JTB their season has come to an end.

Scorers: Clane, Sam McCormack 2-2 (2 frees), Oisin Tighe 1-1, Brian McLoughlin 1-1 (1 free), Shane O'Sullivan 0-3, Adam Fanning 0-1, Cormac Vizzard 0-1.

Johnstownbridge, Dean Kelly 2-0, Aaron Mc Nally 1-0, Sam Doran 0-1, Darragh Sloan 0-1, Josh O'Donoghue 0-1 (free).

CLANE: Cian Burke; Oisin O'Sullivan, Sean Callan, Sean Christanseen; Harry O'Neill, Tadhg Montgomery, Hugh Prendergast; Robbie Philips, Sam McCormack; Cathal O'Brien, Shane O'Sullivan, Shane McCormack; Sam Reilly, Adam Fanning, Brian McLoughlin. Subs: James Behan for Cathal O'Brien (45 minutes); Oisin Tighe for Brian McLoughlin (45 minutes); Danny Egan for James Behan (54 minutes); Cian Shanahan for Sean Christanseen (54 minutes); Cormac Vizzard for Oisin O'Sullivan (58 minutes).

JOHNSTOWNBRIDGE: Eoin Sheehan; Shane Flanagan, Tomas Van Engelbrechton, Joey Higgins; Aaron McNally, Shane Flynn, Darragh Sloan; Sean McKeon, Seamus McNally; Dean Kelly, Cathal McNally, Sam Doran; Josh O'Donoghue, Daniel Flynn, Sean O'Haire. Subs: Luke O'Connor for Cathal McNally (14 minutes); Kevin Lynch for Sean O'Haire (blood sub 41-45 minutes); Kevin Lynch for Sean McKeon (49 minutes).

REFEREE: Brendan Cawley.