Golden Kilfeacle swat aside Moneygall/Clonakenny combo to book U21 final spot

FBD Insurance U21B Football Championship Semi-Final

Golden Kilfeacle 3-8

Moneygall/Clonakenny 0-4

By Liam Hogan

A more prolific Golden Kilfeacle team defeated Moneygall in the FBD County under 21 B Football semi-final played at a very cold floodlit Borrisoleigh last Saturday evening.
Leading from pillar to post Golden were well and truly the winners as far out as the first quarter.  

As early as the 25th second, Golden had the opening score when Jack Bergin floated the ball between the posts with their lead doubled in the fifth minute thanks to Jack Leamy.
Golden were well and truly on top and they increased their lead with Padraig Dalton on target in the tenth minute.  Meanwhile, Moneygall/Clonakenny were gaining some satisfaction in the amount of possession but they were depending on crumbs in front of goal. As a result, they unable to profit from what minimum chances came their way until Stevie Maher scored their first in the 15th minute.

But with Ben Currivan in control at the back, Golden continued to build up the sequences of hand passing moves with their work rewarded with a goal by Sam Hall in the 17th minute. There was more with Aaron Colohan scoring two points inside a minute.

Moneygall strove strongly to get back into the game and approaching half time it looked as if they were back in the game when Tadgh Whyte pulled one back with a free in the 26th minute. One minute later Moneygall almost scored a goal but Goden netminder Luke Bennett was equal to a fine effort by Cathal Greene. Golden Kilfeacle recovered from the fright and after a string of passing movements they had Sam Hall finding the target and at half time the scoreline read Golden Kilfeacle 1-6 Moneygall/Clonakenny 0-2.

Golden left the starting stalls with urgency in the early seconds of the new half as wing back Jack Lonergan finding time to move forward and fist the ball over the bar with just twenty two seconds gone. But Moneygall were quick to respond thanks to a Tadgh Whyte point and over the next six or seven minutes they tried desperately to curb the deficit but the Golden Kilfeacle defence, led by Bryan Murnane, Ben Currivan, Gavin Dalton and Jack Lonergan, kept their lead intact and that lead increased sufficiently when Jack Leamy scored their second goal after an assist by Sam Hall in the 44th minute.

Moneygall/Clonakenny replied with a Cameron Fleming point after he intercepted an intended foot pass from Ben Currivan.
However, Golden had more in the tank and as they completed another passing move they had Aaron Colohan finding the net for the West Champions. Interestingly, each of the inside forward line scoring a goal each and combining a total of 3-4 from play.

Both sides were now beginning to empty the subs bench as the ball was tossed around with different passing moves before midfielder Eoin Murnane had Golden’s and the game’s final score with a point.

This was a deserved win for the west champions who picked all of their scores from play with many fine performances in the two Murnanes, Ben Currivan, Padraig Dalton, Jack Bergin Eanna Ormond, and the entire full forward line of Colohan, Leamy and Hall. They are now through to a county final where they hope to do better than their intermediate hurlers who lost the county final against Boherlahan.

Meanwhile, Moneygall/Clonakenny’s best efforts was not enough despite the best efforts of Stevie Maher, Tadgh Whyte, Cian Ryan and Cathal Greene in attack. Cameron Fleming did his best at midfield with Dylan McCormack, Kevin McCormack and the remainder of the Moneygall defence. Harry Fleming's absence, due to army commitments, was sadly missed.
At least Moneygall/Clonakenny have their North Final win to enjoy with victory over neighbours Roscrea making it all the sweeter.

Golden Kilfeacle: Luke Bennett; Mikey Bergin, Bryan Murnane, Jack Dalton; Gavin Dalton, Ben Currivan, Jack Lonergan (0-1); Eoin Murnane (0-1), Padraig Dalton (0-1); Aidan Tuohy, Jack Bergin (0-1), Eanna Ormond; Aaron Colohan (1-2); Jack Leamy (1-1), Sam Hall (1-1).

Subs used: Tyler Barry for P Dalton (53); Jason Money for B Murnane (53); Colin Tuohy for J Dalton (59).

Moneygall/Clonakenny: David Toohey; Jack Ryan, Michael Ryan, David Madden; Dylan McCormack, Kevin McCormack, Andy Hoolan; Cameron Fleming (0-1), Thomas Sheedy; Cian Ryan, James Carroll, Cathal Greene; Stevie Maher (0-1), Tadgh Whyte (0-2, 0-1f), Aodhan Ryan.

Subs used: Mark Fogarty for C Greene (56); Killian Touhey for C Fleming (57); Patrick Carroll for D McCormack (58).

Referee: Martin Ryan (Moyne Templetuohy)