St Paul’s 2-14
Clonaslee/St Manman’s 2-6
AT half time in this one, it looked highly unlikely that we would have an eight point winner of this U/21 ‘B’ football championship decider but a simply relentless second half display from the favourites St Paul’s saw them claim their third championship title of the year.
Despite Clonaslee’s impressive victory over Castletown/Slieve Bloom in the semi-finals, they went into the game as huge underdogs but their first half performance made light of those pre-match predictions.
That said, it wasSt Paul’s who had the better of the opening third with three frees courtesy of Evan Costello (2) and Mark O’Halloran while Clonaslee had Seán Larkin to thank for their opening point.
Niall Hogan and Shane Murphy swapped points but the end of the half would leave Clonaslee dreaming of glory. Aaron Wisely did not start the game because he arrived late. He was sprung from the bench with five first half minutes remaining and with virtually his first touch he got on the end of Seán Larkin’s high ball before finding the net.
Wisely wasn’t finished yet either as he added another point before the half time interval to leave Clonaslee/St Manman’s ahead by 1-3 to 0-4.
Things got even better for the leaders on the resumption with a Pauric Carroll point. But thisSt Paul’s side have played a lot of football this year and their superior fitness told in the second half as they hit six unanswered points via Costello (4), Robbie Boland and Nigel Murphy to take a three point lead with nine minutes remaining.
Clonaslee finally responded with a point from Wisely, but that proved to be a brief respite as St Paul’s, who had squandered numerous goal opportunities up to this point, finally found the net after Shane Murphy split the Clonaslee rearguard with an incisive run before playing the ball to Nigel Murphy who deftly finished past keeper Fitzpatrick.
Evan Costello hit a double and Shane Murphy added another before Paul’s made the game completely safe two minutes from time. Craig Langford wriggled past two defenders before squaring to substitute Eddie O’Connor who tucked the ball into the far corner.
Clonaslee were worthy opponents in this final and certainly didn’t deserve to lose by this margin but they did get a late consolation goal through Aaron Wisely, however, it just wasn’t enough to halt a rampantSt Paul’s.
ST PAUL’S: Brian Hogan; Ian Fennelly, Robert Wilkinson; Conor Hogan, Shane Murphy (0-2), Paddy Dunne; Mark O’Halloran (0-1), Ray Ryan; Craig Langford, Nigel Murphy (1-2), Evan Joyce; Evan Costello (0-8, 5f), Robbie Boland (0-1). Subs: Conor Luttrell for Fennelly (35mins), Eddie O’Connor (1-0) for Joyce (50mins).
CLONASLEE/ST MANMAN’S: PJ Fitzpatrick; Diarmuid Conroy, Eoin O’Donovan; Michael Hyland, Willie Young, John Hyland; Conor McEvoy, Seán Larkin (0-3); Pauric Carroll (0-1), Ciarán Hyland, Conor Lewis; Niall Hogan (0-1), Cormac Dunne. Subs: Aaron Wisely (2-1) for Dunne (25mins), Packie Delaney for Carroll (52mins), Gavin Burke for Lewis (55mins), Ger Reilly for O’Donovan (55mins).
Referee: Colm Kelly (St Joseph’s)
