NaomhEoin/O'Curry's u15 footballers played St Josephs Miltown in the semi-final of the West Clare u15 Championship on Monday night (09/11/15) at a windy Hennessy Memorial Park in Miltown. With a gale blowing down the pitch towards the town end, it always looked likely to be a game of two halves, but credit to both teams who managed to keep the scoreboard ticking against the elements and ensured that four halves were eventually required to separate the sides. These teams had met in the penultimate round of the 2014 u14 Championship, with the minimum separating the teams on that occasion, so a tight game was always likely to ensue.
NaomhEoin/O'Currys started brightly, with Seamus Keane accurate from their second attack, and Thomas Clancy doubled the advantage from a free soon after. Miltown worked their way into the game and opend their scoring with a goal mid way through the half. NEOC upped the effort and Keane made up for an earlier effort hit straight at the legs of the keeper, when he slotted his next chance neatly into the bottom left corner. Clancy had a goal chance that flew over and another long-range free which was saved onto the crossbar. A pointed free for Miltown was answered by Mark McQuaid and Keane again, leaving NEOC with a four point advantage at half-time.
For the opening ten minutes of the second half, NaomhEoin/O'Currys worked hard to keep possession, but the elements and the 13-a-side format on the full pitch made it difficult to keep Miltown at bay. The Town moved a point ahead with a goal in the last quarter, but Clancy stepped up to equalise with another fine kick, leaving the final score at NEOC 1:6, Miltown 2:3.
Miltown won the toss and elected to play into the wind for the first period of extra-time, and points were swapped before Seamus Keane goaled again. Miltown fought back in reply and cut the defecit to two points before the deciding moment, a shot that dipped under the crossbar for the hosts proved the crucial score near the end of the first period of extra time, putting them in the driving seat as they turned to take the wind advantage for the remainder. NEOC pressed for the scores needed to rally but left gaps at the back and St Jopsephs put the game beyond reach with their fourth goal. Kevin Keane blasted over from close range before the final whistle, and St Josephs advanced to the final on a scoreline of 4:7 to 2:8.
That concludes our u15 football for the year, although many of this panel are involved in our u16 side which is still involved in the Canny Cup Tournament.
