Penalties decide a thriller
Sam Maguires 3-3 Clonakilty 1-8
What an incredible U.12A football final we had in Rossmore on Monday evening last. Time and again these two clubs have served up real thrillers in this grade but last Monday night’s fare was right up there with the very best as the two teams fought tooth and nail for victory. It may not have produced the classic we have witnessed in the past but for sheer excitement and heart-stopping thrills, this final had few equals.
In perfect conditions the teams set about their task with amazing commitment and even though there were too many wides, too many mistakes to declare this a classic it was an incredible contest from start to finish. When the dust finally settled it was the Dunmanway lads who were celebrating while the Clon lads were heartbroken at the turn of events. To say that this game went right down to the wire would be a gross understatement. It went beyond even that and the events of the closing minutes would take a book to describe properly.
Picture the scene. Clonakilty, outplayed and outscored in a titanic first half by a Maguires side for whom midfielders, Eoin Lavers and Liam Rice, were absolutely brilliant, and trailing by five points at the interval, come roaring back into contention in a second half that sees them lay siege to the Maguire goal in search of scores. Despite numerous misses they eventually pull back the five point lead and go in front by a single point with 12 minutes left on the clock. Twelve minutes of amazing thrills and tension that sees both sides lose chances of scores as the crowd go wild on the hill. What football we witnessed in those closing minutes as Clon cling tenaciously to their slender lead and again miss chances to increase it.
Then it happens. You couldn’t have scripted the finish if you tried. A minute left on the clock and Maguires break away. A rasping shot beats the Clon keeper but full back, Philip Poillot flings himself full length to block the ball at the butt of the upright. A penalty? No, as the referee waves play on but back come Maguires and the ball is again driven into the Clon goalmouth. Players flying in all directions and then the whistle. A penalty! Clon supporters are stunned, the players totally puzzled but a penalty it is. Up steps the hero of the hour, Liam Rice, and cool as a cucumber, he drives the kick to the corner of the net. Maguires in front by two points. Maguires ecstatic and Clon shattered.
Incredibly, within thirty seconds the scene is repeated at the other end of the pitch as the Maguire backs, for once, are caught by a quick breakaway and Ross Mannix is hauled down in the square. A penalty! Confusion as to who should take the kick but Clon hero, Joe White, is given the task. It isn’t a great shot and goalie, Tom White, gets his leg to the shot. The ball rebounds out and a host of players descend on it. A Clon boot connects but the ball flies high over the crossbar. A point, and a single point between the sides. There are two minutes of injury time and Clon lay siege to the Maguires’ goal but there is no way through and the final whistle blows. More confusion as the Maguires’ mentors think it’s a draw but the referee soon clarifies the situation, a single point victory for Maguires. Amazing scenes of delight follow but the real winner was surely the game of football.
There were heroes fore and aft on both sides in this thriller. Liam Rice was the class act at midfield for the winners and formed a formidable partnership with the talented Eoin Lavers. This pair scored all but a point of Maguires’ total. Clon could never really come to grips with them. Tom Murphy was a colossus at full back, especially under intense pressure in the second half, in front of reliable keeper, Tom White, while Kevin Dullea had a great game at centre back. Up front, Maguires were limited in scoring power but in Dillon O’Driscoll they had a real ball of fire and he gave Clon a really tough time while Cathal O’Donovan and Padraig Crowley also did well.
Philip Poillot broke Maguires’ hearts with a thundering display at full back in front of the reliable Mark White, while Josh Henry was a class act in the corner and Tiornán O’Connell was a real beaver on the wing. Joe White did great work at midfield while the classy Seán McEvoy, the tall Paul O’Regan and, in the last quarter, Ross Mannix, caused big problems up front. The introduction of David Lowney around the middle in the second half changed the trend of the game for Clon.
Referee, Connie Murphy, Kilmeen.
Both sides took some time to settle as the pace was frantic early on and scores were scarce. Joe White raised the first white flag for Clon and Eoin lavers levelled from a free in the 14th minute. Goalie, Tom White, brought off a great save from Paul O’Regan before the tall full forward pushed Clon in front again. At the other end Liam Rice blazed just wide of the upright and O’Regan raised another Clon flag. It was all Maguires in the closing ten minutes of the half with Rice and Lavers rampant. Rice pointed from play and Joe White answered from a free for Clon. Then came two hammer blows by Maguires as Lavers crashed home a stunning goal in the 27th minute and Rice scored an even better one a minute later. Clon were shell-shocked and Maguires jubilant as the half time whistle sounded with Maguires in front by 2-3 to 0-4.
What a transformation we had after the break as Clon came out with all guns blazing and it was backs to the wall for Maguires. However, five wides in a row stymied Clon’s fight back before the flying Seán McEvoy eventually pointed in the 41st minute. The pressure increased and when McEvoy buried the ball in the net in the 44th minute, the lead was down to a single point and Clon were looking good. Maguires were finding it hard to get out of their own half but were putting up a stubborn defence. The equaliser inevitably arrived from Joe White in the 45th minute and when Ross Mannix kicked a great lead point in the 47th minute, Clon looked to be on the way to the title.
Then came the amazing finish that will long live in the memory and it was Maguires who took home the cup after an outstanding clash.
Full marks to all involved in this thriller and to both clubs who continue to produce so many great little footballers. Full marks too to the people who decided that the u.12’s should be limited to one solo, one hop as it has definitely had a huge beneficial effect on these games. Maybe a trial at adult level mightn’t go far wrong.
Scorers; Sam Maguires – Liam Rice 2-1, 1-0 penalty, Eoin Lavers 1-1, 0-1 free, Cathal O’Donovan 0-1. Clonakilty – Seán McEvoy 1-1, Joe White 0-3, 0-1 free, Paul O’Regan 0-2, Ross Mannix 0-1.
Sam Maguires – Tom White, Seán Daly, Tom Murphy, Darragh McCarthy, Jonathan O'Sullivan, Kevin Dullea, Jamie Carroll, Liam Rice, Eoin Lavers, John Kelly, Padraig Crowley, Cathal O’Donovan, Roy Jennings, Dillon O’Driscoll, Eoin Murray. Subs, Danny Collins. Daniel Hayes, John Kelly
Clonakilty – Mark white, Josh Henry, Philip Poillot, Darragh McCullough, Daniel lane, Mark Lynch, Tiornán O’Connell, Joe White, Eoin O’Neill, Seán McEvoy, Cian O’Donovan, Eoin Deasy, Ciarán Crowley, Paul O’Regan, Ross Mannix. Subs, Robert Kingston, David Lowney, Daniel Hayes, J.P. Maughan.
“Cois Farraige”