Under 16's secure battling draw

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Written by Eoin Brennan Saturday, 06 March 2010 18:01

Under 16 Football Championship Division 2 Round 1

Clarecastle 2-08 Clondegad 1-11

at Clarecastle

Persistence and character were the key ingredients to Clarecastle's battling draw against defending champions Clondegad on Saturday. Trailing for 50 minutes after the visitors hit an early purple patch, Clarecastle were unrelenting in their pursuit of the holders and getting to within a point with less than ten minutes remaining, an Aaron Greene goal put Clarecastle in the driving seat and set up a rousing grandstand finish. However, despite their best efforts they were unable to hold on as the champions fought back to share the spoils.

Still, it was a confidence building display from the home side who manufactured a stirring comeback despite finding themselves five points behind after only eight minutes. Clarecastle started well and indeed had the first score after three minutes when Cian Crimmins was fouled and Stephen Ward converted the free. However a goal from Gearoid Nagle only two minutes later had them on the backfoot and successive points from David Brassil, Eoin Glynn and Joe Neylon left Clondegad cruising at 1-3 to 0-1.

The Magpies almost secured a goal in the 12th minute when a driving solo run and shot by Gearoid Ryan was excellently saved by goalkeeper Damien Cleary and that seemed to give the home side confidence as Conor Galvin pulled a point back only a minute later.

Eoin Glynn restored Clondegad's five point lead soon afterwards but Clarecastle were now beginning to get on top and they finally got their just rewards in the 17th minute when Cian Crimmins kicked a rebound to the net after Cleary had saved Aaron Greene's initial shot. Greene pointed himself in the 20th minute to leave only a point between the sides but they couldn't draw level as Clondegad finished the half strongly.

With their backs to the wall once more, Clarecastle could have easily crumbled but they dug in admirably and only conceded one point before the break despite the visitors being presented with two glorious goal opportunities. The first came in the 24th minute when a footblock on Niall Deasy earned Clondegad a penalty but David Brassil's effort was saved by goalkeeper Conor Liddy. Brassil was again involved in the second goal chance when his free came off the upright to the waiting Eoin Glynn but his shot scraped the outside of the post and wide.

Only two points behind at the break, Clarecastle would have been the happier side but on the restart, three Niall Deasy points with only a Conor Galvin score in repost had Clondegad four points clear once more after 39 minutes and it seemed as if they were heading for victory at that stage.

However, Clarecastle dug in and with Conor Clancy controlling the defence from centre-back, Stephen Ward and Gearoid Ryan working hard in midfield and Conor Galvin, Bobby Duggan, Aaron Greene, Seanie Lynch and Cian Crimmins posing a constant threat, they began to topple that advantage once more.

Points from Ward, Galvin and Greene saw Clarecastle gather momentum and although Brassil stopped the rot with a point, the home side soon poured forward again with Bobby Duggan cutting the deficit to only the minimum before Aaron Greene's opportunist 54th minute goal.

It stemmed from a flowing passing move involving Bobby Duggan, Joseph Barry and Seanie Lynch to set up Greene on the right wing whose high effort for a point eluded goalkeeper Damien Cleary and nestled into the corner of the net to give the Magpies a two point lead.

Credit Clondegad though for not throwing in the towel and as the clock ticked down, they managed to draw level through points from wing-back Tadgh Lynch and a Brassil free. Clondegad were relieved but Clarecastle were equally satisfied with the point, and more importantly will be heartened by the tremendous character of the side to battle back against the holders.

Clarecastle will play Cratloe at home next Saturday at 12 noon while Clondegad have another derby to contend with, this time in the form of Lissycasey.

Clarecastle: Conor Liddy, Brian Gilroy, Mark McGuane, Tommy Howard, Jonathan Griffey, Conor Clancy, Dylan Broderick, Gearoid Ryan, Stephen Ward (0-2 1f), Patrick Dolan, Bobby Duggan (0-1), Conor Galvin (0-3 2f), Seanie Lynch, Aaron Greene (1-2), Cian Crimmins (1-0)

Subs Pat Touhy for Broderick (35 mins), Joseph Barry for Dolan (43 mins)

Clondegad: Damien Cleary, Niall Lynch, Conor McNeilus, Brian Casey, Tadgh Lynch (0-1), Kevin Donnelly, Ryan Power, Paul Meaney, Joe Neylon (0-1), Lee Brady, David Brassil (0-3 1f), Kieran Moore (0-1), Gearoid Nagle (1-0), Niall Deasy (0-3), Eoin Glynn (0-2)

Podcasts with James Lynch

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