For photos click on www.flickr.com/photos/cluainmhor/
Congratulations to our Minor team on winning the Minor 'B' Championship in an exciting final on Saturday, defeating MLR by 2-10 to 1-7. It wasn't all plain sailing as a nervous start saw us survive a missed penalty and a couple of goal chances by a determined Rangers team. But once they settled down, the Clonmore lads produced a superb display of fast, skillful football and their disciplined defending was a joy to watch.
All over the field, players put their bodies on the line for the cause, with Cormac Connolly, Sean Tompkins, Matt Cullen and Rory Maguire outstanding in the backs, Luke Connolly, Luke Mullen and Sean Deay worked like trojans around midfield and Eoin Byrne, Tom Pollard and Jake Hickey were constantly driving forward in attack. Points by Francie Whelan (2), Eoin Byrne and Tom Pollard gave Clonmore a lead of 0-4 to 0-3 on 27 minutes. Then Tom Pollard made an incisive run along the end line and his intelligent pass across the square was punched to the net by Francie Whelan for a vital goal. Francie followed up with another quick point to leave Clonmore leading by 1-5 to 0-3 at the break.
On the re-start, Sean Deay kicked the best point of the game to put Clonmore 6 points up and despite some forceful attacking by Rangers, we maintained that lead to the end. As MLR threw everything at us, the quality of Clonmore's defending was outstanding with captain Rory McKernan and substitute Sean Moran prominent in the latter stages. A well struck penalty by Eoin Byrne on 42 minutes, for a foul on Sean T, and points by Tom Pollard, Jake Hickey and that man again, Francie Whelan, gave Clonmore a well deserved 2-10 to 1-7 win. Francie finished with 1-5 to bring his total for the championship to an impressive 7-23 (44 points) in 6 games.
This was a great overall team performance which is testament to the astute coaching and training of Minor mentors Paul Byrne and Philip Cullen and U-16 mentors John Connolly, Jamie Doyle, Johnny Maguire and Niall Humphries. Well done to all concerned.
The club would like to thank sponsors John Connolly Electrical, Isaac Pollard/GraniteFarm.ie, Top Oil and O'Reilly's Londis, Hacketstown, for their generosity in providing jerseys, training tops and tracksuits to the players.
Also, thanks a million to everyone for the wonderful support for the team on Saturday - it is much appreciated by the players.
TEAM: Melvyn Kinch, Josh Bowes, Cormac Connolly, Rory McKernan, Sean Tompkins, Rory Maguire, Matt Cullen, Luke Connolly, Luke Mullen, Tom Pollard (0-2), Eoin Byrne (1-1, pen), Cormac Malee, Jake Hickey (0-1), Frances Whelan (1-5, 3f), Sean Deay (0-1).
Subs: Sean Moran for Josh Bowes, Billy Lawlor for Cormac Malee, Dylan Doyle for Jake Hickey, Keith Bowes, Anthony McDonald, Eoin Connolly, Sean Mulvany, Daniel Cashen.
PHOTO: Back (left to right): John Connolly, Paul Byrne, Dan Cashen, Matt Cullen, Sean Deay, Luke Connolly, Cormac Malee, Sean Mulvany, Melvyn Kinch, Billy Lawlor, Anthony McDonald, Dylan Doyle, Luke Mullen, Eoin Connolly, Philip Cullen, Johnny Maguire.
Front: Keith Bowes, Sean Tompkins, Rory Maguire, Francie Whelan, Sean Moran, Eoin Byrne, Tom Pollard, Rory McKernan, Jake Hickey, Josh Bowes, Cormac Connolly.
