Munster Minor Football Championship – Cork 2-10 Clare 0-11

Goals get Rebels over first hurdle

Cork 2-10 Clare 0-11

By Fintan O’Toole for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Thursday, April 14, 2011

CORK claimed the scalp of Clare at the opening hurdle of the Munster MFC for the second successive year when they had five points to spare at the end of last night’s quarter-final clash in Páirc Ui Rinn. It was not a straightforward journey to success for Cork as Clare played with plenty spirit throughout to remain in touch. Ultimately the two goals that Cork plundered, one in either half, proved to be the critical scores in separating the teams before an attendance of 1,200 supporters. Those two strikes were claimed by attacking duo Dan MacEoin and Stephen O’Mahony, who are both survivors from the squad that contested last September’s All-Ireland minor decider. Cork’s aspirations received a major early boost in the 14th minute when they found the net after a sparkling team move. Wing-forward David Harrington launched a perceptive pass in to the imposing figure of O’Mahony who laid the ball off tidily to McEoin and he crashed a bullet of a shot into the net past Clare netminder Darren Sexton.

It was not until the 47th minute that Cork managed to make the game safe when they raised their second green flag of the game. MacEoin began the move when he released wing-back Kevin Crowley — who was an impressive performer on the night, and he skipped past the Clare defence before offloading to O’Mahony who buried a low shot to the net. That O’Mahony strike left Cork 2-7 to 0-8 in front and drained the life from Clare’s challenge. In the closing stages they needed to grab goals to rescue the match but could not penetrate the Cork rearguard for whom Jamie Davis, Conor Dorman and Crowley were all in resilient form. Cork managed to finish with a flourish as substitute Killian McIntyre raced through for a lovely point and MacEoin thumped over a beauty from distance to bring his overall tally to 1-4.

Cork settled comfortably to their task in the first-half. Centre-forward Alan Cadogan was at the heart of all their best attacking movements while midfielders Sean Kiely and Mark Sugrue gave them a strong foothold in that sector. MacEoin displayed his ability in front of goal with early points while Clyda Rovers corner-forward Cian O’Sullivan enjoyed a superb first-half. His trickery caused difficulties for the Clare defence as he registered three points in the opening 30 minutes. Cork had chances in the first-half to add to their goal tally. In the 9th minute Harrington broke clear before unleashing a goalbound drive that full-back Craig O’Brien managed to intercept with a brave block. Then just before the interval Brian O’Driscoll knifed through the Clare rearguard but the shot he blasted with his left foot was beaten away by Sexton and O’Mahony saw his punched effort from the rebound cannon back off the upright.

By the 20th minute Clare trailed 1-4 to 0-3 yet they surged back into contention before the break. They had a pair of classy inside attackers in Niall Hickey and Martin O’Leary who contributed five points between them in the first-half. Hickey’s freetaking was excellent while O’Leary showed great accuracy with his left foot. Centre-forward Conor Cleary banged over an outstanding point as well and Clare were only 1-5 to 0-7 adrift at half-time. Clare’s hopes of victory were still intact during the third quarter yet the positional alterations that Cork made began to tell. O’Mahony moved to midfield, Sugrue went to centre-forward while MacEoin was positioned at full-forward. The vital score came courtesy of O’Mahony with that 47th minute goal and that meant Clare face the prospect of a trip to Dungarvan next Saturday to face Waterford in the backdoor stages.

Scorers for Cork: D MacEoin 1-4 (0-2f); C O’Sullivan 0-3; S O’Mahony 1-0; B O’Driscoll (0-1f), K Crowley, K McIntyre 0-1 each.

Scorers for Clare: N Hickey 0-5 (0-3f); M O’Leary 0-2; J Malone, C Cleary, E Cleary (0-1f), W Flynn 0-1 each.

CORK: J McDonnell; J Davis, C Dorman, K Hayes-Curtin; K Crowley, K Fulignati, K O’Hanlon; S Kiely, M Sugrue; B O’Driscoll, A Cadogan, D Harrington; D McEoin, S O’Mahony, C O’Sullivan.

Subs: D Murphy for O’Hanlon (half-time), S Ryan for Fulignati (42), J Corkery for Harrington (55), K McIntyre for Cadogan (57).

CLARE: D Sexton; C Gavin, C O’Brien, O Vaughan; J Colleran, S Lineen, D Bolton; A O’Neill, D McDonagh; E Cleary, C Cleary, A Murrihy; M O’Leary, N Hickey, J Malone.

Subs: W Flynn for Malone (38), J Rouine for Bolton (42), C Devitt for O’Leary (52), J Sweeney for O’Brien (56), J Scanlon for Murrihy (58).

Referee: Richard Moloney (Limerick)

Team News

The Clare Minor Football team to play Cork is as follows –

Darren Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)

Conor Gavin Capt. (Clondegad) Craig O’Brien (Wolfe Tones) Oisin Vaughan (Ennistymon)

Jarlath Colleran (Doora Barefield) Stan Lineen (Kilmihil) Darragh Bolton (Kilrush)

Alan O’Neill (Doora Barefield) Darragh McDonagh (Milltown)

Eoin Cleary (Milltown) Conor Cleary (Milltown) Adrian Murrihy (Kilmurry Ibrickane)

Martin O’Leary (Kilmihil) Niall Hickey (Kilmurry Ibrickane) Jamie Malone (Corofin)

Subs: Liam Corbett (Corofin), Jack Scanlon (O’Curry’s), Ciaran Devitt (Ennistymon), James Sweeney (Eire Og), Joey Rouine (Ennistymon), Cathal McConigley (Ennistymon), William Flynn (Wolfe Tones), Allyn Dalton (Kilmihil), Eoghan Donnellan (Clondegad), Cillian McNamara (Kilmaley), Conor McNelis (Clondegad),

Also on Squad: Manus Malone (Corofin), Luke Brannock (Doora Barefield), Padraigh Nugent (Doora Barefield), Joe Neylon (Clondegad), Conor Deasy (Cratloe), Tadg Lynch (Clondegad)

Management: Michael Neylon (Manager), Noel Normoyle (Selector), Leo Donoghue (Selector), Maurice Reidy (Selector)
The Cork Minor team to play Clare in Wednesday night’s Munster MFC Quarter-Final at 7.30pm in Páirc Uí Rinn will line out as follows:

1. James Mc Donnell (St. Finbarrs)

2. Jamie Davis 3. Conor Dorman 4. Kevin Hayes Curtin

(Douglas) (Bishopstown) (Douglas)

5. Kevin Crowley 6. Kevin Fulignati 7. Killian O Hanlon

(Millstreet) (Nemo Rangers – Capt) (Kilshannig)

8. Sean Kiely 9. Mark Sugrue

(Ballincollig) (Bandon)

10. Brian O Driscoll 11. Alan Cadogan 12. David Harrington

(Tadhg MacCarthaigh) (Douglas) (Adrigole)

13. Dan MacEoin 14. Stephen o Mahony 15. Cian O Sullivan

(Ilen Rovers) (Gabriel Rangers) (Clyda Rovers)

Subs:

16. Patrick Rossiter (O Donovan Rossa)

17. Luke Prendergast (Ballincollig)

18. Kevin Kavanagh (Carrigaline)

19. Killian McIntyre (Carrigaline)

20. Darragh Murphy (Valley Rovers)

21. John Corkery (Aghabullogue)

22. Paul Fitzgerald (Douglas)

23. Andy O Connell (St. Michaels)

24. Sean Ryan (Newcestown)

For the Record

MUNSTER GAA FOOTBALL MINOR CHAMPIONSHIP 2011

First Round

Wednesday April 13^th

@ Kilmallock                                     Limerick v Tipperary 6.30pm

@ Austin Stack Park Tralee           Kerry v Waterford 7.30pm

@ Pairc Uí Rinn                               Cork v Clare 7:30pm

Losers Group Play-off 1

Saturday April 16^th

Losers of Kerry and Waterford v Losers of Cork and Clare @ 7:00pm

(See venue permutations below)

@ Fraher Field Dungarvan                        Waterford v Clare

@ Kerry venue                                 Kerry v Clare

@ Cork venue                                  Waterford v Cork

@ Cork venue                                  Kerry v Cork

Losers Group Play-off 2

Saturday April 23rd

Losers of Tipperary and Limerick v Winner of Losers Group Play-off 1

Semi-Finals

Wednesday May 18^th

Winner of Tipperary and Limerick v Winner of Kerry and Waterford

Winner of Cork and Clare v Winner of Losers Group Play-off 2

EXTRA TIME IN ALL GAMES UP TO THE FINAL

Final

Sunday July 3^rd

Munster Minor Football Championship Roll Of Honour

Kerry (41)

1931, 1932, 1933, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1954, 1957, 1958, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009.

Cork (29)

1939, 1952, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2010

Tipperary (5)

1934, 1935, 1955, 1984, 1995

Clare (3)

1929, 1930, 1953

Limerick (1)

1956

Munster Minor Football Cup

The Tadhg Crowley Cup was presented by Munster Council in 1990 to commemorate late Munster Council Treasurer. Tadhg was elected as Munster Council Treasurer in 1968 and served until his death in December 1989. A teacher by profession, he also served as Kerry County Board Secretary from 1955 until 1970. Tadhg was recognized as a specialist in organizing and handling styles and gates at big Munster Championship games.

All Ireland Minor Football Championship

In the Minor Football All Ireland Roll of Honour, Kerry top the charts with 11 titles while Cork are tied for second with Dublin with 10 titles. Clare won the first All-Ireland Minor Football title in 1929 while Tipperary only All-Ireland success at this grade came in 1934. Between them Munster counties have accounted for 23 All-Ireland Minor Football titles, ahead of Leinster and Ulster (20 titles each) and Connacht (17 titles).

The All-Ireland Minor Football title has not been won by a Munster county since Cork’s 2-12 to 0-13 victory over Mayo in the 2000 Final. Since then, Ulster counties have won 7 of the 10 finals played, Connacht 2 titles and Leinster have 1 title.

Kerry were All-Ireland Minor Football Champions in 1931, 1932, 1933, 1946, 1950, 1962, 1963, 1975, 1980, 1988, 1994

Cork were All-Ireland Minor Football Champions in 1961, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1974, 1981, 1991, 1993, 2000

Odds and Ends

Cork are the defending Munster Minor Football Champions following a 1-8 to 1-7 victory over Kerry at Fitzgerald Stadium Killarney. Corner-forward Brian Hurley scored 1-6 for the winners, including a 58^th minute goal to complete a come from behind victory.

The winning Cork team and scorers were as follows – David Hanrahan; Kevin Fulignati , Damian Cahalane, Darren Murphy; Sean Ryan, Tom Clancy, Jamie Wall; Jamie Burns, John O’Rourke; Kevin Hallissey (0-1), Mark Sugrue, Alan Cronin; Kevin Sheehan (0-1 free), Shane Duggan, Brian Hurley (1-6, 0-4 frees)
Subs: Daniel Fitzgerald (Captain) for S Ryan (45), Dan McEoin for M Sugrue, Stephen O’Mahony for S Duggan (50).

Since 1956, Cork and Kerry have won every Munster Minor Football title with the exception of 1984 and 1995 when Tipperary were successful.

Tipperary have played 44 matches in the Munster Minor Football Championship since 2000, more than any other Munster county.

Waterford have won 1 Munster Minor Football Championship match out of 13 played since 2005.

Cork, Kerry and Tipperary have won at least 1 match in the Munster Minor Football Championship every year since 2001.

The Kerry manager Pat O’Driscoll was the manager of The Ardfert Senior Football team that captured All Ireland Club Junior Championship honours in 2006 and won the All-Ireland Club Intermediate Championship in 2007.