Intermediate Football Championship Relegation Final (Draw)

Saturday 18-09-2011

Played @ Gleann Chiosog Carron

Kilfenora 0:08     Ballyvaughan 0:08                   

Match Official :- Pat Cosgrove ( Corofin )

Bookings were plentiful all yellow cards and no reds issued, both teams down to the bare bones with respect to players as both panels decimated due to injury and immigration. Excitement was not scarce a thunder shower before the throw in, on and off the ball activity a vocal crowd to add spice to this north clare local derby played in Glean Chiosog Carron.

At half time Kilfenora led 5 points to 2, but they might have a tougher second half to come as they would be playing in to the wind. During that opening half the Malone brothers Killian and Aidan accounted for all of Kilfenora’s scores, 4 points for Killian and Aidan with 1. Ballyvaughan’s scores came from Ray Casey with the opener on 7 minutes and John McCormack from a free in the 13th minute.

The second half was a much closer and tighter affair, Mark O’Loughlin outstanding in defense with numerous interceptions that broke up Kilfenora attacks. Sean McNamara was very solid in front of the posts. Ballyvaughan used the wind to their advantage to build attack after attack by playing long ball in to the inside forward line where Thomas Francis had the beating of his man and set up a score for Donnacha Mahon who tapped the ball over from close range, 5 to 3 pts for Kilfenora, as Ballyvaughan had periods of dominance one would think that it was time to fight back and put more scores on the scoreboard, but it was Killian Malone to convert a free next after a foul that was committed on himself, John McCormack also kicked over a point from play for Ballyvaughan, to keep momentum going but it looked like to be Kilfenora’s day as Jason Connole scored from play to put Kilfenora 3 ahead again 7 to 4 points in the closing stages. John McCormack and Killian Malone added a free each to Ballyvaughan’s and Kilfenora’s Tallies and on 60 minutes it was 8 to 5 to Kilfenora.

Kevin Carrucan a second half substitute for John Linnane got a point from play. Fight back number 2 had begun the referee Pat Cosgrove was looking at his watch to blow for full time he then in formed all in sundry that there would be 6 minutes of stoppage time to be played. By now Ballyvaughan seemed to have the upper hand and not for the first time this year Sean McNamara raced up the field from full back and eventually got his name on the score sheet with a fisted effort in the 64th minute. A courageous team effort scoring 4 points without reply was capped off at the death when defeat was looming, a close in free was awarded bang on 66 minutes. John McCormack slotted over the 13m free dissecting the posts in the process. A replay now next to look forward to next probably scheduled for the weekend of the 1-2 October.

Scorers:-

Ballyvaughan:

Donnacha Mahon (0:01) Ray Casey (0:01) John McCormack (0:04) Sean McNamara (0:01) Kevin Carrucan (0:01)

Kilfenora:-

Killian Malone (0:06) 5 frees 1 play Jason Connole (0:01) 1 play, Aidan Malone (0:01) 1 play.

Kilfenora:-

Liam Keane, Shane Long, James Keane, Diarmuid Nagle. M.J Malone, Cathal Nagle, Paudie Ireland. Jonathan O’Gorman and Pat Connole Jason Connole, Aidan Malone, Paul Reddan. Killian Malone, Liam O’Brien, Austin Kelly.

Ballyvaughan:-

Damien McNamara. John Linanne, Sean Namara, Mark O’Loughlin Mark Walsh, Kieran Casey, Cian Walsh. Raymond Casey & Jamie Hynes. Lorcan Mahon, John McCormack, Phelim Kyne. Adrian Nilan, Donnacha Mahon, Tomas Fracis.

Subs:-

Kevin Carrucan for John Linnane (40 m ) Killian Mahon for Adrian Nilan (48 m )