Clann na nGael begin the championship with a win
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
Clann na nGael 0-13 St Aidans 0-9.
ST Aidans were forced to play the remaining seven minutes of this championship fixture with fourteen men following the dismissal of substitute Francie Grehan who was issued with a second yellow for a foul on Clann na nGael full back Niall McManus.
It was Clann's first outing in the championship where their fitness level came to the fore after they outscored the opposition by 0-4 -0-0 in the closing quarter.
Despite defeating Kilmore in their opening round St Aidan's reshuffled the deck with Keith Waldron named to start in defence, David Thompson going to midfield, James Coyne at centre forward and Michael Connolly at full forward. For Clann na nGael Donal Shine once again displayed his skills at full forward and produced ten points with three coming from play. Niall McManus was strong at full back as was Brian Goode at left half back with Matt Scally keeping the Aidans defence on red alert.
To their credit the Ballyforan boys battled bravely after being held to a draw at the same venue last year and they lost both full back Noel Galvin and full forward Michael Connolly to injury in the second half.
The home side started nervously and hit three wides in as many minutes and missed a penalty when Jonathan Dunning side stepped the goalkeeper but was then taken down howver the latter drove it to the goalkeeper's right and wide. Donal Shine ran into the left corner and found the opening point but it would take Aidan's ninety seconds to create a reply with Sean Higgins finding the unmarked Niall Corbett who saw team captain David Hoey available to take his score. Clann took the lead though Donal Shine when Ross Naughton was fouled, but Michael Connoly was unlucky not to have replied as the ball strayed off his boot close to the Clann goal. Terence Kelly collected a ball in the left corner but his effort went across the goalmouth and wide. It would take a Keith Walderon free to tie the scores after eighteen minutes.
The first yellow card of the evening was issued to Sean Higgins for a foul on Jonathan Dunning; Donal Shine converted with Aidan's replying through Terrance Kelly. David Flynn forced a '45 off the defence and after a second attempt Shine had Clann's fourth before adding another from play with David Thompson reducing the arrears to the minimum in injury time to leave the scoreboard reading 0-5 to 0-4 at the interval.
Clann na nGael brought in Mark Shine for the second half in place of Ross Naughton while Terrence Kelly set up Naill Corbett for the equalising score, a minute after the restart. Matt Scally was foulded by Mark Higgins who was then issued with a yellow card and Shine restored the lead and Mark Shine punched over a point after good work from Brian Goode.
Clann na nGael were penalised for a late tackle on James Coyne and Keith Walderon had little difficult in raising the white flag. Francie Grehan was then called in for Paddy Neary and then went into the full forward position. A Donal Shine free kick from the right corner at a difficult angle came off the left post but his team would quickly recover as Mark Shine played the one-two with Cathal Shine before recording his side's eighth with Donal Shine sending over a free from another difficult angle on the left wing.
However St Aidans came back with three unanswered points in as many minutes with David Hoey setting up Niall Cornett, David Thompson sent over a free and Clann full back Niall McManus was judged to have used a foot block on James Coyne's effort in the 45th minute. Terence Kelly then found the equalising point.
By now both Francie Grehan and Niall McManus had been issued with yellow cards for an off the ball incident. Sean Higgins made a run up the middle of the field but David Flynn was back to dispossess.
With nine minutes remaining Clann took the game by the scruff of the neck and Donal Shine restored the lead from play. Martin Connolly came in as Niall Corbett limped off with Donal Shine adding another point from a free after David Kelly was fouled. The former sent another free between the posts from all of fifth meters before David Kelly had the winning point in injury time.
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