Clane defeat Eadestown in a cracker after extra time

It took extra time but Clane finally got over the line in this evening’s SFC ‘A’ final at Cedral St Conleth’s Park, in a cracking game with both teams giving it their all.

In the end was a goal from Cian O’Donoghue that settled it leaving the boys in white winning by three points 3-22 to 3-19.

The opening half was full of good footballers with two players standing out in particular. In the white of Clane Brian McLoughlin was in sparkling form, while in the light blue of Eadestown Eoin Conneff was causing the Clane defence all sorts of problems.

Niall Cummins opened for Eadestown with a brilliant two-pointer but a Daniel Colbert quickly followed by a lovely Shane McCormack goal had Sean Mealiffe's side in front.

Eoin Conneff landed a point before setting up Niall Cummins who fired past Cian Burke to put his side two ahead on six minutes.

It was certainly end-to-end stuff.

Daragh Mullahy pointed before Brian McLoughlin landed a two-pointer, McLoughlin landed a point quickly followed by another from the same player, this time a free.

Eadestown hit back with a fine point from Sean Hynes before Brian McLoughlin landed a beauty.

Clane replied with three points from Conneff but Clane finished strongly and added a goal from Daniel Colbert, a point from McLoughlin and the final score of the half, another point this time from Eoghan Maguire to leave the half-time score reading Clane 2-10 Eadestown 1-7.

The second half was full of action once again and it looked at different times either were going to take the title, Goals from Eoin Conneff and Cian Bolton had their fans on their feet but a brilliant two-pointer from from Shane O’Sullivan, close to the side line and leveled it, Eadestown had a chance to win but they ended all square at 21-8 to 3-15 and so extra time.

The first half of extra time left Eadestown leading by one but then we had that mighty finish from Clane as they hit 1-1 in the second half of extra time, while keeping Eadestown scoreless.

Scorers, Clane: Brian McLoughlin 0-11 (1 two-pointer free, 1 two-pointer, 3 frees), Daniel Colbert 1-1, Shane McCormack 1-2 (two-pointer free), Shane O’Sullivan 0-6 (1 two-pointer free), Cian O’Donoghue 1-0, Daragh Mullahy 0-1, Eoghan Maguire 0-1, Killian O’Sullivan 0-1, Sam Reilly 0-1.

Eadestown: Eoin Conniff 1-6, Cian Bolton 1-2 (1 two-pointer), Niall Cummins 1-3 (two-pointer), Ben Fitzsimons 0-3 (1 two-pointer), Pauric Tuohy 0-2, Sean Hynes 0-1, Tom Boran 0-1, Daragh Jameson 0-1,

CLANE: Cian Burke; Harry O’Neill, Conor Walsh, Hugh Prendergast cpt.; Calum Doran, Cian Shanahan, Rhys Vaughan; Daragh Mullahy, Daniel Colbert; Shane McCormack, Brian McLoughlin, Sam McCormack; Adam Fitzpatrick, Shane O’Sullivan, Eoghan Maguire. Subs: Cian O’Donoghyue for Rhys Vaughan (41 minutes); Eoin Twohig for Adam Fitzpatrick (47 minutes); Killian O’Sullivan for Calum Doran (48 minutes); Sam Reilly for Sam McCormack (59 minutes); Sam McCormack for Harry O’Neill (62 et); Cormac Vizzard for Eoghan Maguire (72 minutes);

EADESTOWN: Charlie Carroll; Cian Cahill, John Lawlor, Paul O’Dwyer; Daragh Jameson, Jack Sargent, Sean Hynes; Michael O’Brien, Niall Cummins; Ben Fitzsimons, Pauric Tuohy, Tom Boran; Eoin Conneff, Cian Bolton, Max Sargent. Subs: Conor McCarthy for Max Sargent (35 minutes); Rian Boran for Michael O’Brien (41 minutes); Harry Carroll for Paul O’Dwyer (48 minutes); Conor Morrin for Ben Fitzsimons (58 minutes); Ben Fitzsimons for Conor McCarty (half-time extra time);

REFEREE: Fergal Barry.