Kilkerrin-Clonberne turn to their U-21s again

By JIM CARNEY Kilkerrin-Clonberne .1-9 Caherlistrane .1-8 A TIGHT, well-contested, very enjoyable and at times exciting North Board U-21 B Football Championship final at Tuam Stadium last Saturday evening came down in the closing stages to a high, dropping ball that went over the bar at one end while the next one, at the other end, went agonisingly wide. Joy unconfined for Conor Rabbitte and Kilkerrin-Clonberne â€â€ heartbreak for Éanna Bane and Caherlistrane. There was so little between these two grand teams that only a point separated them at the interval and again at the final whistle. In both cases, Kilkerrin-Clonberne had the edge, first at 1-6 to 1-5, so the second half was drawn three points each.[private] It was only mildly disappointing that the scoring rate dropped as it did, from both sides, for this was highly entertaining all through. All credit to the winners for getting the job done with a spectacular late Conor Rabbitte point from play up at the Campbells' land end of the ground, kicked with the right from the right wing, but spare a thought for the gallant losers, who contributed so much to the occasion. A draw would have been a fair result, to honour the spirited resistance of the Caherlistrane lads in the second half when it seemed certain that Kilkerrin-Clonberne would drive on from their narrow lead at half-time. But Éanna Bane's last-gasp kick for an equalising point (and a replay) went outside a post at the town end, the so-called 'scoring goal', and Kilkerrin-Clonberne were left free to collect the Paddy Cunningham Memorial Cup again. When they won it two years ago, they went on to add the County title to their Roll of Honour and they'll be hoping for a similar outcome when they play Moycullen next time out â€â€ date and venue to be decided. Caherlistrane team mentors Stephen Faulkner and Pat Madden could hardly have expected the start their team made to the North final: a first-minute goal by Eric Monahan followed by a Derek Higgins point. Then came midfield dominance in a magnificent display by another Caherlistrane player, Shane Bohan, so in the early stages it was clear that Kilkerrin-Clonberne would need something special to get into contention and they got it from a Shane Walsh goal from play, and two great points from play by Conor Rabbitte. They also raised their level of performance in defence, with captain Adrian Ward, a powerful block of a man, standing his ground well at centre-back and Seán Collins particularly good in the full-back line. Points from Shane Walsh (2), Éanna Moran and Martin Shaughnessy had Kilkerrin-Clonberne in a strong position at half-time, at 1-6 to 1-5, having turned the game around from that early 1-1 to no score. They were also put under pressure in the second half by excellent goalkeeper Jamie O'Sullivan's injury, which took him out of the action at a crucal stage of the game. Kilkerrin-Clonberne reacted cleverly on the sideline, transferring big midfielder Michael Coleman to the goal where his imposing presence was a help to his full-back line; while out the field they were also doing the right thing in using Shane Walsh around midfield as much as possible, to counter the influence of Shane Bohan on the other side. Even though that took Shane Walsh out from the scoring zone, they still had the speed and finishing skill of Conor Rabbitte as a trump card inside and, sure enough, ultimately it won them the game. That winning score, incidentally, came after the very impressive Eric Monahan had levelled the match at 1-8 apiece with a brilliant point from play. A tactical triumph, therefore, for the winning sideline: manager Enda Daly and his helpers Karol Murray, John Fleming and Bernie Martyn. For the manager, special credit â€â€ in his playing days Enda Daly was one of Kilkerrin-Clonberne's greatest ever servants. Adrian Ward took home the Cunningham Cup, Conor Rabbitte received the Challoner Sports-sponsored Man of the Match award and for Caherlistrane there was the consolsation of knowing that in Shane Bohan, Eric Monahan and Stephen Burke they had three of the best four or five players on the field. Kilkerrin-Clonberne: J. O'Sullivan; S. Collins, F. O'Reilly, A. Rabbitte; C. Moran, A. Ward, captain, G. Higgins; M. Coleman, M. Shaughnessy (0-1); M. Ronayne, S. Walsh (1-3), E. Moran (0-1); C. Moran, S. Dunleavy, C. Rabbitte (0-4). Sub., D. Mahon, for O'Sullivan, inj. Caherlistrane: J. Cosgrove; S. Kyne, S. Bohan, C. Donnellan; L. Creaven, S. Burke (0-1), L. Higgins; S. Bohan, K. Nally; C. Casserly, C. Bohan, E. Monahan (1-4, 0-1 free); D. Higgins (0-1), E. Bane (0-1), S. Nally. Subs., S. Lawless (0-1), for D. Higgins; J. Hynes, for C. Bohan; S. O'Connor, for S. Nally. Referee: Noel Dempsey.[/private]