Two minor 'A' games produce 17 goals
Football League
Thursday March 05 2009
Clyda Rovers 6-9 Mitchelstown 5-9 THIS win for Clyda Rovers over Mitchelstown in the MAFL at Mourneabbey assures them a place in the knockout stages. Following a thrilling contest that produced 11 goals the lead changed hands on a number of occasions.
The opening half saw both sides enjoy their fair share of possession. Mitchelstown started at a blistering pace with David Norris, Ken Carroll, Fionn Herlihy, Vincent O'Donoghue, Paul Hennessy and James Sheehan very effective and after 17 minutes they raced into a 3-1 to 0-4 lead their goals coming from James Sheehan (two) and Damian Lambe.
The remainder of the half saw Clyda Rovers gain the initiative. Their defence tightened up considerably while up front they went on a scoring spree scoring 3-1 in the space of 13 minutes the goals coming from Sean O'Connell (two) and Christopher Buckley to hold a 3-5 to 3-2 advantage at the interval.
The second-half was again a close battle between two evenly matched sides. Mitchelstown started very brightly and were to regain the lead in the 35th minute when Vincent O'Donoghue had a goal that helped open up a 4-4 to 3-5 lead. Back came Clyda Rovers and they were to level matters at 4-4 to 3-7 when Sean O'Connell and Cian O'Sullivan kicked over a point each and in the 47th minute they were to take the lead when Michael Linehan had a goal following good work by Sean O'Connell and Maurice Clarke 4-7 to 4-6
However, Mitchelstown continued to press forward at very given opportunity and with four minutes remaining seemed on course to get their Minor campaign off to a winning start when leading by four points. Clyda Rovers showed great heart and determination during the secondhalf with Douglas Noonan, Chris Kenny, Conor Flanagan, Conor O'Sullivan, Kenneth Fitzgerald, Cian O'Sullivan, Sean O'Connell and Christopher Buckley to the fore.
In the last four minutes were to strike for two crucial goals from Conor O'Sullivan and Christopher Buckley to snatch victory from Mitchelstown. Charleville 5-5 Kilshannig 1-8
CHARLEVILLE
kept
their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages of the MAFL very much alive following their win over Kilshannig at the Baker's Road Grounds Charleville on Friday under lights. Over the hour the better balanced local side played the better football and they took some very good goals that killed off any chance of a Kilshannig recovery. Charleville had their goals in the first-half by James and Breandan Casey while Kilshannig had points by Barry O'Hanlon (two), Brian Sheehan and Frank McCarthy. At the break the winners ahead by 2-1 to 0-4. On the resumption Charleville had two well taken goals by Mark Kavanagh that pushed them well ahead. Barry O'Hanlon had a goal for the Kilshannig side but a late James Casey goal ensured victory by a very comfortable margin in the end.
