County Minor ‘A’ Semi Final (Friday 8-September-95)

Claremorris........................0-16
Lahardane............................2-4

Claremorris, who at times looked like they would saunter into a county final meeting with either Moy Davitts or Breaffy, were rocked twice in this absorbing minor semi final at McHale Park on Friday evening.

On two occasions when it seemed Claremorris had tidied up the business of overhauling a stubborn Lahardane side, Vincent Cawley struck with two incredible goals.

The first came just before the interval when Cawley took on the Claremorris defence before crashing home a brilliant individual goal.

At that stage Claremorris were 0-9 to 0-3 ahead, and they could have been even further distance between themselves and the North Mayo champions but for some wayward shooting and the crossbar, which denied substitute Ernie Lynn with his first touch of the ball.

With Karl Boyle in tremendous form in the middle of the park Lahardane were finding it increasingly difficult to contain the Claremorris attack, despite the work of John Rowland, Declan Leonard, Shane Blake and Vincent Cawley.

Declan Leonard, who made a huge impression for the losing side kicked them into an early lead with a well-taken free but Boyle struck the first of his eight points to tie the game and it was still tied at 0-2 each after ten minutes when Neil Heneghan and Cawley traded points.

But with Boyle and Moran beginning to get on top at midfield Claremorris began to pull away. Jimmy Moran, Ger Brady and Boyle had three unanswered points and although Leonard did pull back a marvelous point, Claremorris responded again with Boyle knocking over three frees in a row to stretch the lead to six, before Cawley struck with his first goal to keep his side very much in touch at the break 1-3 to 0-9.

When Claremorris rattled off three early second half points from Boyle, Gill and Boyle again, Lahardane were facing another six point hill to climb.

Cawley pulled back a free but Gill restored the six point lead before another powerful run by Cawley saw him produce yet another thirty yard stunner which dipped under the keeper and suddenly, only three points separated the teams, with fifteen minutes still remaining.

The deficit could have been wiped out but John Rowland was unlucky to hit the side netting with a goal at his mercy while at the other end David Coleman produced two great saves to deny Claremorris the goal that would have finally settled the argument.

There were fears that Claremorris, who always looked the better side, might begin to panic, but a steadying point from Neil Heneghan helped them to keep their heads.

Brady chipped in with two crucial points and Claremorris had finally found their way through a difficult semi final.

Cawley was unlucky not to have grabbed a hat-trick when he was wide with a last minute penalty he earned himself, but Lahardane, with such a young team, will not be too disappointed with their overall performance. They certainly are a team that are most dangerous when they appear to be beaten and had a third goal came when it was most needed, Claremorris could have been under real pressure in the end.

However, the best team deservedly won in the end, but Claremorris have much to chew on before they meet their opponents in the final.

Their defence will want to show a lot more vigilance, although Pat Grogan, Ray Hession, Wayne Mannion and Andy Joyce did well.

Karl Boyle was the key figure at midfield where Jimmy Moran also worked hard, while in attack Ger Brady, Eamon Gill, Neil Heneghan and substitute Ernie Lynn did best.

For Lahardane David Coleman produced a couple of great saves. David Burke, Anthony Irwin, Adrian Healy, Adrian Marley, Declan Sheridan, John Rowland, Declan Leonard and Vincent Cawley really tried hard.

Lahardane: David Coleman, David Burke, Anthony Irwin, Simon Rowan, Mervyn Marley, Adrian Healy, Declan Sheridan, Shane Blake, John Rowland, Declan Leonard (0-2); Vincent Cawley (2-2); Brian Rowland, Damian Kelly, Liam Canavan. Subs.: T. Jordan (for Liam Canavan).

Back: John Rowland, Declan Leonard, Simon Rowan, Seamus Coleman, Stephen Jordan, Shane Blake, David Coleman, Declan Sheridan, Anthony Irwin, Tomas Jordan, Adrian Marley, Alan Syron.
Front: John McDonnell, Kenneth Burke, Liam Canavan, Ross Nolan, Vinnie Cawley (Capt.), Damien Kelly, Brian Rowland, Mervyn Marley, David Burke.