Match Report: Clann 0-11 0-13 Oran

Clann na nGael suffered their first O’Rourke Cup Division 1 defeat of the season against Oran on Friday night. The visitors took the spoils in Johnstown despite the hosts holding a commanding 0-10 to 0-6 lead at half time. But Emmet Kenny’s black card at the end of the first half gave Oran a new lease of life which turned the game. 

Clann started brightly when Kenny and Paul McManus pointed, before Tom Lennon’s goal chance was brilliantly saved by Oran stopper Shane Regan. Ian Harney, David McManus and Jason Mulvey tagged on super scores as both teams played open football, and Kieran Connaughton’s sliced effort flew over the bar to make it 0-7 to 0-4. 

Clann were full value for their lead, but Oran kept in touch through Charlie Carthy’s frees. As the half wore on, stopper Regan was lucky to avoid a black card for hauling down Shane Gavin. Paul McManus scored the resulting free and followed it up with a beauty from play, before Kenny was black carded by referee Aaron Clogher when an Oran player went to ground. 

Clann were down to 14 for the first eight minutes of the second half as Oran piled on the pressure with the extra man, and scored four points on the bounce to draw level. Paul McManus’ free after Cathal Duignan was fouled would be Clann’s only score of the half as Oran frustrated them and gained all the momentum. Ross Earley and Darragh Walsh’s free secured the two points for the visitors as Clann chased a goal that never came.

Carthy made another huge save late on as a goal-mouth skirmish came to nothing and Oran won a free-out before the final whistle.

Clann na nGael: Ronan Reilly; Tom Lennon, Fergal Lennon, Damien Duff; Oisin Lennon, Shane Pettit, Cathal Duignan; Oisin O’Flaherty 0-1, Kieran Connaughton 0-1; Shane Gavin, Ian Harney 0-1, Emmet Kenny 0-1; Paul McManus 0-5, 2f, David McManus 0-1, Jason Mulvey 0-1.  

Subs: Alan McManus for O’Flaherty 40mins; Gavin McManus for Mulvey 55mins.

Referee: Aaron Clogher (Padraig Pearses)

Match Report: Jason Byrne