Men's Senior League - Clann 0-12 0-12 Boyle

CALM weather, but it was stormy on the field as Clann got their O’Rourke Cup campaign underway with a draw against Boyle. There was confusion aplenty as both sides got to grips with the new rules in Johnstown, and a pulsating second half of football failed to separate the teams. Sea Henry’s super double off the bench looked to have won it for Clann, before Boyle snatched a point thanks to Oisín Cregg’s score six minutes into stoppage time. 

Clann commanded the first half well as their defence haunted Boyle with turnovers and Dylan Sumner, Shane Gavin, Emmet Kenny and two from Paul McManus made it 0-6 to 0-2. Niall O’Donnell’s frees dragged Eamonn O’Hara’s men back into the game, and Clann’s lead was cut to two by the break.  

A fiery second half followed - as the Clann management were left baffled by some of the linesman’s calls and the new rules failed to help things either. David McManus was black carded, which meant Clann only had to keep two players in the Boyle half instead of three. But the visitors took full advantage of the extra man and reamed off the next five points to go 0-10 to 0-7 ahead thanks to Daniel Casey and O’Donnell frees. 

Boyle picked up a black card just as McManus came back on to the pitch, as his frees levelled it before Henry’s slick double off the bench. More mayhem and confusion followed, before Boyle snatched a draw on the whistle thanks to Cregg’s last-gasp kick. 

Our Matrix Bathroom and Heating sponsored senior men’s team are in O’Rourke Cup action again on Friday, March 14th against Strokestown at 8pm in Johnstown. 

CLANN: Sean Kelly; Shane Gavin 0-1, Fergal Lennon, Shane Pettit; Patrick Gavin, Michael Harrington, David Connaughton; Dylan Sumner 0-1, Kieran Connaughton; Emmet Kenny 0-1, David McManus 0-4f, Fearghus Lennon; Paul McManus 0-3, 1f, Graham Pettit, Josh Lennon. Subs: Evan Quinn for Paddy Gavin HT, Shea Henry 0-2 for Fearghus Lennon HT, Oisín O’Flaherty for Graham Pettit 48mins, Cian McManus for Emmet Kenny 60mins

REFEREE: Aaron Clogher (Padraig Pearses)

Report by Jason Byrne