Photo: Clonard's John McNevin

Junior D Championship Quarter Final

Clonard 2-9 Carnaross 1-18

Bective was the venue for this Junior D heavyweight quarter-final clash between Clonard and Carnaross, on a typically wet and cold Irish autumn evening. Both clubs are having a fine year, with their first team counterparts in opposite semi-finals of the Junior A championship next weekend.

Any true GAA person will tell you, championship quarter-finals don’t come easy, from Senior to Junior D grade. It’s hard to reach one and even harder to win one, irrespective of the grade, and it always has the same importance for those involved. As both teams took to the field it was obvious to those in attendance that the similarities between the clubs didn’t end with their achievements this year, as both sides struggled to put bodies on the bench and fielded plenty of ‘masters’ experience in their starting fifteen.

Carnaross notched the first point on the Bective scoreboard inside the first minute but Clonard replied with a free from Niall Walsh followed by a fine point from play from Adrian Boland. It was a lively start for both sides and got even better for Clonard on the five-minute mark when a great run by the always mobile Cyril Treacy saw him kick a long pass towards the Carnaross goal, the goalkeeper seemed to hesitate and John McNevin stretched his long arm to fist the ball past him for the first goal of the game.

The goal seemed to spur the opposition to life as they started to dominate the midfield battle. Alan O’Donoghue and Adrian Boland struggled to win clean ball, as all the breaks were picked up by the Carnaross men. The possession stats were rewarded on the scoreboard as they kicked several fine points from distance, in fact anyone that walked in late might have mistaken the clash for a far higher grade of championship.

In that crucial spell between the 5th and 25th minute, this game was completely dominated by the north Meath side as they scored 10 quality points, with Clonard’s only score in that period coming from the boot of Davey Doyle, in his typical ‘twist and turn’ style, a score that matched the quality of the Carnaross points at the opposite end.

With the game seemingly slipping away from the Clonard men with 5 minutes remaining of the half, and Carnaross leading 1-10 to 1-2, they then showed why they had reached a quarter final and displayed great character, scoring a goal and point to make the game a contest once again. The goal coming from a Ciaran Darby penalty after Shane Patton was hauled to the ground when about to pull the trigger. The point came from the steady boot of Davey Doyle for the second time and the deficit was back to just four points. Carnaross were not shaken though as another two fine pointed efforts before the break saw them lead at the half time whistle, 1-12 to 2-3.

Clonard management gathered their troops at half time and pointed out a few home truths of the first half, and also mentioning Carnaross’ amazing scoring rate from play, a half when everything seemed to go right for them. The young and talented Eoghan Dowdall was withdrawn as he had to make his way to Longwood to play a minor championship quarter-final just an hour later, great dedication shown by the young man, and by his team mate Robbie Quirke, who also had to play two games back to back. In Eoghan Dowdall’s place came the return of Darren McNevin, after many years absent, a tremendous talent in his teenage years, representing various under-age county teams with distinction, it was great for Clonard GAA supporters to see him back in the blue and yellow jersey.

Clonard started the second half positively as Darren McNevin almost make the perfect introduction when his long-range effort was hesitantly waved wide by the umpire, and hotly disputed on the side-line. Adrian Boland added his second from play and then another from a free as Clonard were dominating for the first time in the match.

At the back, the wiley Ray Brennan was giving nothing away to opposite number, constantly winning possession and getting a hand in before his opponent. A Niall Walsh free then brought the deficit back to just four with 20 minutes left to play. Alan Campbell’s introduction in midfield was paying dividends as he collected the kick-outs to win the important marks.

Carnaross were again not deterred by Clonard’s strong character as they pointed three times in-a-row to stretch their lead to seven. But once again Clonard hit back with three in-a-row themselves, all from the boot of 42-year-old veteran Niall Walsh, two of which came from dead-balls. Clonard could sniff a chance of victory but wides from Alan Campbell and Davey Doyle meant they couldn’t reduce the deficit to that single score of a goal. Instead Carnaross punished them with two more points in injury team and the final whistle sounded, Clonard 2-9 Carnaross 1-18.

It’s been a wonderful year for this squad and particular mention must be given to bainisteoir Eamonn Campbell, back In January the club appointed an outside manager for the first time in several years and that meant a separate manager was required for the second string. No-one came forward and after a lot of convincing he took charge and got winning results against Boardsmill, Drumbaragh and Bective. There are more players out there that might be coaxed back for next year’s squad, and if so, and the ‘big lad’ can be convinced again, they may well go one, two or three steps further.

Now all attention turns to Saturday’s Junior semi-final clash with Moylagh. Let’s hope we see great support in Kildalkey for the club, such a crucial match that doesn’t require words to express it’s importance.

TEAM: 1.Robbie Quirke 2.Johnny Campbell 3.Ray Brennan 4.Ciaran Darby (1-0p) 5. Cormac Fitzsimons 6.Shane Dunne 7.Cyril Treacy 8.Alan O’Donoghue 9.Adrian Boland (0-3 0-1f) 10. Eoghan Dowdall 11.Niall Walsh (0-4 0-3f) 12.Pauric O’Donavon 13.David Doyle (0-2) 14.John McNevin (1-0) 15.Shane Patton

Subs: Darren McNevin for E.Dowdall, Alan Campbell for S.Patton, Barry Connolly for J.McNevin, J.McNevin for R.Brennan (B/C)