This early season top of the table clash at Pairc Uí Briain was a much closer affair than the scoreline suggests.
Eire Og led by 0-7 to 0-5 at half-time and Clonmore only took the lead for the first when Owen Coleman converted a penalty in the 40th minute after being hauled down when clean through on goal. This put Clonmore 1-6 to 0-8 ahead and with the wind in their backs, held their lead until the end despite some intense pressure from the home team. With John McGrath winning everything at full-forward, a string of points from Gavin Byrne, Niall Humphries, Con Murphy, Kevin McCarney and wing back Willlie Byrne kept the scoreboard ticking over until Owen scored a second goal in the 56th minute to put Clonmore 2-11 to 0-10 ahead and end the game as a contest. A late rocket from sub Mark A Byrne was the icing on the cake. This was a tough test for Clonmore’s young team against a strong Eire Og side that battled all the way and had an outstanding performer in centre-forward, Dara O’Brien, who scored 0-9.
Teams: Clonmore: Collie McGrath, Paul Hogan, Shane Murphy, John Kelly, Willie Byrne (0-1), Ronan Doyle, Michael Murray, Gavin Byrne (0-5), Con Murphy (0-1), Niall Humphries (0-3), Enda McGrath, Jamie Walsh, Owen Coleman (2-0), John McGrath, Darren McGrath. Subs: Kevin McCarney (0-1), Mark A Byrne (1-0), Mark D Byrne.
Eire Og: Jordan Roche, Sean Wogan, Alan Byrne, Stephen Purcell, Paddy O’Brien, James Ryan, Shane Kelly, Mark Fitzgerald (0-1), Darragh Coffey, Johnny Dowling, Dara O’Brien (0-9), Cian Clancy, Tommy Wynne (0-1), James Ruth, Lee Callinan. Subs: Colm Griffin, Ross McGee, Ronan Murphy, Cian O’Brien (0-1), Mick Geraghty.
Ref: John Smithers (Fenagh).
Next Div 2 game is at home to Asca next Sunday at 5.30pm.
PHOTO: Owen Coleman whose two goals against Eire Og were decisive.
