12/06/2023: Kildysart GAA Club was saddened today by the news of the passing of our long-term president, James Cleary, and a moment of silence was held in his honour before tonight's match. James played for Kildyart for many years and was a True Blue. We wish to extend our sincerest sympathies to Molly and all the Cleary family.
Kildysart/Coolmeen U15s are headed to the Division 2 semi-final after a very exciting quarter-final win over Clooney/Quin behind in Coolmeen this evening. It was a match that neither team deserved to lose but when the sides couldn’t be separated after added time – it went to penalties. TJ O’Donoghue’s brave save of Clooney’s first attempt gave Kildysart / Coolmeen the headspace it needed to win on penalties. Final score Kildysart/Coolmeen 4-15, Clooney/Quin 2-21 and 4 to 2 on penalties.
Clooney/Quin started very strong and opened the proceedings with a goal followed by unanswered 3 points. Liam Casey, who is reminiscent of a young Emmet McMahon, got Kildysart/Coolmeen on the board, followed quickly by a point from hard-working wingback Siney Neenan. Clooney/Quin countered with a point but Kildysart/Coolmeen narrowed the gap with 3 scores from the boot of Liam Casey, who was virtually unmarkable on the night, to leave just 2 points between the sides, Clooney/Quin 1-4, Kildysart/Coolmeen 0-5 with 10 minutes remaining. Clooney/Quin piled on the pressure but Kildysart/Coolmeen were kept in the game by an O’Donoghue goal-line save. But the boys in red & green were relentless and soon racked up 5 unanswered points. James Casey worked tirelessly in full back and made an important goal-line save. In the dying minutes of the half Kildysart/Coolmeen were awarded a penalty which Darragh Murtagh tucked into the bottom left-hand corner, to leave just a goal between the sides at the break, Kildysart/Coolmeen 1-6, Clooney/Quin 1-9.
A goal from the tenacious Mark Kennedy in the opening minutes of the restart leveled the match for the first time. This was enough to gee up Clooney/Quin and they again fired over another 5 unanswered points in the usually game-changing third quarter. There was a bit of a ruckus about whether a Kildysart/Coolmeen shot was wide or not which resulted in Kildysart/Coolmeen getting a player blacked carded (10-minute sin bin) with 12 minutes remaining. This put fire in the bellies of Kildysart/Coolmeen who fought for every ball up and down the pitch. When Murtagh scored his second goal and slotted over 2 points the sides were level for the second time, Kildysart/Coolmeen 3-8, Clooney/Quin 1-14 with 9 minutes remaining. In the topsy-turvy match that it was, Clooney/Quin raided for their second goal to extend the deficit to 3 points with 5 minutes on the clock. However, Kildysart/Coolmeen dug deep and never gave up. A point from play from Keelan Casey and a free from Liam Casey left just the bare minimum between the sides. And then with the last kick of regular time, Liam Casey converted a free from a difficult angle to draw level for the third time. Score at the final whistle: Kildysart/Coolmeen 3-11, Clooney/Quin 2-14.
As the competition is in the knockout stage, there had to be a result on the day so added time was to come. Kildysart/Coolmeen went into the lead for the first time when Liam Casey split the posts in the opening minutes. Clooney/Quin leveled the affairs once more before Kennedy won the ball at midfield and worked his way toward goal and set up Danny Moloney who finished to the net. Kildysart/Coolmeen ahead by 2 at the end of the added time first period, Kildysart/Coolmeen 4-12, Clooney/Quin 2-16.
Clooney/Quin started the second half brightly and with 4 unanswered points had tipped the pendulum back to their favour and up by 2. Ben Sheehan was influential in midfield winning high balls and setting up scores and when he got his first of the day –there was just one between them again. Scores from Liam Casey and Neenan put Kildysart/Coolmeen ahead again by 1 but when Clooney/Quin won a free deep into injury time, they made no mistake, and with the last kick of added time, they leveled things once more. Full Time after AET Kildysart/Coolmeen 4-15, Clooney/Quin 2-21, with penalties to come.
Darragh Murtagh had the unenviable task of going first but stood firm and coolly slotted to the net. Then the crowd totally erupted when TJ O’Donoghue stopped Clooney/Quin’s first effort. Liam Casey was up next and made it two to the good for Kildysart/Coolmeen. Clooney/Quin’s next effort fired over the crossbar to make it 2 nil to Kildysart/Coolmeen. Third to go was Ben Sheehan and he duly fired it passed the keeper. Clooney/Quin got their first penalty on their third attempt and after 3 rounds it was 3 to 1 to Kildysart/Coolmeen. Kildysart/Coolmeen missed on their fourth attempt and Clooney/Quin hit the target. James Casey was in the anchor position and he booted it past the keeper for the win and sent Kildysart/Coolmeen semi-final bound. Hats off to both teams for a really hard-fought match played in very hot and sunny conditions.
Kildysart/Coolmeen: TJ O’Donoghue, Ryan Keane, James Casey-captain, Oisin Garry, Shane Casey, Darragh Murtagh (2-2), Siney Neenan (0-2), Rueben Ginnane, Ben Sheehan (0-1), Aidan Murrihy, Liam Casey (0-9, 5 f), Keelan Casey (0-1), Mark Kennedy (1-0), Danny Moloney (1-0), Oran Meaney. Subs: Alex Garry for Keane (HT)
