Sixmilebridge 6-13 Clarecastle 2-8

Last Wednesday evening in Cusack Park, Sixmilebridge under 14’s brought their championship to a close when they took on Clarecastle in the Under14A Shield Final. They were hoping to reverse a previous result in the earlier rounds where the Magpies came out well on top. Played in ideal conditions in a first class pitch with a strong breeze favouring Clarecastle in the first half, the Magpies started the stronger and two minutes in they were two points up with Scott Brack and Ben McNamara finding the target. Conor Murphy got the ‘Bridge up and running with a pointed free five minutes in, only to be cancelled out a minute later by an Aaron Hayes effort.

The ‘Bridge were however beginning to take control of this match and when Daniel Chaplin hit a ball towards the Clarecastle goal on 16 minutes it appeared to be going over the bar to level the match. It dipped right at the end and dropped into the back of the net to put the ‘Bridge ahead for the first time in the game. For the rest of the half they outscored Clarecastle 2-3 to 0-2 with Conor Murphy and Danny Dunne providing the goals and Fionn Hayes scoring two beautiful points to leave the halftime score 3-6 to 0-5 in favour of the ‘Bridge with a strong wind advantage to come in the second half.

Clarecastle moved Niall Brigdale from fullback to wing forward in an effort to stem the flow and he was very effective but the ‘Bridge also upped the tempo of their game. Conor Murphy scored his second goal four minutes in from a 30 metre free hit low and hard into the corner of the net. Niall Brigdale got two points for the Magpies but these were quickly cancelled by Brendan Carey and Conor Murphy points. The ‘Bridge pulled further away in the thirteenth minute when Fionn Hayes scored a cracking point. From the puck out Conor Murphy won possession and struck the ball into Fionn Hayes, who lobbed the keeper with the ball trickling over the line for goal number five. Fionn Hayes was himself the provider four minutes later when he laid off a lovely pass to Brendan Carey who gave Fionn Morgan in the Clarecastle goal no chance with a strike at speed into the top left corner. For the rest of the game it was the turn of the ‘Bridge backline to show their mettle as Clarecastle threw caution to wind and went on the offensive. They put the ‘Bridge backline under severe pressure with fast runs working the ball quickly towards the ‘Bridge goal.

They were met with an excellent Sixmilebridge backline showing great determination and skill breaking down several Magpie attacks. Seamus O’Connell’s long clearances were making Clarecastle’s cause worse as Fionn Hayes and Conor Murphy were mopping up a lot of ball in the forward line scoring 2 points each, all from play.

To their credit Clarecastle never gave up and it took a point blank save from Mark Sheedy in the ‘Bridge goal on 27 minutes to prevent a certain goal. The ‘Bridge conceded a penalty in the scramble to clear the ball and Mark Sheedy held his nerve again to save the penalty. As the game passed into injury time, Clarecastle’s James Doherty finally broke the ‘Bridge defence with a well taken goal followed a minute later with a goal from Niall Brigdale. Unfortunately for them it was too little too late.

For Clarecastle, Niall Brigdale was outstanding never giving up the fight right to the end while James Doherty and Oisin Whelan were also very impressive.

For Sixmilebridge Conor Murphy and Fionn Hayes were lethal in the forward line with Seamus O’Connell and Oisin Breen rock solid in defence. But to be honest the whole team should be mentioned for the attitude and work rate they displayed. To get some perspective of how much progress these lads have made in the last few months you need to go back to their Round 4 match in April V’s Clarecastle where they were well beaten by 17 points. Last Wednesday evening in Cusack Park the ‘Bridge Under14’s won the Shield final against the same opposition with a winning margin of 17points. Well done lads.

Management Team: Brendan O’Callaghan, Jim FitzGerald, Tim Crowe, Dermot O’Sullivan, Barry Forde.

Sixmilebridge: Mark Sheedy, Tan Greene, Seamus O’Connell (Capt.) Cian Johnson, Gary O’Callaghan, Oisin Breen, Lee Mulready, Tom Forde, Brendan Carey 1-1, Daniel Chaplin 1-0, Conor Murphy 2-7 (1-1F), Danny Dunne 1-0, Jack Holloway, Fionn Hayes 1-6, Dara Fitzgerald, Jack Lee, Cian Maxwell, Davey Hassett, Patrick Ahern, Conor Gilligan, Ian Collins, Fiachra O’Braoin, Finn McNamara, Alex Muldoon, Noah Sheehan, Evan Neenan, Sean O’Sullivan, Joshua Dillon.

Clarecastle: Fionn Morgan, Tola Carmody, Niall Brigdale (Capt.) 1-3 Nathan Casey, Sean Carney, James Doherty 1-0, Tiernan Collins 0-1, Hugh McDonnell, Conor Griffin, Niall Og Tuohy, Aaron Hayes 0-1, Scott Brack 0-1, Evan O’Connell, Ben McNamara 0-1, Oisin Whelan 0-1, Luke Aherne, Evan Price.

Referee: Andy McMahon