Doran Oil
Premier 12 Football Group 3

 Clonakenny 3-05 Durlas Óg (B) 2-03

The second match in Templetuohy saw Clonakenny square up to Durlas Óg where again the team with first half advantage held the edge. Unfortunately, for Durlas Óg, the Clonakenny half time lead proved an insurmountable hill to tackle as they yielded to a dominant Clonakenny on the day.

From the off Clonakenny were threatening as Cain Russell pointed inside the opening minute. Though both sides kicked alternate wides a brace of goals by Cian O’Dwyer for Clonakenny in seven and eight minutes put his side in the driving seat, with Rory Nolan superb as he dictated the play. Conor Nesbitt was strong too at centre back for Clonakenny and he wasn’t giving an inch to the Durlas Óg forwards. He pointed in the twelfth minute in one of his forays down the field.

For Durlas Óg, captain Óisin O’Brien was having a fine game too and when his long ball in was blocked out by the keeper, Dean Fanning was following up and he hit the target to open the Durlas Óg account.

As the clock edged closer to half time Nesbitt’s long ball into the Durlas Óg goalmouth was not contained and as it hopped and bopped it broke loose to Nolan who hit the net, Clonakenny in control. But O’Brien responded with a point from a free for Durlas Óg to leave it 3-02 to 1-01 at the break.

Durlas Óg needed to get the opening scores to put Clonakenny under pressure but the ball wouldn’t go between the posts for them despite strong efforts from Daragh Stakelum and O’Brien outfield. Instead three points for Clonakenny without reply had them in firm control midway through the way with Sophie Cantwell and Aoife Shelly also trying hard up front and unlucky not to get scores on the board.

More attacks by Clonakenny were quelled by a Durlas Óg defence who had now found the rhythm there were seeking. That rhythm oozed into attack as they sought to reduce the deficit. Though a number of wides ensued, Conor Ruddy soon hit the net as he latched onto a high ball in off the left from Liam Kenny. Ruddy soon pointed with his adrenaline flowing and an outside chance of victory within his sides grasp. Not to be for Durlas Óg however, as O’Briens late point left too much of a gap with time just up; Clonakenny victorious thanks to an excellent first half and early dominance on the score board in the second.

Clonakenny captain, Cain Russell collected the cup on behalf of his team from sponsor Seamus Doran, who also presented the medals to both teams, with Joe O’Sullivan, Mid Bórd na nÓg Chairman also in attendance.

Clonakenny; Stephen Maher, Denis Hennessy, Kate Madden, Cain Russell (C) 03 (01f), Aaron Maher, Conor Nesbitt (02), Conor Longe, Cian O’Dwyer 2-00, Ciarán Shanahan, Rory Nolan 1-00, Adam Wallace, Mark Fogarty, David Hennessy, Matthew Davidson, Sophie Cantwell, Aoife Shelly, Kate Shanahan.

Durlas Óg (B); Stephen Donovan, Cian McDonnell, Luke Fogarty, Connor Fogarty, Dean Fanning 1-00, Liam Kenny, Óisín O’Brien (C) 02, Luke Beresford, Connor Whitehead, Eoghan Ryan, Jack McGrath, Aaron Cooke, Daragh Stakelum, Daniel Ruddy, Conor Ruddy 1-01.

Referee: Jonathan Cullen (Loughmore-Castleiney)