Clonee capture back-to-back titles
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TWO GOALS in three second-half minutes from Jimmy Morris and Alan Byrne proved decisive as Clonee made it back-to-back Gorey District Junior 'D' football championship titles following a tight battle with neighbours Ferns St. Aidan's on Saturday last at Páirc Uí Síocháin.
Unfortunately for Ferns, they suffered disappointment for the second year running having also narrowly lost the 2009 decider to the Ballyduff men, who were subsequently defeated by St. James' in the county semi-final just a few days later.
However, it was the men in red who started this game brightly, opening up a 0-3 to 0-1 lead after 15 minutes thanks to points from Pat Codd (two) and Pat Nolan. Slow-starting Clonee eventually began to establish a foothold and two of the five Morris brothers in action, Jimmy and Michael, converted frees, before teenager Matthew Corrigan levelled matters shortly before half-time after a closely-fought opening 30 minutes (0-4 each).
Clonee dominated the opening ten minutes of the second-half but didn't capitalise, kicking some wasteful wides, and their determined opponents took advantage to edge 5-4 ahead after 41 minutes with another Codd point. However, the game swung in Clonee's favour minutes later as the long-serving Alan Byrne brilliantly palmed the ball to the net before Jimmy Morris raised a second green flag with a close-range finish after the Ferns defence had failed to clear.
Byrne added a good point, but to their credit Ferns struck back as substitute Theo Leacy sent a low shot past Paul Browne, with Edward Walsh and Anthony Dwyer adding points to set up a tense finish (2-5 to 1-7).
However, with Martin Morris particularly prominent, a tenacious Clonee defence withstood the pressure and Jimmy Morris added another point to his tally seconds before the final whistle.
Team captain Seán O'Neill accepted the cup from Gorey District Secretary Jack O'Brien, and his team will now take on Enniscorthy District champions HWH-Bunclody in the county semifinal.
