O"Gara goal proves the difference as Clann minors lose out to the Gaels

A 25th minute goal, finished by tear-away wing-forward James O"Gara - following a move involving Killian Egan and John McManus (son of legendary Clann and Ros" hero Tony McManus) - was the decisive score in this keenly contested Roscommon MFC Division 1 Semi-Final. Roscommon Gaels eventually reached this year"s County Final by a 3-point margin against a Clann na nGael fifteen who had the top scorer of the afternoon in 9-point hero Dara Lennon. A glorious Indian summer Saturday at perennially resplendent Kiltoom was the setting for this game, the first instalment of a double header at the Newpark venue, which produced football of a high standard from these Roscommon strongholds. The final outcome saw the town team stay in the race for their first title in the grade since 1999, having narrowly lost out to St. Brigid"s in the 2005 decider. Powered by their inter-county pairing of Cathal Shine (midfield) and Dara Lennon (full-forward) - who also starred with St. Aloysius College in 2008, Clann - managed by Lanesboro native Declan Flaherty - made the brighter start in the warm sunshine. Dara had his team ahead after just 12 seconds, and with Cathal and fellow midfielder John Harney prominent in the build-up, the No. 14 again split the uprights for point No. 2 (second minute). Maintaining their high-octane opening, the Johnstown lads almost struck gold in the ensuing moments, when Dara was again heavily involved in a foray which saw centre-forward Donal Byrne"s rasping shot go just wide with an open goal beckoning. Having survived that opening blitzkrieg, the town team, victors over Strokestown in the Quarter-Final, got right back into contention. Right half-forward James O"Gara, in particular, was instrumental in this renaissance, foraging deep into defence and injecting more impetus into attack with his darting runs. The young No. 10 opened his side"s account with a 6th minute point, turning provider for the equaliser, lofted over by centre-forward Dara Gilleran. Dara Lennon (free) and a smart Darren Coyle point for the Gaels had the sides level again on 13 minutes, while Coyle forced a good save from Clann custodian Cathal Hannon (17th minute). Seconds later, Gaels corner-forward Scotty Oates punched the ball to the Clann net from a 50-metre free, but the score was disallowed for a square infringement. Daniel Qualter was introduced to the Clann team, and with Eoin Hoare (Gaels) and Dara Lennon exchanging pointed frees, the teams were again deadlocked (0-4 each) on 19 minutes. Gaels then struck what would prove a lethal blow when, with John O"Gara again the orchestrator, Killian Egan, John McManus and Scotty Oates all featured in a scintillating move which saw O"Gara pull the trigger for a vital goal. It took some excellent defending by Cormac Harney and Andy McNamara to prevent Gaels from inflicting further damage on a besieged Clann rearguard. But Clann recovered well in the concluding stage of the half to cut the leeway to a minimum with a brace of Lennon frees. Half-Time: Roscommon Gaels 1-4, Clann na nGael 0-6. Clann management made a number of alterations at the interval including the re-siting of goalkeeper Cathal Hannon as a pivotal defender with Thomas Keogh taking over between the posts. Daniel Qualter placed Cathal Shine for an equalising point inside the opening minute of the resumption, and Clann"s spirits were high when centre-forward Donal Byrne shot them into the lead seconds later. However, events were about to take a turn in favour of a Ros Gaels squad who must be praised for the splendid work ethic which typified their play against a justifiable highly rated Clann side. The O"Gara/Kelly midfield axis wrested the initiative in this sector, culminating in a 21-minute period in which they went on to out score the Johnstown side by 0-7 to 0-2. The diminutive Scotty Oates proved tormentor in chief with 4 points (2 frees), with outstanding wing-forward James O"Gara, Eoin Hoare (free) and Dara Gilleran also contributing to this total. A brace of Dara Lennon frees was the Clann response to this Gaels spell of ascendancy. The town team had lost wing-back David Hughes in this spell, with a neck injury necessitating his removal to hospital, but they now held a 1-11 to 0-10 lead as full-time approached. Clann, conquerors of Eire Óg in the Quarter-Final, fought might and main to get back into contention, but a trio of scorable wides were frittered away at a crucial stage. Cormac Harney placed Dara Lennon for a good point, but it was now Gaels" turn to miss chances of closing out this Semi-Final. John McManus concluded the Gaels" scoring for the evening (61st minute), but while Clann maintained the pressure in the 7 minutes of injury time allowed by referee Marty Parker, their only reward was a Cathal Shine point, which hopped in the Gaels" square before going over the crossbar. At the denouement, accordingly, it was Roscommon Gaels who prevailed, their reward being a final date with St. Ciaran"s, Fuerty, who narrowly overcame Padraig Pearses, by a 2-point margin in the other Semi-Final, over in Ballyforan, later in the evening. Gaels" key strength in this game was a greater distribution of scoring power in attack, where five of their starting forwards got on the scoresheet. They also displayed a commendable work ethic following a slow start. In a team which showed a uniform balance throughout, they had stars in defenders David Finlay, Ronan Gleeson and John McManus, midfielder David Kelly, and forwards James O"Gara, Dara Gilleran, Darren Coyle, along with second-half hero Scotty Oates. They will be hard beaten in the Final. Clann will be disappointed with the overall result, but, on the day, they can have few complaints about the outcome. They, often struggled in defence against the lively Gaels attack, but Cormac Harney, Andy McNamara and Cathal Duignan did play well in this sector. Cathal Shine, in particular, and John Harney had spells of prominence in the centre of the park, but the attack was hugely dependant on sharpshooter Dara Lennon, who certainly didn"t let them down with 9 points, and where Donal Byrne was their only other starting forward to score on the day. SCORERS - Roscommon Gaels - J O"Gara (1-2), S Oates (0-4, 2f), D Gilleran (0-2), E Hoare (0-2, 2f), D Coyle (0-1), J McManus (0-1). Clann na nGael - D Lennon (0-9, 6f, 0-2 '45'), C Shine (0-2), D Byrne (0-1). Roscommon Gaels - Dara Walsh, Kevin Maher, Pádraig Feeney, David Finlay, David Hughes, Ronan Gleeson, John McManus, Kevin O"Gara, David Kelly, James O"Gara, Dara Gilleran, Darren Coyle, Killian Egan, Eoin Hoare, Scotty Oates. Sub: Conor Flahive for Hughes (inj. 44). Clann na nGael - Cathal Hannon, Keith Kildea, Kevin Naughton, Cathal Duignan, Niall O"Connor, Cormac Harney (Capt), Andy McNamara, John Harney, Cathal Shine, Eoin Connaughton, Donal Byrne, Cathal Cunniffe, Martin Lennon, Dara Lennon, Emmet Kenny. Subs: Daniel Qualter for Naughton (18), Conor Duignan for Kildea and Thomas Keogh (goalie) for Kenny (both h-t), E Kenny for Connaughton (57), K Naughton for M Lennon (65). Referee - Marty Parker (St. Faithleach"s).