Clann's bright start proves false dawn

No more than 350 were present in the vast amphitheatre of Dr. Hyde Park for the start of the second Roscommon SFC Quarter-Final on Saturday's programme when their meeting of Clann na nGael and Western Gaels became a reality. This reporter's thoughts went back to that wonderful minor final of 2002 between the same protagonists (won by Western Gaels 0-15 to 2-7), a kaleidoscope of all that was good in football. Would we have another showpiece in this latest contest, this time for a senior semi-final berth? But do the wider public care any more? Early exchanges, alas, were anything but encouraging, at a headquarters still basking in sunshine, in realising the ambition. Inside the opening seconds, it took a brilliant block-down by long serving Clann corner-back Denis Gavin to prevent a certain goal from Gaels full-forward Kevin Higgins, while goalie Ronan O'Reilly was on his toes to deny marauding wing-forward Seanie McDermott a major score. The game then deteriorated into a series of bad wides on both sides. Even allowing for the vigilance of both defences in forcing their respective opponents to shoot from distance, marksmanship was poor, and we had to wait until the 10th minute for a score, when Donal and Cathal Shine did the approach work for Enda Kenny to strike a Clann point that ignited Enon Gavin's charges. And they were richly rewarded two minutes later when the excellent Cathal Shine ran onto a through ball from Darragh Lennon for a brilliant goal. It would only get better for a Clann side (lining out in the St. Aidan's strip due to the clash of colours) buoyed by that Shine goal. Cathal drew another foul punished by Donal Shine and, while Kevin Higgins forced another good save from Ronan O'Reilly at the other end, the Johnstown men hit two further points in this golden spell. A beautiful crossfield ball from Donal Shine found Matt Scally who lofted over a fine point, while Gaels defender Michael Higgins was forced to concede a '45' under serious pressure from Mark Shine, duly converted by Donal Shine (18th minute). Thus, in a barnstorming 8-minute blitz, Clann had struck for an amazing 1-4 and looked in prime position to assert further authority over visibly shell-shocked opposition. However, there would follow a seismic renaissance in the fortunes of Western Gaels, who, to date, had failed to raise a flag. It was Christopher Collins who opened their account in the 20th minute with a point from play, and the same player, following good work by hard grafting corner-forward Thomas Mahon, broke through for a morale-boasting goal two minutes later, to put them right back in contention. Gaels maintained the offensive, Mahon again turned provider for James McDonnell to register a 27th minute point. Now only two points to the good, Clann needed a score to steady the ship, and midfielder David Kelly obliged when pointing on 28th minutes. On the stroke of half-time, custodian Ronan O'Reilly again proved heroic when stopping a bullet from Cathal Cregg (wearing No. 8 but listed as No. 12 on the programme - this is simply not good enough in a SFC Quarter-Final). But Jimmy Lyons' men finished the half on a positive note when centre-back John Nolan forged upfield to point on the run (31st minute). After that earlier Clann blitzkrieg, the scoreboard at the break gave notice of a resurgent Gaels as they trailed by just two points, 1-5 to 1-3. On an evening when the wind wasn't a factor, the Frenchpark/Ballinagare squad, wearing the Red and Black Elphin colours, made what would prove a master move when shifting Kevin Higgins to midfield from his starting full-forward berth. Higgins shot two early points to tie up the match in lighting fashion, and while Donal Shine's 39th minute pointed free (late foul on Enda Kenny) put Clann ahead again, it would only be of brief duration as we now were about to witness the Derek Moran show. Moran, who had been held scoreless to date in this quarter-final, but all was now about to change. The centre forward registered 3 points (one free) in as many minutes (42nd, 43rd and 44th) with Kevin Higgins (off load from the terrier-like Thomas Mahon) adding a fourth on the trot. Clann's Niall McManus (wearing No. 28, a number allotted to sub Daniel Harney on the programme) advanced from his right half-back berth to point from play (49th min.). But Moran again turned tormentor-in-chief when converting two frees. Now leading 1-11 to 1-7 with 8 minutes of normal time left (we would actually have an additional 6 minutes of injury time), Gaels had turned the match very much in their favour, out-scoring Clann in that third quarter by 0-6 to 0-1. Substitute Daniel Qualter pointed for Clann on 54 minutes, but Thomas Mahon again did the spadework for a Cathal Cregg point a minute later. Enon's Gavin's men gave of their all in those critical final stages. A brace of points, from Matt Scally and just-introduced sub Ross Naughton, cut the margin to two points, but with the match not two minutes into injury time, a seriously questionable free awarded for an alleged foul on James McDonnell was pointed by Derek Moran to bring his scoring haul to six points. Still, Clann persisted, and when full back and Captain David Flynn joined his attackers and forced a foul, Donal Shine pointed the free. Another excellent point from Ross Naughton - he had now scored the equivalent from play as many of his team's starting forwards - left it a one-point game. Roared on by their faithful following, Clann fought tigerishly for an equaliser. Six minutes into injury time, they again secured possession, but a misdirected pass came to Christopher Collins, who seized the opportunity to land what proved the insurance score. Gaels recovered well from that first-half Clann scoring flurry, with the switching of Kevin Higgins ultimately decisive. Their defence settled after early hesitancy with solid displays from Adrian Frayne, Eamonn Ryan and John Nolan. Cathal Cregg and Higgins held the whip hand at midfield, with Christopher Collins, Derek Moran and Thomas Mahon (though not scoring) leading the way up front. It was a case of so near and yet so far for Clann, who saw this game slip away in the third quarter. In a defence when came under sustained second-half pressure, goalie Ronan O'Reilly was outstanding with David Flynn, Denis Gavin, Darragh Shine and Niall McManus working diligently. Midfield proved an unsatisfactory sector while, up front, Cathal Shine (early on), Matt Scally, Donal Shine and sub Ross Naughton impressed. SCORERS - Western Gaels: D Moran (0-6, 4f), C Collins (1-2), K Higgins (0-3), J McDonnell (0-1), J Nolan (0-1), C Cregg (0-1). Clann na nGael: Donal Shine (0-4, 3f, 0-1 '45'), C Shine (1-0), M Scally (0-2), R Naughton (0-2), E Kenny (0-1), D Kelly (0-1), N McManus (0-1), D Qualter (0-1). Western Gaels: Padraig Cummins, Adrian Freyne, Dermot McGarry, Michael Higgins, Eamonn Ryan, John Nolan, David Ryan, Cathal Cregg, Adrian Dockery, Seanie McDermott, Derek Moran, Christopher Collins, Thomas Mahon, Kevin Higgins, James McDonnell. Subs: Patrick Mahon for David Ryan (16); Daniel Farrell for Dockery (48). Clann na nGael: Ronan O'Reilly, Ollie Harney, David Flynn (capt), Denis Gavin, Darragh Shine, Brian Goode, Niall McManus, David Kelly, Colin Nicholson, Matt Scally, Mark Shine, Enda Kenny, Darragh Lennon, Cathal Shine, Donal Shine. Subs: Daniel Qualter for Nicholson (39); Ross Naughton for Lennon (56). Referee: Marty Parker (St. Faithleach's), who issued four yellow cards, three to Clann na nGael during the game.