Claremorris turn great late to advance
Niall Hurley (pictured), along with teammate Darragh Beirne, both scored 0-6 as Claremorris beat Moy Davitts in the U21A semi-final. Picture: INPHO/James Crombie
Moy Davitts were unable to hold on for victory against Claremorris in an enthralling county semi-final as seven unanswered scores in the closing stages turned a loss into a win for the visitors.
Moy Davitts took the lead through Adam Boukioud, coming inside before pointing off his left. Fiachra Cruise then found Cian McHale with a lovely curling kick pass from midfield to the right-hand side; McHale called his mark and converted.
Conor Reid then scored a goal after collecting Cruise's kick pass, he lost control of the ball in on goal but rolled it over the line as the Claremorris defense scrambled. The Moy men now led by five inside the first five minutes.
Claremorris got on the board from a Darragh Beirne free and followed it up with a point from full-forward Cathal Joyce. Colm McHale’s run down the left from wing-back set up a curling Jamie Clarke score, a minute after Claremorris replied through midfielder Matthew McCormack.
That was the start of a run of five unanswered Claremorris points; Beirne and Niall Hurley converted one and two frees respectively, and Johnny Cummins got one off a tight angle. Sean Ruane grabbed a fine score from play before a Beirne free left the visitors in front one at half-time.
The second half started with Cruise sending a ball sailing over the bar, lacing it high after Reid had won the throw-in. Jamie Clarke regained the lead for Moy Davitts as he was quickest to react when Moy Davitts dispossessed Claremorris in their own half, running to goal to fist over.
Cathal Joyce doubled his points tally on the turn after Niall Hurley almost bagged a goal for Claremorris, his strike from the edge of the area hitting the post. Cathal Clarke recovered the scraps of a Cian McHale free to grab a score, and at the midway point of the second half, Reid also sent one high between the posts.
A golden goal chance for Claremorris was pulled back for a free, much to their aggrievance. Niall Hurley duly pointed the opportunity, and Beirne followed that with his first from play. The Clarke brothers linked up for Moy Davitts to score one more as Jamie’s pass allowed Cathal to grab another point.
Cruise put Moy Davitts two in front with a point from the left that always was rising as it sailed over the bar. That was quickly followed by Cathal Clarke who made it three from play for him.
That Clarke score would be the final one for the hosts as seven unanswered points from Claremorris wrapped up a four-point win from what had looked like a three-point loss. Niall Hurley and Darragh Beirne combined for five of that seven, as a final point from substitute Darragh Fitzpatrick secured it.
