Extra-time epic sees boys in blue reach final
Adam Beirne scored 1-6 for Claremorris as they secured their place in the final of the Mayo U21 'A' football championship after a thrilling clash with Aghamore.
Rarely has a team been made work so hard for victory.
Rarely has a team worked so hard and come away with nothing.
Claremorris booked their ticket to this season’s Mayo U21 ‘A’ football championship final on Sunday morning when overcoming their hosts Aghamore by 3-15 to 1-19 after extra-time.
Aghamore led this game on just one occasion during the third quarter of normal time yet doggedly refused to let their visitors ever get out of sight. In the end however, it was the illustrious Claremorris full-forward line of Niall Hurley and the Beirne brothers Adam and Darragh, that made all the difference.
Hurley struck 2-2 and Adam Beirne 1-6, on a day where the scoreboard made a mockery of the winter conditions. Indeed both sets of players deserve tremendous credit for serving up such a high-octane encounter in the cold, wet and windy conditions.
Goals against the breeze by Niall Hurley and Adam Beirne inside the opening twelve minutes hinted that things might come easy to Claremorris, however, some exceptional long range points by Rob O’Flaherty, Jack Concannon and free-taker Cillian Mooney meant that Aghamore were level-pegging at half-time, 0-10 to 2-4.
The loss of county man Tom O’Flaherty to injury after only seven minutes was a cruel blow to Aghamore but such was their spirit, they kicked the opening two points of the second-half against the wind, both of them frees by Mooney, to take the lead for the first time.
Claremorris had to play ten minutes with fourteen men because of a black card to Niall Hurley but upon his return, brother Dara kicked a point and Adam Beirne drove over four, to leave the Blues 2-9 to 0-12 ahead after 49 minutes.
Sub Brian Greally lashed a rebound over the crossbar after Briain Breslin’s initial goal effort had been deflected against the post and so Aghamore remained two points behind when Cillian Mooney hammered over an equalising free from outside the arc in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
The hosts even had a chance to win the game when Greally’s goal effort was deflected for a ’45, however, referee Kieran Barnicle, to Aghamore’s frustration, didn’t allow the kick to be taken and blew for full-time.
Late black cards to Oisin Casey and Conall Breslin meant Aghamore began extra-time with only thirteen players and by half-time they were five points adrift, with singles by Niall Hurley and Darragh Beirne, from a free, preceding a superb solo goal by Hurley, which left Claremorris 3-13 to 0-17 in front.
The two black-carded Aghamore players returned with maximum impact, as Oisin Casey fired over a two-pointer and Conall Breslin smashed home a brilliant goal, to level matters with three minutes of extra-time left to play.
The breeze was at Claremorris backs however, and Niall Hurley and sub Sean O’Connell restored a two points lead.
There was one last opportunity for Aghamore to force a penalty shoot-out but Derry Og Cox, who had been a real thorn in the side of Claremorris throughout, was unfortunate to see his two-point attempt float just wide of the target.
The full-time whistle sounded immediately and Claremorris were on the right side of the scoreboard. Just.
