Clonbur's juniors make short work of Meath champs

Clonbur 3-4Ballivor 0-3

Declan Tierney in Carrick-on-Shannon

THE lure of playing in Croke Park coupled with a determination not to be intimidated by highly fancied opposition combined to send Clonbur through to the All-Ireland Junior Club football final when they had a comprehensive victory over Meath side Ballivor.

Two goals inside the first quarter and then a match clinching goal a couple of minutes into the second half were the vital scores which will have the Clonbur players packing their bags for a memorable trip to the home of the GAA.

Clonbur showed great confidence and no small amount of skill as they seized nearly every scoring opportunity that came their way – this is evidenced by the fact that they had just two wides for the entire game while their opposition had more than a dozen.

A very knowledgeable member of the Press corps from Meath arrived at the venue in Carrick-on-Shannon with heaps of statistics about Ballivor. They had won their last 11 championship matches, had scored heaps of goals and heaps of points while conceding damn all in the process. They were even being touted as potential intermediate championship contenders in Meath. They even had a county player in their midst.

Poor Clonbur, the rest of us thought in advance of the ball being thrown in . . . they are going to be badly beaten. Reputations counted for nothing, however, as a swirling breeze made life difficult for the players and it did not provide much of an advantage for either side, but it was Clonbur who adapted better by taking a distinct advantage at midfield while their defence was rock solid. 

While Gerry Kyne was listed on the programme at corner forward, he was in the middle of the park for the throw in and spent the remainder of the game in the full back line where he had a huge influence on proceedings.

On three occasions he was underneath Ballivor efforts that fell short of the target while he started the move that led to Brian Keane’s goal after seven minutes which was, in fact, the opening score of the game. The move also involved Liam Diskin, Alan Kyne, Pat Lambe with Keane neatly slotting the ball underneath the goalie’s diving body.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.