Caherlistrane snatch it

Caherlistrane Junior A football champions after defeating Moycullen in the county final. Back row, left to right: Eric Monahan (selector), Ryan Monahan, Shane Nally, Derek Higgins, Luke O’Brien, Paddy Jennings ,Damien Walsh, Brian Keane, Shane Lawless, Cillian Bohan, Conor Faulkner, Liam Higgins, Kevin Mannion, Bernard O’Brien. Front row: Enda O’Connor, Darragh Keane, Stephen Bohan, Rory Conlon, J J Greaney, Michael Conroy (Capt), Jonathan Glynn, Shane O’Connor, Cathal Reilly, Adrian Murphy.

placeholder image — Caherlistrane Junior A football champions after defeating Moycullen in the county final. Back row, left to right: Eric Monahan (selector), Ryan Monahan, Shane Nally, Derek Higgins, Luke O’Brien, Paddy Jennings ,Damien Walsh, Brian Keane, Shane Lawless, Cillian Bohan, Conor Faulkner, Liam Higgins, Kevin Mannion, Bernard O’Brien. Front row: Enda O’Connor, Darragh Keane, Stephen Bohan, Rory Conlon, J J Greaney, Michael Conroy (Capt), Jonathan Glynn, Shane O’Connor, Cathal Reilly, Adrian Murphy.

Caherelistrane 1-12

Moycullen 1-11

CAHERLISTRANE and Moycullen produced a thrilling finish to the County Junior A football final at a wet and windy evening at the Prairie (Salthill) on Saturday.

The opening quarter saw Moycullen in complete control as they raced into a seven point lead as Caherlistrane failed to raise a flag. Niall Mannion got the ‘green and white’ off to a flying start with two points in as many minutes before Enda Noone landed number three from play on seven minutes.

Chris Hurney added to their tally two minutes later with a point from play and when Martin Mulkerrins set up Patrick Bane for number five midway through the half, Caherlistrane were stunned but they produced a mini come back as Conor Faulkner landed a point from a free followed a minute later by well taken goal from the same player.

It was now a one point game with ten minutes to go but white flogs from Mannion and Gaelen O’Toole extended Moycullen’s lead to three, 0-7 to 1-1, and they were unlucky when a late goal chance drifted to left and wide.

The swirling breeze slightly favoured Moycullen in that opening half and despite Caherlistrane’s two minute scoring spree, the Gaeltacht men were on top in most sectors, but Caherlistrane also had their share of possession only to register five wides before their opening score.

Cathal Clancy extended Moycullen’s lead in the opening minute of the second half as he pointed from play, but a brace of points from Faulkner (free) and Michael Conroy kept Caherlistrane ticking over. Mannion then hit his fourth point after 36 minutes before a Moycullen effort for a point came back off the post and Chris Hurney was first to react and finished to the net to give his side a 1-9 to 1-3 lead.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.