Clann na nGael Notes

Samhain Festival Ferbane 2008 7-a-side Tournament, Monday 27th October
Final: Clann na nGael 2-10 Erin Rovers (Pullough) 0-11
Clann beat Doon, St Rynaghs and a draw with Shannonbridge in their last pool game was enough to guarantee Clann a place in the final where they faced Erin Rovers who defeated Athlone in their last pool match to secure their place. The quality of football in the final was excellent considering tired limbs after nearly 5 hours on the go. Clann got a 2 goals near the end of the first half to give them a 5 point lead at half-time which they never looked like losing in the second half. Captain Brian Goode received this inaugural Cup on behalf of the team while Ronan O'Reilly received an award as Player of the Tournament.
Panel: Ronan O'Reilly, Niall McManus, Kenneth Dowling, Niall Shine, Gary Shine, Daniel Harney, Brian Goode, Mark Shine, Matt Scally, David Kelly.
 
O'Gara Cup Final Replay, Wednesday 29th October
Clann na nGael 0-16 St Croans 1-5
Less than 53 hours later Clann were receiving their the 2nd Cup in a week as they captured the O'Gara Cup in Ballyforan. Despite the persistent rain all day, the Ballyforan pitch held up as the rain finally stopped just before the throw in. Clann got the mark first as Cathal Shine registered his first point which was soon equalised by St Craons. A superb Darragh Lennon free was followed by two Matt Scally points from play before Johnny Dunning got his first point of the night. Two scores each from the minors Cathal and Darragh in the last ten minutes of the half left Clann in command 0-9 to 0-2. The defence was in total command in the first half with Niall McManus, Kenneth Dowling, Denis Gavin, Ray Fallon, Niall Shine and Ollie Harney shining and the forwards who were showing, despite several wides. The second half followed a similar pattern with Gary Shine, Brian Goode and David Kelly winning the midfield battle. There was five minutes gone in the second half when Cathal Shine got Clann's tenth point and a few minutes later after juggling with the ball one handed, he secured possession and set Johnny Dunning up for a point. St Croans pulled two points back at this stage before three points from Cathal Shine, Darragh Lennon and Johnny Dunning in a four minute spell. Further points from Matt Scally and Darragh Lennon rounded off Clann's scoring but the consession of a soft goal with two minutes to go was some reward for St Croans. Captain Johnny Dunning was presented with the O'Gara Cup afterwards.
Team: Ronan O'Reilly, Kenneth Dowling, Ray Fallon, Oliver Harney, Niall Shine, Gary Shine, Brian Goode, Darragh Lennon 0-5(2f), Matt Scally 0-3, David Kelly, David Henry, Cathal Shine 0-5, Jonathon Dunning 0-3.
Subs: Sean Walsh, Enda Fallon, Ronan Gavin, Emmet Rock, Daniel Harney, Niall Kennedy, Darren Lennon.  

U-21 Championship
Clann na nGael 0-9 Castlerea 0-4
Clann got their U21 Championship off to a good start with hard earned victory over Castlerea. They now play Padraig Pearses in Johnstown next Sunday at 12pm.
Team: Cathal Hannon, Derek Egan, Ollie Harney, Eugene Pettit, Ronan Gavin, David Flynn, Sean Walshe, Colin Nicholson, Graham Pettit (0-1), Darragh Lennon (0-4), David Lennon (0-1), James Keegan, Niall Lennon, Cathal Shine (0-2), Ian Lacey (0-1).
Subs: Donal Beirne, Ray Griffin, J.P. Dunning & Keith Kildea

Ladies U16 Division 1 Final
Clann na nGael 7-6 Strokestown 2-8
Clann U-16 girls captured the third county title for the ladies with a superb victory over a gallant Strokestown in Kiltoom on Sunday. After being comprehensively beaten by Strokestown in the group stages in early August, determination and hard work seen the girls suceed in the end. Clann got off to a good start with a pointed free from Blana Gately and when the same girl lobbed a high ball to the roof of the net it gave Clann the confidence to take the game to Strokestown. Another point from Blana and a goal from Niamh O'Brien put Clann in the driving seat. But Stroketown came back with their half-forward line putting tremendous pressure on the Clann defence and in the process scored three points in a row before Michelle Harney-Nolan fisted the ball to the back of the net. Strokestown's pressure continued and they struck for a superb goal to leave just four points in it before another Blana Gately point and a Michelle Harney-Nolan goal gave Clann a lead of 4-3 to 1-4 at half-time. The second half was seconds on when Kayleigh Dunning won a great ball and was fouled and Blana Gately put the resultant free over the bar. Michelle Harney-Nolan then completed her hat-trick of goals before a point from play from Blana Gately. Stroketown tried hard for goals but had to settle for pointed frees as Ciara Galvin and Rosa Shine made some great saves on the Clann line and Amy Curley in particular, constantly blocking the ball down. Half-way through the second half Strokestown got their goal but their joy was shortlived as Gillian Egan and Blana Gately struck for two more goals to make the game safe for Clann. Gillian Egan rounded off the scoring for Clann with a long range point from play and as the clock wound down the last few minutes, there was great defending around the Clann goalmouth as Strokestown tried in vain for goals. This was a good as team performance as one would see with some equally good subs introduced in the second half, but the halfback, midfield and the half-forward lines get special mention to the amount of running required to keep this Strokestown team at bay.
Team: Ciara Galvin, Deirdre O'Neill (c), Rosa Shine, Sorcha McManus, Gillian Wall, Amy Curley, Eva Coyle, Blana Gately 2-5, Kim Finlass, Rebecca Naughton, Orla O'Neill, Kayleigh Dunning, Michelle Harney-Nolan 3-0, Niamh O'Brien1-0, Gillian Egan 1-1.
Subs: Aisling Lennon, Karen Nicholson, Keeva Dunning, Michelle Dunning, Amy Shine, Aoife McManus, Amy Rooney, Katie Ward, Zoe Shine, Jennifer Duignan, Anna Shine, Katie Rock, Leanne O'Connor, Louise Curley, Aileen McEvilly, Martina O'Brien, Edel Flynn.