Mayo Minor Football Semi Final (Friday 8-September-95)

Claremorris survive Lahardane’s two-goal blast

Claremorris...........................0-16
Lahardane...............................2-4

Vinnie Cawley’s two brilliantly executed goals - one in each half - for Lahardane caused a certain amount of panic and concern in the Claremorris dugout, but the South Mayo side recovered their composure to book a place in the final of the county minor football championship.

It would have to be said that Claremorris were deserving of their six points win at McHale Park, Castlebar, on Friday evening, as they were more sharper up front and made very few errors in defence.

In contrast, the North Mayo champions, appearing in their first minor ‘A’ semi final, made several blunders in their short passing game to let Claremorris off the hook on several occasions, particularly in the closing quarter when they even drove a penalty wide in the dying seconds.

The Lahardane defence simply had no answer to the powerful displays of Karl Boyle at centre field and Ger Brady on the ‘40’. Between them they accounted for eleven points of the winners total, and also played a role in the remaining five scores.

Declan Leonard, Vinnie Cawley, John Rowland, Mervyn Marley, Shane Blake and Anthony Irwin performed with great heart for the Nephinsiders but it was insufficient to break down the Claremorris resistance.

In addition to Ger Brady, Neil Heneghan, Eamon Gill being the big threats to the Lahardane rearguard, Claremorris had other staunch performers in defence, notably David Whittle, Cathal Casey and Andy Joyce on the half-back line.

The North Mayo representatives only contribution to the scoreboard from play until just before the interval was one point, that coming from Cawley in the 10th minute.

At the other end of the field Claremorris landed some tremendous points, four by Karl Boyle, two by Ger Brady and one each by Neil Heneghan and Jimmy Horan to leave them 0-9 to 0-3 clear.

The first of Vinnie Cawley’s two magical goals came in the 29th minute when, taking advantage of a breaking ball about fifty meters out, he split the winners defence with a dazzling turn of speed to leave Mark Keane in the goal with no chance of saving his blaster from close range to leave only three points separating the teams.

That goal stung Claremorris into quick retaliation immediately after the resumption, as Boyle and Gill tacked on two points each to push them back into a commanding lead again with fifteen minutes remaining.

Cawley’s second goal for Lahardane - from another fine run through the centre - raised the level of Lahardane’s performance. Suddenly Claremorris looked vulnerable for the first time.

Lahardane came rushing at the Claremorris defence in packs and on a few occasions came close to scoring a third goal, particularly Ross Nolan’s effort into the side netting.

After successfully surviving Lahardane’s brave attempts to reduce the leeway, Claremorris finished strongly and were six points clear again when Cawley drove Lahardane’s late penalty wide.

Lahardane: David Coleman, David Burke, Anthony Irwin, Simon Rowan, Mervyn Marley, Adrian Marley, Declan Sheridan, John Rowland, Shane Blake, Declan Leonard (0-2); Vincent Cawley (2-2); Ross Nolan, Liam Canavan, Damien Kelly, Brian Rowland. Sub.: Steven Jordan (for Brian Rowland).