Clifden men blow big lead as Galway junior football decider goes to a replay

St Gabriel’s 1-8

Clifden  1-8

Cian O’Connell at Pearse Stadium

ST Gabriel’s produced a passionate rally to force a draw in an absorbing Galway junior football final  Pearse Stadium last Sunday/

A gripping game finished in a welter of excitement as Clifden failed to close the deal despite leading by seven points with only 14 minutes remaining.

Clifden had dictated the tone and tempo for three quarters of the match as Gabriel’s didn’t score from play until the 46th minute. Considering that statistic Clifden were bitterly disappointed not to claim victory following an enterprising burst at the start of the second half.

Feicin Mitchell’s opportunistic 40th minute goal was followed by a point from the influential Henry O’Toole as Clifden moved 1-8 to 0-4 ahead.

Amazingly, Clifden didn’t add to their tally as Gabriel’s embarked on a remarkable comeback mission as they eventually performed with the dash and dynamism which had defeated Caherlistrane in the North Board decider.

Substitute Emmett Leonard rattled a 52nd minute goal before the excellent Christy Donnellan restored parity at the death with a hotly disputed leveller.

During that late flurry, words had been exchanged on the sideline as Gabriel’s were aggrieved Clifden had played with 16 men for a matter of seconds. When Donnellan launched an improbable equalising point, several Clifden players weren’t happy when a score was rewarded.

Initially Gabriel’s struggled to deal with Clifden’s defensive set up; Marty Conneely dropped deep enabling Daniel Black to operate as a sweeper in the first half.

Essentially it meant that Gabriel’s forwards were shooting from awkward angles, and Clifden must have been satisfied with how it unfolded at the start. All Gabriel’s could muster before the interval was three points from placed balls, Clifden hit six.

Inevitably Clifden’s most potent threat was Ger Gibbons, who lofted four of those points, including one absolute beauty from play. Henry O’Toole and captain Damien Joyce also struck scores for Clifden, who were content that Gabriel’s were enduring problems converting. In the 18th minute Clifden custodian Vinny Heffernan made a brave save to deny Emmett Malone.

While Gabriel’s goalkeeper Stephen Creaven lofted the resultant 45 over the bar to end a 16 minute search for a score, Clifden appeared to be that little bit slicker at the opposite end with Gibbons to the fore.

After the restart Gabriel’s pushed up as they wanted to examine Clifden, but the West Board side remained in the ascendancy having led 0-6 to 0-3 at the interval.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.