Wasteful St Michael’s outfit pay the price in Junior final

Kilkerrin-Clonberne 0-12

St Michael’s 0-10

(After extra time)

Mike Rafferty at Tuam Stadium

AIDED by two smashing saves by goalkeeper Francis Heverin, Kilkerrin-Clonberne pulled away to win the County Junior A football title in extra time at Tuam Stadium on Saturday afternoon and, in the process, collected the Paddy Sweeney Memorial Cup for their final success.

In a low scoring and competitive affair, both sides had spells of domination, but just when it looked like St Michael’s were going to seize the initiative in the first half of extra time, Heverin put his body on the line with two terrific blocks to deny David Tierney and Neil Grogan.

The saves obviously inspired the winners as almost immediately they knocked over three points in quick succession that turned the game their way, gaining an advantage they were never to lose.

Kilkerrin-Clonberne will certainly feel that they merited the victory as they were much more economical with their shooting and indeed had just one wide in the opening hour of the contest. They also took the lead at crucial stages of the game and the outcome was that the city side were chasing a score when the pressure was at its height.

Credit, however, to St Michael’s corner forward John Carroll who knocked over a real pressure kick deep in additional time as his side trailed by a point to force extra time. However, having gone to the well once, they were not able to repeat the feat in the latter stages of extra time. Kilkerrin-Clonberne dropped plenty of bodies into defence and shooting from long range was certainly not a strong point of the Newcastle/Westside outfit.

Indeed, some of their shooting was dreadful as they hit 13 wides in total while goalkeeper Heverin also collected numerous lobbed deliveries which fell into his grateful arms. In reality, St Michael’s just spurned too many chances.

There was more of a cutting edge about Kilkerrin-Clonberne as they appeared to have a better footballing team. In contrast, the city men had the opportunities to win the game, but their finishing let them down on a day that the title was there for the taking.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.