Lowney goals put Beara in final after thrilling victory over Clonakilty

Beara Community School 2-13

It's been many years since the standard at this level has been so high, and little wonder that a number of players are very much in contention for places on this year's county minor team.

Beara won, and deservedly so, because they have an extra couple of outstanding players, but Clonakilty, who made most of the running in the first half when aided by the wind, will wonder how they let that five point lead slip.

Clon, with John Connolly very prominent at midfield, raced into an early two point but Beara were level after 10 minutes as the game settled into a marvellous free flowing contest.

Donncha Lowney showed why he is a potential county minor with a peach of a Beara goal in the 13th minute, but Connolly's effort a minute later was magnificent as he beat the Beara keeper from 20 metres with an unstoppable shot.

With Connolly lording it at midfield, Clon took complete control from there to the break, and a succession of excellent points had them 1-9 to 1-4 in front at the short whistle.

Beara must have got a right rollicking from their coach at the break because there was far more bite in their play on the change over and in the space of five minutes had drawn level, helped by a second goal from Lowney.

With Sean Joe O'Sullivan outstanding at full-back and Barry Goggin not too far behind him at centre-back, Beara exerted enormous pressure on the Clon defence which yielded three points in a row, and they were looking likely winners.

However in a breakaway attack, Clon won a dubious penalty. But John Connolly's effort came back off the upright before Beara keeper Richard Power denied the Clon man with a brilliant save from the rebound at the expense of a fruitless 45.

Lowney showed his class with two excellent points to ease the pressure on his defence, but Clon made one last-ditch effort to save the game only to see Colm Callanan's attempt crash off the upright before going wide.

Beara's, who are the holders, will now meet St Brogan's in the final and that's a game not to be missed.

Scorers for Beara: D Lowney 2-4 (0-1 free); C Harrington 0-4 (0-2 free); T O'Sullivan, R Minihane 0-2 each; B Goggin 0-1.

Clonakilty: J Connolly 1-3; P Kingston, K O'Brien 0-2 each; C Callanan, M Cahill, D Murphy, S Quirke 0-1 each.

BEARA: R Power; D Crowley, SJ O'Sullivan, K O'Sullivan; A O'Sullivan, B Goggin, D Harrington; PJ Gonnley, P O'Sullivan; A O'Sullivan, S Lowney, R Minihane; C Harrington, T O'Sullivan, D Lowney.

Sub: C O'Sullivan for Minihane.

CLONAKILTY: E Long; S Nagle, J McCarthy, M Finn; R O'Flynn, B McSweeney, F Coughlan; D Murphy, J Connolly; C Callanan, S Quirke, M Cahill; K O'Brien, P Kingston, M Whelton. Subs: M McCarthy for Whelton; S Beamish for Finn.

Referee: F Minihane (Ballydehob).