Keane points the way for Coláiste an Risigh

Coláiste an Risigh, Ennis 1-14 Cashel CS 2-5

Midfielder Keane finished the game with nine points of his side’s tally and while all but one of them came from placed balls, his accuracy was superb, and marked him out as a player with a particular talent.

While Keane undoubtedly the scoring hero, goalkeeper Brian O’Loughlin made a number of outstanding saves and couldn’t be faulted for the two that beat him; John O’Loughlin at full back was another who made a massive contribution to his school’s victory, while Conor Lynch, Gary Hogan, Fiachra Conlon and Shane Brennan were others to do well for the winners.

Despite the defeat, Cashel made a huge contribution to the game, and the final scoreline is a bit hard on them. Outfield they were more than a match for their opponents, but their finishing was woeful and they finished up with a dozen wides to just one by the Clare side.

Kevin O’Leary, Ray Heffernan, and David Butler gave little away in defence but there was a distinct lack of penetration in attack where only Jonathan Grogan posed any real threat, and he finished the game with 2-2.

Lively corner forward Fiachra Conlon got the Ennis side off to the perfect start with a point after a minute, and with his outfield colleagues delivering quality ball, he struck for his side’s only goal in the 11th minute to put his side 1-3 to nil in front.

It took Cashel 20 minutes to open their account with a Jonathan Grogan point but with the Ennis side giving nothing away in defence, they went on to lead 1-7 to 0-3 at the break, all the Cashel scores coming from placed balls.

If Cashel were going to make a game of it they needed an early second half goal, but Brian O’Loughlin between the posts for the Clare school kept a clean sheet denying Paudie Slattery with an excellent save. While Dara Keane’s accuracy from frees, edged his side further ahead, 1-10 to 0-5, by the three-quarter stage with the Tipp side still to score from play.

To their credit Cashel did apply a lot of pressure on their opponents defence, but a combination of poor finishing and excellent defending meant they got little reward, until the 55th minute when Jonathan Grogan was on hand to finish the sliothar to the net but not before Brian O’Loughlin had denied Cathal Ryan with another great save.

The pressure kept mounting on the Clare defence in the closing minutes and O’Loughlin again saved brilliantly from Stephen Boland and they looked to have weathered the storm until in one final attack, Grogan found the net a second time, but too late to make any appreciable difference.

Scorers for Coláiste an Risigh: D. Keane 0-9 (0-6 frees, 0-2 65s); F. Conlon 1-1; S. Brennan 0-2; A. Barrett, B. Foudy 0-1 each.

Cashel CS: J. Grogan 2-2 (0-2 frees); D. Butler 0-2 (0-1 65, 0-1 free); M. Saddler 0-1 (65).

COLÁISTE AN RISIGH: B. O’Loughlin; R. McNamara, J. O’Loughlin, D. Keane; B. Foudy, D. Sheehan, E. Cloghessy; D. Keane, A. Kenny; A. Barrett, C. Lynch, G. Hogan; F. Collins, S. Brennan, C. Hennessy.

Sub. C. Mulvaney for Hennessy.

CASHEL CS: D. Hayes; J. McEniry, K. O’Leary, R. Heffernan; D. Butler, M. Saddler, J. Ryan; R. Mullane, J. Grogan; E. Carew, K. Maher, P. Creed; P. Slattery, J. Griffey, N. O’Brien.

Subs: S. Boland for Slattery; C. Ryan for Griffey; O. Ryan for J. Ryan.

Referee: O. Coffey (Cappamore).