Loughnane fires Roscrea into Under 21 final

GAA: FBD Insurance County Under 21 ‘A’ Hurling Semi-Final

Roscrea 1-12

Clonoulty/Rossmore 1-11

Report: Liam Hogan

Harry Loughnane’s ninety-five metre free gave a Roscrea a place in the County Under 21 ‘A’ Hurling final after defeating Clonoulty/Rossmore in a tense semi-final last Saturday.

His brilliant wind-assisted effort came in the seventh minute of added time as his side battled to win a game they led going into added time before a courageous Clonoulty side braved the elements and fought back with two Stephen Ferncombe frees.

After Loughnane’s winner, referee Alan Tierney gave the West champions once last chance. Ferncombe was fouled exactly on half way, and up to then, the centre forward was unerring with seven frees but this time his effort strayed left of the posts with the stiff breeze no friend.

With a mixture of good and bad this was an enjoyable game overall. In fairness the wet conditions didn’t help and in addition and the fact that Roscrea had a six week lay-off after winning the North final didn’t help either. However, Roscrea supporters won’t mind as they are back in a county under 21 final for the first time since 1984.

Their defence played really well with nothing soft given away with Leo Doran and Brian O’Rourke most notable in front of goalkeeper Harry Loughnane. The Tipp minor was their match-winner and produced one great save on the hour mark in when he denied Paddy Kennedy from close range.

Leigh Loughnane might have donned the number twelve jersey, but he enjoyed the freedom of a sweeper role in the first half and scored two points when taking up position in the middle third. Conor Lee was the best of the four midfielders while up front the strongly built Dylan Hogan, Jamie Ryan and Conor Dooley caused problems for the Clonoulty defence while Sam Dooley played well below what we come to expect of him but found his two scores at the right time.

Having played against the breeze in the first half, Roscrea must have felt they were in a good position with their 0-6 to 0-4 half time lead, but the Clonoulty sideline had other ideas with their decision to bring Stephen Ferncombe and full forward Robert Doyle out to the middle sector of the field really paid off as they took the game to Roscrea in that second moiety.

With number six on his back, Clonoulty’s Danny Slattery caught the eye as his blistering pace and balance saw him cover much ground in his role as sweeper. His fellow defenders really came into their own, during the second half in front of an alert Jason O’Dwyer in goal who earned his money with a number of saves including one really outstanding save late in the second half.

Stephen Ferncombe’s powerful striking and accuracy had added two long range points from frees in the opening five minutes. Two minutes later, Dylan Hogan caught Conor O’Donovan’s long range free before kicking the ball over the bar, and he equalised a minute later. In the ninth minute, a move involving three Roscrea players finished when an unmarked Dylan McLoughlin denied by Jason O’Dwyer who have come off his line.

With both defences holding firm, it was the eighteenth minute before Clonoulty regained the lead thanks to a Stephen Ferncombe free before the West champions went two in front as Alex Carroll scored a fine point from close to the sideline sixty metres out. One minute later, Jamie Ryan’s point narrowed the gap before Roscrea drew level with a Conor O’Donovan free seconds after Jason O’Dwyer denied Conor Dooley from close range.

Roscrea were the better side and in the closing stages of the half Leigh Loughnane and Conor O’Donovan (free) gave them a two point half time advantage.

The positional changes ordained by Clonoulty at half time made an early impression in the second half. Robert Doyle was fouled and Ferncombe converted before Jack Kennedy pounced on a loose ball to score a goal in the 33rd minute. Ten minutes went by without a score in a period that saw tempers fray with a Roscrea maor uisce red carded and a Clonoulty player receiving a yellow card.

When play resumed, scores by Leigh Loughnane and Sam Dooley’s screamer, had Roscrea level by the 44th minute. The North champions best period continued with Dylan Hogan breaking free of the Clonoulty cover before firing home a great goal with a first time ground shot.

Leading 1-8 to 1-5 and playing with the breeze, Roscrea must have felt in good shape. However, the West champions who scored a last minute goal to defeat Cappawhite Gaels in the divisional decider, showed real character and they reeled in Roscrea, beginning with Robert Doyle and Paddy Kennedy each pointing followed by a Ferncombe equalising free in the 51st minute.

Roscrea went back in front with Conor O’Donovan’s free followed by Sam Dooley’s point from play before Danny Slattery scored for Clonoulty after a brilliant run from his own half.

Roscrea fought back but Jason O’Dwyer saved brilliantly to deny Leigh Loughnane for a 65 which Conor O’Donovan pointed thus making amends for some uncharacteristic misses earlier on. Roscrea were 1-11 to 1-9 in front. Clonoulty/Rossmore, with a team all under the age of twenty, showed more character and two Ferncombe frees in added time had sides level with a second free resulting in call back after Loughnane saved brilliantly to deny Paddy Kennedy. Extra time seemed unavoidable until Harry Loughnane’s winner.

Player of the Match: Dylan Hogan (Roscrea).

Roscrea: Harry Loughnane (0-1f, 8); Lee Doran (8), Eoin Larkin (6), Cathal McDonald (7); Brian O’Rourke (7), Luke Seacy (6), Conor Shanahan (7); Conor O’Donovan (0-4, 3f, 1 65) 6), Kenny Lee (7); Diarmuid McLoughlin (6), Dylan Hogan (1-2, 8), Leigh Loughnane (0-2, 8); Sam Dooley (0-2, 7), Conor Dooley (7), Jamie Ryan (0-1, 7).

Sub: Conor Phelan (6) for Larkin (35 inj).

Clonoulty/Rossmore: Jason O’Dwyer (8); Richard Ferncombe (7), Keelan Ryan (7), Shane Davern (7); Jack Kennedy (7), Danny Slattery (0-1, 8), Michael Ryan (6); Cormac Quirke (6), Paddy Kennedy (0-1, 7); Jamie Davern (6), Stephen Ferncombe (0-7f, 7), Alex Carroll (0-1, 6); Seamus Kennedy (1-0, 6), Robert Doyle (0-1, 8), Frank O’Dwyer (6).

Sub: Finbarr Ryan (7) for M Ryan (HT).

Referee: Alan Tierney (Shannon Rovers).