Tones and clann draw ihc final thriller

Wolfe Tones and Clann na nGael will have to do it all over again after they played out an exciting draw (1-9 to 0-12) in the IHC decider at Pairc Tailteann this afternoon where Aaron Ennis opened and closed the scoring for the Athboy side.

Ennis sent over a huge 70-metre free in added time to earn his team a reprieve and they will face the Tones again next Saturday with the replay scheduled for Trim (to be confirmed).

Eanna O'Kelly-Lynch's goal soon after the resumption propelled the Tones to parity (0-8 to 1-5) after they had trailed by 0-5 to 0-7 at the interval.

Wolfe Tones will highlight the fact that they had at least one 'good point' ruled out following a discussion beteween referee Nick Fitzgerald, his linesman and umpires. They may have had a legitmate reason to complaint?

Then there was the late chance that Clann na nGael carved out when defender Caoimhin O Griofa surged forward and unleashed a ferocious shot that looked destined for the top corner of the Tones net, but goalkeper Stephen Tiernan produced a spectacular save.

Overall a draw was probably the fairest outcome – a point both managers agreed on and both (ken McKenna and Gary Cole) suggested that the competitive game would benefit their teams ahead of an eagerly-awaited replay.

 

Wolfe Tones – Stephen Tiernan; Alan Browne, Eoghan Harrington, Conor Sheppard; Brian Meade, Gerard Farrelly, Stephen Jordan; Donal Curtis (0-1), Eanna Harrington (0-1); Thomas O'Reilly (0-2), Killian O'Brien, James Macken; Caolach Halligan (0-2), Stephen Sheppard, Eanna O'Kelly-Lynch (1-2).

Sub – Niall O'Reilly (0-1) for Macken 52 mins.

Clann na nGael – Darren Heaney; Jack Doherty, Gary Mangan, Caoimhon O Griofa; Gary Woods, Gerry O'Sullivan, Aaron Ennis (0-2 frees); Ciaran Fitzsimons (0-2), Matthew Mullen; Gary Cole, Luke Swaine (0-1), Gearoid Breathnach; Eamon O Donnchada (0-3), Pat Shore, Benny Murray (0-3 frees).

Subs – Mairtin Keogh for Breathnach half-time, Paddy Geraghty (0-1) for Swaine 37 mins, Daithi Geraghty for Shore 50m.

Referee – Nick Fitzgerald (Kildalkey).