Gethins ensures fairytale ending as St Clare's Manorhamilton land historic All-Ireland title

After a game that the gamut of emotions from wild joy to almost overwhelming despair, St Clare’s CS Manorhamilton showed they had the resilience and character when it mattered most to defeat Ennistymon CBS and lift the Masita All-Ireland PPS Senior C Championship title in Tuam on Saturday.

The Leitrim school brought home the Dr Eamonn O’Sullivan Cup after they survived a draining encounter that went all the way to extra time when Zach Gettins ensured it would be the Green & Gold of St Clare’s that were celebrating at the final whistle, his goal eventually killing off the challenge of a determined Ennistymon.

For much of the first half, it appeared that a much more clinical St Clare’s, with the exceptional Jack Kelly leading the way, would just have that bit more ‘nous’ and killer instinct to get across the line but that reckoned without the equally impressive resilience of the Clare men who almost snatched the game at the death.

Down four points with just over six minutes remaining, Ennistymon landed the goal they had been threatening earlier in the second half and then drew level. St Clare’s sub Matthew Speers edged the Leitrim lads back in front but back again came the Munster, equalising in the final 30 seconds of three minutes added time.

Incredibly, the drama only heightened - St Clare’s had earlier had a shot stopped on the line while Karl Gethins shot wide with the goal at his mercy and then they registered a wide but it is Ennistymon who will most wonder what if when they won a free nearly five minutes into added time.

CHECK OUT THE CELEBRATIONS AS ST CLARE'S LIFT ALL-IRELAND TITLE - GALLERY

Cormac Burke won a free and then, facing into the cross wind some 35 to 40 yards out, sent his effort directly towards the black spot of the St Clare’s crossbar. But the Ennistymon full-forward put too much height on the shot, the wind catching it and dragging it narrowly wide as the game went to extra-time.

Truth be told, it would have been a travesty had St Clare’s lost this game and in extra-time, it seemed as if that is exactly what would happen - Ennistymon took their first lead of the game and regained it but they were never able to kill off the St Clare’s challenge, the Leitrim school rising and rising to all that was asked of them.

The sight of Jack Kelly suffering a brutal cramp early in the second period of extra-time, unable to stand for quite some time had St Clare’s fans fearing the worst but when the need was greatest, St Clare’s landed points from Jack Attard and Ronan Fox to take the lead before Zach Gettins plundered 1-1 in added on time to send the title to Manorhamilton.

It was a wonderful and well deserved triumph - Ennistymon put it up more to St Clare’s than any other team they have met this year but they were never able to match the effervescence of the Leitrim lads in attack while the remarkable defensive effort of Shane Ward’s team was the rock that the Munster school eventually perished upon.

A tight and tense opening saw Jack Kelly, from a 14 yard free, and Joshua Daniels swap early points. Ennistymon missed a good effort across goal as St Clare’s started to dominate, scores from Kelly, Bailey McBride and Jack Attard in a seven minute spell opening up by a three point gap by the 12th minute.

Unfortunately, they also missed good chances, Ronan Fox dropping a shot into the keeper and Kelly seeing a shot hit the post while Attard left an effort short. Kelly was also boxed out of creating a goal chance by good Ennistymon defending.

The victorious St Clare's CS Manorhamilton team and supporters pictured with the Dr Eamonn O'Sullivan Cup Picture: Willie Donnellan

Two Burke points, one a brilliant score from the corner, cut the gap back to one but with both sides missing chances, the tension was rising. Kelly and Burke swapped points from placed balls, Kelly a mark and Burke a free before Kelly hit two in the space of two minutes from play as he escaped the Ennistymon defence.

Ennistymon finished the half with another Burke free, leaving them trailing 0-7 to 0-5 at the break. St Clare’s hoped to get off to a good start in the second half but it was the Clare school who had the early possession and three costly wides from a Burke mark, Conor Byrne and Joe Concannon.

Ennistymon did cut the gap when a foul on a St Clare’s player wasn’t spotted, Ennistymon broke quickly for Concannon to tap over but instantly, St Clare’s responded with a fantastic high hanging shot from Ronan Fox from all of 40 yards, a score followed up by a brilliant block on Ennistymon’s Conor Byrne.

A block denied Zach Gettings as Attard fired wide from the break but the Leitrim school had an enormous break when Joshua Daniels was put clear through on goal but blasted well wide from close range with only Josh Sheridan to beat, perhaps justice done as Colm Breen appeared to get away with a barge as he set the chance up.

Jack Kelly converted a 46 metre free off the group before good defence broke up an Ennistymon attack and St Clare’s countered at speed, Jack Kelly walloping over from 46 metres - a score that would have been worth two under the new rules, and not the old this game was played under.

Conor Byrne capped off a patient piece of possession play with a fine point but perhaps the crucial moment came on 45 minutes when Ennistymon cut through the St Clare’s defence only for a hefty challenge to send the attacker to the ground in the parallelogram. Referee John Gilmartin waved on play with Joe Concannon seeing his close range shot blocked by defence and keeper.

A minute later, Sheridan did well to bat out a 50 yard free from his opposite number Jack Gallagher but now it was St Clare’s turn to miss chance, Attard and Fox not converting while Kelly put a free wide. However, Kelly then twisted and turned his way past three or four defenders to put the Leitrim lads four up with just over six minutes to go.

Ennistymon looked in real bother, a bad wide from sub Darragh McGroary summing up their day but when Bailey McBride was turned over in possession a minute later, the Clare lads swept the ball in and Jack Cullinan drilled a brilliant shot past a helpless Sheridan to leave a point in it.

St Clare’s tried to respond but lost the ball as they were on their way through only to win it back, Kelly seeing a shot held on the line while Karl Gethins got his foot to a loose ball in front the pots but was unable to steer the ball to the net.

Ennistymon drew level with a monster score from Burke, curling the ball in from 35 yards on 57 minutes. The Manor lad responded brilliantly, a quick free finding Jack Kelly and he offloaded to sub Matthew Speers for a well taken point.

With time against them, Ennistymon threw everything at St Clare’s who looked as if they were going to hold out but then full-back Cormac Rynne popped up in attack to kick the equaliser with a scant few seconds left in the three minutes of added time.

Referee Gilmartin let play continue after the three minutes elapsed, both teams had a chance to win it in normal time - Speers hit wide from a good position before Ennistymon won a free some 35 to 40 yards out with nearly five minutes of added time played. 

With fans of both teams on the edge of their seats, Conor Burke hit his effort well, the ball seemingly heading right for the black spot only for the wind to drag the shot narrowly wide, sending an epic game to extra time.

St Clare's CS Manorhamilton captain Jack Kelly is presented with the Dr Eamonn O'Sullivan Cup Picture: Willie Donnellan

An energised Ennistymon grabbed the lead for the first time after Donnacha O’Dwyer fired over from long range three minutes into the first period of extra-time but St Clare’s immediately responded with a Kelly free before a foul on Kelly was converted by Jack Attard to edge St Clare’s in front.

However, a Conor Burke free meant the sides were level at the end of halftime of extra-time, 0-14 to 1-11. The second half was equally tense, Attard scoring a wonderful point after a period of patient St Clare’s possession. Sheridan did well to bat out a dangerous ball but Ennistymon won the ball back for Burke to score.

Disaster had seemed to strike St Clare’s when Jack Kelly went down with cramp but when another chance presented itself, Ronan Fox converted a long range effort brilliantly to leave St Clare’s a point up over seven minutes into added time.

Ennistymon sub Daniel Healy went extremely close to an equaliser but with the Clare school searching for an equaliser, they were unable to create the space they needed and when a pass went a little astray, sub Ryan Kelly showed brilliant anticipation to intercept just ahead of an opponent.

Kelly broke like the wind with only Zach Gethins, reintroduced after being subbed off in the second half, but that didn’t matter, Kelly covering 50, 60 yards before playing a delightful pass into the path of Gethins who got a brilliant touch to send the ball to the Ennistymon net in added time of extra time.

Colm Breen cut St Clare’s lead back to a goal but Zach Gethins made sure of victory for St Clare’s when he collected a Kelly free and blasted over the bar to spark wild celebrations among the Leitrim school’s fans.

ST CLARE’S CS MANORHAMILTON

Scorers: Jack Kelly 0-9, 3f, 1M; Zach Gethins 1-1; Jack Attard 0-3, 1f; Ronnan Fox 0-2, 1f; Bailey McBride & Matthew Speers 0-1 each

Team: Josh Sheridan, Luke Farrell, James Hughes, Eoin McLoughlin, Cian McMorrow, Evin Gilligan, Sean Brady, Bailey McBride, Ronan Fox, Karl Gethins, Zach Gethins, Cathal Curneen, Senan Kelly, Jack Kelly, Jack Attard. Subs: Matthew Speers for Curneen (47); Ryan Kelly for Z Gethins (59); Z Gethins for S Kelly (69); Colm Rooney for K Gethins (76)

ENNISTYMON CS

Scorers: Conor Burke 0-8, 4f; Jack Cullinan 1-0; Conor Byrne, Donncha O’Dwyer, Joe Concannon, Conor Rynne & Alex Leyden 0-1 each

Team: Jack Gallagher, Niall Twomey, Conor Rynne, Gavin Twomey, Daniel Brody, Alex Leyden, Louis Griffin, Colm Breen, Donncha O’Dwyer, Dominic Griffin, Joshua Daniels, Conor Byrne, Joe Concannon, Conor Burke, Jack Cullinan. Subs: Seanán Kirby for Daniels (44); Darragh McGroary for C. Breen (50); Jack Lavin for G. Twomey (52); Daniel Healy for C. Byrne (56); Jody McMahon for L. Griffin (57); Colm Breen for McGroary (ET); L Griffin, G. Twomey & J. Daniels for J. Concannon, J. Cullinan & C Breen (HT ET)

REREREE: John Gilmartin (Sligo)