​Cloone dig deep to beat Glenfarne in Fresh Today JFC basement battle

​Cloone gave their chances of reaching the Fresh Today Junior A quarter-finals and avoiding the relegation final a huge boost as they defeated a battling Glenfarne Kiltyclogher last Friday.

​With Shannon Gaels’ splendid grounds hosting the game in Blacklion, perhaps the most picturesque club ground I’ve ever visited, there was lots of tension as both teams knew that a win was vital to their hopes of making the knockout stages.

Cloone always looked the more likely to take the victory – they had more threats coming from different areas but an inability to reflect their outfield dominance on the scoreboard left them vulnerable, a late Glenfarne goal just over two minutes from time causing them huge problems as they just about weathered the late storm.

Glenfarne Kiltyclogher will have regrets when they look back on this one but they just couldn’t generate the sustained pressure they needed to get the victory they desperately wanted.

The game got off to a quick start with a Hugh Clancy wide after just 10 seconds and a Conor Keegan point barely 30 seconds later. Niall Quinn added a point almost immediately for Cloone to open up a two point lead although Fergal Clancy scored from a tight angle three minutes in.

Fergal Clancy produced a wonderful pass that almost put Fergal Gill through on goal but a foul meant that Clancy could tap over on five minutes. Both teams had wides as the scoring rate slowed, 11 minutes before the next score when Darren Keegan scored a nice effort on the turn.

Two minutes later, Fergal Clancy tied the scores again from a free but from the kickout, a swift Cloone counter ended with Michael Cunningham firing over. Cloone missed a few chances, Fergal Clancy saw a shot blocked before Michael McGuinness joined the Cloone attack, the keeper finishing off a good move with a neat finish.

Glenfarne came back with a Fergal Clancy point under enormous pressure but a Darren Keegan free left it 0-6 to 0-4 at the halftime break.

Cloone introduced Sean Bohan after the break but both sides missed chances, Patrick Gilgunn missing a good chance as he charged through while McGuinness left a free short and Niall Quinn dropped a two point free short of the target.

Glenfarne keeper JJ McManus made a timely challenge to prevent Brian Mulvey from creating a goal chance but Darren Keegan put the free wide. Cloone did open the second half scoring, Brian Donohue’s high, hooked effort nine minutes in, ending the scoring drought.

Fergal Clancy hit a wide and McManus made a good catch from a long range Bohan shot but Bohan’s strong run set up Kevin McNamara for a good point on 45 minutes. Glenfarne came back with a good point from Fergal McGill from a tight angle to cut the gap to three.

Cloone moved four clear when Darren Keegan scored a good point after a long ball to a roaming Bohan eventually came back to the corner-forward who dodged a defender to score. Another Darren Keegan score, this time from a free, three minutes later left Cloone in control.

That control took a hit less than three minutes from time when a long ball to Fergal Clancy saw the former Leitrim star get the ball to sub Darren Mulvey. His pass released McGill who saw his first shot blocked but he managed to get the rebound into the net.

Suddenly Cloone, who had been controlling the game and slowing down the pace, were in trouble with, Hugh Clancy, from play, and Fergal Clancy, free, both having two point efforts that went wide as they were put under big pressure before the finish.

GLENFARNE KILTYCLOGHER

Scorers: Fergal Clancy 0-4, 2f; Fergal McGill 1-1

Team: JJ McManus, Stephen Sweeney, Robbie Broughton, Cian McLoughlin, Niall McManus, Cian Rock, Manus Stephensopn, Matthew Devaney, Stephen McDermott, Hugh Clancy, Patrick Gilgunn, Shane Conlan, Fergal McGill, Fergal Clancy, Diarmuid Clancy. Subs: Darren Mulvey for N McManus (37); Niall Clancy, Stephen Sweeney for Conlan (50)

CLOONE

Scorers: Darren Keegan 0-3, f; Conor Keegan 0-2; Niall Quinn, Michael Cunningham, Michael McGuinness, Brian Donohue & Kevin McNamara 0-1 each

Team: Michael McGuinness, Michael Tiernan, Dara Tiernan, Cathal Donohue, Eoghan McNamara, Declan Brennan, Niall Keegan, Brian Donohue, Michael Cunningham, Thomas Casey, Niall Quinn, Kevin McNamara, Darren Keegan, Conor Keegan, Brian Mulvey. Sub: Sean Bohan for E McNamara (HT); Aaron McCrann for T Casey (50)

Referee: Vincent McMorrow