By: Mary Dunne
Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship Group 2 Round 4
Clonbullogue: 1-18
Durrow: 1-10
It was a game that both sides needed to win, if they were to have any hopes of making it to the knockout stages of the 2026 Senior Football Championship and it was Clonbullogue who came out on top with a big win following an intriguing battle on Saturday evening last in Clonbullogue.
The second group in the senior championship this year has been very interesting from the very first weekend and while Ballycommon later on Saturday evening secured their place in the final six, the second team to come out of the group is still up for grabs.
Clonbullogue produced a very fine performance in front of their home supports and with a local derby match against Bracknagh in the final round, the winner of the game, depending on the result between Clara and Durrow could take that final place.
In order for it to happen Clonbullogue need to beat Bracknagh and they also need Durrow to take Clara in their clash. There is nothing like going into the final rounds of game with it all to play for, and while it is all a case of “what ifs”, there is very much a case of something at stake, in the form of a possible quarter final placing or avoidance of a relegation play off.
Clonbullogue were the better of the side for the vast majority of this game, but it has to be said Durrow despite being hampered with a lot of injuries they did have chances too, but the key factor being when Keith O’Neill was off the field for a black card, they should have been more clinical.
They scuppered three really good goal chances in that ten minute period, when the game was in the balance with only two points between the sides 1-9 to 0-10.
A goal at that point would have turned this game completely on its head, but Clonbullogue thanks to the brilliant work of their goalkeeper Cian Corcoran held them off and once Keith O’Neill returned to the fold, he anchored Clonbullogue completely and they pulled away from there.
Saturday evening saw Jamie Guing return to the Clonbullogue fold and he made a huge impact when introduced. His two pointer from play in particular was an exceptional score and he certainly will be a key player in their clash with Bracknagh.
For Durrow, it has been a though slog this year. They have been a lot closer in the games that the results suggest. Their injuries the more the campaign has gone one came against them. Dan Bourke missed Saturday’s game again and matters got worse for them with Ciaran Burke and Oisin Cusack also ruled out.
Durrow will go into their last game with Clara, where a win will upset Clara and while a win for Durrow won’t get them a quarter final place, it would give them a lot of confidence going into a relegation play off with the fourth place team in the group.
Clonbullogue started this game as a means to go on and with a massive start they set out their intentions very early on.
The game was only ninety seconds old with Keith O’Neill had them off the mark. he was the play maker throughout and within seconds of his opening scores, he latched onto a brilliant pass from his older brother Ruairi, to rattle the net, 1-1 to no score after two minutes.
Durrow did have plenty of ball and in fact from there to the eighth minute they lorded the possession, but their final shooting was off, but finally with eight on the clock Mark Troy landed a fine two pointer free and the gap was back to two.
Keith O’Neill was on the mark again by the 11th minute, before Mark Troy and Keith O’Neill traded scores to leave three between the sides 1-3 to 0-3 with nineteen played.
Durrow certainly had a strong foothold in the game and with two more scores thanks to Mark Troy and Brian Duignan, the Clonbullogue lead was whittled down to one, 1-3 to 0-5 with twenty seven on the clock.
In a way Clonbullogue needed a score and with a massive two pointer from Jack McEvoy they stretched their lead back to three, 1-5 to 0-5 as half time loomed.
Mark Troy was keeping Durrow ticking over and with his fifth score of the half, it looked like he had done enough to leave his side only trailing by two at the break.
But that half still had more to come. David Dempsey landed a fine score on the thirty minute mark, but with a second magnificent two pointer Jack McEvoy left Clonbullogue suddenly five clear at the break, 1-8 to 0-6.
Keith O’Neill added to the lead on the resumption, but then with a black card issued to him, Clonbullogue were down to fourteen for the next ten minutes.
During that time Durrow dominated with possession again and really they should have scored at least one of their three goal chances.
They did however get some scores thanks to Mark Troy with three and a fine score from Sam Bourke to leave two between the sides 1-9 to 0-10 with forty seven played.
Clonbullogue were the ones who now needed to score and with Keith O’Neill back on and Jamie Guing introduced they soon too over again.
Jamie Guing hit over the 48th to bring it to a three point gap, but there was more to come and with three next three scores all two pointers they suddenly had a nine point lead.
A two pointer free from Jamie Guing came first, before Ryan Dempsey chalked up the next and then with the best two pointer kick of the game from an extremely acute angle from Jamie Guing the scores read 1-16 to 0-10 with fifty three on the clock.
Keith O’Neill punished Durrow for a breach with the games next score, but Durrow to be fair kept plugging away and finally with sixty one on the clock they got their goal thanks to Brian Duignan.
It was Clonbullogue however who had the final say of the game thanks to Ruairi O’Neill who sealed a fine win and bring the full time scores to 1-18 to 1-10.
The Scorers
Clonbullogue: Keith O’Neill 1-5 (0-4 Frees), Jamie Guing 0-5 (0-2 TPF, 0-2 TP), Jack McEvoy 0-4 (0-2 TPS’s), Ryan Dempsey 0-2 (TP), David Dempsey 0-1, Ruairi O’Neill 0-1.
Durrow: Mark Troy 0-8 (0-3 Frees, 0-2 TPF), Brian Duignan 1-1, Sam Bourke 0-1.
The Teams
Clonbullogue: Cian Corcoran; Sean Moran, David Dempsey, Jamie Quinn; Ryan Dempsey, Ian Curry, Eoghan McEvoy; Peter Bennett, Jack McEvoy; Eoghan Kinsella, Keith O’Neill, Harry Judge; Ronan O’Neill, Ruairi O’Neill, Tommie Dempsey.
Subs: Jamie Guing for Ronan O’Neill (36 mins), Sean Foran for Jack McEvoy (inj. 43 mins).
Durrow: Colin Waters; Sean Hughes, Gavin Hand, Michael McDermott; Cian Kinnarney, Jack O’Brien, Daire Boland; Jack Fogarty, Ross Ravenhill; Sam Bourke, Aaron Maher, Mark Troy; Andy Fitzgerald, Brian Duignan, Steven Doran.
Sub: Luke O’Dea for Andy Fitzgerald (58 mins).
Referee: Chris Dwyer (Clara).
By Offaly Secretary Sat 15th Aug
