🏐💙 MINOR A FOOTBALL FINAL 💙🏐
🔵Cratloe v Ennistymon ⚫
📅Saturday, 17th October
⏰1:00pm
📍Páirc na Muintire, Lissycasey

Best of Luck to all our players and management!
Bígí Linn - All Support Welcome - Ar Aghaidh Linn!


Cratloe Minors Dig Deep to Secure Epic Semi Final, Extra-Time Victory Over Kildysart/Coolmeen

Cratloe’s Minor A footballers produced a performance full of heart, courage and determination to overcome Kildysart/Coolmeen in a truly unforgettable semi-final encounter in Coolmeen on Saturday, 3 October. In a contest that had absolutely everything, including goals, dramatic late scores, heroic defending and two periods of extra time, Cratloe eventually emerged victorious on a scoreline of Cratloe 4-15 Kildysart/Coolmeen 2-19.

It was a titanic battle between two evenly matched sides, with neither team willing to yield an inch. By the final whistle, bodies were dropping everywhere, cramp was setting in, and there was even a desperate shout from the field for “Mam” at one stage! It was a fitting end to a contest that tested every ounce of energy and character both teams had to offer.

The opening five minutes were frantic and nervy, with both sides creating opportunities as the tension of a semi-final was evident. Ollie Sherlock settled Cratloe with a point in the fifth minute, and although Kildysart/Coolmeen responded three minutes later, Sherlock struck again to put Cratloe back in front.

Sherlock was causing problems for the opposition defence and added another fine point in the 14th minute, following excellent work from Sean O’Gorman. Cian Brennan then extended Cratloe’s advantage with a point in the 17th minute, assisted by Fionn Collins, leaving Cratloe four points to the good.

However, Kildysart/Coolmeen refused to panic. A goal in the 21st minute brought them right back into the contest, and points from Kildysart/Coolmeen saw the hosts move ahead for the first time. A further point in the 27th minute left Cratloe chasing the game, before the first successful free of the afternoon brought the opening half to a close with Kildysart/Coolmeen leading by 1-4 to 0-4.

Cratloe needed a response after the restart, and Sean O’Gorman duly delivered with a free in the 32nd minute. Although Kildysart/Coolmeen answered with a free of their own, O’Gorman produced a lovely piece of skill in the 35th minute, selling a solo dummy before pointing from play.

Three minutes later, Cratloe struck for a crucial goal. Mark O’Neill supplied an excellent pass, and O’Gorman finished superbly to swing the momentum back in Cratloe’s favour. Sherlock added another point, but the home side continued to threaten and found the net again in the 41st minute while advantage was being played.

Kildysart/Coolmeen followed with a point from play, a short-range free and another point to regain control of the contest. With Cratloe under pressure, Ian O’Brien stepped forward in the 49th minute, finishing a move set up by Cian Brennan to register a vital goal. O’Brien then showed his composure to add a point from a mark a minute later, bringing the sides level.

Harry Mullen, assisted by O’Brien, edged Cratloe ahead with a fine point in the 52nd minute. Yet, in keeping with the afternoon’s relentless back-and-forth action, Kildysart/Coolmeen responded with two points to regain the lead.

With just minutes remaining, Alex Clancy produced a superb save to deny Kildysart/Coolmeen a goal. The resulting 45 was converted, leaving Cratloe two points behind with only two minutes on the clock.

O’Gorman kept Cratloe in touch with a free in the 59th minute, setting the stage for a dramatic finale. Then, in the 61st minute, on his birthday, Rian O’Donoghue delivered a heroic point to bring the sides level at 2-11 apiece. Kildysart/Coolmeen sent a late effort wide, and the referee’s whistle confirmed that extra time would be required.

The first period of extra time began in sensational fashion, with O’Brien finding the net just 45 seconds after the restart. Cratloe had regained the advantage, but Kildysart/Coolmeen responded with three consecutive points.

O’Gorman steadied the Cratloe challenge with a point in the ninth minute, only for a quick free from Kildysart/Coolmeen to restore their advantage. The teams remained inseparable at the halfway stage of extra time, with fatigue becoming increasingly evident.

Kildysart/Coolmeen edged ahead again in the second period, adding points in the 11th and 16th minutes before extending their lead to three with a score in the 19th minute. Cratloe now faced another mountain to climb, but this team had already shown that it would never surrender.

An angled free was dropped into the square, where Tom Kennedy was fouled as he competed for possession, earning Cratloe a penalty. Sherlock stepped up and converted, bringing Cratloe right back into the contest. A black card was subsequently issued to a Kildysart/Coolmeen player.

The referee’s whistle sounded with the teams still level, meaning yet another period of extra time would be needed. Few could have predicted the extraordinary finish that was still to come.

With a further five minutes each way to be played, the stakes could hardly have been higher. Sherlock converted a free in the fourth minute to put Cratloe ahead, before Kildysart/Coolmeen replied with a short-range free to level matters once more.

Cratloe thought they had struck the decisive blow when O’Gorman found the net, but the goal was ruled out for a square ball. There was no time to dwell on the disappointment, as O’Brien saw a shot blocked down and forced out for a 45.

Sherlock stepped forward once again and calmly converted the 45 to give Cratloe a precious one-point lead. With the clock ticking down, he added an insurance point from a 21-yard free, stretching Cratloe’s advantage to two.

Kildysart/Coolmeen were afforded one final attacking opportunity by the referee, but when nothing came of it, the whistle finally sounded. After an exhausting contest that had stretched both teams to their absolute limits, Cratloe had secured their place in the Minor A Football Final.

It was difficult to see either side deserving to lose after such a monumental effort. Kildysart/Coolmeen contributed enormously to a match that will live long in the memory, but Cratloe’s resilience, composure and refusal to give up ultimately carried them through.

There were outstanding contributions throughout the Cratloe team. Sherlock’s accuracy proved decisive at crucial moments, O’Gorman delivered when his team needed him most, O’Brien produced two vital goals and a point, and Clancy’s late save kept Cratloe alive in normal time. O’Donoghue’s birthday point was another unforgettable moment in a match filled with them. The quality of O’Neill’s passing, Brennan’s contribution in attack, Mullen’s important score and Kennedy’s determination in winning the penalty were also key moments in a tremendous collective performance.

This was a match won through sheer grit, teamwork and belief, with every player digging deep when it mattered most.

Continuous periods of extra time are regarded as a fairer way to decide a winner in underage football than the lottery of penalties, and this contest was a perfect example of why. Both teams were given every opportunity to settle the tie on the field, and Cratloe eventually found the scores that mattered most.

Cratloe’s journey to the final has been a test of character in itself, with a mixture of victories, draws and narrow defeats throughout the campaign.

That journey has been defined by perseverance, and Saturday’s semi-final was perhaps the ultimate demonstration of the spirit within this group.

Congratulations to the players and management. The Cratloe supporters who travelled to Coolmeen were treated to a game they will not forget in a hurry.