In what was a massive match between two sides battling to avoid relegation, Cloughaneely and Milford shared the spoils in an edgy encounter.
Cloughaneely 0-11 1-8 Milford.
The conditions Pairc Naomh Fionan were cool and calm with both sides electing to play in defensive manners which was understandable considering the importance of the clash.
After a tight and turgid first-half, Cloughaneely went in a point ahead but Darragh Black’s second-half goal changed the complexion of the game. With a minute of added-time played TJ Eversson thought he had win it for the visitors after scoring a fine effort from distance.
But a Jason McGee score from a free-kick at the very death secured a share of the points for Cloughaneely
Paddy Cannon was the first to break down the Milford rear-guard with a well struck effort off the left foot.
Cannon’s score took ten minutes to arrive but it did bring the game into life. Shaun Maguire and Luke Barrett traded scores before Martin Maguire gave Cloughaneely the lead with a long range effort off the outside of the boot.
The in-form Barrett then knocked over two in quick succession to leave the scores level after twenty minutes at 0-3 to 0-3. The game was being played very in a compact style with both sides setting up on the 45 and breaking at pace.
Darren Ferry and Marty Maguire knocked Cloughaneely two ahead. Joey Cullen did have a big goal chance to reply but he shot high and wide when bearing down on Shaun McClafferty’s goal.
Aidan Doohan put Cloughaneely 0-6 to 0-3 ahead five minutes before the break but scores from Luke Barrett and Gary Merritt reduced that lead to one at half-time.
A Jason McGee free-kick extended Cloughaneely’s lead to two points with a score early in the second-half. But Milford were a constant menace on the break and often elected to kick when they did attack. Gary Merritt nailed his effort at a 45 to make it a one point game again.
The turning point of the second-half arrived when Darragh Black rose above Shaun McClafferty and Ciaran McFadden to fist into the net after TJ Eversson delivered a diagonal ball inside.
McGee and Chris ‘Chippie’ Barrett exchanged scores to leave two points in it. But Cloughaneely knew they had had to lift the momentum against a stiff breeze and they did with John McGarvey and Jason McGee adding two further scores.
This left the game level with seven remaining, ensuring a tense conclusion. Milford corner-back TJ Eversson thought he had scored the winner for Milford with a brilliant effort on the 61st minute of the game.
But after Ciaran Scanlon won a free on the twenty yard line at the death, Jason McGee earned a point for Cloughaneely, dispatching it calmly.
Cloughaneely: Shaun McClafferty: Ciaran McFadden, Ciaran Scanlon, Michael Fitzgerald: Kevin Mulhern, Michael Mulhern: Mark Harley, Martin Maguire (0-2), Lee O’Brien: Paddy Cannon (0-1), Ciaran McGeady, Darren Ferry (0-1): Aidan Doohan (0-1), Jason McGee (0-4, 4f), Shaun Maguire (0-1). Subs used: Shaun McBride for Martin Maguire (Black Card, 26), Declan McGarvey for Paddy Cannon, (50), John McGarvey (0-1) for Darren Ferry (53)
Milford: Caolan McGettigan: Conor McNulty, Shaun Black, TJ Eversson (0-1): Gavin Grier, Paddy Peoples, David Curley: Joey Cullen, Luke Barrett (0-4, 2f): Ronan Docherty, Chris ‘Chippie’ Barrett (0-1), Gary Meritt (0-2, 1f, 1 45’): Darragh Black (1-0), Kane Barrett, Tony McNamee. Subs used: Kyle Black for Ronan Docherty (44), Ryan McMahon for Gavin Grier (47).
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