Gerry’s Takeaway, Ballybay Junior Football League

Cremartin 1-3 Clones 0-9                 20/7/11

Clones gave their Junior Football League hopes a boost with a hard-earned win away to Cremartin on Wednesday evening. It was a scrappy game and a low standard considering the fact that both teams are in the JFC semi-finals, although perhaps they have an eye on the championship. Cremartin never got going on the night, as they only managed four scores, while their only score of the first half was a fortunate goal by Barry Carragher. Michael Treanor was the driving force for Clones, who also had good performances from Paul Shiels, David Freeman and Danny Rooney. Only Paddy McGuigan, Martin McNally and Gary Boyd made any real impact for Cremartin, whose star forward Darren Bishop was held scoreless.

Clones got the first two scores through frees by Adrian Alford and David Freeman, but Cremartin took the lead against the run of play when Clones keeper Ciarán Morgan misjudged a shot from Barry Carragher, allowing it to drop into the net. Clones rallied with a point from play by Darren Freeman and a free by Alford, before David Freeman swung over a fine score following good work by John Jenkins and Darren Freeman. Michael Treanor burst forward from centre-back to kick an inspirational point before the break, giving Clones a double-scores half-time lead on a scoreline of 0-6 to 1-0.

A David Freeman free got Clones up and running in the second half and although Mark Bishop responded with Cremartin’s first point of the game, a short free by Freeman set up Danny Rooney to restore the four-point gap and Cremartin finished with 14 men after Declan Mulligan was shown a second yellow card. Alford converted a 20-metre free for a foul on Jenkins to put five between them and even though Cremartin pulled back two points through Gary Boyd and substitute Philip Markey, it wasn’t enough to prevent only their second defeat of the season. Cremartin are still three points clear at the top of the league table, while Clones are now level with Emyvale in fourth place.

Cremartin: D Lavelle; F Mulligan, M McNally, D Mulligan; R Burke, P McGuigan, C Mulligan; G Boyd (0-1), C Farrell; S Bishop, M Bishop (0-1), B Carragher (1-0); K Brennan, D Bishop, M Morgan.

Subs: L McVicar for Morgan (26 mins), G Flanagan for S Bishop (39), P Markey (0-1) for McVicar (54), J Leonard for Carragher (56).

Clones: C Morgan; E Holland, P Shiels, P Connolly; C Kelly, M Treanor (0-1), D McQuaid; D Rooney (0-1), J Jenkins; P McCarville, Darren Freeman (0-1), A Alford (0-3f); C McCaughey, R Adamson, David Freeman (0-3, 2f).

Subs: E McEntee for Adamson (50).

Referee: B Walsh (Ballybay).