Cloughaneely claim close Comórtas win over Ardara

Class is permanent, even in the most atrocious of conditions. 

Cloughaneely 2-7:2-6 Ardara 

And, Cloughaneely’s elegant corner forward John Fitzgerald showed it in spades as he rifled over the winner four minutes from time in a richly entertaining affair in Pairc Naomh Fionnan. 

Fitzgerald, who has strong Kerry blood finished with a total tally of 0-4 and he and the ultra- creative Darren Ferry were the main reasons why the home side prevailed. 

But a shadow was cast over that deserved victory when wing back Conor Coyle was stretchered off with what looked like a fairly serious injury three minutes from time. 

Ardara, who badly missed the service of Paddy McGrath and Conor Classon, never gave up and John Ross Molloy, Robbie Adair and Gareth Concarr made this a real battled. 

The wind assisted home side led by 1-5 to 0-3 at the break looked to have sealed matters when Ferry and Fitzgerald combined cleverly to set up a tap in for sub Padraig Coyle in the 42nd minute. 

They led by 2-6 to 1-5, but Ardara hit back with a goal from the inspirational JR Molloy to set up an exciting finish. The opening ten minutes had the usual over and back play with neither side able to make any real impression. 

Darren Ferry broke the deadlock with a well struck point in the 10th minute to which Concarr replied in kind.  

They could have had a goal a minute later when Ferry and Sean Maguire combined to put Cormac Coyle through on goal, but Ardara keeper Cathal Gallagher pulled off a fine save. But Ferry made no mistake in the 13th minute when he finished to the net at the second attempt. 

Niall McCrossan landed a free for Ardara and Paul Walsh’s clever banana shot split the posts to leave Cloughaneely leading by 1-1 to 0-3.  Sean Curran extended their lead before Fitzgerald hit the first of his four points and was a constant threat inside. 

Conor Coyle had a half chance of a goal, but it was cleared off the line by Shane Whyte.  And Fitzgerald struck two soaring points in the space of a minute to leave the home side leading by 1-5 to 0-3 at the break. 

Cloughaneely threw on underage stat Padraig Coyle for the veteran Sean Maguire as the pacey Robbie Adair landed a point for Ardara. 

The game opened up in the 37th minute when a mistake by Cloughaneely keeper Sean McClafferty allowed Concarr to pounce and he rifled to the roof of the net to leave just a point between the sides. 

A CJ Molloy free levelled matters before Curran put the home side in front again. It was frenetic stuff as Cloughaneely scored a wonder goal as Padraig Coyle finished a great Ferry and Fitzgerald move to the net. 

Undaunted Ardara hit back with a goal of their own from the excellent JR Molloy after C J Molloy did the spadework. 

Suddenly it was 2-6 to 2-5 heading for the home straight as Kevin Whyte levelled matters before Fitzgerald sealed a memorable display with a flashing point to seal victory for the home side. 

Cloughaneely scorers: Darren Ferry 1-1; John Fitzgerald 0-4; Padraig Coyle 1-0; Sean Curran 0-2. 

Ardara scorers: Gareth Concarr 1-1; J R Molloy 1-0; CJ Molloy 0-1f; Niall McCrossan 0-1f; Kevin Whyte 0-1; Robbie Adair 0-1; Paul Walsh 0-1; 

Cloughaneely: Sean McClafferty; Cian McFadden, Cian Scanlon, Dara Ferry; Sean Geaney, Michael Fitzgerald, Conor Coyle; Mark Harley, Ethan Friel; Josh Scanlon, Darren Ferry, Cormac Coyle; Sean Curran, Sean Maguire, John Fitzgerald. 

Subs; Padraig Coyle for Sean Maguire (h-time), Cathal McGeever (40), Micheal McHugh for Cormac Coyle ( 47), Ciaran Coll for Conor Coyle (inj 57) 

Ardara: Cathal Gallagher; Shane Mooney, Shane Whyte, Fionn Gallagher; Robbie Adair, Tony Harkin, Joe Melly; J R Molloy, CJ Laverty; Paul Walsh, Kevin Whyte, Callum Melly; Niall McCrossan, CJ Molloy, G Concarr. 

Subs; Oisin O’Donnelf for Fionn Gallagher (h-time), Danny Walsh for Oisin O’Donnell (48), Ronna Breslin for Callum Melly (53). 

Referee: Martin Coll (Gaoth Dobhair).