Cloughaneely defeat Naomh Bríd in penalty shootout to remain in Division 2

Cloughaneely will play Division 2 football next season after they survived the drop to Division 3 following a victory over Naomh Brid on penalties in Glenfin on Sunday.  

Cloughaneely made a fine start to this encounter, racing into an early three-point lead thanks to scores from Sean McGarvey, Darren McKeever, and Sean Geaney.  

Naomh Brid battled back however and got off the mark on 15 minutes with Eoin Rush slotting the ball between the posts while Aaron McGrory soon followed the act to leave a point between the sides.  

Cloughaneely responded immediately with McGarvey striking over a placed ball on 20 minutes.  

Eoin Rush and Ciaran McGeady exchanged the last two scores of the opening stanza to leave two between the sides at the break.  

Naomh Brid came out after the interval and made a flying start to the second half, kicking the opening three scores.  

Gearoid Gallagher began this spell with a fantastic score on 33 minutes before McGrory stuck over a lovely outside-of-the-boot shot five minutes later.  

In 40 minutes, substitute Darragh Brogan kicked the third to put Naomh Brid in front for the first time.  

Cloughaneely got their first score of the second stanza on 42 minutes, with Shaun Maguire finding the white flag.  

Naomh Brid enjoyed another fruitful period then however, scoring a further three points without reply.  

Goalkeeper Pauric McDaud began this period with a great free off the deck before Darragh Brogan and Gearoid Gallagher found further white flags to extend their lead to three with five minutes remaining.  

Denis Doohan’s men rallied back however, kicking the three scores from the boots of Sean McGarvey (2) and Shaun Maguire to force extra time.  

Naomh Brid made the dream start to extra time, finding the back of the net. A shot from Darragh Brogan was kept alive by Eoin Rush who squared it to Gearoid Gallagher who palmed home.  

Their advantage was extended to five when Pauric McDaid and Gearoid Gallagher split the posts with two fine efforts.  

Ciaran Coll got Cloughaneely’s first score of extra time in the dying embers of the first period to leave four between them at the break.  

Halfway through the second period, Cloughaneely were back in the contest when they found the back of the net.  

A good team move concluded with Michael McHugh slotting the ball into the corner of the net. This was closely followed by a Darren McKeever point to leave the sides level again.  

The two sides traded late free to leave them inseparable again and spot kicks were required with Cloughaneely running out 5-4 victors to retain their Division 2 status for another season.  

Scorers - Cloughaneely: Sean McGarvey 0-5,0-5f; Michael McHugh 1-0; Darren McKeever, and Shaun Maguire 0-2 each; Sean Geaney, Ciaran Coll 0-1f, and Ciaran McGeady 0-1 each. Naomh Brid: Gearoid Gallagher 1-3; Pauric McDaid 0-3, 0-3f; Darragh Brogan, Eoin Rush 0-1f, and Aaron McGrory 0-2 each; 

Cloughaneely: Mattiu O’Riodair; Remy Moran, Ciaran Scanlon, Cian McFadden; Sean Geaney, Michael Fitzgerald, Ciaran McGeady; Darren McKeever, Cathal McKeever; Cormac Coyle, Sean McGarvey, Ciaran Coll; Padraig Coyle, Shaun Maguire, Patrick Doohan. Subs: Seamus Doogan for Geaney (37 mins), Michael McHugh for Darren McKeever (44 mins), Donal O’Baoil for Cormac Coyle (56 mins).  

Naomh Brid: Pauric McDaid; Richard Walsh, Sean Gormley, Patrick Gormley; Liam Duffy, Gary McCafferty, Donal Gallagher; Cale Breslin, Callum Gallagher; Callum McCafferty, Darren Russell, Eoin Rush; Ryan Brogan, Gearoid Gallagher, Aaron McGrory. Subs: Darragh Brogan (0-2) for Donal Gallagher (half-time), Eoin McGarrigle for Sean Gormley (44 mins), Liam Gallagher for McGrory (60 mins).  

Referee: Stephen Doherty