Clonduff and Mayobridge both visited Dunavil last week and we saw both sides of football, the despair of a collapse against Clonduff and the heroics of a last gasp win over the ‘Bridge.

Against Clonduff we were so far off the pace it was unbelievable. It started lively enough and was level at 1:3 apiece after fifteen minutes but then our display careered out of control as the free scoring visitors raced into an eleven six half time lead.

Nothing would go right on the restart and the more frustrated we got the worse our play became and a late goal resulted in a 2:15 to 1:6 defeat.

John Clarke (five frees) and Michael Harper (1:1) were our scorers. Michael Clarke was our best performer.

On Friday Mayobridge travelled to Dunavil and included Ireland player Benny Coulter in their side. Jim Clarke and Neill Doran were added to our injured list with Michael Clarke starting for the first time and Aidan Flanagan returning.

This was a much more committed and intelligent display. Clarke again impressed on the square, Liam Fitzpatrick was steady in the corner, Liam mc Veigh influencial at centre half, John Lavery better on the wing, Aidan Cunningham a playmaker on the forty, and John Clarke a constant threat at full forward.

The ‘Bridge went two up and we had not made the most of a couple of openings when John Clarke collected a long delivery and was bundled over while bearing down on goals with Michael Harper despatching the resultant penalty. Almost immediately Coulter had crashed in a goal in response. Then it was pretty much point for point to the break with ‘Bridge half back Darragh Tighe advancing to kick two points and give his team a 1:7 to 1:6 lead.

That lead stretched to four points on the restart but our team plugged away and with five minutes to go the deficit was down to a single point. Chances were still going a begging and when Tighe snatched his third point it looked like the result had gotten away from us. Then a brilliant through ball released Paddy Cole and as he rounded the keeper he was hauled down and up stepped Harper to coolly finish from the spot.

One point up it was last ditch defending, Brendan mc Veigh caught one above the bar and a scramble in the big square was cleared by substitute Aidan O’Hanlon.

Teams and scorers:
An Riocht
B mc Veigh; J mc Veigh, M Clarke, L Fitzpatrick; D O’Reilly, L mc Veigh, J Lavery 0:1; P Murney, A Flanagan 0:1; M Harper 2:0, A Cunningham 0:1, C Flanagan; P Cole 0:1, J Clarke 0:5, C Walsh 0:1. Sub: A O’Hanlon.

Mayobridge
S Fetherstone; G Barry, K O’Hare, R O’Hare; B Rogers, F Poland, D Tighe 0:3; E Woods, D Rooney; P Cunningham 0:1, R Coulter 0:1, B Garvey 0:2; J Quinn 0:1, C Fegan, B Coulter 1:4.
Referee G Corrigan.

The senior championship is on Sunday 8 August at 3pm in Clonduff v Burren.