Last Thursday Ballymacnab hosted Clonmore’s IFC match with Crossmaglen II, and while the evening was a good one and the pitch excellent the result was disappointing.

Cross had the first chance at a score but pressure from Brendy forced a wide. Beano won his fair share of breaks around the middle, a Paul McNamee diagonal ball saw an early shot well stopped Clonmore won a free and a wide followed. Brendy fielded well and won a free after a long run, which he converted, after eight minutes. Gary Nugent, D and Tony McGeown in defence was making life difficult for the Cross men, they only managed wides from the nest four attempts. A broken ball was gathered by cross and they scored from it on thirteen minutes. D McGeown when not defending was fielding the kickouts. James Fox, Ruarí and James Grimley assisted each other well but Cross came away with a free out. Clonmore hit another wide before Cross got their second on 19 minutes. Paul McNamee fielded from the kickout and won a free. James fox and Raymie were involved as was Beano whose pass from a loose ball to James Grimley was pointed. Ciaran Beagan was involved again and Brendy pointed. James Fox and Jack Smith got the ball to Grimley who pointed from far out on the sideline. A good five minute spell. Cross pointed and hit two wides, and a Clonmore wide was followed by a long range point from James Fox. Brendy, D and Gerard Molloy did well to get the ball out of danger by Cross then seemed to have a free run down the middle and pointed at the end of normal time, they followed with two wides. Brendy made a long run down the left hand side of the field and cut across towards goal but his goal shot skewed wide. Cross had similar ideas only to hit the cross bar but get a point, five a piece at half time.

D, Jack, Paul, Gerard and Tony helped set up a good Clonmore attack and Raymie got the ball in toward goal but was smothered by a crowded defence. Despite pressure for Clonmore Cross pointed on four minutes. John Dynes came in for Jack Smith, Clonmore defended well through Gary, D and John Grimley. Cross hit a wide and then the post before a shot was well saved for a 45. John Dynes fielded and won a free. Cross got another two points in two minutes. John Dynes gave a good ball down the field but the ball was given a way from a bad pass. Cross pointed after hitting a couple of wides. James Fox was asserting himself in the middle of the field, again Beano was getting the breaks and Raymie was unlucky for a wide, but set Brendy up for a point. Good play from Clonmore went unrewarded, and cross set off strongly through the middle for a point. Brian Donaghy cam in for John Grimley and Cross stepped up a gear and as now looked likely they netted. James Grimley couldn’t break through the cross defence but won a late free. Stephen Donaghy continued to work well in the forwards and Raymie got a well deserved point. Cross finished with a point. On the day Cross had the edge in several key areas and proved just too strong. Final score 1-12, 0-7. Thanks to the Nab for the use of their excellent facilities.

On Sunday we played Collegeland at home. Clonmore hit two early wides but a Collegeland 45 after five minutes slipped to the back of the net, the wet ball was going to prove a big problem for Clonmore. They pointed a couple of minutes later. Gary, Jack, John Grimley, Brendy, John Dynes were involved before Stephen’s shot went for a 45, a converted free by James Grimley was the first score after 12 minutes, Collegeland pointed just after it. Beano and D and Ruarí were active around the middle of the park, with Beano getting a heavy tackle for his trouble. Gerard Molly and Raymie won frees before Brendy pointed. Gary and Tony were getting to grips with things in defence as Clonmore hit a wide. James Grimley put a dangerous low ball across the face of goal but no one reacted to it quickly enough and it went for a 45, the effort got another 45. Stephen Grimley in goal came out to collect and won a free. Raymie had a shot go out for a 45 but it was taken short and possession given a way. Gerard Molloy was defending well, a dangerous ball in went for a 45, and then a wide. Half time and it was 1-2 to 0-2 with Clonmore having their fair share of chances.

James converted a free after a wide each as Collegeland were in the square before the ball. Gary was battling well as Collegeland converted a long range free. The wet ball was making handling difficult and Clonmore dropped a lot of ball. A string of frees ended up with a converted point from Brendy’s boot on eleven minutes. A long range free dropped into the Clonmore net through wet hands. One minute later and it was repeated exactly. This was a hammer blow that there was no way back from. In fairness Clonmore kept going to the end but it was just for pride. Beano pointed then the visitors converted two frees. Paul Hamill, Cathal Cullen and Joe Prunty came in for Ciaran Beagan, Jack Smith and Ruarí. Paul Hamill got into play well and James converted a late free. Final score 0-6, 3-6.

Clonmore v Middletown Friday 8pm, Tullysarran v Clonmore Sunday 2pm

A variety sale / auction is planned for 23rd June at 1pm at the hall / pitch, any items for donation large or small are welcome. Contact any member of the committee