How Neil Loughran @IrishNews.com saw the game
Clonduff Senior Footballer faced massive challenges heading into the first round of the Senior Football Championship 2024 v Cumann Peadar Naofa (Warrenpoint) who had beaten Clonduff twice in the league.
The Yellas struggled to come to terms with the loss of their corner back Lorcan Branagan in a tragic accident in Australia back in March 2024, However they turned out for every league game and managed to survive relegation.
Championship was another matter – 4 players (Darren O’Hagan, Eamon Brown, Padraig Wilson 2 games each; Ross Óg Carr one game) were suspended following last year’s fiery encounter v Kilcoo in the semi final, Barry O’Hagan has long-term injury, sustained when playing for the county; a number of lads went travelling; others currently injured – a total of 12 players missing from 2023 panel! But how the young debutants stepped up to the plate in wet and windy Kilcoo on Monday night 26th August.
Clonduff played with wind advantage in the first half and led 0-7 to 0-3 at the break. Would it be enough? Of course it would! Playing into the teeth of a strong wind they matched Warrenpoint’s scoring to hold on for a memorable 0-11 to 0-7 win to set up a 2nd round tie with the old foe Kilcoo.
This first round tie was probably Clonduff’s most important game of the year – there’s no doubt that Clonduff were inspired by Lorcan to see them through the game successfully.
Clonduff Panel: Mark Devlin, Brendan Britton, John Brown Conor Murray, Jayme Gribben (0-2), Ben McConville, Lyndon Brown, Senan Carr (0-1), Stephen McConville (0-5,1f), Patrick Cowan (0-1), Patrick O’Hagan (0-1), Charlie Carr, Tiarnan McEvoy, Arthur McConville, Dan Rafferty (0-1); Subs used: Peter McEvoy, Shane Close, Conor McCumiskey
