Banner 2-12 Inagh-Kilnamona 1-18

The Banner's U21 hurlers suffered defeat at the hands of Inagh Kilnamona at the semi Final Stage of the Under 21 hurling championship last Sunday in Newmarket on Fergus. The Banner side had really bad luck with inuries even before the game commenced. Corner forward and key scoring threat Shane Meehan couldn't start due to a hand injury. Additionally, in the warm up, wing back Diarmuid Cassidy did ankle damage and was unable to start the game. Conor Hogan came into the starting line up for Shane Meehan and MArtin McCormack came in to the half back line in place of Diarmuid.

Inagh Kilnamona, playing against the breeze started the stronger and raced into a 3 point lead. But the Banner side showed character and determination with some great scores from Daniel Daly, Danny O'Halloran and Ian Molloy the sides were level at 0-04 apiece after about 20 minutes. At this stage the Banner suffered further injury setbacks. Firstly Martin McCormack had to be substituted, and soon after corner back Darren Meehan had to come off with a knee injury. These were replaced by Tom O'Connell and Mark Cleary. Shortly before half time, Inagh Kilnamona struck with a key score in the game. Andala Flynn in the Banner goal had made an earlier brilliant save from point blank range smothering a shot with his body, but an excellent strike from 14 metres from the IK half forward couldn't be stopped with a low hard shot to the corner of the net.

At half time, the Banner side looked in trouble, down by 3 points having played with the breeze. Further re-shuffling was required at half time with all of the injury situations. Darren Meehan who had come off with a knee injury was re-introduced as a substitute goalkeeper and Andala Flynn moved out field into the Banner half back line. On the resumption the Banner lads re-started with great vigour, with Danny O'Halloran making penetrating runs from the half forward line and with Ian Molloy and Tom O'Connell also both growing increasingly into the game. Danny was unfortunate with 2 excellent efforts for goal where he ran through the middle, one shaving the outside of the post and the other bringing a great save from JAck O'Connor in the Inagh Kilnamona goals.

With 14 minutes remaining, and the Banner behind by 5 points, Shane Meehan was introduced into the action, as a last throw of the dice by the Ennis side. Within the next 10 minutes the Banner had levelled the scores and it was all to play for with 4 minutes of normal time remaining. Effectively playing with only 1 hand and unable to grip the hurley properly, Meehan got on the first ball that came into his corner, sold a dummy and placed a pass into the path of the on running Ian Molloy who buried the ball into the back of the Inagh Kilnamona net. Minutes later, a high ball was played into the left corner, Shane Meehan again took the ball down on his hurley on the 20 metre line, and with some amazing dummies and footwork, found himself 1 on 1 with Jack O'Connor and coolly tucked the ball into the top right hand corner of the next.

Inagh Kilnamona though responded strongly to these set backs and the sides continued to exchange points, with Ian Molloy, Dan Daly, Danny O'Halloran and Shane Meehan putting over scores for the Banner while Eoghan Foudy put over some very good scores at the other end for Inagh-Kil. The Inagh Kilnamona side finished stronger and 5 minutes into injury time the referee blew the final whistle and at that stage Inagh-Kilnamona had regained a 3 point lead. As well as the forwards mentioned already, further back the field the Banner had strong performances from Milo Collins, Ronan Collins, Niall Walsh, Conor Hogan, Mark Slattery and a really outstanding performance from u17 player Conor Macmahon who dominated each opponent that was thrown at him all day.

On the day, Inagh Kilnamona deserved their victory but the Banner sides performance in the face of all the injury problems was hugely encouraging. We would like to wish the best of luck to Inagh Kilnamona who will now take on Bodyke this Sunday in the County Final, in a repeat of last years decider. The club would like to acknowledge and thank the Banner panel for their efforts and performances since mid January. The lads trained very and their performances gives us optimism for the future of adult hurling in the Banner.

Banner GAA Ennis team in the semi final: Andala Flynn, Darren Meehan, Mark Slattery, Martin McCormack, Niall Walsh, Conor MacMahon, Milo Collins, Ronan Collins, Ian Molloy, Cian Haugh, Danny O'Halloran, Daniel Daly. Subs: Tom O'Connell for Martin McCormack, Mark Cleary for Darren Meehan, Darren Meehan for Cian Haugh and Shane Meehan for Mark Cleary.