Raheen 5 Clara Town 3
Paddy Cotter Cup QF
Raheen advanced to the semi-final of the Paddy Cotter Cup following an exhilarating 5-3 win over Clara Town after extra time in Stanley O’Hara Park this afternoon.
This was a real giant killing as Clara Town sit two divisions above their Laois opponents but Raheen showed them no respect as they attacked right from the off.
Mark McDonald put the Division 2 leaders in front with a sublime right footed finish midway through the first half but Clara got back on level terms before the break.
Dan Dalton regained the advantage for Raheen after 50 minutes when he latched on to a fine cross from his twin brother Mikey.
Once again Clara Town tied the game and the almost went in front but Raheen keeper Joseph Walshe produced a top class save to tip a thunderbolt over the crossbar.
Mikey Dalton put Raheen in front for a third time after 80 minutes and the Laois outfit were almost there when Clara levelled the game with 20 seconds to go to force extra time.
Many in Stanley O’Hara Park expected Clara to finally get the better of Raheen in extra time but the Laois men were having none of it as Jamie Whelan put them 4-3 ahead less than a minute after the kick off.
This time there would be no comeback from Clara and Raheen made the game safe in the closing minutes as Dan Dalton grabbed his second of the afternoon from the penalty spot to seal his sides’ place in the last four.
RAHEEN
Joseph Walshe
Dan Butler
Darren Brennan
Colm Kavanagh
Wayne Carter
Matthew Whelan
Mikey Dalton
Mark McDonald
Conor Dunphy
Jamie Whelan
Dan Dalton
SUBS:
Clive Thompson for M. Whelan (68mins)
Niall Gavin for Carter (68mins)
Conor Hiney for Brennan (87mins)
