14 Man Sixmilebridge Get Clare SHC Title Defence Off To A Winning Start

Clare SHC R1: Sixmilebridge 0-17 Eire Óg 0-12

Sixmilebridge got the defence of their Clare SHC title off to a winning start after battling past Eire Óg in the opening round of this year’s championship.

Tim Crowe’s outfit were forced to play majority of the second period with 14 men after the dismissal on a straight red card of Alan Mulready but experience told as they saw out the victory.

Alex Morey was the scorer in chief as he accounted for 0-13 of his sides tally with all bar one coming from placed balls, while Seadna Morey’s man marking job on county team mate Shane O’Donnell was a telling factor.

Missed chances for Eire Óg were a telling factor too, as Danny Russell struggled at times from frees while they were also without the dynamic David Reidy. Two goal chances in the second quarter of the contest also went astray with two late Russell frees from close range failed to result in green flags.

It was the champions leading 0-8 to 0-5 at the break but Eire Óg will rue two glorious goal scoring opportunites that went astray in the opening period. A deep lying Shane O’Donnell slalomed his way through the Bridge defence but saw his shot well saved by Derek Fahy. The gamekeeper became poacher to close the first half scoring as the Bridge netminder lashed over from distance after Tom Downes’ fumble saw another chance break down.

Missed frees in the first quarter for Eire Óg will also be a source of regret with four early misses letting the holders off the hook. The sides were level at the first water break at 0-3 each with all of Sixmilebridge’s scores coming from Alex Morey while Darren O’Brien, Danny Russell and Michael Moloney found the range for the Townies.

The first four scores on the resumption came the way of the Bridge, as Morey (2) along with Pa and Alan Mulready put daylight between the sides for the first time in the contest. Morey’s accuracy from frees continued to keep the Bridge at arm’s length from their opponents as Eire Óg struggled to find the space up front to do the damage. Four in a row for Morey saw the Bridge ahead by 0-16 to 0-10 as the closing stages loomed and while Eire Óg battled bravely, that gap proved too much to reel in.

Sixmilebridge: Derek Fahy; Brian Carey, Barry Fitzpatrick, Noel Purcell; Seadna Morey, Caimin Morey, Pa Mulready; Shane Golden, Evan McInerney; Cathal Malone, Jamie Shanahan, Jason Loughnane; Brian Corry, Alex Morey, Alan Mulready.

Scorers: Alex Morey (0-13, 12f), Derek Fahy, Alan Mulready, Pa Mulready and Caimin Morey (0-1 each).

Eire Óg: Philip Walsh; Conor O’Halloran, Ciarán Russell, Tadhg Connellan; Niall McMahon, Liam Corry, Aidan McGrath; Tom Downes, Michael Moloney; David McNamara, David Durack, Kevin Brennan; Darren O’Brien, Shane O’Donnell, Danny Russell.

Scorers: Danny Russell (0-8, 7f), Darren O’Brien (0-2), Mark O’Donnell and Michael Moloney (0-1 each).