History was made at Cusack Park this Friday evening when Clooney-Quin won the under 14 A Clare hurling championship for the first time, beating a fancied Sixmilebridge team in the process.
On their way to winning the Clare feile na nGael title two weeks ago, Sixmilebridge had pipped Clooney-Quin and they went into this evening’s final carrying the favourites tag.
Conal Egan of Clooney-Quin in action against Ferdia O Lionann of Sixmilebridge during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Shane Harrison of Clooney-Quin in action against Sean Mc Namara of Sixmilebridge during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Shane Harrison of Clooney-Quin in action against Sean Mc Namara of Sixmilebridge during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Sean Mc Grath of Clooney-Quin in action against Stoirm Devanney and Scott Kirkland of Sixmilebridge during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Clooney Quin selector Damien O Halloran on the sideline during their U-14A final against Sixmilebridge in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Ferdia O Lionann of Sixmilebridge is treated for an injury during their U-14A final against Clooney-Quin in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Shane Harrison of Clooney-Quin in action against Sean Mc Namara of Sixmilebridge during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Conal Egan of Clooney-Quin in action against Ferdia O Lionann of Sixmilebridge during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Tomas O Cearbhallain of Clooney-Quin in action against Scott Kirkland and Darragh Toomey of Sixmilebridge during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Conal Egan of Clooney-Quin in action against Ferdia O Lionann and Darragh Toomey of Sixmilebridge during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Clooney Quin selector Damien O Halloran on the sideline during their U-14A final against Sixmilebridge in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Sean Mc Grath of Clooney-Quin in action against Scott Kirkland and Dylan Downes of Sixmilebridge during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Dylan Cunningham of Clooney-Quin in action against Sean Mc Namara and Darragh Toomey of Sixmilebridge during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Clooney-Quin’s Shane Harrison scores a goal despite Colm Flynn of Sixmilebridge during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Shane Harrison of Clooney-Quin is congratulated on his first goal by team mate Eoin Guilfoyle during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Shane Harrison of Clooney-Quin in action against Sean Mc Namara of Sixmilebridge during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Tomas O Cearbhallain of Clooney-Quin in action against Darragh Toomey of Sixmilebridge during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
A happy Clooney-Quin fan in the stand during their U-14A final against Sixmilebridge in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Stoirm Devanney of Sixmilebridge in action against Sean Mc Grath of Clooney-Quin during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Dylan Cunningham of Clooney-Quin in action against Evan O Callaghan of Sixmilebridge during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Colm Flynn of Sixmilebridge in action against Ben Harrington of Clooney-Quin during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Luke O Halloran of Sixmilebridge in action against Andrew Considine of Clooney-Quin during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Matthew Hurley of Sixmilebridge in action against Eoin Guilfoyle of Clooney-Quin during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Luke Keogh of Sixmilebridge in action against Callum Beirne of Clooney-Quin during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Shane Harrison of Clooney-Quin scores his second goal against Sixmilebridge during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Shane Harrison of Clooney-Quin celebrateshis second goal against Sixmilebridge during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Leon Kelly of Sixmilebridge in action against Donagh O Sullivan and John Coneally of Clooney-Quin during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
John Coneally of Clooney-Quin in action against Leon Kelly of Sixmilebridge during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Evan Murphy of Sixmilebridge in action against Darragh Keogh of Clooney-Quin during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Donagh O Sullivan of Clooney-Quin in action against Dylan Downes of Sixmilebridge during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Andrew Considine of Clooney-Quin in action against Luke O Halloran of Sixmilebridge during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Clooney Quin selector Patrick Cunningham congratulates his son Dylan Cunningham following their U-14A final against Sixmilebridge in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Darragh Keogh of Clooney-Quin in action against Leon Kelly of Sixmilebridge during their U-14A final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Clooney Quin players celebrate on the final whistle following their U-14A final win over Sixmilebridge in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Clooney Quin players celebrate on the final whistle following their U-14A final win over Sixmilebridge in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Clooney Quin players celebrate on the final whistle following their U-14A final win over Sixmilebridge in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
A disappointed Sixmilebridge captain Dylan Downes as Clooney Quin players celebrate on the final whistle behind him following their U-14A final win in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Clooney Quin manager Tom Guilfoyle is happy following their U-14A final against Sixmilebridge in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Clooney Quin captain Colm Cassidy lifts the cup following their U-14A final win over Sixmilebridge in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
The Clooney-Quin team following their U-14A final win over Sixmilebridge in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Clooney Quin selector Patrick Cunningham congratulates player Andrew Considine following their U-14A final against Sixmilebridge in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Clooney Quin selector Damien O Halloran is doused with water by players following their U-14A final against Sixmilebridge in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Clooney-Quin took control from the start and raced into a 0-3 to 0-0 lead before Sixmilebridge opened their account. The winners, however, dictated matters and led 0-8 to 0-1 with just nine minutes played.
Sixmilebridge received a great boost in the twentieth minute when David Kennedy struck for a goal but within a minute Clooney-Quin had replied with a like score from their full forward Shane Harrisson and they went on to lead by nine points at half time when the score was 1-10 to 1-1.
The winners had the first score of the second half but then the Bridge hit three unanswered points as they piled on the pressure but these s cores were cancelled out in the tenth minute when Harrisson struck for his second goal.
To their credit Sixmilebridge battled on but they simply could not break down a well organised and balanced Clooney-Quin outfit all of whose tally on the evening came from play.
In a well organised defence, Andrew Considine, Callum Beirne and Donagh O’Sullivan led the way. Team captain Colm Cassidy excelled at midfield while up front Sean McGrath and Shane Harrisson were outstanding.
Cian Fawl, Dylan Downes, Storim Devanney and David Kennedy tried hard for Sixmilebridge but, on the evening, Clooney-Quin dictated matters and fully deserved their win.
After the game Joe Pender on behalf of the underage hurling board presented the cup to the winning captain Colm Cassidy.
Clooney-Quin; Cormac O’Halloran; Callum Beirne, Andrew Considine, Matthew McNamara; John Conneally, Donagh O’Sullivan, Eoin Guilfoyle; Colm Cassidy (captain) 0-1, Darragh Keogh (0-2); Dylan Cunningham (0-2), Tomas O’Cearbhallain (0-3), Sean McGrath (0-3); Conal Egan (0-1), Shane Harrisson (2-3) Ben Harrington;
Subs; Callum Hassett for Harrington; Liam Keating for Cunningham, Martin Frain for Connealy.
Sixmilebridge; Cian Fawl (0-1); Colm Flynn, Sean McNamara, Ferdia O’Lionain; Scott Kirkland, Darragh Toomey, Evan O’Callaghan; Luke Keogh, Storim Devanney; Matthew Hurley, Dylan Downes,(captain) David Kennedy (1-3); EvanMurphy (0-2), Leon Kelly, Luke O’Halloran (1-0);
Subs; Colin Kelly for O’Callaghan; Noel Flynn for Keogh; Conor Morey for Kirkland, Adam Murray for Kennedy, Cian Gleeson for O’Halloran
