B team on top in battle of the ’Tage

Hermitage A 1
Hermitage B 2

Hermitage B caused a big upset in this Clare Cup first round on Sunday when they dumped their club’s A team out of the title race.
From the kick-off, the B squad showed their determination to do well in this tie and they went in front from the penalty spot early in the game.
Referee Michael Rock adjudged that David Cahill was fouled inside the penalty area and he pointed to the spot. Brian McMahon converted past the A team’s new signing, Liam Deasy.
Few chances were created from open play but both sets of defenders were finding problems in dealing with set pieces.
The equaliser also came from the penalty spot after the match official penalised the B defence for jersey pulling and one of Hermitage’s longest-serving players, David Moloney, shot low past Abdul to tie up the game.
Things didn’t look good for the eventual winners when they were reduced to 10 men with the sending off of Brendan Dobbins for a second yellow card offence.
However, the B team used their substitutions well and strengthened their wings to combat the advances of Talty and Fitzgerald, while they also curbed the advances of John Maher.
The McNamara brothers, Craig and Alan, were on top in midfield and great running by McMahon and Cahill kept the pressure on the A team.
Disaster struck for the A side when Davy Moloney, who had backtracked to cut out Alan McNamara’s delivery, saw his ­attempted headed clearance end up in his own net.
It was backs to the wall for the B team for the remaining 15 minutes as the A side went all out for the equaliser but the B team’s Keane and Mulqueen and full-backs, Riordan and Cahill refused to concede.
On the day, the real winner was Ennis soccer as Clare’s oldest club served up a most exciting contest.
Hermitage A: Liam Deasy, Gavin O’Reily, David Moloney, John Maher, Ritchie Fitzgerald, Pa Mannion, Paul Dullaghan, Shane Talty, Ritchie O’Grady, Matty Kearney, Rhys Phillips.  
Subs: Tola Crowe, Johnny Ferns and Eoin Ryan.
Hermitage B: Abdul, Eoin Cahil, Cathal Keane, Neil Mulqueen, Brendan Dobbins, Mick O’Ceallaigh, Alan McNamara, Craig McNamara, Chris Riordan, David Cahill, Brian McMahon. 
Subs: Noel Mounsey, John O’Grady, Colin O’Callahan, Tony Green.

Bridge United B 0
Turnpike Rovers  3

Turnpike Rovers progressed to Round 2 in the junior cup with this comfortable win over Bridge United B on Sunday.
They took the lead on the half-hour mark when Sean McNamara scored and their advantage was doubled 10 minutes later through an OG.
In the second half, Francis Franks scored from the penalty spot to seal a comfortable victory.
Bridge Utd B: Brian Murphy; James Egan, Mark Egan, Alan McAuley, Kevin Kelly; Ricky Maxwell, Ian O’Sullivan, Mikey Keogh, Greg Deegan; Noel Duggan, Pat Collins.
Subs: Jason Murphy, Brendan Murphy, Alan White, Gary O’Sullivan and Gary McDonnell.
Turnpike Rovers: Dermot Gannon; Shane Moroney, Kenneth Kelly, Danny Russell, Fergal Brennan, Sean McNamara, Mark Woods, James Keane, Ciarán Russell, Francis Franks, Jason Hayes.
Subs: Johnnie Rynne for McNamara, Donncada Hassett for Russell, Conor O’Brien for Hayes and Sean McMahon for Keane.

Cup race continues
Three Clare Junior Cup ties are listed for decision this Sunday. Two of the ties are first-round games while the meeting of Turnpike Rovers and Kilkishen Celtic is a Round 2 game  and the Ennis side will have home advantage for this one.
In Round 1, Burren United will entertain Inch Crusaders at Lisdoonvarna while Connolly Celtic will have Shannon Olympic as visitors to Kilmaley.
Elsewhere, league action will dominate.