Ballyea book final spot

Ballyea 0-22 Feakle 2-13

Ballyea moved to within a step of a first ever Clare senior hurling championship title when they accounted for Feakle at Cusack Park this afternoon.

A superb performance from Gearoid O’Connell at centre back was a key ingredient in this victory on a day whenTony Kelly again top scored for his side with )-8 to his credit, six coming from  play.

Feakle played with the aid of the breeze in the opening half but Ballyea were in a strong position at half time when the sides were on level terms, 0-9 for the eventual winners to 1-6, the first half goal having come from  Colin Nelson.

The winners made a blistering start to the second half with five unanswered points in the first seven minutes and from here on Feakle were chasing the game. they fought back to within two points of the winners when Martin Daly goaled three minutes from time but try as they did they just could not get on level terms and Ballyea deservingly won through to the final where they will  play either Clonlara or Cratloe

St. Josephs Doora-Barefield booked a place in the final of the intermediate championship thanks to a 2-11 tgo0-13 win over Sixmilebridge at Shannon. An Alan O’Neill goal from a penalty saw them lead by the minimum margin at the interval when the score was 1-5 to 0-7 and while the ‘Bridge fought back to lead early in the second half the Doora-Barefield men deservingly progressed to a final date against either Broadford or Tubber.

Bodyke are through to the junior A final thanks to a one point win over Ogonnelloe at Tulla. Ogonnelloe held a one point lead, 1-7 to 1-6 at the interal but when the final whistle sounded it was 4-10 to 2-15 in Bodyke’s favour. They await the winners of the game between Kilmaley and Sixmilebridge in the final.

Newmarket’s bid to complete the junior B double ended at Sixmilebridge where they were comprehensively beaten by Wolfe Tones in a repeat of the league final. The Shannon men won on this occasion on a final scoreline of 3-15 to 1-7.

It was a good day for the Wolfe Tones club at O’Garney park as their seniors ensured their place in division 1 B of the Clare Champion cup for next season with a 5-16 to 3-10 win over Parteen who now play Tulla next week when the losers will be consigned to division 2 league hurling for next season.

By Seamus Hayes