Sixmilebridge 2-14
Newmarket-on-Fergus 0-17
(after extra time)

EXTRA time was needed to produce a result when Sixmilebridge and Newmarket clashed in the opening round of the U-21A Hurling Championship at Dr Daly Park in Tulla on Saturday.

The fact that extra time was required wasn’t a surprise, given how close games between these sides were in the minor campaign three years ago. The eventual winners got the upperhand in the second period of extra time and finished strongly to book their passage to the semi-final.

There was a strong wind blowing towards the road end of the grounds and Newmarket had the aid of it in the opening half. It was the eventual winners who took the lead with Pa Sheehan on target but it was short lived, as Liam Clancy responded from a placed ball for the Blues. They followed with like scores from Niall O’Connor, who did some valuable work dropping back to help his defence, Shane Liddy and another Clancy free to take a three-point lead.

Points were exchanged shortly afterwards, before a foul on Pa Sheehan resulted in a Sixmilebridge penalty, which Seadna Morey blasted to the net to tie up the scores at 1-2 to 0-5 early in the second quarter.
The winners pushed ahead with points from Alex Morey and Sheehan and led at the break 1-5 to 0-6, with wind advantage to come.

A Conor Deasy point early in the second half suggested that the Niall Gilligan-managed Sixmilebridge would pull away but Newmarket had other ideas and a Liam Clancy free cancelled out Deasy’s effort. Deasy struck for his team’s second goal, which came after good work by Seadna Morey.

At the midpoint of the second half, the winners held a three-point advantage, 2-8 to 0-11. The ’Bridge were held scoreless in the final 10 minutes, during which time Newmarket hit four points without reply, three coming from the stick of the accurate Clancy and the other from substitute Oisín Pender, which levelled the match just on full-time, 2-9 to 0-15. Three minutes of injury time failed to produce a score.

The teams had agreed before the game that there would be extra time, if needed and it was Newmarket who took the lead when Clancy hit another point. Seadna Morey and Conor Deasy missed chances for the winners and they were still level at the end of the first period, 2-11 to 0-17.

A Seadna Morey burst from midfield led to the lead score for the ’Bridge early in the second period. The Clare player converted a placed ball after he was fouled. Morey added another before Cathal O’Connor completed the scoring.
There were still a few moments left for Newmarket to equalise and they had a chance to do this more than two minutes into added time when they were awarded a free from 25m but Liam Clancy’s effort was well saved by Pa Freeman, with the sliotar being scrambled out at the expense of a 65’.

The winners had good displays from Brian Carey, Kevin Lynch, Seadna Morey, Cathal O’Connor and Pa Sheehan, while Noel Purcell also got through some good work. Newmarket had their best player in Liam Clancy with Frank Melody, Darren and Niall O’Connor and Shane Liddy doing well.

Sixmilebridge: Pa Freeman; Barry Fitzpatrick, Brian Carey, Eanna Burns; Noel Purcell, Kevin Lynch, Dylan Fleming; Seadna Morey (1-3, 1f), Cathal O’Connor (0-3); Evan McInerney, Alex Morey (0-1), Pa Sheehan (0-4, 3f); Alan Mulready, Darragh Fitzgerald, Conor Deasy (1-2, 1f).
Subs: David Murphy for McInerney, Sean Lynch (0-1) for Fleming, John Mulready for A Mulready, Fleming for J Mulready and A Mulready for Fitzgerald.
Newmarket: Niall Woods; Paudie Hayes, Shane Kelleher, Evan Keogh; Frank Melody, Darren O’Connor, James Warren; Niall O’Connor (0-2), Ian Cusack; Tommy Griffin, Sean Gleeson, Liam Clancy (0-11, 8f); David Burke, Shane Liddy (0-2), Darren Power (0-1).
Subs: Donagh Keogh for Gleeson, Oisín Pender (0-1) for Cusack, Paudie Conway for Burke, Ronan McCarthy for Darren O’Connor, Darren O’Connor for McCarthy, Oisín O’Connor for D Keogh and David Burke for Power.
Referee: Fergal Gray, Feakle.

 

Kelly and Flanagan sparkle for champions

Ballyea 2-14
Kilmaley 0-14

A CONTRIBUTION of 1-9 from Tony Kelly helped defending champions Ballyea to secure a place in the semi-final, when they repeated last season’s final win over their neighbours at Ruan on Saturday.

A six-point winning margin is a little flattering but the champions deserved to advance, as they were the better balanced side. For long periods, a draw looked the likely outcome. The sides were level on seven occasions up to nine minutes from the end. An Aonghus Keane goal, a minute later, finally killed off Kilmaley’s challenge. The big full-forward caused problems for the Kilmaley defence and it was a foul on him in the first half that resulted in the opening goal, with Kelly converting a penalty awarded for a foul on the winners’ number 14.

Defences dominated throughout the tie, with the Ballyea backs giving the Kilmaley attack little room. Daire Keane and Michael O’Neill failed to make any impression against Jack Browne and Paul Flanagan, who were dominant at the heart of the winners’ defence.

The winners made the better start, despite playing against the wind, and had points from Tony Kelly and Niall Deasy. With Conor Cleary doing well at centre-back, Kilmaley fought back and points from Cian Moloney, Kilmaley’s best forward, and Cleary had the teams level by the seventh minute, before further points from Michael O’Malley and Moloney saw Kilmaley take a two-point lead by the 10th minute.

Ballyea full-forward Keane used his height advantage to win possession after 18 minutes and as he attempted to break through, referee Rory Hickey adjudged that he was fouled. Kelly drove the resultant penalty low to the corner of the net and Ballyea were back in front.

Play swung from end to end for the remainder of the half and when the half-time whistle sounded, they were level for the third time at 1-6 to 0-9. Ballyea returned with Martin O’Leary in their attack in place of Niall Griffin.
Scoring chances were few in the early stages of the second half and eight minutes had elapsed before Kilmaley took the lead when Daire Keane, now operating in the half-forward line, pointed after good work by Michael O’Neill.

In an effort to break down the strong Ballyea defence, Kilmaley introduced Dara McMahon and Dara Gregan to their attack in place of Tomás Lynch and Kevin McNamara.
Two points from Tony Kelly in the space of a minute had the title holders in front at the three-quarter stage but the lead was short lived as substitute McMahon levelled for Kilmaley. Points were swapped twice in the next six minutes, leaving the teams level at 1-10 to 0-13 with nine minutes remaining.

The vital score came a minute later when a Martin O’Leary delivery was toe-poked over the goal line by Aonghus Keane. Straight from the puckout, Tony Kelly won possession and pointed and this was followed by a Gearóid O’Connell point. Michael O’Malley kept Kilmaley hopes alive with a point but like scores from Kelly and Niall Deasy sealed victory for the champions, who now face Sixmilebridge in the semi-final.

Jack Browne and the outstanding Paul Flanagan sparkled in the winners’ defence, while Tony Kelly contributed some outstanding scores. Aonghus Keane and Niall Deasy also did well for the winners. Stephen Griffey, Conor Cleary, Eoin Enright and Cian Moloney were Kilmaley’s best on the day.

Ballyea: Shane Harkin; Declan Keane, Jack Browne, Eoghan Donnellan; David Sheehan, Paul Flanagan, Cathal Doohan; Gearóid O’Connell, Stan Lineen; Niall Deasy, Tony Kelly, Joe Nealon; Niall Griffin, Aonghus Keane, Tadhg Lynch.
Subs: Martin O’Leary for Griffin (half-time), Michael Nagle for Donnellan and Eanna McInerney for Nealon (both 50 mins).
Scorers: Tony Kelly (1-9, 1-3f), Niall Deasy (0-3), Aonghus Keane (1-0), Joe Nealon and Gearóid O’Connell (0-1 each).
Kilmaley: Bryan O’Loughlin; Stephen Griffey, Niall McGuane, Shane Lynch; Eoin Enright, Conor Cleary, Eoin Fitzgerald; Aidan McGuane, Killian McNamara; Tomás Lynch, Michael O’Neill, Kevin McNamara; Cian Moloney, Daire Keane, Michael O’Malley.
Subs: Darragh McMahon for Lynch (40 mins) and Dara Gregan for McNamara (41 mins).
Scorers: Cian Moloney (0-8, 5f), Michael O’Malley (0-2), Conor Cleary, Aidan McGuane, Daire Keane and Darragh McMahon (0-1 each).
Referee: Rory Hickey, Éire Óg.

 

Clonlara secure winner in injury time

Clonlara 3-14
Éire Óg 2-13

THE outcome of the quarter-final at O’Garney Park in Sixmilebridge was in doubt right to the final whistle. A draw looked the likely outcome as the game headed into injury time but the South-East Clare side finished strongly to secure victory and a semi-final date against Inagh-Kilnamona.

Inter-county players Colm Galvin, at centre-back, and Cathal O’Connell on the 40’, played key roles for the winners on a day when their forward line caused a lot of problems for the Éire Óg defence.
Éire Óg forwards Davy O’Halloran, Shane O’Donnell and David Reidy threatened when in possession but the winners’ defence made life difficult for them.

The winners started well and had 0-5 on the scoreboard after 10 minutes but an Éire Óg goal from Ciarán Malone at the midpoint of the half gave the town side a great boost. The goal came after Ryan Morris in the Clonlara goal had saved well from Shane O’Donnell, who was put through by David Durack.

Clonlara scored their opening goal in the 10th minute through Liam O’Grady, who found the net from a tight angle. A David Reidy run ended with a pass to Shane O’Donnell, who hit Éire Óg’s second goal six minutes from the half-time whistle. At the break, the sides were level at 2-8 to 1-11.

Early in the second half, Ciarán Downey goaled for the winners and they went on to lead by three points, 2-13 to 2-10, with full-time approaching. Éire Óg staged a strong finish to level at 2-13 each with the game drifting into injury time.

A Clonlara free from their own half-back line saw Ryan Morris’ delivery grabbed by David Begley, who turned and blasted to the net. It was a killer blow for the town side and when Clonlara added a point a minute later, the South-East Clare men were on their way to the next round.

Colm Galvin excelled for the winners at centre-back, particularly in the final quarter of the game, while Cathal O’Connell dictated play from centre-forward. In addition to scoring 0-7, he had a part in many of their remaining scores.
Others to impress for the winners were Shane O’Brien at full-back and Ian Galvin, while for Éire Óg, David Reidy, David O’Halloran and Shane O’Donnell always looked dangerous. Overall, Clonlara were the better balanced outfit and deserved to advance to the semi-final.

Clonlara: Ryan Morris; Fionn Larkin, Shane O’Brien, Michael White; Eoin Meehan, Colm Galvin, Seamus Downey; Michael O’Loughlin (0-1), Ger Powell; Ciarán Downey (1-2), Cathal O’Connell (0-7, 6f), Tom Begley (0-1); Liam O’Grady (1-0), David Begley (1-0), Ian Galvin (0-3).
Sub: Oisín O’Brien for Seamus Downey.
Éire Óg: Brian Nestor; David Neylon, Ciarán Russell, Paul Moynihan;  Liam Corry, Conor Stack, Jack Walshe (0-1); Aidan McGrath, Dara Walsh (0-2); David Reidy (0-2), David Durack, David O’Halloran (0-5f); Kieran Malone (1-0), Shane O’Donnell (1-1), Fiachra Connellan (0-2).
Subs: Mattie Melican for Paul Moynihan and James Sweeney for Aidan McGrath.
Referee: Seanie McMahon, Newmarket.

 

Inagh-Kilnamona advance from score-fest

Inagh-Kilnamona 1-27
Clooney-Quin 3-13

IN overcoming Clooney-Quin at Clarecastle on Saturday, Inagh-Kilnamona compiled an impressive tally of 1-27. They now face Clonlara in the semi-final.
Inagh-Kilnamona have the assistance of some players from Ennistymon for this championship and goalkeeper Cathal McDonagh and forward Cathal Malone were in the starting line-up last weekend.

With Peter Duggan picking off some excellent scores, Clooney-Quin made the better start and led 1-3 to 0-2 inside the opening quarter. Duggan’s effort for a goal was saved by the eventual winners, who launched a counter-attack, which ended with a superb Niall Arthur point. This score helped the winners to settle and at the end of a well-contested first half, they were ahead, 0-14 to 1-9.

Inagh-Kilnamona continued to improve after the break and enjoyed the better of matters for the second period.
Peter Duggan remained Clooney-Quin’s best player and ended the contest with a tally of 2-10. With less than five minutes remaining, he picked up a second yellow card, which ended his involvement in the game but by that stage, the winners were well in control and on their way to the next round.

All of the winners’ forwards got on the scoresheet, with full-forward Niall Arthur leading the way. He finished with a tally of 1-9. The remaining five forwards each scored three points, while midfielder Kevin Hehir contributed a brace.
The Clooney defence was under constant pressure and this resulted in plenty of scoring opportunities for the winners, who picked off some excellent points. Cathal McConigley was impressive at corner-back for the winners, while all of the six forwards impressed.

In addition to Peter Duggan, Clooney-Quin had good performances from Eanna Barry and Shane Duggan.

Inagh-Kilnamona: Cathal McDonagh; Cathal McConigley, Haulie Vaughan, Alan Mullins; Sean Mahoney, Damian Lafferty, Christopher O’Looney; Kevin Hehir, Brian Foudy; Gerry Coote, David McCarthy, Brian Hehir; Barry Keating, Niall Arthur, Cathal Mahone.
Subs: David Fitzgerald for K Hehir, James O’Halloran for B Hehir, Evan McNamara for Coote, Jamesie McConigley for Keating and Shane McInerney for O’Looney.
Clooney-Quin: Keith Hogan; Danny Reddan, Brian McInerney, Liam Henchy; Eanna Barry, Rúairí McNamara, Niall McMahon; Luke Harrisson, John Reynolds; Ryan Taylor, Peter Duggan, Shane Duggan; James Corry, Ritchie Hennessy, Niall Hehir.
Subs: Ryan O’Neill for Reynolds and Conor Clune for Harrison.
Referee: Jim Hickey, Cratloe.