Bridge blast Clonlara out of way to make Junior B final

Michael O’ Connor watched Sixmilebridge dismantle Clonlara in the Junior B hurling semi final on a score of 2-23 to 1-7

From the start of this season the intention in Sixmilebridge was crystal clear. Get as many teams as possible out and make them competitive. So, to this end they had four adult teams in semi-finals over the weekend and special emphasis in its own quiet way was in getting one side into Junior A in 2023 and one side into Junior B for next season.

One part was achieved within Tulla and on Sunday morning in dreadful conditions they eased past Clonlara in Cratloe for seal a place in the Junior B final against Inagh/Kilnamona on Sunday week in Tulla on county final day. The day before the Clonlara men suffered demotion to Junior A and so there was a need to rally the forces in this tie to bolster morale.

Sixmilebridge played with the strong wind in the first half and had the opening score on the board before Ken Haskett responsed in the third minute with Clonlara’s opener.

It was indeed a rearguard action for the South Clare men in the first half and they managed just one more score also from Haskett deep into injury time.

Sixmilebridge went on a scoring spree adding a further (2-11) with Evan Murphy, Adam Murray and the veteran David O’ Connor on target. Irrespective of the fact that Sixmilebridge had the wind as their backs they displayed exceptional defensive qualities that may stand to them in the final.

Sixmilebridge, now facing into the elements that were increasing in their ferocity sent over the opening two scores of the new half to solidfy their huge lead to 18 points. Haskett added two more scores for Clonlara before three in a row in two minutes from Sixmilebridge between the 42nd and 44th minutes kept their side of the scoreboard ticking over.

Dara Casey, O’Connor as well as Murphy and Murray looked impressive in the Sixmilebridge attack as stylish full forward Tommy Liddy also contributed two hard earned scores.

Despite suffering what was clear from a long way out a heavy defeat Clonlara kept working hard with the second half elements and Kevin McGuinness grabbed a consolation goal in injury time for Pat Conlon’s men.

Sixmilebridge outside of their positive forward showing had as already noted a mean defence who will not surrender scores and are quite a mobile unit for Junior B. It will indeed be a Junior B final to look forward to for two clubs who harboured serious intent to be action on county final day in a higher grade and this would have a welcome support act.

Best for Clonlara included Ian Cullen who in poor weather conditions had to be alert in goal. Paul Conlon, Eoin Fitzgerald, Ken Haskett, Diarmuid O’ Meara, Kevin McGuinness and Gavin Duffy.

Sixmilebridge: Cian Fawl, Eanna Chaplin, Jason Murphy, Michael Carey, Seamus O’ Connell, Paul Fitzpatrick, Evan O’ Callaghan, Oisin Breen, Gary O’Callaghan, Evan Murphy, Adam Murray, Conor Gilligan, Dara Casey, Thomas Liddy, David O’Connor. Subs: Michael O’Halloran for Gilligan, Cian Gleeson for Liddy, Morgan O’Connell for Carey, Mark O’Donovan for Chaplin.
Sixmilebridge scorers: Evan Murphy, Adam Murray (1-4), each, David O’ Connor (0-7), Dara Casey (0-3), Tommy Liddy (0-2), Oisin Breen, Conor Gilligan, Paul Corbett (0-1) each.

Clonlara: Ian Cullen, Mark Walsh, Cathal Niall, Paul Conlan, Liam O’Grady, Eoin Fitzgerald, Aaron Hogg, Gavin Duffy, Seamus Reddan, Ken Haskett, Kevin McGuinness, Diarmuid O’Meara, Luke Cunningham, Jason Murphy, Philip Cunningham. Subs: Senan Nihill for Hogg, John Moloney for Duffy, Andrew Kavanagh for Reddan, Aaron Conlon for O’Meara, Jeff Ryan for Walsh.
Clonlara scorers: Ken Haskett (0-6), Kevin McGuinness (1-0), Owen Fitzgerald (0-1)

Referee: John Bugler (Whitegate)