’Bridge hold off Inis Cealtra fightback

Sixmilebridge 4-12   Inis Cealtra 0-13

O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge was the venue for the start of the Minor Championship 2012 when Inis Cealtra were the visitors. Inis Cealtra are a combination of Scariff, Ogonnelloe and Whitegate.

The ’Bridge started at a blistering pace, racing into a 2-2 to 0-0 lead by the seventh minute. The goals came from full-forward Paul Finnan after the Inis Cealtra keeper made a good save from Conor Deasy and from Kevin Fennessy. The remainder of the first half saw an exhibition of point-scoring from the ‘Bridge, these scores coming from Fennessy, Deasy, Finnan and Steven Mulready. The only replies for the combo were three pointed frees from centre-forward Barry Nash. The third goal came from the stick of Conor Deasy and at the half-time whistle the ’Bridge led, 3-8 to 0-3.
The second half was a much different affair with Inis Cealtra really giving their opponents something to think about and but for the safe hands of ’Bridge keeper Jason Loughnane, Darragh McNamara and Dylan Fleming at wing-back, the final score could of been a lot different. The combo had good points in the second half from Eoin Quirke and Peter English, which made the score 3-11 to 0-12 with five minutes to play. Sixmilebridge’s only scores came from Mark Hehir, Steven Mulready and Deasy.
The winners were best served by Jason Loughnane, Dylan Fleming, Kevin Fennessy, Steven Mulready and Paul Finnan. Inis Cealtra had good displays from Peter English, Eoin Quirke in the second half and Daniel Cunnane.

Sixmilebridge: Jason Loughnane; Michael Lynch, Barry Fitzpatrick, Mark Quinn; Dylan Fleming, Brian Carey, Darragh McNamara; Kevin Fennessy(1-1), John Mulready (0-1); Mark Hehir (0-2), Steven Mulready (0-3), Conor Deasy (1-3); Eoin Flynn, Paul Finnan (2-2), Tony McNamara.
Sub: Gavin Whyte for T McNamara (50 mins).
Inis Cealtra: Noel O’Donnell; Sean Kikkers, Gareth Bleach, Luke Patterson; Cathal Madden, Eoin Quirke (0-2), Jack Orme; Martin Cunningham, Peter English (0-2); Ronan Corry, Barry Nash (0-6), Conor McDermott (0-2); John Scanlan, Daniel Cunnane, Colin Burke (0-1).