’Bridge pull it back to earn draw

Sixmilebridge 0-15 Wolfe Tones 1-12

WHEN Wolfe Tones went eight points clear after just 22 minutes at Tulla on Sunday, Sixmilebridge looked to be on the road to a first defeat in this campaign.
The Shannon outfit went into this tie aiming to get away from the relegation zone whereas the ’Bridge were already safely into the last eight of the championship.
There was clearly more urgency in Wolfe Tones’ play in the opening stages and after the teams had swapped points twice, the Shannon men put a fine move together which ended with a goal from John Guilfoyle after good work by Daithí O’Connell and Daniel Gallery.
O’Connell caused a lot of problems for the ’Bridge in the first half in particular but when Wolfe Tones look back on this tie, they will point to as lot of missed chances, particularly from frees.
Any suggestion that the ’Bridge weren’t worried about the result were quickly dispelled as they staged a strong fight-back in the second half to earn a merited share of the spoils. The result confirms their position as group winners.
Guilfoyle’s goal was followed by five unanswered points from the Shannon men. Just when it looked like they might pull away for an easy win, the ’Bridge hit back with a brace of points from captain Niall Gilligan and one from Trevor Purcell to leave the score at 1-7 to 0-5 at half-time.
Clare minor star Seadna Morey was introduced at half-time for his senior club championship debut and he signalled his arrival with a point, which was followed by like scores from Gilligan and Danny Morey.
The ’Bridge made a number of changes at this stage, the most significent of which was the switch of Caimin Morey from full-forward to centre-back.
The Tones had their first score of the half when Bobby McPhillips landed a free but points from Niall Gilligan, Trevor Purcell and Shane Golden tied up the game.
Points were exchanged twice before a Trevor Purcell effort put the ’Bridge in front for the first time with nine minutes remaining. Wolfe Tones’ efforts from Bobby McPhillips and Jamie Walker them back in front but  Sixmilebridge captain Niall Gilligan had the final say when he sent over the equaliser from a free with a minute of normal time remaining.

Sixmilebridge: Derek Fahy; John Fennessy, Tadhg Keogh, Paul Fitzpatrick; Robert Conlon, Aidan Qulligan, Paudi Fitzpatrick; Shane Golden, Tommy Morey; Declan Morey, Niall Gilligan, Trevor Purcell; Danny Morey, Caimin Morey, Rory Shanahan.
Subs: Seadna Morey for Fennessy; Mark Culbert for T Morey.
Scorers: Niall Gilligan (0-8); Trevor Purcell (0-3), Danny Morey (0-2), Shane Golden, Seadna Morey (0-1) each.

Wolfe Tones: Ray Carley; Frank Lohan, Jamie Roughan, John Coen; Bobby McPhillips, Brian O’Connell, Barry Loughnane; Gary O’Connell, Stephen McInerney; Johnnie Bridges, Daithí O’Connell, Aaron Cunningham; John Guilfoyle, Declan O’Rourke, Daniel Gallery.
Sub: Jamie Walker.
Scorers: Bobby McPhillips (0-4), Daniel Gallery, Daithí O’Connell (0-3) each, John Guilfoyle (1-0), Declan O’Rourke, Jamie Walker (0-1) each.

Referee: Seánie McMahon, Newmarket.