Broadford in control in second half

Broadford 1-14
St Joseph’s 0-9

When St Joseph’s raced into a four-point lead in the first quarter of this senior championship tie at Cusack Park on Saturday evening, it looked like the Doora-Barefield outfit would drive on to victory, a result that would push them closer to a quarter-final date.
That was still the view at the end of what was a very poor opening half at which stage the St Joseph’s men led by three points, 0-6 to 0-3.
From here on, however, Broadford directed operations and the East Clare men grew in confidence as the second half progressed and emerged as deserving winners.
Ten minutes into the new half, they had outscored their more fancied opponents, 0-5 to 0-1 to take a one-point lead and while St Joseph’s levelled through their top scorer, Ivor Whyte, it was Broadford who dominated the exchanges from here to the finish.
They had gone four points clear when substitute Alan McMahon had the simple task of scoring the game’s only goal after he received a pass from Pádraig Hickey four minutes from the end.
Qualification for the quarter-finals is now just one game away for Broadford who will go through to the play-offs if they defeat Killanena in their final group game.
Emmet Whelan and Padraic Taylor exchanged points early in Saturday’s contest before Kevin Dilleen grabbed Paul Madden’s puckout to put his side back in front in the seventh minute.
In the first half, Ivor Whyte caused huge problems for Broadford and he scored three points in as many minutes, two from play, to put his side four clear after 12 minutes. Another White effort stretched their advantage to five with 10 minutes of the half remaining.
In that time, however, they failed to add to their tally, while Broadford had points from Aonghus O’Brien and Padraic Taylor. Two minutes from the break, Whyte tried for a goal from a 20m free but when lifting the ball, it went too far ahead and ended up putting his effort wide.
The standard of play improved a little on the resumption when Broadford took a grip on proceedings. Padraic Taylor and White exchanged points before points from Mark Moloney and James Gunning clearly boosted the East Clare outfit who drew level with a Craig Chaplin effort before Pádraig Hickey picked off a superb point to give his side the lead for the first time.
Growing in confidence all the time, the winners didn’t panic when Ivor Whyte levelled for St Joseph’s but they hit back with another effort from Padraic Taylor before Craig Chaplin put them two clear at the three-quarter stage.
Clearly concerned with the way the game was going, St Joseph’s brought in Enda Lyons and Shane O’Connor for Emmet Whelan and Mark Hallinan but Broadford continued to dominate and went three clear when Hickey converted a 40m free.
The game’s only goal killed off any slim hopes of a St Joseph’s recovery and while Kevin Dilleen had a point for St Joseph’s at the end of normal time, Broadford finished strongly with points from Craig Chaplin and Niall Moloney.
James Gunning, Cathal Chaplin and Padraic Taylor did well for the winners while Ivor Whyte, in the first half, Ken Kennedy and Marty O’Regan did best for a disappointing St Joseph’s.

n Broadford: Cian O’Brien; John Corcoran, Aidan O’Brien, Stephen Gunning; James Gunning, Cathal Chaplin, Kieran O’Connell; Craig Chaplin, Alan Kilcoyne; Pádraig Taylor, Aonghus O’Brien, Declan Teefy; Mark Moloney, Niall Moloney, Pádraig Hickey.
Subs: Donie Whelan for Teefy (50 minutes); Alan McMahon for Kilcoyne (52 minutes).
Scorers: Pádraig Taylor (0-4); Pádraig Hickey (0-3, 2f); Alan McMahon (1-0); Craig Chaplin (0-3); James Gunning, Mark Moloney, Niall Moloney, Aonghus O’Brien (0-1 each).
Frees for: 18; wides: 13.
Bookings: Pádraig Hickey (28 minutes) Craig Chaplin (58 minutes).
“We had the benefit of a game last week, which really stood to us while St Joseph’s hadn’t a game in nearly three months. We were optimistic at half-time. We had a lot of wides in the first half and we would have the aid of a slight breeze to come. It’s all to play for now in the last game,” Mike O’Brien, Broadford.
n St Joseph’s: Paul Madden; Cathal O’Sullivan, Marty O’Regan, Sean Flynn; Damian Kennedy, Ken Kennedy, Darragh O’Driscoll; Kevin Dilleen, Mark Hallinan; Alan O’Neill, Niall De Loughrey, Ivor Whyte; Emmet Whelan, Mike McNamara, Jarlath Colleran.
Subs: Noel Brodie for De Loughrey (38 minutes); Enda Lyons for Whelan (43 minutes); Shane O’Connor for Hallinan (43 minutes); Eamonn Clohessy for McNamara (50 minutes).
Scorers: Ivor Whyte (0-6, 2f); Kevin Dilleen (0-2); Emmet Whelan (0-1).
Frees for: 9; wides: 8.
Bookings: Emmet Whelan (42 minutes); Enda Lyons (58 minutes).
“The best team won on the day. We didn’t capitalise on the possession we had in the first half and once Broadford got in front, they built on that. We introduced a number of young players to this level of hurling but it’s going to take time,” Kevin Kennedy, St Joseph’s.
n Referee: Seanie McMahon, Newmarket.