Broadford’s strong finish denies Tubber in opening round of Clare Cup

Full coverage of the opening round games in the Clare Cup as well as a look ahead to this weekend’s Cusack Cup and Garry Cup fixtures in this week’s Clare Champion.

Broadford 3-12 – Tubber 1-15
Broadford following a successful 2023 with Junior A and retention of the U-21B hurling title travelled to Tubber on Friday evening with high hopes for a progressive 2024 and came away with a battling late three points to seal their opening win of the Clare Cup.
The two shooting stars of the game were Broadford’s Craig Chaplin and Tubber’s Osgar Dunford and it was the Tubber 18 year old who had the opening score after seven minutes with Diarmuid Whelan back in the Broadford colours responding for his side. Joe Clancy saw a gilt-edged goal chance cannon off Broadford goalkeeper Cian O’Brien that saw the resultant 65’ converted by Lorcan O’Grady. Domhnall McMahon and Darren Chaplin traded points by the 15th minute before O’Grady and Oisin Kavanagh did likewise soon after. Tubber following scores from Joey Droney, Mark Earley and Dunford once more gave Tubber confidence before Broadford hit goal number one from Donie Whelan to level proceedings. Three late first half scores from Ronan Taaffe (2 frees) and Osgar Dunford left Tubber (0-9) to (1-4) clear at half time.
A strong half time discussion ensured a far more focused Broadford emerged for the second half as they edged Tubber (6-5) in first-half wides. Craig Chaplin who was forefront to their challenge in the second-half kickstarted their revival as Mark Earley matched this with a like score by the 33rd minute. Darren and Craig Chaplin added further scores before calamity for Tubber conceding a brace of goals in a minute with Diarmuid O’Brien and Stiofan McMahon on the mark to open up a six-point lead after 40 minutes. In what was a very fast paced and at time hard hitting affair Tubber came racing back into the game with (1-3) as Joe Clancy hit a scrambled goal with Dunford (2) and Earley also on target entering the final quarter.
It was end to end fare for the remainder of the game as Tubber drew level thanks once more to Dunford with his fifth score from play but as the game creeped into the final moments it was a rejuvenated Broadford who hit fast and hard with winning scores from Diarmuid O’Brien, Craig Chaplin and Darren Chaplin for the league win.
Best for the visitors to Tubber were the dominant Paddy Donnellan, Craig Chaplin, Darren Chaplin, Stiofan McMahon, Diarmuid Whelan, Padraig Taylor, Cathal Chaplin and Cian O’Brien. Tubber worked hard and will bemoan missed goal chances in the first-half. They had stand out showings from Osgar Dunford, Mark Earley, Domhnall McMahon, Ronan Monahan, Ronan Taaffe, Pappy Taaffe, Patrick O’Connor and Joey Droney.

Broadford: Cian O’Brien, Jack O’Brien, Cathal Chaplin, Damien Kiniry David Boland, Paddy Donnellan, Padraig Taylor, Oisin Kavanagh, Mark Moloney, Craig Chaplin, Darren Chaplin, Diarmuid O’Brien, Stiofan McMahon, Donie Whelan, Diarmuid Whelan. Subs: Conor O’Donnell for Taylor, Gearoid Vaughan for O’Brien

Scorers: Craig Chaplin (0-6), Stiofan McMahon (0-3), Diarmiud O’Brien (1-1), Donie Whelan, Stiofan McMahon (1-0) each, Oisin Kavanagh, Diarmuid Whelan (0-1) each

Tubber: Ronan Taaffe, Cathal Droney, Pappy Taaffe, Emmet Quinn, Fergal O’Grady, Ronan Monahan, James Howard, Patrick O’Connor. Liam Clancy, Osgar Dunford, Domhnall McMahon, Lorcan O’Grady, Joey Droney, Mark Earley, Joe Clancy. Subs: John Fawle for L Clancy, Clive Earley for J Clancy

Scorers: Osgar Dunford (0-5), Joey Clancy (1-0)) Mark Earley, Lorcan O’Grady (0-3) each, Ronan Taaffe (0-2), Domhnall McMahon, Joey Droney (0-1).

Referee: Niall Malone
(Éire Óg)

Full coverage of the opening round games in the Clare Cup as well as a look ahead to this weekend’s Cusack Cup and Garry Cup fixtures in this week’s Clare Champion.