Captain Cleary cuts superb winning point

CONOR Cleary’s match-winning point in Saturday’s Minor A Hurling Championship final at Sixmilebridge was a score worthy of any game at any level.

With the game in the fifth of the scheduled five minutes of injury time, the Kilmaley captain stepped up to a line ball 40m from goal and to the delight of the Kilmaley followers, his strike was true. It gave Kilmaley their fourth title at this level and bridged a three-year gap to their last win in 2009.

 

It brought to an end a most entertaining game, which produced some excellent hurling and one in which the sides were level on five occasions. Kilmaley just about deserved the win, although few would have quibbled had the contest ended in a draw.

When Kilmaley went six points clear, 26 minutes into the second half, it looked all over for the Magpies. However, a Michael Casey goal a minute later brought them right back into contention and points quickly followed from their captain, Bobby Duggan, and from the impressive Mark McGuane to leave the minimum separating the sides at the end of normal time.

In the second of the five added minutes, Duggan converted a 30m free and the momentum appeared to be with the Magpies. Kilmaley goalie Conan Fitzgerald did well to save a Michael Casey effort before the new champions went on an attack, which ended with the line ball that Cleary converted.

This particular minor championship has produced some excellent games and this one didn’t disappoint either. Clarecastle went into the contest having dropped just one point, as they drew with Kilmaley in Round 3, and they were seen as marginal favourites.

However, they were dealt a big blow when Clare minor panellist Stephen Ward was ruled out following an appendix operation just over a week ago.

Play swung from end to end. Kilmaley had the opening scores with Michael O’Malley and Cian Moloney (free) pointing before Bobby Duggan (free) and Aaron Greene replied for Clarecastle by the 10th minute.
For the remainder of the half, scores were hard to come by as the respective defences did well. In the second of the two added minutes, Eoin Clearly pointed to put Kilmaley 0-7 to 0-6 ahead at the break.

A minute into the new half they were level again and then Clarecastle substitute Sean Lynch gave the Magpies the lead for the only time in the game. It was 0-10 to 0-9 for Kilmaley 10 minutes into the half and a minute later, the new champions struck a major blow.

A break down the left by Brian Cahill, who had a particularly impressive second half, led to Michael O’Malley crossing to Padraic McNamara, who fired home a great goal.

From the puck-out, Duggan pointed for Clarecastle and then all hell broke loose with some mentors and spectators getting involved. Play was stopped for just over five minutes and before the action resumed, Clarecastle manager Tom Howard and Kilmaley’s Niall Romer were sent from the enclosure by match official Jim Hickey.

Inside the last 10 minutes Kilmaley hit four unanswered points in three minutes and it looked to be all over for Clarecastle. However, they had other ideas and staged a strong rally to draw level before Miltown Malbay native Cleary stepped up to land that superb winning score.

Cleary, Aidan McGuane and Darragh McMahon were prominent throughout in front of goalkeeper Conan Fitzgerald. Brian Cahill had an outstanding game, first at midfield and then at wing-back. All six forwards got on the scoresheet and played a key role.

Tom Howard excelled in defence for Clarecastle, while Gearóid Ryan and Joe Barry got through some excellent work. Mark McGuane, Michael Casey and Bobby Duggan were best in attack.

Kilmaley: Conan Fitzgerald; Shane Lynch, Darragh McMahon, Shane O’Malley; Conor Finnucane, Conor Cleary (capt), Aidan McGuane; Brian Cahill, Eamon Bracken; Killian Normoyle, Eoin Cleary, Darragh Gregan; Pádraic McNamara, Michael O’Malley, Cian Moloney.
Sub: Barry Lynch for Bracken (50 minutes).
Scorers: Cian Moloney (0-6, 5f), Pádraic McNamara (1-1), Michael O’Malley (0-3), Darragh Gregan, Killian Normoyle, Eoin Cleary, Aidan McGuane (free), Conor Cleary (line ball) and Brian Cahill (0-1 each).
Frees for: 11; wides: 12.
Clarecastle: Ben Maloney; Joe Barry, Gearóid Ryan, Dylan Broderick; Pa Tuohy, Conor Galvin, Tom Howard; John Griffey, John McInerney; Michael Casey, Bobby Duggan, Mark McGuane; Conor Clancy, Cian Crimmins, Aaron Greene.
Subs: Sean Lynch for Griffey (half-time) and Jack McDermott for McInerney (50 minutes).
Scorers: Bobby Duggan (0-9, 7f), Mikey Casey (1-1), Mark McGuane (0-2), Aaron Greene, Conor Clancy and Sean Lynch (0-1 each).
Frees for: 11; wides: 10; 65s: 1.
Referee: Jim Hickey, Cratloe.