Captain Cleary leads the way for Flannan’s

St Flannan’s College 4-9
West Clare Colleges 0-5

St Flannan’s bounced back into contention for a place in the knock-out stages of the Corn Uí Mhuirí, Munster Colleges Senior Football Championship, when they scored a comfortable win over West Clare colleges at Hennessy Park in Miltown on Wednesday.
They will now play Killorglin, first-round winners over West Clare, in two weeks’ time and the winners of that tie will make it into the quarter-finals of the competition in the new year.
On Wednesday, the Ennis school, led by Conor Cleary, dominated the match at most positions and were well on their way to victory when they went to the break 2-6 to 0-1 ahead.
With Tony Kelly and Jack Browne back in the line-up, having missed the opening round when St Flannan’s lost out to a last-minute penalty, the Ennis side, despite the absence of the injured Martin O’Leary, looked a better balanced side.
They led 0-5 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter, which was the amalgamation side’s best period. However, the newcomers missed a couple of great scoring chances and these were to prove very costly. In the final five minutes of the half, St Flannan’s struck for goals from David Conroy and Tadhg Lynch and were always in control thereafter.
Surprisingly, West Clare opted to play against the breeze in the opening half, which didn’t help their cause. The Flannan’s captain put his side in front in the opening minute and he added two more, while both Tony Kelly and Tadhg Lynch were also on target in the first quarter.
In an effort to improve matters, West Clare Colleges made three changes in personnel at the break bringing in Conor Murray, Padraig Lynch and Kevin O’Looney but they were rocked in the third minute when the St Flannan’s skipper, Cleary, scored an excellent goal. Tony Kelly, now operating in the half-forward line, followed with a point and the margin between the teams was now 15 points.
Midway through the half, West Clare had a good spell that yielded three unanswered points but then the winners struck again and substitute Dara Kerin punched to the net past a hesitant Eamonn O’Dea.
Shortly after this, the West Clare goalie saw red when he was sent off following a rash challenge. There was no way back after this and St Flannan’s added points from goalkeeper Killian Normoyle, who converted a 45’ and Tadhg Lynch to seal a comfortable win.
Conor Cleary, Gearóid Ryan, Rowan Raftery, Jack Browne, and Tadhg Lynch were always prominent for the winners. For West Clare, Fergal Pyne, Cian Murray, Liam Madigan and Sean Garry got through some good work.

St Flannan’s: Killian Normoyle (Lissycasey); Conor Dolan (Éire Óg), Gearóid Ryan (Clarecastle), Rowan Raftery (Michael Cusack’s); Stephen Ward (Clarecastle), Jack Browne (Ballyea), Aidan McGuane (Kilmaley); Sean Corry (Éire Óg), Ciaran MacMathuna (Éire Óg); Eimhin Courtney (Éire Óg), Tadhg Lynch (Ballyea), Conor Cleary (Miltown, capt); David Conroy (Doora-Barefield), Tony Kelly (Ballyea), Barry Lynch (Lissycasey).
Subs: Dara Kerin (Doora-Barefield) for B Lynch, Stephen Murphy (Éire Óg) for McGuane, Dean D’Auria (Éire Óg) for Dolan, David Neylon (Éire Óg) for Conroy, Jim O’Reilly (Doora-Barefield) for Courtney.
Scorers: Conor Cleary (1-4), Tadhg Lynch (1-2), David Conroy (1-0), Dara Kerin (1-0), Tony Kelly (0-2), Killian Normoyle (0-1).
West Clare Colleges: Eamonn O’Dea (Kilrush); Jack Browne (Kilrush), Fergal Pyne (Kilrush), Robert Ryan (Kilmihil); James Butler (Kilrush), Sean Carry (Kilmihil), Conor McNeilis (Kildysart); Stephen Maguire (Kilkee), Joe Downes (Kilmihil); Conor Egan (Kilmihil), Cian Murray (Kilrush), Cian Mahoney (Kilkee); Gavin Melican (Kilkee), Tadhg Lillis (Kilrush), Liam Madigan (Kilrush).
Subs: Conor Murray (Kilkee) for Maguire, Padraig Lynch (Kilmihil) for Melican, Kevin O’Looney (Kilrush) for Ryan, Matthew Keane (Kilmihil) for Mahoney, Darragh O’Dea (Kilmihil) for Egan.
Scorers: Fergal Pyne, Cian Mahoney, Liam Madigan, Tadhg Lillis, Darragh O’Dea (0-1) each.
Referee: Kevin Walsh, Wolfe Tones.

Scariff Community College 3-16
Rice College  2-9
A strong final quarter display helped Scariff Community college to seal a place in the semi-final of Corn Mhic Ruairí, Munster Colleges Senior C Hurling Championship, when they overcame fellow Clare side Rice College at Clooney on Wednesday.
The winners held a one-point lead at half time when the score was 2-5 to 1-7. By the three quarter stage they had gone two points in front, 2-8 to 1-9 and Rice College supporters were confident their side would get the upper hand.
In the final quarter, however, Scariff were in control and, inspired by Eanna Doyle (Bodyke), Aidan O’Grady (Scariff), Colm Burke (Whitegate), Cathal Madden (Scariff), Eoin McMahon (Killanena) and Eoin Quirke (Whitegate), they pulled away for victory.
They will play Kilmacthomas or Kilmallock in the semi-final.

Harty Cup
Attention switches to hurling next Wednesday when the third round of games in the race for this year’s Dr Harty Cup will be played.
With two wins from two outings St Flannan’s look to be through. They travel to Clonmel on Wednesday to play Blackwater Community School.
Holders Ard Scoil Rís, also with two wins from two outings, travel to Bruff to play Charleville in a repeat of last year’s final. St Caimin’s, after two defeats, are out of contention ahead of their final group game which is against Midleton CBS at Charleville. All games will start at 2.30pm.
In the senior B competition for Corn Phadraig, St Joseph’s, Tulla, will play Clonmel at Ballybrickan.

U-15 football
West Clare Colleges will be hoping to bounce back from Wednesday’s loss to St Flannan’s when they play Rochestown from Cork at the Gaelic grounds,
Limerick on Friday at 1.30pm in the semi-final of the Munster U-15A championship.
They have been most impressive in their wins over Chríost Rí (after extra time) and Glanmire.
In the U-15C championship, Kilrush will travel to Tarbert to play Pallaskenry on Friday at 12.30pm.