Champions stay in the title race

Cratloe 0-12 Newmarket 0-11

CHAMPIONS Cratloe moved a step closer to retaining the Clare senior hurling title when they overcame the challenge of a strongly fancied Newmarket side at Cusack Park on Saturday evening.
In a quarter-final in which the sides were level on seven occasions, a draw would have been a fair result  and not too many would have complained if this had proven to be the case.
However, on reflection, is has to be said that Cratloe just about deserved victory in this tie as they played some excellent hurling which led to some impressive scores.
One of the big talking points after this tie was the performance of match referee, Ger Hoey. In an effort to let the match flow he waved play-on on a few occasions when others would have given the free. One such occasion was in the closing stages of the game when Newmarket were a point ahead. Substitute James McInerney, making a comeback after a long lay-off due to injury, appeared to have been fouled in what was a very scorable position but there was no free called which clearly annoyed Newmarket.
Newmarket’s disappointment is understandable as they have been so close to a breakthrough in the last number of years but they have failed to get over the line. Their forward line struggled and they failed to create any clear goal chance, which was to prove costly. The absence of Eoin Hayes due to injury was a blow to their hopes. They were also without the injured Shane O’Brien who suffered a broken hand in an earlier round.
The champions took the lead in the second minute of this tie with a point from the very skillful Conor McGrath but by the fifth minute Newmarket were 0-3 to 0-1 ahead after scores from Colin Ryan (free), David Barrett and Bernard Gaffney. By the start of the second quarter, Cratloe were back on terms, levelling the game at 0-4 each. Twice points were exchanged before David Barrett and Mike McInerney pointed the blues into a two-point lead, 0-8 to 0-6 at half-time.
A converted free from Colin Ryan five minutes into the second half put three between the sides and this was the widest the margin between the teams was at any stage. Newmarket, however, failed to build on this lead at a time when the champions missed a few opportunities from placed balls with the normally accurate Conor McGrath failing to find the target. Early in the second half, they lost Martin Ogie Murphy with a groin injury but his replacement Barry Gleeson made a huge impact. Points from James Enright, Seán Collins and Conor McGrath in a two-minute spell brought the teams level at 0-9 each 12 minutes into the second half.
Paudie Collins and Seán Chaplin exchanged points before the start of the final quarter when Newmarket decided to introduce James McInerney for his first competitive fare in about six months.
Six minutes from the end, Jim McInerney fired Newmarket into the lead but three minutes later they were level again thanks to a Conor McGrath effort and now thoughts were turning to a replay. A minute later, McGrath struck again when he landed his fifth point, which proved to be the winner. Two minutes of injury time failed to bring another score as Cratloe defended in numbers to ensure that there were few opportunities for their neighbours.
David Ryan was excellent in a strong winner’s defence in which team captain Barry Duggan also impressed. Seán and Paudge Collins, Seán Chaplin, Michael Hawes and the game’s top scorer, Conor McGrath, all played important roles in this victory for the title-holders.
Stephen Kelly, Pádraig Kilmartin, Enda and David Barrett worked hard throughout for Newmarket but, overall, Cratloe were the more evenly balanced side and this proved decisive on the day.

Cratloe: Seán Hawes; Philip Gleeson, Barry Duggan, David Ryan; John O’Gorman, Michael Hawes, Liam Markham; Martin Ogie Murphy, Seán Chaplin; Seán Collins, James Enright, Damian Browne; Paudge Collins, Conor Ryan, Conor McGrath.
Subs: Barry Gleeson for Ogie Murphy (38 minutes), Enda Boyce for Conor Ryan (55 minutes).
Scorers: Conor McGrath (0-5, 2f); James Enright, Seán Chaplin (0-2 each); Seán Collins, Damian Browne, Conor Ryan (0-1 each).
Frees: 8; wides: 10.
Bookings: Conor McGrath (11 minutes).
“We are delighted. It was a great game for us to win. Newmarket have been a bit of a bogey team for us in the last few years. Last year, they beat us fair and square but the year before, we were unlucky in the quarter-final. No matter what team Newmarket have, it’s a very strong one.” Mike Deegan, Cratloe.

Newmarket: Kieran Devitt; Eoin McInerney, Stephen Kelly, Pádraig Kilmartin; Shane O’Brien Junior, Enda Barrett, Alan Barrett; Colin Ryan, Paudie Collins; Mike McInerney, David Barrett, Eoin O’Brien; Bernard Gaffney, Jim McInerney, Seánie Arthur.
Subs: Darren Duggan for Eoin O’Brien (43 minutes); James McInerney for M McInerney (48 minutes).
Scorers: Colin Ryan (0-3, all frees); David Barrett, Bernard Gaffney (0-2 each); Paudie Collins, Eoin O’Brien, Mike McInerney, Jim McInerney (0-1 each).
Frees: 7; wides: 8; 65’s: 1.
Bookings: Eoin McInerney (11 minutes).
“It was a very close game, which could have gone either way. Cratloe were a little bit more economical with their use of the ball and mabye that is something we can learn from for next year. That said, I was very proud of our lads.” Bob Enright, Newmarket manager.

Referee: Ger Hoey, Killanena.