Clonlara complete the junior double

Clonlara 0-20 Kilmaley  0-5

Clonlara completed the junior double when they captured the Junior B championship crown at Clooney on Saturday evening.
A few weeks earlier, they won the junior A league title when they overcame O’Callaghan’s Mills in comprehensive style at Shannon and, on this occasion, they were just as dominant when proving too strong for Kilmaley.
The winners had the assistance of the wind in the opening half but they struggled to open a gap and when they went to the break 0-7 to 0-3 in front, they looked to be in a little difficulty.
In the second half, however, Clonlara’s superior fitness proved the key and they were always in control and pulled away for a comprehensive victory.
The experienced Barry Moloney was the game’s top scorer and he finished with a tally of 0-9. Lining out at midfield with Diarmuid O’Meara, they gave their side the upperhand in this vital area and this resulted in a plentiful supply of ball for their forwards.
Captain, Alan O’Connell contributed 0-4 to his side’s tally and later accepted the trophy from Clare GAA treasurer, Bernard Keane.
Terry Kennedy and Eamonn Bracken each contributed 0-2 for Kilmaley while Jacko Neylon was their other scorer.
In the end, there was no disputing the merit of Clonlara’s victory, a year after they were surprisingly knocked out of the championship when they were hot favourites for the title.
Impressive for the Jim Gully-managed side were Barry Moloney, Brian Woods,  Alan O’Connell, Fergal Marren and Jason Murphy.

Clonlara: Patrick Stritch; Patrick Conlon, Fergal Marren, Eoin Hackett; Patrick Clancy, Brian Woods, Ronan Carey; Barry Moloney, Diarmuid O’Meara; Harry Horgan, Jason Murphy, Michael Collins; Ryan Morris, Paul Barry, Alan O’Connell.
Subs: Kieran Murphy for Clancy; Tom Begley for Horgan; Ken Haskett for Collins; Eoin Meehan for Conlon; Paul Hession for Morris.

Kilmaley: Eoin Meehan; Colm Lynch, Seamus Murphy, Dara McMahon; Jacko Neylon, Gerard O’Sullivan, Sean Hogan; David Talty, Ciaran O’Loughlin; John McMahon, Dick Pyne, Dara Gregan; Eamonn Bracken, Terry Kennedy, David Queally.
Subs: James O’Rourke for Queally; Eibhear Slattery for O’Loughlin; Shane O’Malley for Pyne; Flan Queally for Talty.

Referee: Michael Fitzgerald, Clondegad