Clonlara crowned minor B champions

Clonlara 4-10 Wolfe Tones 1-11

Clonlara were crowned minor B hurling champions at Clarecastle on Sunday when they accounted for Wolfe Tones in a game that was evenly contested.
Wolfe Tones led by two points at half-time and were still well in contention at the start of the final quarter. However, the ability of Clonlara to cut off the supply of ball to Wolfe Tones’ scorer-in-chief, Aaron Cunningham, forcing the Shannon star to move out field in search of possession, proved decisive.
Cunningham scored all but a point of his side’s tally, the goal coming after a defensive error on the winner’s part in the first half.
Colm Galvin scored two early points for the winners, whose first-half goals came from Liam O’Grady and Tomas Begley but they trailed by two at half-time when the score was 1-7 to 2-2. Cunningham scored 1-6, with the remaining point coming from Kevin McCafferty.
Early second-half points from Galvin and Ger Powell brought the sides level before Begley put Clonlara into the lead. However, a brace from Cunningham had the Shannon side back in front as the end of the third quarter approached.
Begley levelled for Clonlara, who then went back in front through Kieran Murphy, only for Cunningham to strike again and level matters with 10 minutes remaining.
A Colm Galvin delivery led to an Eoin Meehan goal for the winners but a Cunningham point kept the Shannon side in touch as the game moved towards the finish. Colm Galvin and Cathal O’Connell replied with points for the winners, who played with the aid of the wind in the second half  before substitute Michael McInerney struck for their fourth goal after a defensive error. Team captain Tomás Begley had the final score of the game.
After the game Bord na nÓg secretary, Rosaleen Monaghan presented the trophy to the winning captain, Tomas Begley.

Clonlara: Ryan Morris; Brian Galvin, Shane Kelly, Aaron Hogg; Shane O’Brien, Oisín O’Brien, Ger Powell (0-1); Michael White, Kieran Murphy (0-1); Colm Galvin (0-4), Shane O’Brien, Tomas Begley (1-3); Liam O’Grady (1-0), Cathal O’Connell (0-1), Eoin Meehan (1-0).
Sub: Michael McInerney (1-0) for S O’Brien.

Wolfe Tones: Robbie Clare; Aidan Shanagher, Donal Ryan, Kieran O’Gorman; Shane Dooley, John Guilfoyle, Stephen Simmons; Craig O’Brien, Kevin McCafferty (0-1); Ronal Lagan, Aidan McMahon, Darren Lynch; Eoin Collins, Aaron Cunningham (1-1), Damian Collopy.
Sub: Ryan Hodge for Lagan.

Referee: Fergal Gray, Feakle