Clonlara fly into the final

Clonlara 0-17   Broadford 1-8

A contribution of 0-10 from All-Ireland U-21 hurling final man of the match, Cathal O’Connell, helped his club Clonlara to secure a place in the Clare Champion cup final by beating neighbours Broadford under lights at Gurteen last Thursday. In the final, Clonlara will take on Newmarket who qualified some weeks back by overcoming Éire Óg in the first of the semi-finals.

Broadford had enough of the play, particularly in the first half, to have done better in this tie but their forwards struggled to break down a strong Clonlara defence.

The teams exchanged points four times in the opening 15 minutes before the winners hit three in as many minutes on their way to a half-time lead on a score of 0-8 to 0-5.

It was a somewhat flattering position for them to be in as Broadford had enjoyed the greater amount of possession in a half that saw them shoot seven wides.

Credit must go to Clonlara goalie Ger O’Connell who pulled off a couple of great saves in that first half, one in particular from Declan Teefy in the fifth minute. Later on, full-back Domhnaill O’Donovan was on hand to clear off the line after the ball had slipped through O’Connell’s hand.

Broadford got a dream start to the second half with a goal in the first minute. Padraig Hickey’s effort for goal from a 20m free was saved but Shane Taylor was on hand to shoot to the net. Hickey then converted a free to put Broadford back into the lead.

Clonlara, who had introduced Jason Murphy and Shane O’Brien at half-time for Tomas O’Donovan and Cillian Fennessy, responded impressively with four unanswered points in the next five minutes to regain a lead they held to the end.

At the three-quarter stage they were ahead 0-13 to 1-6 and, with Cathal O’Connell punishing any indiscretion, they held that edge to the finish.

Paul Nihill, Nicky O’Connell and Domhnaill O’Donovan ensured that the winner’s defence was on top while, elsewhere, Colm Galvin gave good support to Cathal O’Connell.

The Taylor brothers were prominent for Broadford while Aonghus O’Brien got through some good work.

 

Clonlara: Ger O’Connell; Pat O’Hare, Domhnaill O’Donovan, Cillian Fennessy; Paul Nihill, Nicky O’Connell, Oisin O’Brien; John Conlon, Cormac O’Donovan (capt); Colm Galvin, William Slattery, Cathal O’Connell; Darach Honan, Tomas O’Donovan, Thomas Begley.
Subs: Jason Murphy for T O’Donovan (half-time); Shane O’Brien for Fennessy (half time); Michael Collins for Slattery (40 minutes); Kieran Downey for Begley (47 minutes).
Scorers: Cathal O’Connell (0-10, 5f, 1 65); Darach Honan, Colm Galvin (0-2 each); John Conlon, Nicky O’Connell (free); William Slattery (0-1 each).
Frees: 15; wides: 6; 65s: 1.
Bookings: Darach Honan (5 minutes) Tomas O’Donovan (16 minutes)
Broadford: Ollie Marsh; Brian Taylor, Ciaran Corcoran, Aidan O’Brien; James Gunning (capt), Aonghus O’Brien, Stephen Gunning; Mark Moloney, Cathal Chaplin; Niall Moloney, Padraig Hickey, Padraig Taylor; Shane Taylor, Declan Teefy, Diarmuid Moloney.
Subs: Kieran O’Connell for S Gunning (inj 48 minutes); Caolan Cox for Niall Moloney (inj 55 mins).
Scorers: Shane Taylor (1-0), Padraig Taylor (0-3), Padraig Hickey (0-3, all frees), Cathal Chaplin (free), Declan Teefy (0-1 each).
Frees: 18; wides: 10.
Bookings: Declan Teefy (16 minutes); Ciaran Corcoran (30 minutes); Mark Moloney (41 minutes); Aonghus O’Brien (53 minutes); Caolan Cox (57 minutes); Padraig Hickey (59 minutes).
Referee: Rory Hickey, Éire Óg.