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SO Clooney-Quin took the two points in Round 2 of the Senior Hurling Championship but their second-half fade-out will give manager Pat O’Rourke something to think about over the next few weeks.
At half-time, it looked like being a complete rout, Clooney-Quin leading by 0-13 to 1-2, with the score flattering the East Clare men more than the winners. However, with nine minutes to go, the deficit had been cut to just two points and the annihilation that had looked very possible hadn’t come to pass.
From the off, the Scariff full-back line looked in trouble, Martin Duggan drawing a fine save from Brendan McNamara with just one minute gone, after he should have been headed off by defenders.
Veteran Cathal Egan opened Clooney-Quin’s account in the second minute, after a lay -off from Fergal Lynch, while two points from Derek Ryan and one from Martin Duggan gave them a 0-4 to 0-0 lead with less than five minutes gone.
The tone was set and the game continued in the same vein for almost all of the rest of the half, with the Clooney-Quin defence, most notably centre-back Cillian Duggan, on top, and their forwards potent.
Scariff were clearly on the back foot and while Alfie Rodgers and Ross Horan got points for them in the first quarter, the winners were lording it.
By the 29th minute, the lead had stretched to 0-12 to 0-2, and when Ross Horan hit a very poor wide from a free, it was a low moment for Scariff supporters.
Just moments later, a glimmer of hope arrived. Alfie Rodgers mishit an attempt for a point but somehow it deceived Damien O’Halloran, and there was a small bit of hope for Scariff.
As the second half began, they looked a more determined outfit, with their backs far more effective and scores starting to come further forward.
Michael Scanlon and Barry Murphy had points for Scariff within four minutes and, while Derek Ryan steadied Clooney-Quin, Evan McNamara, Barry Murphy and Martin Moroney, had the gap back to four points, 0-14 to 1-7 with 20 minutes left.
Scariff were still dominant and further points from Kenny McNamara and Michael Moroney brought the score back to 0-14 to 1-9.
Switching Cathal Egan and Fergal Lynch in the second half didn’t help the winners much, but in the 47th minute, the former Éire Óg man showed his worth, when he grabbed a long delivery from Cillian Duggan and won a 21, which Ryan pointed. It was only their second score of the half.
Barry Murphy brought it back to two again but a Clooney-Quin rally, in which they rattled off three unanswered points, made the game safe.
That left five between the sides, while pointed frees in injury time from Ross Horan and Diarmuid Nash, just put a bit of gloss on the scoreline.
Clooney-Quin were definitely deserving winners but they won’t be happy with how they let Scariff back into the game. They were well served by Cillian Duggan, John Earls, Cathal Egan, Fergal Lynch, Martin Duggan and Derek Ryan.
Scariff looked like they had lead feet and ponderous in the opening period but they showed some spirit after the break and made a contest of it. Their better players included Brendan McNamara, Diarmuid Nash, Barry Murphy and Alfie Rogers.
