Close affair as Clonlara come out on top

The U-14 Hurling Championship continued at the weekend, with some lively contests across all divisions.

Clonlara 3-10   Sixmilebridge 5-1
In what was an entertaining and evenly contested game on a sunny Friday evening in Clonlara, the home team defeated Sixmilebridge by three points.
After six minutes, Cian Moriarty got the first score of the game for the home side but straight from the puck-out the visitors responded and Ethan Slater goaled. Clonlara continued to tack on the points but Slater struck again in the 11th minute with another goal for the visitors. The half ended with Paul Corry slotting over a nice point for Sixmilebridge, leaving the score at 2-1 to 0-4 in favour of the visiting side going to the break.
The ’Bridge were caught napping in the first five minutes of the second half, with Clonlara scoring 3-1 without reply, two of the goals coming from the impressive Michael Stritch. Slater got through for a third goal in the 11th minute, which seemed to lift the ’Bridge spirits. However, Clonlara’s Kieran Galvin continued to work tirelessly and his efforts led to a number of points for the team. In the last 10 minutes the ’Bridge seemed to be on a comeback, with Patrick Mulready scoring two goals. However, the final whistle came too soon for the ’Bridge and Clonlara held on for victory.
Clonlara: Colin Slater; Aaron Dillon, Shane Corbett, Aidan Moriarty; Kevin Madden, Kieran Galvin (1-2), Luke Costelloe; David Fitzgerald, Padraig Campbell (0-2); Michael Clancy (0-2), Stephen Cullen, Jack Keogh; Michael Stritch (2-0), Cian Moriarty (0-2), Bryan McLeish.
Sixmilebridge: Steven Slattery; Joseph Hogan, Ronan Touhy, Cathal Roche; Cian McInerney, Oisin Fitzpatrick, Eanna Chaplin; Charlie Carmody, Cian Hogan; Paul Corry (0-1), Diarmuid Quinn, Christopher Carey; Ethan Slater (3-0), Patrick Mulready (2-0), Adam Merriman.
Subs: Pádraig Ryan for Adam Merriman; Conor Hassett for Cathal Roche; Padraic Hassett for Ethan Slater and Eric Purcell for Paul Corry.

Doora-Barefield 2-6   Inagh-Kilnamona 0-12
Doora-Barefield and Inagh-Kilnamona shared the spoils when they clashed at Gurteen last Thursday. Goalscorers on the evening were Cathal Ruane and Sean Murphy.

Newmarket 4-12   Tulla 4-9
Last Friday, Newmarket-on-Fergus and Tulla played out a very competitive game in Newmarket, where the home side made the better start but as the half went on, Tulla got back into the game and at half-time Newmarket had a slim two-point lead. The second half continued where the first had left off, with some good, hard hurling from both sides. The result was in doubt till the end.

Scariff-Ogonnelloe 3-8   Clooney-Quin 2-6
After an even start, Scariff-Ogonnelloe got on top and when the half-time whistle sounded, they were 2-6 to 0-3 ahead, with goals from Enda O’Rourke and Shane Corry.
Clooney-Quin made a great start to the second half, with a goal in the opening minute and this sparked off a good spell for them, which also produced a goal from Alan Culligan. They cut the winners’ lead to the minimum, 2-6 to 2-5, but that was as close as it got as the East Clare side stepped up a gear and Shane Corry’s second goal saw them get back on top.
Corry, Colin Harte, Conor Moloney and David Kiely impressed for the winners.

Broadford 3-8   Parteen 4-5
Broadford had their first outing in the U-14C Championship when they played Parteen at O’Callaghan’s Mills on Friday evening. A draw was a fair result on a day when Parteen led by two points at half-time (2-5 to 2-3).

Smith O’Brien’s 6-6   Meelick 2-4
Smith O’Brien’s got their championship campaign off to a winning start with a good away win over Meelick. The wind and driving rain made hurling difficult but credit must go to both sides for the great effort they put in. Smith O’Brien’s took a while to settle but eventually the scores started to come. By half-time, they were ahead by 2-5 to 1-3 and despite facing a strong wind in the second half they were deserving winners. Their goalscorers were David O’Shea (3) Niall Moloney, Eoin and John Power

Bodyke-O’Callaghan’s Mills 6-6   Cratloe 1-12
The East Clare amalgamation travelled to Cratloe last Friday and made it two wins from two games with an eight-point victory over the home team in this C championship tie. Best for the winners were Sean Perrill, Cillian Nugent, Ian Murray, Tom Lynch, Oisín Slattery, Gary Cooney and Ciaran Hickey. In round one they defeated Clonlara.

Bodyke 4-8   Crusheen-Tubbeer 3-4
Bodyke recorded a seven-point victory over Crusheen-Tubber in Tubber last Sunday. The winners led by two points at half-time on a day when Cian Minogue, Cathal Doyle, Paul Kelleher, Oran Treacy, goalie Kevin Hayes and Peter Flower impressed. A week earlier, Bodyke beat an understrength Whitegate in the opening round.