Connors hat-trick proves vital for Cratloe hurlers

Cratloe             3-7
Clarecastle     0-12
Cratloe advanced to the semi-final of the U-14A championship with a four-point win over Féile finalists Clarecastle in very exciting game played as Sixmilebridge on Friday evening.

Billy Connors, playing at corner-forward, was one of the heroes for Cratloe, scoring 3-1, while he also had a goal disallowed. Michael Danagher also deserves special mention. Playing at centre-field in the first half, he dominated but when he switched with Conor McMahon and went to centre-back, he broke the Magpies’ hearts.

 

This was a great game played in blustery conditions. Clarecastle had first use of the wind. The Magpies were leading 0-8 to 2-1 at the break, with Jack Murphy and Adam Cassidy causing most of the damage. However, with Danagher dominant in the middle of the park, Cratloe were unlucky not to lead at the break when some poor shooting let them down.

The second half was equally exciting and extra time looked a possibility with the team’s level on three occasions. However, Danagher, now at centre-back, had curbed the runs of Clarecastle centre-forward Cassidy while Evan Gaule and Jack Danagher were finding their way through the tight Clarecastle defence. After 25 minutes, a high ball from Billy Connors dropped into the Clarecastle net and was the score that sealed their place in the semi-final.

Both goalkeepers made some spectacular saves during the tie. Cratloe will now play Féile champions Kilmaley in the semi-final.

Cratloe: Conor Hallissey; Emmet Costigan, Aaron Costigan, Rian Considine; Enda O’Connor, Conor McMahon, Killian Arthur; Michael Danagher (0-2), Kieran O’Connor; Kyle Neylon (0-2), Jack Danagher, Diarmuid Ryan (0-2); Jack McInerney, Evan Gaule, Billy Connors (3-1).
Sub: Peter Connors.
Clarecastle: Lee Brack; Niall Galvin, Hayden Starr, Stephen Kelleher; Eoin Collins, Cian Donnelly, Kevin Hartigan; Killian McDermott (0-1), Mark McAuliffe (0-1); Stephen Barry (0-2), Adam Cassidy (0-1), Jack Murphy (0-4); Owen O’Hara (0-1), Jack Hayes (0-2), David Barry.
Subs: Ronan Garvey and Mark O’Loughlin.
Referee: Damian Fox.

Wolfe Tones      5-11
Clonlara             1-04

That this game went ahead at all was a surprise due to the torrential rain that fell throughout the day.
Floods of rain running along the road greeted the small crowd that descended on Hamilton Park, Kilkishen, but the playing surface proved to be in excellent condition, bearing in mind the adverse elements.

A drizzle that fell throughout most of the match made underfoot conditions treacherous for the players but both sides managed to serve up an entertaining hour of hurling.

Clonlara started in determined fashion and had three points on the board inside five minutes. After great work by Wolfe Tones centre-forward Brian O’Connor, full-forward Philip Leahy fielded well and scored the first of his four goals. The goal came against the run of play somewhat and on the puck-out Clonlara regained the lead. Surprisingly, this was to be their last score until the 57th minute when they scored a fortuitous goal.

Further goals by Philip Leahy and Dylan Frawley left Wolfe Tones ahead by 3-3 to 0-4 at the short whistle.

Having played with the elements in the first half, Clonlara needed an early score or two to settle them but with Dean Devanney and Evan O’Gorman beginning to dominate at midfield, it was the Tones who pressed. A third goal, this time booted to the net by Philip Leahy and some excellent points by Brian O’Connor and Dean Devanney, pushed the Shannon boys towards the semi-final.

The introduction of Eoin McAllister energised the Wolfe Tones attack and it didn’t take long for Philip Leahy to net again to put the icing on the cake and they finished strongly, shooting some excellent points.

For Wolfe Tones, once again their defence was excellent. Sean Costello was outstanding at centre-back and he got huge support from Gary Cusack, Darragh Lohan and Darragh O’Rourke.

In midfield, once Dean Devanney and Evan O’Gorman took control, Clonlara had no answer to them.
Brian O’Connor at centre-forward gave his best performance in the campaign to date. Philip Leahy took his four goals in fine style and substitute Eoin McAllister made a valuable contribution.

For Clonlara, Cian Moriarty, Padraic Cambell and David Fitzgerald tried all they knew to keep their team in the game.

Wolfe Tones go on to contest the semi-final against East Clare amalgamation outfit O’Callaghan’s Mills/Bodyke this Friday evening.

Wolfe Tones: Shane Russell; Gary Cusack, Conor Ferns, Darragh Lohan; Darragh O’Rourke, Sean Costello, Bryan Conway; Evan O’Gorman, Dean Devanney; Lee Wall, Brian O’Connor, Cian O’Rourke; Dylan Frawley, Philip Leahy, Jamie Divilley.
Sub: Eoin McAllister for Jamie Divilley.
Clonlara: Colin Slater; Stephen Cullen, Kevin Madden, Micheal Stritch; Michael Clancy, Luke Costello, Aaron Dillon; Shane Corbett, David Fitzgerald; Aidan Moriarty, Andy MacKenzie, Cian Moriarty; Bryan McLeish, Padraic Campbell, Jack Keogh.