Mark McKenna’s charges recorded their second victory of this year’s Clare Cup campaign on Friday evening after a lively and highly entertaining battle with hosts Kilmaley. In truth though, had they not won the East Clare club would have left scratching their heads as ten first half wides very nearly proved detrimental. In the end it was a tour de force display from County Senior panellist Patrick Crotty that was enough to deservedly see them claim the spoils and record a three point victory.
It was the away side who dominated possession throughout the opening period. First to the ball they also won the midfield battle resulting in a series of opportunities but Scariff just couldn’t convert possession into scores. In contrast to this, Brian Culbert’s Kilmaley side were extremely economical and efficient. So clinical were they that they remarkably scored eight points from nine attempts compared to Scariff’s seven from seventeen attempts.
At the interval the blues led by the minimum on a 0-8 to 0-7 scoreline with the highlight of that opening thirty being a glorious run by Crotty before selling a dummy and firing over off the hurley in exquisite style.
The sides traded scores at the beginning of the second period before a monster Scott Cairns white flag levelled the contest for the third time. From here though, inspired by Crotty, Scariff upped the ante and suddenly found their radar. A superb catch, turn and shot by Sean Minogue gave them the lead before a Conor Downes point attempt held up in the wind with corner forward Eanna O’Brien showing his tennis skills by magnificently batting to the net one handed. By the three quarter mark another Crotty beauty had the lead out to five at 1-14 to 0-12 but credit to Culbert’s troops who kept battling and indeed they whittled the deficit back to two with just three minutes to play.
Kilmaley substitute Cian Neylon then had a goal chance but his effort from a difficult enough angle went into the side netting before full forward Sean Minogue had the final say tapping over the insurance point in the 60th minute.
Best for the winners were Patrick Crotty, Sean Minogue and Shane Kavanagh while Tom O’Rourke, Daire Keane and Sean Kennedy excelled for the home team.

Kilmaley: Bryan O’Loughlin, Noel Casey, Aaron Moloney, Kevin McNamara, Tommy Barry, Daire Keane, Jack Warren, Sean Kennedy, Joseph Carmody, Thomas McGuire, Tom O’Rourke, Colm Killeen, James McGuire, Conor Neylon, Peter Ronan.
Subs: Cian Neylon for C Neylon (40), Diarmuid Cahill for P Ronan (53), Dylan Keane Hayes for J McGuire (53)
Scorers: Tom O’Rourke 0-6 (1f), Daire Keane (3f), Sean Kennedy (1f) 0-3 each, Colm Killeen 0-2, Peter Ronan, Joseph Carmody, James McGuire 0-1 each

Scariff: William Kavanagh, Conor Moloney, Michael Scanlon, Eoghan Keenan, Scott Cairns, Diarmuid Nash, Shane Kavanagh, Tomas McNamara, Conor Downes, Patrick Crotty, Fergus Madden, Liam Crotty, Patrick Ryan, Sean Minogue, Eanna O’Brien.
Subs: Michael Barrett for T McNamara (44), Ben Sweeney for E O’Brien (48), Jack Ryan for C Downes (60)
Scorers: Eanna O’Brien 1-3 (3f), Patrick Crotty 0-4, Sean Minogue 0-3, Shane Kavanagh 0-2 (2f), Scott Cairns, Patrick Ryan, Liam Crotty, Conor Downes, Ben Sweeney (f) 0-1 each

Referee: Joe Mullins
(Clonlara)