Crowe flies to Sixmilebridge’s rescue

Sixmilebridge 0-15   Ennistymon 1-11

Reduced to 13 men inside 20 minutes, few gave Ennistymon a chance of winning this Division 2 hurling league tie at Sixmilebridge on Saturday.

However, as has happened so often when a team is at a numerically disadvantage, they battled bravely and so it was with Ennistymon who were unlucky to be a point adrift at the final whistle.
Coached by Sixmilebridge senior panellist Brian Culbert, the North Clare side never gave up but this result could have consequences for them as they battle to avoid the drop.
Late points from Tommy Liddy and Cyril Crowe ensured victory for the Bridge who are in the running for a league semi-final place.
Leading by a point as the game entered the final minute Ennistymon looked set to win but a point from Liddy levelled the tie before Cyril Crowe hit the winner a minute into injury time.
The game’s only goal arrived in the 12th minute when Martin Greene struck to give his team the lead. Twenty minutes into the game Ennistymon full forward Robbie McDonagh was dismissed, a decision which annoyed the visitors who protested and during these protests Martin Greene picked up a second yellow that ended his involvement in the game.
At half time Ennistymon were 1-6 to 0-5 in front and it was clear that they had a huge task on their hands in the second period. They extended their lead with a Sean Driscoll point at the start of the second half. They were unlucky not to have a second goal soon after this but Cathal Malone’s effort rebounded off the upright.
David O’Connor left the minimum between the sides with a good score but a superb point from Cathal Malone made it clear that Ennistymon would not go down easily. The home side missed a couple of good chances to draw level and they still trailed as the game entered the final five minutes. Martin Malone in the Ennistymon goal made an excellent save from David O’Connor. Cathal Malone saw his effort from a 60m free go narrowly wide. Liddy then levelled when he converted a free awarded for a foul on Alan Mulready before Crowe hit the winner in injury time.

Sixmilebridge: Pa Freeman; Keith Walker, Noel Purcell, Kevin Phelan; Jonathan Downes, Tommy Morey, Sean Stack; Sam O’Sullivan (0-2; 0-1f), Anthony Liddane; David O’Connor (0-2), Stiofan Fitzpatrick (0-2), Darragh O’Connor (0-1); Cyril Crowe (0-1), Adrian Chaplin, Thomas Liddy (0-7).
Subs: Errol Tuohy for Walker, Alan Mulready for Darragh O’Connor.
Ennistymon: Martin Malone; Enda Ralph, Kevin Scales, Danny Harvey; Aidan Slattery, Michael McDonagh, Liam Driscoll; Brian McDonagh, Sean Driscoll (0-4); Michael Organ, Cathal Malone (0-7), Dave Kenneally; Martin Greene (1-0), Robbie McDonagh, Darren Mullins.
Subs: Paudie Brennan for Mullins; Michael Houlihan for Slattery (inj).

Crusheen 3-19   Killanena 2-10

Crusheen concluded their division two league programme with their fifth win of the campaign when they defeated Killanena on Sunday.
Little separated the sides for the opening 20 minutes with scores from John Weir, Todd Kelsey, Thomas Vaughan, Mikey Noone, Darragh O’Doherty and Fintan McNamara amongst others to leave Crusheen 0-7 to 0-4 ahead before Niall Fitzgibbon scored Crusheen’s first goal.
One of the contributory factors in Crusheen’s win was the outstanding form in goal of David McMahon who denied Killanena on at least five occasions in the first half. A Shane Moroney goal gave hope to Killanena who trailed at the break on a 1-5 to 1-9 scoreline.
Crusheen stretched their lead to six points, 1-12 to 1-6 after seven minutes of the second half courtesy of scores from Thomas Vaughan and O’Doherty (2) before Killanena veteran David McNamara struck from close range for Killanena’s second goal.
This was as close as Killanena got to their opponents for the remainder of the game as Niall Kearney when introduced made an immediate impact with 1-1 and put full-forward Patrick O’Grady in for Crusheen’s third goal. Alan Touhy (3), Darragh O’Doherty, Niall Fitzgibbon and Thomas Vaughan added last quarter points with consolation scores from David McNamara (3) as Killanena were relegated to division three hurling for 2013.

Crusheen: David McMahon, Donal Dillon, Tony McMahon, Rory Halpin, Jason Greene, Shaun Dillon (0-1), Briain Dillon, Alan Touhy (0-3), Philip O’Donnell, John Weir (0-2), Thomas Vaughan (0-3), Niall Fitzgibbon (1-4), Colin Vaughan (0-1), Padraig O’Grady (1-0), Darragh O’Doherty (0-4).
Subs: Donal Wylde for O’Donnell, Edward Fogarty for Weir, Niall Kearney (1-1) for Dillon.
Killanena: Jim Clancy, Francis McNamara, Joe Clancy, Barry Noone, Paul McArthur, Alan McNamara, Pat Noone (0-1), Stephen McMahon, Todd Kelsey (0-1), Fintan McNamara (0-2), Michael Noone (0-2), Shane Moroney (1-0), David McNamara (1-3), Noel Sheedy (0-1), Michael Noonan.

Parteen 2-14   Corofin 1-13

Parteen maintained their place at the top of the Division 2 table with this four-point win over Corofin at Parteen on Saturday.
The North Clare side led by a point at half time but were forced into changes at this stage as they lost Keith O’Loughlin due to work commitments and this was a blow to the side.
With full time approaching the home side led by the minimum margin when Corofin failed to convert a chance that would have levelled the game. Parteen then attacked and doubled their lead with a free before adding two more in the remaining time to seal victory.

Parteen: Alan Murnane; Jason Smyth, Paul O’Dwyer, David O’Sullivan; James Long, Philip Lavin, Pa Campion; Ronan Conlon, Dara Yelverton; Mark Boland, Ivan Conway, Paudi O’Connor; Noel Bridgeman, Joe O’Connor, David Small.
Corofin: Patrick Burke; Eamonn Dunne, Donnacda Kelleher, Paudie Barry; Martin Tierney, Keith O’Loughlin Damian Ryan; Neil Killeen, Killian Neylon; Liam Corbett, Eamonn Malone, John Keane; Gary Tierney, Kevin Heagney, Declan Stack.
Subs: Declan Lee for K O’Loughlin, Luke Conroy for Corbett.

Ogonnelloe 1-12   Scariff 0-14

Ogonnelloe overcame their more fancied neighbours in this closely contested league tie at Ogonnelloe on Saturday.
The sides were evenly matched throughout but Scariff looked to be on the way to victory and a possible place in the play-offs when they led by two points with the full time whistle approaching.
However the home side pounced for a late goal before Peter O’Brien hit the match-winning point.
Scores were traded a few times in the opening quarter at the end of which the teams were level at 0-3 each. They exchanged scores twice again before Alphie Rodgers hit three-in-a-row that helped his side to lead at the break, 0-8 to 0-6.
Early in the second half Scariff extended their advantage to four points but Ogonnelloe refused to give in and they fought their way back with points from Danny Cunnane, Michael Noel bugler and Peter O’Brien.
With the game entering the final minute the home side struck for the game’s only goal that saw Patrick Barton get the vital touch. The winning point came from a Peter O’Brien free.

Ogonnelloe: Eoin Sheedy; Robert Dreelin, Michael Costelloe, Colm Forde; John O’Brien, Peter O’Brien, Thomas Condon; Danny Cunnane, Peter English; Aaron Bradley, Barry Kiely, Henry Mooney; Joseph Mooney, Patrick Barton, Michael N Bugler.
Scariff: Shane Mulvihill; Barry McNamara, Darragh Kelly, Shane Corry; Cathal Madden, Cathal Nash, Matthew Horan; Michael Scanlan, Conor McNamara; Kenny McNamara, Padraig Brody, Jim Minogue; Austin Madden, Michael Moroney, Alphie Rodgers.
Sub: Paul O’Sullivan for Corry.