Crusheen keep their play-off challenge alive with victory

Crusheen 2-14   Broadford 1-11

Crusheen kept up their challenge for a place in the play-off stages of the Clare Champion Cup with a merited win over Broadford in round seven on home ground on Saturday evening.

 

The result leaves Broadford rooted to the bottom of the table and with two rounds to play, they look to be heading to Division 1 B for next season.

The winners laid the foundations for their victory in the opening half, at the end of which they had an 11-point lead, 2-9 to 1-1. They were 1-5 to 0-0 in front after nine minutes, the goal coming from Jamie Fitzgibbon.

An understrength Broadford opened their account in the 12th minute when Donie Whelan got the final touch after Donal Tuohy in the Crusheen goal had made a fine save.

The winners continued to dominate after this and following three unanswered points, Dara O’Doherty blasted a 20m free to the net to extend their lead.

To their credit, Broadford fought back in the second half. They had the first two points of the new period but then Crusheen hit back with three to leave the score 2-12 to 1-3 after just eight minutes.

The visitors had the better of the final quarter, outscoring the winners 0-6 to 0-1. Overall, however, Crusheen were the better side as Shaun and Cathal Dillon, Ciaran O’Doherty, Alan Tuohy and Conor O’Donnell did well.
Stephen Gunning, Cathal Chaplin, Aonghus O’Brien and Donie Whelan did best for Broadford.

Before the game, a minute’s silence was observed as a mark of respect to the late Liam McDonagh, members of whose family are involved with the underage section of the Crusheen club.

 

Crusheen: Donal Tuohy; Eddie Fogarty, Cronan Dillon, Shaun Dillon; Ciarán O’Doherty, Cathal Dillon, Joe Meaney; Alan Tuohy (0-3), Alan Brigdale (0-1); Fergus Kennedy (0-2), Jamie Fitzgibbon (1-0), Darragh O’Doherty (1-4); Conor O’Donnell (0-3), Paddy Meaney (0-1) Sean Mhaoir.
Subs: Niall Fitzgibbon for Kennedy, Rory Halpin for Cronan Dillon.
Broadford: Pádraig Hickey; Stephen Gunning, Alan Kilcoyne, Jack Kelleher; Damian Keniry, Brian Taylor, Cathal Chaplin; Diarmuid Moloney (0-3), Craigh Chaplin (0-2); Stiofán McMahon, Pádraig Taylor, Danny Reddan; Donie Whelan (1-3), Aonghus O’Brien (0-2), Declan Teefy.
Subs: Craig Shanahan (0-1) for Teefy; David Hickey for McMahon.
Referee: Fergus McDonagh, St Joseph’s.