By Seamus Hayes
Champions Sixmilebridge face an uphill battle if they are to succcessfully defend their the Clare senior hurling championship title after they suffered defeat at the hands of Crusheen in the opening round at Cusack Park on Saturday evening.
Crusheen had the better of the opening half and deservingly led by five points at half time when the score was 0-14 to 0-9. The introduction of Rory Shanahan to the Sixmilebridge attack for the second half turned things around and with eleven minutes remaining they had opened a three point lead, 0-18 to 0-15. They fluffed a couple of chances to extend their lead an d this was the signal for Crusheen for whom the experienced Gerry O’Grady excelled.
Two minutes from the end O’Grady had moved outfield where he won possession and then beat three defenders to create a goalscoring opportunity for Darragh O’Doherty whose effort was saved but Patrick O’Grady was on hand to fire the rebound to the net. Pat Vaughan added a point to seal a great win.
In the second game at Cusack Park, Conor McGrath and Cathal McInerney hit 5-10 between them as Cratloe scored a 6-15 to 1-16 win over Kilmaley. AShead 3-7 to 0-10 at half time, the South East Clare side saw their lead cut to three points by the three quarter stage. McInerney’s second goal (he scored 3-2) killed off Kilmaley hopes and Cratloe hit 2-3 without reply in the final five minutes to seal a fine win.
The opening game of this year’s championship saw Clonlara continue their impressive season with 3-232 to 1-16 win over Ballyea at Sixmilebridge. Behind by four points at half time, 0-7 to 1-8, after playing against the wind, the game had reached the three quarter stage before they drew level at 0-16 to 1-13. Substitute Ian Galvin and Clare’s John Conlon goaled in the space of a minute to send the Clonlara men on their way.
The second game at Sixmilebridge saw 2012 champions Newmarket make a winning start when beating Tulla 4-16 to 0-10. At the end of a first half in which they had thirteen wides, the Blues took control after the break and ran out comfortable winners.
The outcome of the Eire Og v Whitegate clash at Shannon was in doubt right to the final whistle. It was point for point throughout and with five minutes remaining they were level but the town side finished strongly to clain a 0-21 to 0-18 victory.
Early in the match the winners lost Clare’s All-Ireland hero Shane O’Donnell with a recurrance of a hamstring injury and he is now a major doubt for the Munster championship semi-final against either Cork or Waterford