Éire Óg bridge 12-year gap

Éire Og  3-8

Corofin-Ruan  1-8

‘THE Townies are back’ was the chant from the Éire Óg supporters when their favourites won the U-16A hurling crown for the first time since 2000 at Clarecastle on Sunday afternoon.

Corofin-Ruan started the brighter and were three points ahead after 10 minutes when Fergus Killeen looking really dangerous at centre-forward. Eoin Clancy was dominant at midfield. However, Éire Óg settled and were ahead by the 20th minute with their half-forward line of O’Connor, O’Halloran and O’Connell really coming into the game.
In the 22nd minute, Michael Kelly goaled for Corofin/Ruan to help them regain the lead. In the 26th minute of the first half, Éire Óg corner-forward Tadhg Connellan scored a goal when the ball rebounded off Corofin/Ruan goalie Conor O’Loughlin, after a great shot by Liam Lynch. This left the half-time score at 1-5 to 1-4 in favour of the winners.
Corofin/Ruan were dealt three killer blows in the second half. The town side had goals after the ball rebounded off the upright twice, while Corofin-Ruan were further hit when they lost their very influential player, Fergus Killen, through injury. In the fifth minute of the second half, Conor O’Halloran’s shot hit the upright and rebounded to Shane O’Connell, who found the net.
Lighting doesn’t strike twice or does it? In the 23rd minute another ball hit the upright and this time, Tadhg Connellan was on hand to dispatch the ball to the net. It was three strikes and you’re out for the North Clare team and a great and welcome victory for Éire Óg, who have arrived back at the top of underage hurling in Clare.

Éire Óg: Paul Leamy; Brian Flanagan, Cian O’Ceallaigh, Martin Darcy; David McNamara, Dara Walsh, Jack Keating (captain); Michael Moloney, James Woods; Einne O’Connor, Conor O’Halloran, Shane O’Connell; Liam Lynch, Eimhin Courtney, Tadhg Connellan.
Subs: Lee Flynn, Patrick Chesser, Ruairí Shannon, Conor O’Dwyer, Barry Woods, Oran Slattery, Patrick McDaid    and Tom Keating.
Scorers: Tadhg Connellan (2-1), Shane O’Connell (1-3), Michael Moloney (0-3) and Conor O’Halloran (0-1).
Corofin-Ruan: Conor O’Loughlin; Sean Hillery, Michael Duffy, Stephen Burke; Tim O’Connor, Colm Rice, Jason Courtney; Cian O’Dean, Eoin Clancy; Damian O’Loughlin, Fergus Killeen, Michael Lyons; Michael Kelly, Liam O’Donovan, Conal Ó hAinifein.
Subs: Evan Clune, Shane Malone, Barry Heagney, Lee Donovan, Cillian Clancy, Conor Hillery, Mark Corry, Michael Southby, Cian O’Reilly.
Scorers: Michael Kelly (1-1), Fergus Killeen, Conal Ó h-Ainifein (0-3) each; Liam O’Donovan (0-1).a