First-half goals give Clonlara the upperhand

Clonlara 3-13
O’Callaghan’s Mills 1-7

CLONLARA justified favouritism with a comfortable win over O’Callaghan’s Mills in the final of the Junior A Hurling League at Shannon on Sunday.

Three first-half goals from team captain Alan O’Connell, Paul Barry and Ryan Morris sent them on their way to this title. Fifteen points ahead at half-time, they were well on their way and while they were outscored by a goal in the second period, they were always in control.
The winners went into the game without experienced centre-back Brian Woods and there were fears that his loss would prove costly. However, they took control from an early stage and the opening goal in the eighth minute sent them on their way.
It’s a score that the Mills will have been very disappointed to concede. Alan O’Connell’s delivery from midfield deceived goalie, James Hook, and it proved to be a big blow to his side’s hopes. Barry Moloney followed with a brace of points and by the end of the first quarter, they were four clear.
Three more points followed in the next five minutes during which they were dealt another blow with the loss of Harry Horgan to injury. Seven minutes from the break, Paul Barry won possession from a Jason Murphy delivery and he blasted the ball to the net putting his team nine points clear.
From here to half-time, it was all Clonlara and after points from Murphy and William Slattery, corner-forward Ryan Morris won possession from a delivery by substitute Kieran Murphy and he duly shot to the net. A Barry Moloney point followed, his sixth of the half, to leave the half-time score at 3-10 to 0-4.
The Mills clearly needed a bright start to the second half and they began in determined mood, piling on the pressure. Clonlara goalkeeper Pa Stritch was called on in the opening minute and he made a good stop from Rory Neville at the expense of a 65, which John McGrath pointed.
In the ninth minute, a delivery from McGrath caused problems in the Clonlara goalmouth and Jamie Lynch got the final touch for his side’s only goal. Lynch quickly followed with a point from a free before the end of the third quarter but they struggled to build on this.
In the final quarter, defences dominated and there were just three scores, two points for the winners to one for the Mills.
Pa Stritch, Fergal Marren, Patrick Clancy, William Slattery, Jason Murphy and Barry Moloney were prominent throughout for the winners, while Conor Cooney, John McGrath, and Enda McNamara did best for a disappointing Mills side.
After the game, Clare GAA chairman Michael O’Neill presented the cup to the winning captain Alan O’Connell.

Clonlara: Pa Stritch; Patrick Conlon, Fergal Marren, Eoin Hackett; Ronan Carey, Patrick Clancy, Harry Horgan; Alan O’Connell, William Slattery; Thomas Begley, Jason Murphy, Michael Collins; Barry Moloney, Paul Barry Ryan Morris.
Subs: Kieran Murphy for Horgan (inj, 16 minutes); Ken Haskett for Begley (40 minutes), Liam O’Grady for Morris (50 minutes), Eoin Meehan for O’Connell (55 minutes), Denis McKeown for Conlon (57 minutes).
Scorers: Barry Moloney (0-7, 6f); Alan O’Connell (1-1); Paul Barry, Ryan Morris (1-0 each); Jason Murphy, William Slattery (0-2 each); Michael Collins (0-1).
O’Callaghan’s Mills: James Hook; Michael McGrath, Barry Heffernan, Ollie Nash; Darren Cooney, Conor Cooney, Brendan Hannon; Noel Nash, John McGrath; Paul Murphy, Enda McNamara, Rory Neville; Jamie Lynch, Cathal McKeogh, Aidan O’Gorman.
Subs: Eoin McGrath for Neville (45 minutes); Trevor Lenihan for A O’Gorman (50 minutes).
O’Callaghan’s Mills: Jamie Lynch (1-3, 0-3f); Paul Murphy (0-2); John McGrath (free) Cathal McKeogh (0-1 each).
Referee: Jack Chaplin, Cratloe.