Impressive win for relentless Cratloe

Cratloe 0-11
Kilmurry-Ibrickane 0-4

Close shaves and hard luck stories coupled with an intense programme of games had cost Cratloe since 2011 but not on Saturday last in perfect conditions in Cusack Park.

 

To say Cratloe ran the champions into the ground would be an understatement. It was a scenario that could have been compared to Kilkenny/Waterford 2008 All-Ireland hurling final without the goals to embellish the result.
The tactic of allowing Conor McGrath and Podge Collins the freedom of the vast expanse of Cusack Park demolished any man-marking plans employed by John Kennedy’s side. The sheer speed of the wing-backs and the free spirit of Cratloe opened up the West

Clare many times with Fergal Lynch and Cathal McInerney inside waiting for the ball high or low in its delivery.
McInerney opened the scoring before Enda Coughlan, his side’s only scorer, responded for Kilmurry-Ibrickane after six minutes. Even from an early stage it was apparent this was the plot for the game as Kilmurry were on the back foot.

Peter O’Dwyer denied McInerney a goal and minutes later Podge Collins hit the post with a palmed effort. Once again McInerney and Coughlan exchanged scores in the ninth and 19th minutes just before a well-taken score by raiding wing-forward Sean Hynan gave Cratloe a lead they never looked like surrendering. Liam Markham also kicked a powerful free after 25 minutes.

The closest the champions came to a goal was when Barry Duggan had to clear on the line after Pierce DeLoughrey missed a high delivery in from Shane Hickey after 26 minutes.  Conor McGrath and Enda Boyce stretched their side’s lead to four points before a surging run down the right win by Oige Murphy left the ball at Cathal McInerney’s feet who had the simple task leaving Cratloe 0-7 to 0-2 ahead at the interval.

A positive opening ten minutes by Kilmurry-Ibrickane was punctured by four wides from frees by a succession of free takers from close range. Cratloe, with a superb blanket defence, soaked up the pressure and two points from Fergal Lynch and Cathal McInerney by the 43rd minute ended the game as a contest. Kilmurry’s day to forget was compounded when Darren Hickey was sent off for two bookable offences.

Both sides emptied their benches in the last quarter and managed two further points apiece as the fixture trundled to its inevitable conclusion. Cathal McInerney and Padraig Chaplin rounded off the Cratloe scoring with Coughlan finally in the 55th minute, after a 36 minute wait, creating a Kilmurry-Ibrickane score and finished the scoring in the 59th minute.

“Things went for us today and while we were happy with our display, we must remember that Kilmurry were without several first choice players due to injury and suspension. We have to press on from here and have the same focus for whoever we meet in round two,” Cratloe manager Colm Collins commented.

Kilmurry manager John Kennedy didn’t disguise the fact that two in a row champions had played well below their normal level.

“It was very disappointing. The performance was poor and we just didn’t get out of the blocks but you have to give credit to Cratloe. They played well all over the field.  We have to get back, re-group and refocus now. It’s about trying to stay in the championship now which is unusual for Kilmurry,” the Kerry man said. 

Kilmurry-Ibrickane: Peter O’Dwyer; Shane Hickey, Darren Hickey, Declan Callinan; Enda Coughlan, Paul O’Connor, Thomas Lernihan; Peter O’Dwyer, Seamus Murrihy; Evan Talty, Michael O’Dwyer, Stephen Moloney; Michael Hogan, Niall Hickey, Mark McCarthy.
Subs: Johnny Daly for Murrihy (half- time), Noel Downes for S Moloney (39), Thomas O’Connor for M McCarthy (45).
Scorer: Enda Coughlan (0-4, 2f).
Wides: 10   Frees: 19

Cratloe: Pierce DeLoughrey, Sean Chaplin, Barry Duggan, David Ryan, Martin Oige Murphy, Michael Hawes, Enda Boyce, Conor Ryan, Cillian Duggan, Liam Markham, Podge Collins, Sean Hynan, Cathal McInerney, Fergal Lynch, Conor McGrath (0-1).
Subs: Kevin Browne for Cillian Duggan (44), Padraig Chaplin for Hynan (46), David Collins for Lynch (48), Gearóid Ryan for P Collins (56), Shane O’ Leary for McGrath (57).
Scorers: Cathal McInerney (0-5, 3f), Enda Boyce, Liam Markham, Seán Hynan, Fergal Lynch, Conor McGrath, Padraig Chaplin (0-1 each).
Wides: 10   Frees: 9

Referee: Kevin Walsh (Wolfe Tones).