CLARE SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP GROUP 2

Cratloe 0-16
Scariff 0-10

CRATLOE got their title challenge back on track when they overcame the challenge of Scariff in this contest played at Sixmilebridge on Sunday. After their loss to Tubber in the opening round, the champions of 2009 knew that another defeat would leave them struggling to make the play-offs and this was reflected in their play, which was much improved.
That said, Scariff, who were having their first outing in this season’s race for the Canon Hamilton Trophy, made things very difficult for them and were well in this contest right to the end.
The winners showed the greater scoring ability, which proved decisive, with Conor McGrath and Cathal McInerney accounting for 0-11 of their total.
The winners raced into a four-point lead with scores from McGrath (3) and McInerney before Ross Horan opened Scariff’s account from a 65 at the end of the opening quarter. From here to half-time there was little between the teams in a tie that produced some crunching tackles.
Scariff were very much in contention at the half-way point when the score stood at 0-6 to 0-3 in favour of the winners. Cratloe, it must be said, could have been further in front at this stage as they had hit nine wides in the opening half to four for their opponents.
Scariff resumed in determined mood and scored the first two points to close the gap to the minimum. They piled on the pressure but their forwards struggled to make an impression against a strong Cratloe defence in which Barry Duggan, David Ryan and Michael Hawes were always prominent.
Cratloe responded impressively with scores from McInerney, Paudge Collins, Pádraig Chaplin and McGrath and at the three-quarter stage they were 0-12 to 0-7 ahead.
At this stage, Scariff moved the outstanding  Diarmuid Nash outfield from corner back and he helped set up the move which ended with Cratloe goalkeeper, Sean Hayes making a magnificent save from Ross Horan.
They kept the pressure on and with five minutes remaining they were within three points of the winners thanks to a brace from Ross Horan and one from Alphie Rodgers.
Cratloe finished strongly with three unanswered points from Paudge Collins, Conor McGrath and Cathal McInerney to seal a merited win.
In the lead up to this tie, Scariff were concerned about injury problems to a number of players including forwards Kenny McNamara and Barry Murphy. While both played, it was clear that they lacked match practice, having missed a number of weeks training.
Diarmuid Nash excelled for Scariff while others to do well were his brother Cathal, Darragh Kelly and Ross Horan.
For the winners, Barry Duggan, David Ryan, Sean and Paudge Collins, Conor McGrath and Cathal McInerney caused problems for their opponents.
Cratloe were forced to line out without the injured Sean Chaplin and Aidan Browne.

Cratloe: Sean Hayes; John O’Gorman, Barry Duggan, David Ryan; Enda Boyce, Michael Hawes, Liam Markham; Sean Collins, Damian Browne; Paudge Collins, Thomas O’Connor, Conor Ryan; Cathal McInerney, Pádraig Chaplin, Conor McGrath.
Subs: Gearóid Ryan for O’Connor (50 minutes).
Scorers: Conor McGrath (0-7, 4f); Cathal McInerney (0-4); Paudge Collins, Pádraig Chaplin (0-2) each; Conor Ryan (0-1);
Frees: 10; Wides: 14
Bookings: Liam Markham (55 minutes).
“We knew Scariff were always going to be tough, hard and physical. We knew we had to win or else we were out and we did that.” Mike Deegan, Cratloe

Scariff: Shane Mulvihill; Barry McNamara, Darragh Kelly, Diarmuid Nash; Cathal Nash, Conor McNamara, Jim Minogue; Patrick Minogue, Shane Corry; Kenny McNamara, Pádraig Brody, Ross Horan; Alphie Rodgers, Michael Moroney, Barry Murphy.
Subs: Mark Mulvihill for Moroney (48 minutes); Alan Corbett for Corry (53 minutes).
Scorers: Ross Horan (0-6, 5f); Alphie Rodgers, Kenny McNamara, Patrick Minogue, Padraig Brody (0-1) each;
Frees: 11; Wides: 9; 65s: 1
Bookings: Shane Corry (23 minutes); Conor McNamara (45 minutes); Ross Horan (55 minutes).
“A fabulous save turned the game in their favour. We will keep battling despite our small numbers.” Mike McNamara, Scariff

Referee: Ger Lyons, Ruan

 

Easy in the end for Tubber

Tubber 2-10
Whitegate 0-7

Ahead of last Saturday’s championship clash between Tubber and Whitegate at Shannon, followers of the Tubber side were concerned their favourites might struggle against a team they were fancied to beat, as this had been their experience in recent years.
When they had three wides from good scoring positions in the opening three minutes, the indications were that their worst fears were about to be realised again. However, the experience they have gained in recent years came to the fore after this and a tally of 1-4 without reply in the space of five minutes put them in the driving seat.
It wasn’t a great game and if the winners have hopes of progressing to the latter stages of the championship, they certainly will have to improve on this performance. That said, they have reason to be pleased with the outcome as they were the better side on the day and have moved closer to a place in the quarter-finals of the championship as a result.
Clive (free) and Mark Earley and Barry O’Connor were guilty of the early misses before Whitegate, in their first attack, took the lead when George Waterstone converted from a 35 m free. Mark Earley levelled before Barry O’Connor gave his side a lead they would hold to the end. A good Whitegate move ended with Ronan Taaffe making a good save from Terence Fahy.
Tubber struck a major blow in the ninth minute when a David Donoghue delivery caused problems in the Whitegate defence and Shane O’Connor got the final touch for the game’s opening goal. They went on to lead 1-5 to 0-3 at the break and would surely have been further ahead but for the performance of Brendan Bugler at centre-back for the East Clare side. Time and again he broke up Tubber attacks and also found time to go forward and score one of their first-half points.
Just before half-time, Whitegate were awarded a penalty after Michael O’Brien was fouled. Goalkeeper Andrew Fahy came up to take the free but his effort was saved.
From the resumption of play the winners piled on the pressure and after Tommy Lee had opened their second-half account with a point in the second minute, Eamonn Taaffe was on hand to score their second goal five minutes into the half. They continued to pile on the pressure and two Patrick O’Connor-pointed frees stretched their advantage to 11 points by the three-quarter stage of the game.
The second half was 15 minutes old before Whitegate had their first score of the half, which came from Michael O’Brien.
They followed with two more in as many minutes but they could find no way through for the goal they needed to get back into contention.
Ronan Taaffe, John O’Connor, Paul Fogarty, Fergal O’Grady and Eoin Ruane gave great support to Conor, Mark and Clive Earley, Patrick O’Connor, Eamonn Taaffe and Barry O’Connor.
Brendan Bugler was the outstanding player on view while others to impress for Whitegate were John Minogue, John Bugler and Michael O’Brien.

Tubber: Ronan Taaffe; John O’Connor, Eoin Ruane, Paul Fogarty; Fergal O’Grady, Conor Earley, Patrick O’Connor; Mark Earley, Clive Earley (capt); David O’Donoghue, Tommy Lee, Barry O’Connor; Darragh O’Connor, Shane O’Connor, Eamonn Taaffe.
Sub: Gerard O’Connor for D O’Connor (50 minutes).
Scorers: Eamonn Taaffe (1-1, 0-1f); Patrick O’Connor (0-3f); Shane O’Connor (1-0); Tommy Lee; Barry O’Connor (0-2) each. David O’Donoghue and Mark Earley (0-1) each.
Frees: 7; Wides: 12.
Bookings: Conor Earley (26 minutes); Clive Earley (26 minutes).
“It’s quite a while since Tubber had two wins in succession and this should put a pep in their step for the rest of the season.” Pat O’Connor, Tubber manager.

Whitegate: Andrew Fahy; John Minogue, John Bugler (capt), Cathal Mulvihill; Jason Malone, Brendan Buglar, Trevor Kelly; Tomas McNamara, Ian Fahy; Shane O’Rourke, Patrick Minogue, George Waterstone; Stephen Malone, Terence Fahy, Michael O’Brien.
Subs: John O’Brien for S Malone (40 minutes) and Eoin Quirke for Fahy (40 minutes).
Scorers: George Waterstone (0-3f); Brendan Bugler, Patrick Minogue and Michael and John O’Brien (0-1) each.
Frees: 14; Wides: 13; 65s: 1
Bookings: George Waterstone (26 minutes); Shane O’Rourke (26 minutes); Brendan Buglar (31 minutes) and Trevor Kelly (36 minutes).
“We matched them in many areas but not on the scoreboard.” Mark McKenna, Whitegate coach.

Referee: Tom Stackpool, Ennistymon