Inagh-Kilnamona 2-11 Sixmilebridge 0-15
Inagh-Kilnamona scored a much needed win in the Clare Champion Cup when they overcame Sixmilebridge at O’Garney Park on Saturday evening.
The game marked a first outing in this campaign for Tony Carmody who played at centre-back on a day when Conor Tierney sparkled up front and caused a lot of problems for the home side.
The win is a timely boost for Inagh-Kilnamona who will open their championship campaign against county champions Cratloe next week.
Sixmilebridge led by a point at half time when the score was 0-9 to 1-5 but the visitors edged ahead in the second half and were deserving of their first win of the campaign.
Conor Tierney was their leading scorer on the day with 1-4 to his credit, the goal coming early in the game. Ger Arthur (0-2), Eugene Cullinan (1-0), Cathal Lafferty (0-2) and Brian Hehir were others to contribute to their scoreline.
Cullinan’s goal came towards the end of the third quarter after Sixmilebridge goalie Stephen Fleming batted away a Tony Carmody delivery but the in-rushing Cullinan returned the ball to the net for a vital score.
Niall Gilligan in the first half and Caimin Morey were the main scorers for the home side, who finished strongly but failed to get the goal they needed to get something from this tie.
Inagh-Kilnamona: Patrick Kelly; Milo Keane, Ronan O’Looney, Brian Glynn; Eamonn Glynn, Tony Carmody, Brian Foudy; Ger Arthur, Colm Pilkington; Martin Barry, Cathal Lafferty, Owen Vaughan; Brian Hehir, Eugene Cullinan, Conor Tierney.
Sixmilebridge: Stephen Fleming; Tadhg Keogh, Eoin Quinn, Trevor Purcell; Barry O’Connor, Aidan Quilligan, Paidi Fitzpatrick; Anthony Liddane, Tommy Morey; Shane Golden, Niall Gilligan, Danny Morey; Caimin Morey, Rory Shanahan, David O’Connor.
Subs: Paul Fitzpatrick for D O’Connor; Robert Conlon for T Morey; Ray McNamara for Purcell; Declan Morey for Danny Morey.
Tulla 1-13 Clooney-Quin 1-7
Tulla scored their first win of this season’s Clare Champion Cup campaign when they accounted for neighbours Clooney-Quin at Dr Daly Park on Saturday.
In a hard fought contest, Tulla finished strongly to take the spoils.
They led by double scores at the interval, 0-8 to 0-4, having scored the last two points of the half through Andrew Quinn and Brian Lynch.
Clooney-Quin had a dream start to the second half when John Earls goaled but Tulla hit back with three unanswered points from Andrew Quinn (two frees) and Conor O’ Halloran.
Both sides scored two points each in the final quarter but try as they did, Clooney-Quin were unable to get back on terms and Tulla held on for a merited win.
Tulla: Philip Brennan; Eugene Cooney, Sean Torpey, John Brennan; Karl Quinn, Mark Quinn, Brian Lynch; Declan Murphy, Conor O’Halloran; Eanna Torpey, Michael Murphy, Aidan Lynch; Cathal Dinan, Kieran Brennan, Andrew Quinn.
Subs: Trevor Vaughan for E Torpey; James Littleton for D Murphy.
Clooney-Quin: Cathal Hannon; Paul Clune, Conor Harrisson, Joe O’Loughlin; Seamus Conroy, Cillian Duggan, Enda Harrisson; Sean Conheady, Mike McNamara; Fergal Lynch, Cathal Egan, John Earls; Padraig Ward, Martin Duggan, Derek Ryan.
Subs: Adrian Fleming for Conroy; Dara Hannon for Ward; Mike Daffy for Ryan; Trevor Lee for Earls; Shane McNamara for E Harrisson.
Cratloe 0-21 Clarecastle 1-8
Cratloe scored their first win of this season’s campaign when they turned in an impressive display to overcome Clarecastle at Cratloe on Saturday afternoon.
Ahead by three points, 0-10 to 0-7, at half time, the home side stepped up a gear in the second half which they dominated, adding 11 points while confining the visitors to just two scores.
This was certainly the county champions’ best display of this campaign, despite the fact that they were still short a few players including team captain Barry Duggan (injured) and minor Paudge Collins (inter-county duty).
All of the Cratloe forwards got on the scoresheet with Conor Ryan (four), Damian Browne, Conor McGrath (three each) and Sean Collins (two) leading the way.
The game’s only goal came from a free by Tyrone Kearse in the second half.
Cratloe: Sean Hawes; Philip Gleeson, David Ryan, John Murphy; Liam Markham, Michael Hawes, Martin ‘Ogie’ Murphy; Cathal McInerney, Sean Chaplin; Sean Collins, Conor Ryan, Damian Browne; Conor McGrath, Barry Gleeson, Gearóid Ryan.
Subs: Jonathon Reidy for McGrath; James Enright for C Ryan; Padraig Chaplin for B Gleeson.
Clarecastle: John Casey; Kevin Clohessy, Gary Farmer, Ollie Plunkett; Danny Scanlan, Conor Plunkett, Patrick Kelly; Conor O’Gorman, Fergus Ryan; Seanie Moloney, Jonathon Clancy, Tyrone Kearse; Derek Quinn, Aaron Considine, Eamonn Callinan.
Subs: Jason Considine for Callinan; Niall Dunne for A Considine; Gareth Barry for Farmer (inj) Eric Flynn for Ryan.
Whitegate 3-11 Newmarket 0-18
In this top of the table clash Whitegate caused a shock when they overcame favourites Newmarket at the East Clare club’s venue on Saturday evening.
A last minute goal from Michael O’Brien sealed this win for the home side on a day when they shot no less than 14 wides in the second half.
Newmarket slightly had the better of matters in the opening half and helped by the accuracy of Colin Ryan, they led by six points at half time when the score was 0-13 to 0-7.
They scored the first point in the second half and looked to be on the way to another victory but Whitegate had other ideas. A goal from Stephen Malone sparked off a rally and points followed from goalkeeper Andrew Fahy as they cut the deficit to one point. Then a long-range effort from Tommy Holland deceived David Woods in the Newmarket goal and the home side’s second goal put them into the lead.
Now it was Newmarket’s turn to hit back and points from Ryan and Eoin Hayes had them back in front, 0-18 to 2-11, with the full time whistle approaching.
The winning goal came when substitute Martin Malone prevented the ball from going wide. Eric Minogue won possession and passed to Michael O’Brien who shot to the net for the winning score.
Whitegate: Andrew Fahy, Trevor Kelly, John Bugler, Cathal Mulvihill; Tommy Holland, Brendan Bugler, Jason Malone; Patrick Minogue, John O’Brien; Michael O’Brien, Eric Minogue, Stephen Malone; Michael Dooley, Shane O’Rourke, Stephen Jones.
Subs: Christopher Jones for P Minouge; Martin Malone for S Jones.
Newmarket: David Woods; Brian Clancy, Stephen Kelly, Jimmy Clancy; Sean O’Connor, Enda Barrett, Paudie Collins; Martin O’Hanlon, Eoin O’Brien; Eoin Hayes, Mike McInerney, Colin Ryan; James Liddy, Jim McInerney, Eoin McInerney.
Subs: Neil Ryan for Liddy (inj) Ger Hannon for E McInerney.
Crusheen 3-15 Clonlara 3-13
There was some confusion at the end of this league tie played at Clonlara as many of those present had a scoreline that did not correspond with that of referee Seanie McMahon.
The confusion came in the opening half at the end of which the match official confirmed that the score was 1-8 to 0-8 in the home side’s favour but most felt that it was 1-9 to 0-7.
The referee’s word is what counts and Crusheen collected another brace of points and pushed the title-holders deeper into relegation trouble although, it has to be said, the half-way point has not yet been reached in this campaign.
Donal Madden scored the game’s first half goal and it helped his side to be in front at half time. Madden was also the game’s top scorer with 2-6 to his credit. Crusheen’s goal scorers were Joe Meaney, Gearóid O’Donnell and Patrick O’Grady.
Crusheen: Donal Tuohy; John Brigdale, Cronan Dillon, Alan Brigdale; Pat Vaughan, Ciaran O’Doherty, Cathal Dillon; Alan Tuohy, Tony Meaney; Joe Meaney, Cian Dillon, Gearóid O’Donnell; Paddy Meaney, Patrick O’Grady, Conor O’Donnell.
Clonlara: Ger O’Connell; Senan Nihill, John Moloney, Neil Ryan; Nicky O’Connell, Tomas O’Donovan, Domhnaill O’Donovan; Cormac O’Donovan, Jason Murphy; Pat O’Hare, John Conlon, William Slattery; Cillian Fennessy, Donal Madden, Tommy Lynch.
Sub: Paul Collins for Ryan.