The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
CLARECASTLE were crowned Junior C hurling champions on Sunday evening, when they edged out St Joseph’s in an exciting final played at the Clarecastle grounds. The clubs had tossed for venue.
Beaten in the inaugural final two years ago, the Magpies impressed throughout the campaign and just about deserved their final victory, although few would have quibbled had the match gone to a replay.
The Doora-Barefield outfit had slightly the better of the first-half exchanges and led by a goal at half-time, 1-8 to 0-8, the goal coming from their top scorer, Paul Mockler.
Throughout the hour, the lead changed hands on a number of occasions and, for a long time, a replay looked the likely outcome. The match-winning score came a minute from time when Anthony Griffey pointed for the Magpies.
The winners played the last 10 minutes with 14 men after forward Michael Geraghty picked up a second yellow, which resulted in his dismissal.
The accuracy of Paul Mockler from frees was the main reason for the Doora-Barefield side holding a three-point lead at half-time. The goal came from a free, with the ball taking a deflection on the way to the net.
St Joseph’s failed to score in the third quarter and this proved crucial. During this time, the Magpies hit four points, three from Jonathon Griffey frees following the opening score of the half from Ben Moloney.
The game was two minutes into the final quarter before St Joseph’s had their first score of the half, a converted free from Mockler and he quickly added another to put them back in front.
However, this was to be their final score, although they did have a couple of opportunities, while they could feel aggrieved not to have been awarded a free when substitute Barry Guilfoyle looked to have been fouled shortly before the final whistle.
Most impressive for the winners were Barry Guinnane, Eoin Brennan, Jonathon and Anthony Griffey, while St Joseph’s had good performances from Donal O’Connor, Brian Dilleen, Martin Brooks and Paul Mockler.
Interestingly, the game attracted a good attendance, influenced no doubt by reports of a 5/2 flutter on the Magpies, taken out before the competition started, to win this championship.
After the game, Clare GAA treasurer Bernard Keane presented the trophy to the winners.
Clarecastle: Patrick Hayes; Austin Guckian, Eoin Brennan, Blaize Talty; Gary Casey, Barry Guinnane, Cormac Donnellan; Alan Considine, Barry Lynch; Michael Geraghty, Stephen Malone, David Geraghty; Jonathon Griffey (0-9), Anthony Griffey (0-1), Jake Barnes (0-2).
Subs: Ben Moloney (0-2) for D Geraghty (inj) and Bernard Scanlan for Lynch.
St Joseph’s: Adrian Frawley; Niall Hassett, Donal O’Connor, Leonard Fawl; David Honan, Brian Dilleen, Anthony Considine; Eoin Conlon, Martin Brooke (0-1); John Kennedy (0-1), Enda Galvin, Niall Burke; Paul Mockler (1-8), Paul Mannion, Shane Galvin.
Subs: Cillian Griffey for Fawl (inj), Donal Fanning for Kennedy, Barry Guilfoyle for Galvin and John O’Driscoll for Burke.
Referee: Damian Fox, Clooney-Quin.
