An eleven point haul from Tony Kelly helped steer Ballyea into the Clare senior hurling championship semi-final when they recorded a 1-18 to 0-13 win over a fancied Crusheen at Cusack Park this Saturday evening.
Crusheen started as if they were going to score a comfortable win, racing into a 0-7 to 0-1 lead after fourteen minutes. From here on it was a different story, however, as Ballyea took over and when the half time whistle sounded they were five points clear, 1-9 to 0-7, the goal coming from Gary Brennan on the stroke of half time.
They continued to hold the upperhand in the second half and by the three quarter stage they had stretched their lead to eight points, 1-15 to 0-10.
In addition to Kelly, Gearoid O’Connell, Paul Flanagan, Jack Browne, Brian Carigg, Cathal Doohan and Gary Brennan were prominent.
Gary Brennan of Ballyea celebrates his goal against Crusheen during their quarter final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Gerry O Grady of Crusheen in action against Eoghan Donnellan of Ballyea during their quarter final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Fergus Kennedy of Crusheen in action against Stan Lineen of Ballyea during their quarter final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Eoghan Donnellan of Ballyea in action against Gerry O Grady of Crusheen during their quarter final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Eoghan Donnellan of Ballyea in action against Gerry O Grady of Crusheen during their quarter final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Ballyea manager Robbie Hogan on the sideline against Crusheen during their quarter final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Gary Brennan of Ballyea in action against Cian Dillon of Crusheen during their quarter final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Gerry O Grady of Crusheen in action against Patjoe Connelly of Ballyea during their quarter final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Ciaran O Doherty of Crusheen in action against Patjoe Connelly of Ballyea during their quarter final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Niall Deasy will start his first league game for Clare on Sunday Photograph by John Kelly.
Alan Brigdale of Crusheen and James Murphy of Ballyea get tangled during their quarter final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Tony Kelly of Ballyea in action against Cian Diillon of Crusheen in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
David Egan of Ballyea in action against Jason Greene of Crusheen during their quarter final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
David Egan and Martin O Leary of Ballyea celebrate after the win over Crusheen in their quarter final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Tony Kelly of Ballyea in action against Cian Diillon of Crusheen during their quarter final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Tulla manager Brian Quinn before their championship quarter final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Clonlara coach Donal Madden during their championship quarter final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
John Fahy of Tulla in action against Michael O Loughlin of Clonlara during their championship quarter final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Niall Bolton of Tulla in action against Cormac O Donovan of Clonlara during their championship quarter final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Darragh Corry of Tulla in action against Cormac O Donovan and Colm Galvin of Clonlara during their championship quarter final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Michael O Loughlin of Clonlara in action against John Fahy of Tulla during their championship quarter final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Ian Galvin of Clonlara on the sideline during their game against Tulla at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Paraic O Loughlin of Clonlara in action against Mark Lynch of Tulla during their championship quarter final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Darach Honan of Clonlara in action against Niall Bolton of Tulla during their championship quarter final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Clonlara manager Damien Power, right, with selector Donal Madden on the sideline against Tulla during their championship quarter final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
John Conlon of Clonlara in action against Paul Lynch of Tulla during their championship quarter final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Padraic O Loughlin of Clonlara in action against Sean Torpey of Tulla during their championship quarter final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Niall Bolton of Tulla in action against Kenneth Haskett of Clonlara during their championship quarter final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Eoin O Brien of Newmarket in action against Cian Moloney of Kilmaley during their relegation final at Sixmilebridge. Photograph by John Kelly.
Colin Mc Guane of Kilmaley in action against Noel Frawley of Newmarket during their relegation final at Sixmilebridge. Photograph by John Kelly.
Michael O Malley of Kilmaley in action against Liam O Connor of Newmarket during their relegation final at Sixmilebridge. Photograph by John Kelly.
Michael O Neill of Kilmaley in action against Sean O Connor of Newmarket during their relegation final at Sixmilebridge. Photograph by John Kelly.
Kilmaley and players and mentors question a line ball decision of Tom Stackpoole and referee Ambrose Heagney during their relegation final at Sixmilebridge. Photograph by John Kelly.
Michael O Neill of Kilmaley in action against Shane Lynch, Eamonn Bracken and Kenneth Kennedy of Newmarket during their relegation final at Sixmilebridge. Photograph by John Kelly.
Michael O Neill of Kilmaley gets his nose banged against his visor in action against Sean O Connor and Enda Barrett of Newmarket during their relegation final at Sixmilebridge. Photograph by John Kelly.
Conor Cleary of Kilmaley in action against Stephen Kelly of Newmarket during their relegation final at Sixmilebridge. Photograph by John Kelly.
Eoin O Brien of Newmarket in action against Daire Keane of Kilmaley during their relegation final at Sixmilebridge. Photograph by John Kelly.
Michael O Malley of Kilmaley does a Haka for James Mc Inerney of Newmarket during their relegation final at Sixmilebridge. Photograph by John Kelly.
Ronan Mc Cormack of Newmarket sets up his defence against a Kilmaley free during their relegation final at Sixmilebridge. Photograph by John Kelly.
Michael O Malley of Kilmaley in action against Ronan Good of Newmarket during their relegation final at Sixmilebridge. Photograph by John Kelly.
Shane O Brien of Newmarket in action against Cian Moloney of Kilmaley during their relegation final at Sixmilebridge. Photograph by John Kelly.
Michael O Malley of Kilmaley in action against Liam O Connor of Newmarket during their relegation final at Sixmilebridge. Photograph by John Kelly.
Eoin Enright of Kilmaley in action against Darren O Connor of Newmarket during their relegation final at Sixmilebridge. Photograph by John Kelly.
Daire Keane of Kilmaley in action against Ronan Good of Newmarket during their relegation final at Sixmilebridge. Photograph by John Kelly.
Kenneth Kennedy of Kilmaley in action against Liam O Connor of Newmarket during their relegation final at Sixmilebridge. Photograph by John Kelly.
The Kilmaley team regroup after their draw against Newmarket following their relegation final at Sixmilebridge. Photograph by John Kelly.
Clonlara are also through to the semi-finals after they had a hard earned three point win over Tulla, 0-15 to 0-12, at Cusack Park. The winners raced 0-5 to 0-0 clear inside twelve minutes and they were 0-8 to 0-1 in front after twenty minutes. Tulla finished the half with three unanswered points to level the tie and they scored the first four points in the second half to level the tie at 0-8 each with must seven minutes of the new period played.
Clonlara bounced back with three points and they were two in front when Tulla were awarded a penalty with six minutes still to play. Ger O’Connell dived to his right to save David McInerney’s effort and Darragh Corry saw his effort from the rebound hit the side netting.
Kilmaley and Newmarket will have to meet again to determine who will drop down to intermediate level next season. Their eagerly awaited meeting at Sixmilebridge was a hard fought affair which saw Newmarket hold a one point lead at half time when the score was 0-10 to 0-9. Kilmaley went ahead early in the second half and were two points in front as the full time whistle approached. Two pointed frees saw Newmarket draw level at 0-15 each. The replay is expected to take place in two weeks time.
O’Callaghans Mills booked a place in the senior B final with a 3-19 to 1-19 win over Clarecastle at Gurteen. In the intermediate championship, Sixmilebridge and Broadford booked their places in the semi-finals when they defeated Cratloe and Scariff respectively while Ogonnelloe progressed to the junior A semi-final with a 1-18 to 1-11 win over Meelick.
Wolfe Tones advanced to the junior B hurling final when they were 2-18 to 4-8 winners over Tubber while Eire Og secured their junior A status for next season with a comfortable 0-13 to 0-4 win over St. Josephs.
