Killanena edge ahead to win

Killanena  1-10   Sixmilebridge  1-9
AN injury-time, highly pressurised Mark Flaherty-pointed free, edged Killanena into the 2010 intermediate hurling county final following a tense battle in Clarecastle last Sunday.

They will meet Ruan in the final following their defeat of Clarecastle. With Sixmilebridge and Clarecastle beaten, it means that one fully fledged intermediate club will be senior within a couple of weeks.
Killenana’s defeat of the ’Bridge followed their quarter-final win over Éire Óg, although they struggled for fluency in this game.
Ronan Flaherty netted the winners’ first-half goal, thanks to excellent set-up play from his brother Mark, while Christy Griffin pulled on a loose ball to bury the Sixmilebridge goal.
Although the teams were level at half-time, 1-3 each, Sixmilebridge has spurned a couple of goal opportunities. These misses turned out to be very costly.
The second period was almost as tight with Mark Flaherty and Tommy Liddy swapping several points from frees for their respective teams.
Flaherty’s injury-time free nudged the winners into the lead and they just about held on, although Sixmilebridge did have a late opportunity from a free.
Beaten in 2006 and 2007, Killenana will be hugely determined to make amends this time. Ruan, of course, will be equally driven to climb back up to senior.
Given that Sixmilebridge were also beaten by a point in Saturday’s senior semi-final in Cusack Park, this defeat capped a not very memorable weekend of hurling for the club.
Killanena: David Noone, Barry Noone, Joe Clancy, Pat Noone, Alan McNamara, John O’Mara, Kieran Glynn, Mikey Noone, Gerry McNamara, Noel Sheedy, Brian McNamara, John Noonan, Ronan Flaherty, Liam McNamara, Mark Flaherty. 
Subs used: Fintan McNamara for Brian McNamara, Enda Collins, Stephen McMahon.
Scorers: Mark Flaherty (0-7, 0-2f, 0-3 65s); Ronan Flaherty (1-1), Mikey Noone, Liam McNamara (0-1 each).
Sixmilebridge: Stephen Fleming, Ger Quilligan, Keith Walker, Noel Purcell, Jonathon Downes, Sam O’Sullivan, Cathal Walsh, Christy Griffin, Stiofain Fitzpatrick, Errol Tuohy, Ronan Hayes, Seánie Stack, Alan Mulready, Rory Liddane, Tommy Liddy. 
Sub used: Michael O’Halloran.
Scorers: Tommy Liddy (0-5, 0-4f), Christy Griffin (1-0), Errol Tuohy, Ronan Hayes, Alan Mulready, Rory Linnane (0-1 each).
Referee: Jim Hickey (Cratloe).