Kilmaley and Clooney-Quin share the spoils

Kilmaley  1-15

Clooney-Quin  2-12

Level eight times during the hour, a draw was a fair result to this exciting Senior Hurling Championship game at Clarecastle on Saturday evening. The result keeps both in the hunt for places in the knock-out stages.

These sides have been evenly matched in the group stage of the championship for the past few seasons.
This is the fifth time in six meetings the two sides have finished level.
In the final round, Clooney-Quin will have to beat Clarecastle to keep their play-off hopes alive whereas Kilmaley are in a slightly stronger position, as they were first round winners.
“We looked in trouble towards the end but the lads showed fair character to come back. We were unlucky not to go away with a win in the finish. It was down to the wire stuff,” according to Clooney-Quin manager Francis Browne.
“We need a result against Clarecastle and it’s all down to that game now. We are not finished yet. We will have a big say in the championship,” he added.  
Kilmaley’s John Carmody described it as “a great game of hurling, it ebbed and flowed and both sides showed great character. They both went a goal down and pulled it back. I am delighted for the lads”.
“We have a small panel this year. We are struggling with injuries, retirements, emigration, everything is going against us. This point gives us something to play for in the last round.  Inagh-Kilnamona will be a huge challenge. We are looking forward to it and we will prepare hard for it,” he said, before agreeing that substitute Cian Moloney made a good contribution.
“He is a very promising young player and I am delighted for him. He showed maturity to score the equaliser there at the end. There are a few more of them there and hopefully they will come on board with us,” he concluded.
Clooney-Quin had the aid of the strong wind in the first half but Kilmaley looked to be in a strong position when they only trailed by the minimum, 0-7 to 0-8, at the interval after the teams had been level on four occasions. Clooney-Quin created the best goal chance in the first half when Mike Daffy and Fergal Lynch combined before the latter saw his shot go across the face of the goal and wide.
Kilmaley equalised through Kenneth Kennedy early in the second half but Clooney-Quin quickly responded with points from Mike McNamara and Donnacda Murphy, whose pile driver was deflected over the bar by Kilmaley goalkeeper and captain Kieran Dillon.
Ten minutes into this half, the winners struck what looked like being a decisive blow when Peter Duggan blasted a penalty to the net. The free was awarded for a foul on Cathal Egan who had made a great catch.
The lead was shortlived as Cian Moloney, with his first touch, controlled a cross from Colin Lynch before shooting to the net. Two John Cabey points followed and the advantage looked to be with the Kilmaley men. With three minutes remaining they had pushed their lead to three points. Clooney-Quin weren’t going away and a minute later the game’s top scorer Peter Duggan blasted to the net. Entering the final minute he put his side back in front when converting a 35m free awarded for a foul on Fergal Lynch.
The advantage looked to be with the Clooney-Quin side but when they failed to clear their line a minute into injury time, teenager Cian Moloney nipped in and fired over what proved to be the final score of the game to tie up matters.
Shane McNamara, Cillian Duggan, Conor Harrisson, Donnacda Murphy and particularly Peter Duggan stood out for Clooney-Quin. Kilmaley’s best were Martin O’Connor, Anthony Cahill, Colin Lynch, Sean Talty, John Cabey and substitute Cian Moloney.

Kilmaley: Kieran Dillon; Martin O’Connor, Anthony Cahill, Sean Talty; Eoin Enright, Colin Lynch, John Clohessy; Kenneth Kennedy, Eoin O’Malley; Diarmuid McMahon, Noel Casey, Conor Neylon; Niall McGuane, John Cabey, Michael O’Neill.
Subs: Cian Moloney for Casey; Colin McGuane for O’Malley (both 44 minutes).
Scorers: Kenneth Kennedy (all frees), John Cabey (3f, 0-5 each); Cian Moloney (1-1); Michael O’Neill, Diarmuid McMahon, Conor Neylon, Niall McGuane (0-1 each).
Frees: 13; Wides: 11.
Bookings: John Clohessy (22 minutes).
Clooney-Quin: Damian O’Halloran; Brian McInerney, Shane McNamara, Joe O’Loughlin; Enda Harrisson, Cillian Duggan, Conor Harrisson; Padraig Ward, Donnacda Murphy; Peter Duggan, Cathal Egan, Mike McNamara; Mike Daffy, Fergal Lynch, Derek Ryan.
Subs: Martin Duggan for Ryan (42 minutes); John Earls for Egan (58 minutes) Seamus Conroy for Daffy (58 minutes).
Scorers: Peter Duggan (2-8, 1-6f, 0-1 line ball); Donnacda Murphy (0-2); Mike Daffy, Mike McNamara (0-1 each).
Frees: 12; Wides: 10.
Referee: Seanie McMahon, Newmarket.