Kilmaley just edge it over Cratloe

Kilmaley 0-18   Cratloe 0-17

ON a blistering hot day, Kilmaley managed a hard-fought win against Cratloe in a Division 3 match in Kilmaley. However, they were made to fight all the way by a tenacious and well-balanced Cratloe side.

Cratloe raced into a three-point lead. However, Kilmaley’s half-back line of John Clohessy, Sean Hehir and Brian Colleran managed to get a grip on proceedings and points soon followed from Eoin O’Malley (2) and Eamon Bracken (2), helping Kilmaley take the lead, which they never relinquished.

At half-time, Kilmaley went in ahead by the narrowest margin, 0-11 to 0-10. In the second half, there was never more than a point between the sides and Barry Glesson and David Collins were very much to the fore with some great scores for Cratloe.

Sean Hehir hit three great long second-half frees from the half-back line to keep the Blue and Whites in front but Glesson pulled Cratloe back into contention with some good scores.

Kilmaley’s full-back line of Cian O’Ceallaigh, Stephen Griffey and Kevin McNamara managed to get a grip on proceedings in the second half. A Dara Gregan score near the end restored Kilmaley’s lead but Collins once again levelled proceedings. A great ball from Brian Colleran found Seamus Murphy, a second-half substitute in the corner, and the Kilmaley senior coach scored an excellent point to give Kilmaley the points.

Best on the day for Kilmaley were Sean Hehir, John Clohessy, Brian Colleran, Cian O’Ceallaigh, Eamon Bracken, Declan Clancy, Stephen Griffey, Stephen McNamara and Eoin O’Malley.

Best for Cratloe were Pádraig Chaplin, Sean Ryan, Jamie Arthur, David Collins and Barry Glesson.
Earlier in the week, Kilmaley and Éire Óg shared the spoils in a well contested league tie, which ended at Kilmaley 1-15, Éire Óg 0-18.

Kilmaley quickly took a four-point lead, courtesy of scores from Gerry Commane and Eammon Bracken. However, a number of soft frees allowed Éire Óg back into the game  and Niall O’Connor, who scored 10 points, was very accurate throughout. The Kilmaley full-back line were well on top and John Clohessy and Kevin McNamara were always to the fore. The sides were level at 0-9 each at half-time.

In the second half, Éire Óg went into a four-point lead. However, good work from Stephen McNamara, Eoin O’Malley and Pat Sexton got Kilmaley back into contention. Great play between David Cleary and Pat Sexton set up Eamon Bracken for a goal to put them two points ahead, with five minutes left on the clock. A penalty for a foul on Sexton was tapped over the bar by Commane and Kilmaley now were three points to the good. However, Niall O’Connor helped Éire Óg to level with one minute left to play. Eoin O’Malley scored a fantastic point to give the Blue and Whites the lead but the concession of a free allowed Éire Óg to escape from Kilmaley with a share of the spoils.

Best on night for Kilmaley were John Clohessy, Kevin McNamara, Stephen Griffey, Shane Lynch, David Cleary, Stephen McNamara, Brendan Talty, Pat Sexton and Eoin O’Malley.

Niall O’Connor, Kieran Malone, Philip Brennan and Daire Walsh were best for Éire Óg.

After the weekend’s final round of league games, the way is clear for the semi-finals. Newmarket top the group and will play fourth-placed Clarecastle, leaving second-placed Kilmaley to take on third-placed Cratloe.

Division 4
THE way is also clear for the play-off stage of the Junior A (Division 4) Hurling League.
Following the final round of league games, St Joseph’s have topped the group and will play fourth-placed O’Callaghan’s Mills in the semi-final. Second-placed Scariff will face Clooney-Quin, who finished third in the other semi-final.