Kilmaley too strong for disappointing Clooney-Quin

Senior Hurling Championship

Kilmaley 1-19   Clooney-Quin 0-10

THERE were a number of key moments in this senior championship tie at Cusack Park on Saturday evening when Kilmaley boosted their chances of getting to the play-offs and, in the process, ended Clooney-Quin’s championship ambitions for 2011. Kilmaley 1-19   Clooney-Quin 0-10

THERE were a number of key moments in this senior championship tie at Cusack Park on Saturday evening when Kilmaley boosted their chances of getting to the play-offs and, in the process, ended Clooney-Quin’s championship ambitions for 2011.
Early in the first half, team captain Alan Markham fielded superbly high over Clooney-Quin danger man Fergal Lynch and it clearly inspired his team mates.
In the first minute of the second half, Peter Duggan failed to find the target from a 25m free straight in front of the Kilmaley goal and the miss deflated his side.
Then there was the superb performance of Seamus Hurley at full-forward for Kilmaley. His ability to win aerial possession caused huge problems for Clooney-Quin as, for the most part, Hurley laid the ball off to team mates who turned the possession into scores.
Despite the fact that Kilmaley’s last game in the championship was at the end of May, they went into this tie carrying the favourite’s tag and while the majority of patrons expected them to win, few, if any, would have predicted such a big margin. A very close tie was expected and throughout the first half, all the indications were that only a point or two would separate the sides at the final whistle.
Both teams went into the game knowing that anything other than a victory would signal the end of their involvement in the title race. Clooney-Quin made the better start and were 0-4 to 0-1 in front as the end of the first quarter approached.
In the space of six minutes, Kilmaley hit five unanswered points to take a two-point lead but Clooney-Quin fought back and drew level as the game went into injury time. In fairness, they were fortunate to be in this position and can thank goalkeeper Damian O’Halloran, who had made three excellent saves in that first half.
A minute into injury time at the end of the half, Kilmaley finally beat the Clooney-Quin goalkeeper. Hurley again won possession from an Alan Markham delivery and he handpassed the ball in front of Eoin Enright who, one-handed, fired home the game’s only goal past the advancing O’Halloran. This score helped the winners to a two point lead, 1-6 to 0-7, at the break.
The second half was a different story as Kilmaley dominated throughout the field. They scored seven unanswered points in the third quarter to take a nine-point lead into the final quarter, which was two minutes old before Clooney-Quin had their opening of the half, a Martin Duggan point. They only managed three scores in the half, which Kilmaley dominated and in which their midfielder, Kenneth Kennedy, contributed 0-8, five from frees.
Alan Mackham, Conor McMahon, Ken Kennedy, Colin Lynch and Seamus Hurley were always prominent for the winners on an evening when Damian O’Halloran was Clooney-Quin’s top performer and he got most support from their full-back and team captain Conor Harrisson.

Kilmaley: Kieran Dillon; Colin McGuane, Anthony Cahill, Martin O’Connor; Noel Casey, Alan Markham, Conor McMahon; Kenneth Kennedy, Colin Lynch; Michael O’Neill, Brian McMahon, Diarmuid McMahon; Niall McGuane, Seamus Hurley, Eoin Enright.
Subs: John Cabey for N McGuane (53 minutes), Conor Neylon for Enright (53 minutes); Eoin O’Malley for Lynch (58 minutes), Declan Clancy for O’Neill (59 minutes), John Clohessy for O’Connor (60 minutes).
Scorers: Kenneth Kennedy (0-8, 3f, 65 x 2); Michael O’Neill (0-3); Eoin Enright (1-0); Alan Markham (free); Colin Lynch, Colin McGuane, Brian McMahon, Diarmuid McMahon, Seamus Hurley, Niall McGuane, Eoin O’Malley (0-1 each).
Frees for: 12; wides: 15; 65: 3.
Bookings: none.
“It was a good win and I am delighted with the performance but there is still plenty of room for improvement. We had two goals at the start of the year – get to the Clare Champion Cup semi-final and the championship quarter-final. We are within 60 minutes of that now,” John Carmody, Kilmaley manager.
Clooney-Quin: Damian O’Halloran; Joe O’Loughlin, Conor Harrisson, Shane McNamara; Donnacda Murphy, Cillian Duggan, Enda Harrisson; Sean Conheady, Mike McNamara; Martin Duggan, Fergal Lynch, Peter Duggan; Michael Daffy, Adrian Fleming, John Earls.
Subs: Cathal Egan for Fleming (half-time) Pádraig Ward for M McNamara (45 minutes), Seamus Conroy for Earls (52 minutes).
Scorers: Peter Duggan (0-4, 3f), 65 x 1; Fergal Lynch, Martin Duggan (0-2 each); Sean Conheady, John Earls (0-1 each).
Frees for: 10; wides: 11; 65: 1.
Bookings: None.
“They were the better team on the evening and could have been more ahead but for good goalkeeping by Damian O’Halloran. Our second-half form was particularly poor and we are disappointed with that. Kilmaley dominated in most positions,” Mike Corry, Clooney-Quin manager.
Referee: Ger Hoey, Killanena.