Kilrush into semis as Cratloe are relegated

Kilrush 0-14
Cratloe 0-6

Kilrush booked a place in the semi-final of the Garry Cup and earned a home venue when they proved too strong for Cratloe in this re-scheduled fixture, played in sweltering heat at Cusack Park on Sunday.

Originally scheduled for the eve of Clare’s Munster senior and intermediate hurling semi-finals, Cratloe refused to play because they had seven of their team on inter-county duty. They took an appeal to the County Hearings Committee (CHC) who ruled in their favour.

On Sunday the majority of those players were available to Cratloe and, with the exception of the injured Sean Collins, all played at some stage.
There was a lot at stake with Kilrush needing to win to progress in the competition and Cratloe needing a victory to avoid dropping to division 3 for next season. St Breckan’s benefitted from this result and they will remain in Division 2 for the coming season (a Cratloe win would have seen the Lisdoonvarna club relegated).

The Clare outfit deserved their win against a Cratloe side that clearly suffered from a lack of match practice.
There was little between the sides in the early stages and, in fact, the game was fourteen minutes old before the first score was registered, a Kilrush point from Rory O’Connor. Pajoe McGrath quickly followed with another but Cratloe hit back with a brace from Cathal McInerney and Liam Markham.

In the final 10 minutes of the half Kilrush outscored the South East Clare men 0-6 to 0-1, to go to the break with a five-point advantage, 0-8 to 0-3.
In an effort to improve matters Cratloe returned with Conor McGrath in attack while they also introduced Cillian Duggan to their midfield.

As with the opening half, the West Clare side had the first two points, from Jim Young and Niall Gilbride, before Cathal McInerney (free) and Liam Markham responded leaving the score at 0-10 to 0-5 with 20 minutes to play.

Kilrush had the better of the final period, outscoring the winners 0-4 to 0-1. In a final throw of the dice, Cratloe sent in Podge Collins with 10 minutes remaining but he was unable to rescue them as the winners finished strongly and kicked some good points.

They will have home advantage for this week’s semi-final in which they will meet Kildysart, with Clondegad awaiting the winners in the final. In addition to a place in the final, the winners of this week’s semi will also earn a place in Cusack cup (Division 1) for next season.

Kilrush: Tony Burke; Niall Gilbride (0-1), Chris Dixon, Niall Clancy; Niall Brennan, John Hayes, Matthew Moloney (0-1); Danny Lynch, Darragh Bolton; Stephen Sweeney (0-2), Cian Murray, Jack Browne; Pajoe McGrath (0-2), Jim Young (0-4), Rory O’Connor (0-3).
Subs: Con O’Brien (0-1) for Brennan; Liam Madigan for McGrath; Eoin O’Kelly for Bolton; David O’Shea for Young; Niall Brennan for Sweeney.

Cratloe: Pierce De Loughrey; Sean Chaplin, Barry Duggan, David Ryan; Martin ‘Ogie’ Murphy, Michael Hawes, Enda Boyce; Conor Ryan, Kevin Browne; Sean Hynan, Padraig Chaplin (0-1), Wesley De Loughrey; Dean De Loughrey, Cathal McInerney (0-3), Liam Markham (0-2).
Subs: Conor McGrath for D De Loughrey; Cillian Duggan for Browne; Conor Earley for P Chaplin; Shane O’Leary for W De Loughrey; Podge Collins for Boyce.

Referee: Pat Cosgrove, Corofin.