The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
A little fortunate to have earned a second chance a week earlier, favourites Clarecastle made no mistake in Sunday’s replay of the U-15A hurling final when they proved much too strong for Inagh-Kilnamona.
After a number of changes due to weather conditions, the replay finally went ahead at Clarecastle on Sunday morning. Inagh-Kilnamona agreed to travel to their opponents’ venue when weather conditions ruled out playing the game at a number of other venues. The Magpies upped their performance considerably from the drawn tie to deservingly take the honours.
Bobby Duggan has been one of the stars of underage hurling in Clare in 2010 and he turned in a magnificent performance in Sunday’s final, finishing with a tally of 1-10. It was Duggan who scored the equaliser from a difficult long-range free a week earlier.
Inagh-Kilnamona failed to re-produce the form of recent weeks in the replay and it proved costly.
The Magpies were two points clear, 0-5 to 0-3, at the end of the opening quarter and shortly after this they had the game’s first goal when David Fitzgerald converted a penalty. Moments later, they had a goal disallowed for a square ball infringement.
The new champions led at the break on a score of 0-9 to 1-4 after Duggan struck three points after the losers’ goal.
With the aid of the breeze in the second half, the Magpies piled on the pressure and they dominated the third quarter to take a commanding lead. The goals came from Paul Dolan and Duggan and after these there was no way back for Inagh-Kilnamona who, to their credit, battled to the end.
The final whistle sparked off great celebrations amongst Clarecastle supporters as they celebrated their first victory in the competition in a decade.
