Magpies storm into final

Clarecastle 2-14 Clooney-Quin1-8

A contribution of 1-9 from Eamonn Callinan helped Clarecastle advance to the Senior B Hurling Championship final when they overcame the challenge of a disappointing Clooney-Quin outfit at Sixmilebridge on Saturday.
An early goal from Conor O’Gorman sent the Magpies on their way and they led 1-2 to 0-0 after six minutes. Clooney-Quin never really recovered from this early set-back as the Magpies held the lead for the rest of the tie.
Five points separated the sides at half time, 1-9 to 0-7, and Clooney-Quin hopes of getting back into the contest were dealt a blow at the beginning of the second half when Callinan pounced for his side’s second major.
The winners were 1-6 to 0-2 in front at the end of the opening quarter and while the losers hit the next three points, they never looked like they would get through for the goal desperately needed to get back into contention.
When the next goal came it was for the winners at the start of the second half. This put eight points between the sides and Clarecastle were in the driving seat.
Clooney-Quin did manage a goal when Martin Duggan found the net but the gap was too great. Shortly after this goal what appeared to be a point from Martin Duggan was signalled wide and from here on, the Magpies held control and sealed their place in the final and a meeting with either Newmarket or O’Callaghan’s Mills.

Clarecastle: Donogh Murphy; Seanie Moloney, Stephen O’Halloran, Kevin Clohessy; Fergus Ryan, Patrick Kelly, Eric Flynn; Danny Scanlan, Jonathon Clancy; Dara Moloney, Kevin O’Dwyer, Tyrone Kearse (0-1); Conor O’Gorman (1-1), David Greene (0-3), Eamonn Callinan (1-9).
Clooney-Quin: Damian O’Halloran; Joe O’Loughlin, Conor Harrisson, Shane McNamara; Donnacda Murphy, Cillian Duggan, Enda Harrisson; Mike McNamara (0-1), John Earls (0-1); Mark O’Halloram (0-1), Fergal Lynch, Martin Duggan (1-0); Paudie Ward, Derek Ryan, (0-3) Mike Daffy (0-2).
Subs: Adrian Fleming for Ward; Seamus Conroy for Ryan.

O’Callaghan’s Mills 0-9 Smith O’Brien’s 0-8

O’Callaghan’s Mills will play Newmarket in this week’s second semi-final following their one point win over Smith O’Brien’s in replay at Scariff on Saturday evening.
As with the drawn game a week earlier, the sides were evenly matched throughout. Weather conditions were atrocious and this militated against good play.
With time ticking away, Smith O’Brien’s edged into a one-point lead but the concession of frees proved costly.
Gary Neville converted two late frees to ease his side into a semi-final clash with Newmarket this week.

O’Callaghan’s Mills: John Cooney; Sean O’Gorman, Conor Cooney, Gerry Cooney; Niall Donovan, Pat Donnellan, Ger Frost; Bryan Donnellan, Jonathon Lyons; Fergus Donovan, Declan Donovan, Adrian Flaherty; Gary Neville, Adrian Donovan, Eoin Pewter.
Subs: Alan Duggan for Flaherty; Kevin O’Callaghan for F Donovan; Flaherty for D Donovan.
Smith O’Brien’s: Mark McInerney; Cian Nolan, Trevor Howard, Aidan McKeogh; Shane Tuohy, Mark Stritch, Brian McInerney; Micheál Ryan, Kevin Walsh; John Cusack, Pa Vaughan, Dwane Sheedy; Shane O’Brien, Liam Walsh, Mark O’Halloran.
Subs: Anthony Sullivan for Sheedy; Kevin McEvoy for Ryan.