The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
Ennistymon 1-12 Parteen 0-14
ENNISTYMON hurlers made it four wins from four starts in Division 2 when they accounted for Parteen at the South-East club’s venue on Sunday.
Cathal Malone was the hero for the North Clare side, hitting the winning point from a 65’ in the final minute.
The home side held a 0-7 to 0-4 half-time lead on a day when a share of the spoils looked likely for much of the second half.
The game’s only goal came when a long-range free from Cathal Malone ended up in the net, after Tadhg Malone contested the high delivery.
Ennistymon’s position as group leaders justifies their decision to appeal to Clare GAA at the beginning of the season to be allowed to remain in the division. They were due to be relegated to Division 3 but they argued that such a move would be detrimental to their squad, who had worked so hard to get up to Division 2.
Ennistymon: Brendan Hogan; Michael Devitt, David Davenport, Danny Harvey; Liam O’Driscoll, Danny McDonagh, Kevin Scales; Brian McDonagh, Sean O’Driscoll; Cathal Malone, Dave Kenneally, Aaron McNulty; Dean Sexton, Aidan Slattery, Tadhg Malone.
Sub: Christoir McCaw for McNulty.
Parteen: Alan Murnane; Jason Smyth, Donie Prendergast, Kevin McGleannon; Phil Lavin, Colm O’Connell, Cian McCarthy; Dara Yelverton, Brian McSweeney; Joe O’Connor, Eoin Kelly, Páidí O’Connor; Noel Bridgeman, Ronan Conlon, David Small.
Subs: Paul O’Dwyer for Lavin, Martin Moroney for O’Connor and Mark Boland for Kelly.
Elsewhere in this group, Feakle had a comfortable 10-point win over Ogonnelloe, Sixmilebridge had six points to spare over Inagh-Kilnamona, while Corofin were comprehensive 2-18 to 0-5 winners over Crusheen.
Division 3
IN Division 3, Clarecastle, Newmarket and Cratloe share top spot with three wins from four outings.
Cratloe tasted defeat for the first time, going down by a goal to Clonlara on Friday evening.
Clonlara, Kilmaley and Meelick each have two wins from four outings, while Bodyke remain at the bottom of the table, pointless after four rounds.
Kilmaley 4-18 Meelick 2-11
KILMALEY got their second consecutive win in the intermediate league, accounting for Meelick in Meelick by seven points. Having elected to play against the breeze in the first half, Kilmaley started well and rushed into a quick four-point lead, courtesy of points from Dara Gregan and Eamon Bracken. Kilmaley’s defence was well on top for large parts of the first half with all six backs playing their part, although Oisín Hickey did cause some problems throughout.
David Cleary got the first goal eight minutes from the half-time whistle after a great delivery from Eoin O’Malley and he gave Roy Duffy no chance in the Meelick goal.
Kilmaley were in a strong position coming up to the half-time whistle when Meelick were awarded a 20m free for a foul on Oisín Hickey. Gerry Markham duly dispatched the goal and Kilmaley went in at half-time only four points ahead, 1-8 to 1-4, despite dominating a lot of the possession.
Kilmaley, with the aid of the wind in the second half, pushed on and mid-way through the half, Cillian McNamara goaled after great work from Enda Finnucane. Seamus Hurley completed the scoring for the Blue and Whites with a well-taken goal to ensure Kilmaley picked up the points.
Kilmaley had some good performances from Stevie Griffey, Kevin McNamara, Sean Hehir, Noel Casey, Eoin O’Malley, Dara Gregan, Bryan O’Loughlin, Enda Finnucane and David Cleary.
Best for Meelick were Roy Duffy in goals, Damien Moloney, Bobby Sherlock, Oisin Hickey, Gerry Markham and Eanna Mulvihill.
Division 4
IN Division 4, Scariff and St Joseph’s are unbeaten but the Doora-Barefield men have dropped a point as a result of their draw at the weekend with Clooney-Quin. Broadford are bottom of the table, without a point from their four outings.
Division 5
IN Division 5A, Crusheen are the only unbeaten team, with two wins and a draw from their three outings to date. In Division 5B, Ruan and Wolfe Tones share top spot with full points from their four outings.
