Mills take one step closer to knock-out stages

O’Callaghan’s Mills  1-17   Whitegate  0-11
A sharper and fitter O’Callaghan’s Mills scored a comfortable win over Whitegate in the senior hurling championship tie played at Scariff on Tuesday evening. The result pushes the Mills closer to a place in the knock out stages of the competition.

A blistering start, which saw them go 1-2 to 0-0 in front after six minutes, set the winners on the way to this victory. Adrian Donovan, at full forward, caused a lot of problems for the Whitegate defence and he scored his side’s opening three scores on an evening when he finished with a tally of 1-5.
The winners controlled matters in the first half and were full value for their interval lead of eight points, 1-10 to 0-5.
It was clear at this stage that Whitegate would need to show a huge improvement if they were to get back into contention. They did improve but not enough.  They outscored the winners 0-4 to 0-1 in the first ten minutes of the second half but they failed to get control in the vital areas and the winners remained in control in the vital areas.
The margin was down to five points at the three quarter stage but Whitegate never looked like scoring the goal they badly needed. The Mills were very much in control in the final quarter and they finished strongly with points from Adrian Flaherty (2) Declan Donovan and team captain Bryan Donnellan in the closing six minutes to seal a merited victory.
Their win was all the more impressive given that they were without inter county man Pat Donnellan who was sent off in their last game. In addition Enda McNamara was ruled out through injury. On the evening James Shanahan, Ger Frost and Bryan Donnellan were always prominent in a defence, which dominated. Conor Cooney held the upperhand at midfield while up front Adrian Donovan and Adrian Flaherty led the way.
It was a disappointing performance from Whitegate. Cathal Mulvihill and Brendan bugler tried hard in defence as did Eric Minogue in attack but overall they failed the match the sharpness and commitment of the winners.

O’Callaghans Mills: John Cooney; Ger Frost, James Shanahan, Gerry Cooney; Bryan Donnellan (capt) Diarmuid Hehir, Niall Donovan; Conor Cooney, Kevin McHugh; Adrian Flaherty, Declan Donovan, Fergus Donovan; James McMahon, Adrian Donovan, Alan Duggan.
Subs: Jonathon Lyons for McHugh (51 minutes).
Scorers: Adrian Donovan (1-5) Adrian Flaherty (0-8), 4 frees;  Bryan Donnellan, Conor Cooney, Declan Donovan, Fergus Donovan (0-1) each.
Frees For: 13; wides: 8
Bookings: Conor Cooney (21 minutes) Declan Donovan (50 minutes).
“It was like out All-Ireland final this evening and we were determined as whoever lost this evening was out. We really focussed on this game and put in a lot of hard work and I am delighted for the lads.” O’Callaghan’s Mills manager, Peter Carmody.

Whitegate: Andrew Fahy; Cathal Mulvihill, John Bugler, Trevor Kelly; Tommy Holland, Brendan Bugler, Jason Malone; Ian Fahy, Patrick  Minogue; John O’Brien, Eric Minogue, Stephen Malone; Michael O’Brien, George Waterstone, Michael Dooley.
Subs: John Minogue for Holland (inj., 18 minutes); Shane O’Rourke for M. O’Brien (38 minutes) Brian Minogue for P. Minogue (42 minutes).
Scorers: George Waterstone ((0-4), 3 frees; Andrew Fahy (0-3), frees;  John Minogue, John O’Brien, Eric Minogue Stephen Malone (0-1) each:
Frees for: 10; wides: 5
Bookings: Eric Minogue (5 minutes); John Bugler (50 minutes); Cathal Mulvihill (53 minutes).
“We didn’t have it. They won every breaking ball and fair play to them. Their workrate was outstanding,” David Considine, Whitegate.
Referee: Johnny Healy, Killaloe.

Ruan take last eight spot
Ruan  4-11   Ennistymon  0-9
When it comes to making the draw for the quarter-finals of the intermediate hurling championship, Ruan’s name will be in the hat.
At Corofin on Saturday afternoon, they sealed their last-eight place with a comprehensive win over Ennistymon.
Ahead by a goal at half-time, they struck for three goals in two minutes at the start of the second half and these scores sealed a merited win. The first of the second-half goals was a little fortunate but two superb Aidan Lynch strikes followed and killed off any hopes the North Clare side had of causing an upset.
The first half was a well-contested affair and the winners went to the break 1-4 to 0-4 in front. The goal came from John Punch, who flicked a Brendan Lyons cross to the net at the mid-point of the half.
Three minutes later, Ennistymon had a goal by Tadhg Malone disallowed and one could understand their disappointment when referee Damian Fox signalled for a free out, penalising Malone for being in the square ahead of the ball.
Throughout the afternoon, the Ennistymon attack struggled and this was reflected in that all but a point of their tally came from frees by corner-forward Tommy Hogan.
He landed the first score of the second half when he converted a 65 but the next two minutes killed off any hopes they had of winning, as Ruan hit three goals to take a commanding lead.
Ennistymon, to their credit, battled to the end but their lack of scoring power proved costly.
For the winners, Jonathon Clohessy, returning to action following injury, stood out at centre-back while Killian Ryan had an excellent game at midfield. Aidan Lynch was always dangerous in attack and finished with 2-2 to his credit.
Liam O’Driscoll and Paudie Kelleher worked tirelessly in the centre of the Ennistymon defence while Tommy Hogan’s accuracy from placed balls kept them in the hunt. While the absence of Cathal Malone, due to his involvement with the Clare minors on Sunday was a blow to Ennistymon, it’s doubtful if his presence would have changed the result, as Ruan were the better-balanced side.

Ruan: Pakie Roughan; Dara Brohan, Niall O’Connor, Leon Quirke; Pádraig Guthrie, Jonathon Clohessy, Dara Roughan; Tadhg Hanrahan, Killian Ryan (0-3); Alan Bell (0-1), John Punch (1-2), Michael Vaughan; Owen Hanrahan (0-1), Aidan Lynch (2-2), Brendan Lyons (1-0).
Subs: Patrick Keegan for Vaughan; Caimin Howard (0-1) for Bell; Gary Bell for Guthrie; Kevin O’Regan (0-1) for Punch.
Ennistymon: Cathal McDonagh; Darren Mullins, Liam O’Driscoll, Michael A Devitt; Brian McDonagh, Paudie Kelleher, Sean O’Driscoll (0-1); Aidan Slattery, Paudie Fahy; Pádraig Brennan, Michael Organ, Caoimhin Fahy; Tadhg Malone, Martin Malone, Tommy Hogan (0-8, 7f 1 65).
Sub: Enda Ralph for Devitt (inj);
Referee: Damian Fox, Wolfe Tones.