Narrow win for Cratloe

Cratloe 2-11   Shannon Gaels 2-9

ENTERING injury time in Cusack Park on Saturday, Cratloe and Shannon Gaels were tied at 2-9 apiece. It looked likely that both clubs would pick up a point heading into round two of the championship. Cratloe, however, converted two close-range frees to seal a narrow win. Cathal McInerney’s free taking was a central plank of the South-East Clare side’s win. The Clare senior hurling panellist converted all nine of his frees, the furthest of which was about 35 yards out.
Of course, Shannon Gaels’ tendency to concede frees aided Cratloe, who only scored two points from play.
Shannon Gaels’ free taking was also impressive, with Michael Coughlan converting six of his seven frees, the other dropping into the goalkeeper’s hands.
Cratloe made a blistering start and led 1-3 to 0-1 inside the first quarter. McInerney scored all three points from frees, while Podge Collins scored the Cratloe goal, set up by a perfectly weighed McInerney pass.
John Paul O’Neill pointed the Gaels’ first score, while Noel Kennedy goaled to bring them back into the game. Not for long though, as McInerney goaled shortly afterwards. To their credit, Shannon Gaels fought back manfully and trailed by just a point, 2-4 to 1-6 at half-time.
John Paul O’Neill’s second-half goal gave the Gaels a brief lead but McInerney’s frees kept Cratloe ticking over. When Coughlan pointed his sixth free in the 60th minute, the result was in the balance. However, Seán Collins won a free about 21 yards out, which McInerney pointed.
A minute later, McInerney pointed another free to establish a two-point lead for Cratloe as time ran out of the Gaels.
Conor Ryan, Podge Collins, Cathal McInerney and Conor McGrath played well for Cratloe, who play St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield in their next championship game in mid-August.
John Bermingham, Michael O’Donoghue, John Paul O’Neill and Michael Coughlan from frees, were best for the Gaels, who had three players making their championship debut.

Cratloe: Jamie Joyce; David Ryan, Barry Duggan, Seán Chaplin; Seán Hynan, Michael Hawes, Wes de Loughrey; Conor Ryan, Joe O’Connor; Padraig Chaplin, Podge Collins, Robert Conlon; Cathal McInerney, Conor McGrath, Seán Collins.
Subs: Pat O’Gorman for Barry Duggan, Dean de Loughrey for Robert Conlon and Gearóid Ryan for Padraig Chaplin.
Scorers: Cathal McInerney (1-9, 9f), Podge Collins (1-1) and Seán Collins (0-1).
Frees won: 26; wides: 3
“We took more of our chances than the Gaels did and that was the difference. The game was level going into injury time and it could have gone either way.” Colm Collins, Cratloe manager.

Shannon Gaels: Keith Ryan; Cathal O’Neill, Tomás Madigan, Fergal Kenny; John Bermingham, John Neylon, Frank Cleary; Michael O’Donoghue, Fergal O’Neill; Tomás Cleary, Seán Reynolds, Noel Kennedy; Nigel Hehir, John Paul O’Neill, Michael Coughlan.
Sub: Brian Bermingham for Fergal O’Neill.
Scorers: Michael Coughlan (0-6f), Noel Kennedy and John Paul O’Neill (1-1 each) and Cathal O’Neill (0-1).
Frees won: 20; wides: 10
“We started slowly but played some good attacking football eventually. We gave away too many scoreable frees though and that cost us.” Peter O’Connell, Shannon Gaels manager.

Referee: Michael Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane).