The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
O’Callaghan’s Mills 0-17 Tulla 1-11
FROM an early stage in this clash of neighbouring sides at Cusack Park on Saturday evening, it was clear there would be little between the teams.
At the end of a tie in which they were level on six occasions, the Mills finished the stronger and scored a three-point win to take the honours and strengthen their chances of making it to the play-offs.
Ten minutes from the end and at a time when the sides were level, a flare up in front of the tunnel resulted in the sending off of Conor O’Halloran and Pat Donnellan, after both were shown straight red cards by referee Johnnie Healy. The Mills went on to finish strongly and claim the points, a result that leaves Tulla in danger of not making the knockout stage.
The game was eight minutes old before the first score came and it was to the winners, with Adrian Flaherty converting a 55m free. It drew a strong response from Tulla, who had the assistance of the fresh wind, and they hit five points in as many minutes to go four clear at the end of the opening quarter.
Just when it looked like the champions of 2007 might pull away, they found themselves on the defensive as the Mills hit back with five points in six minutes to go one clear with nine minutes of the half remaining.
The game’s only goal came a minute later and was scored by Andrew Quinn. Points followed from Raymond Stewart and Cathal Dinan and Tulla were four clear as half-time approached.
The winners finished the half strongly with points from Pat Donnellan and James McMahon and it was anybody’s game as they headed for the dressing rooms with the score at 1-7 to 0-8 in Tulla’s favour.
The winners returned with Declan Donovan in their line-up in place of the injured Enda McNamara. Three points in the first five minutes, two from Adrian Donovan and one from free taker Flaherty, saw them back in front.
In the next 15 minutes the lead changed hands on a couple of occasions but the sides were still on level terms as the game entered the final 10 minutes.
With both sides down to 14 men, the winners showed the greater determination. Captain Bryan Donnellan sent over a superb point after he was picked out by goalkeeper John Cooney with an excellent pass and they went on to add points from Flaherty to seal victory. In the closing minutes, Diarmuid Hehir saved on the line as Tulla came in search of an equalising score. On the day, the Mills just about deserved their narrow win.
The Donnellans and Diarmuid Hehir formed a strong half-back line for the winners while Conor Cooney, Adrian Donovan and Adrian Flaherty picked off some excellent scores. Eugene Cooney, Cian McInerney, and Andrew Fahy got through some good work for the losers, who will rue a couple of missed goal opportunities.
