Nelson and Tuohy shine for Feakle

Feakle 5-23   Sixmilebridge 0-12

OUTSTANDING performances from full-forward Colin Nelson, who hit 3-5 from play, and centre-back Eoin Tuohy inspired Feakle to a convincing win over Sixmilebridge in the Division 2 hurling league final at Gurteen on Saturday evening.

Nelson had 2-1 on the board by the fourth minute and went on to cause all sorts of problems for the Sixmilebridge side.

Minor player Tuohy dictated matters from centre-back and played a key role in the victory on an evening when the winners’ half-back trio of Tuohy and his flankers, Killian Bane and Ger Hanrahan, were rampant.

Ahead by nine points, 2-6 to 0-3, at the end of the first quarter, Feakle struck for their third goal two minutes later when Gary Guilfoyle broke through the middle, before passing to Nelson to completed his hat trick. At half-time, it was 3-10 to 0-6 in favour of the winners.

The ’Bridge threatened a comeback of sorts in the opening period of the second half when they outscored their opponents, 0-4 to 0-1, but from there to the finish there was only one team in the contest as Feakle dictated play.

Goals from Guilfoyle and Stevie Moloney inside a minute at the turn of the final quarter finally killed off the disappointing challenge of Sixmilebridge. Feakle followed with six unanswered points in five minutes and the only question to be answered concerned the size of their winning margin. Substitutes Peter Collins and Tom Moroney got in on the act with points for the winners in the closing stages.

Captain Francis O’Grady, Ger Hanrahan and the outstanding Eoin Tuohy were always prominent in the winners’ defence. Shane McGrath got through a lot of good work at midfield, while up front Nelson was the star of the show.

For a poor Sixmilebridge outfit, Cathal Walsh, Christy Griffin and, particularly, David O’Connor did best.

After the game, Clare GAA’s Central Council delegate Ger Hickey presented the Division 2 Cup to his fellow club man, captain Francis O’Grady.

Just before the final whistle, Sixmilebridge’s misery was complete when Tommy Liddy, with a goal at his mercy, hit the side netting.

Feakle: Eibhear Quilligan; Donal O’Grady, Colm Naughton, Francis O’Grady (capt); Killian Bane, Eoin Tuohy, Ger Hanrahan; Shane McGrath (0-6, 3f, 2 65s), Henry Hayes; Gary Guilfoyle (1-4), Raymond Bane (0-2), Con Smyth (0-1); Stevie Moloney (1-1), Colin Nelson (3-5), Oisin Donnellan (0-2).
Subs: Tom Moroney (0-1) for Donnellan (53 minutes) and Peter Collins (0-1) for Smyth (57 minutes).
Sixmilebridge: Pa Freeman; Barry Fitzpatrick, Rory Liddane, Cathal Walsh; Jonathon Downes, Anthony Liddane, Barry O’Connor; Christy Griffin (0-1), Evan McInerney (0-3, 1 line ball); Darragh O’Connor (0-1), Stiofán Fitzpatrick, Darragh Fitzgerald; Cathal O’Connor, David O’Connor (0-6, 3f, 1 65), Conor Deasy.
Subs: Brian Corry for Deasy (26 minutes), Dylan Fleming for R Liddane (35 minutes), Tommy Liddy (0-1) for D Fitzgerald (38 minutes), Sean Lynch for Fleming (inj, 54 minutes) and Sean Chaplin for Griffin (57 minutes).
Referee: Jim Hickey, Cratloe.