Result was clear from early on

THE outcome of this All-Ireland U-21 Hurling Championship semi-final at Semple Stadium in Thurles on Saturday evening was clear from an early stage.

 

THE outcome of this All-Ireland U-21 Hurling Championship semi-final at Semple Stadium in Thurles on Saturday evening was clear from an early stage.

Clare had two points on the scoreboard in the opening minute and it was clear there was a huge gap in standard between the Munster and Ulster champions.

Twenty-eight points separated the sides at the final whistle. It would have been much greater but for the fact that Antrim goalie James O’Mullan made a number of great saves, while over elaboration in the opening quarter cost the winners a number of scores.

Clare went into this game with one change in personnel from the side that started the Munster final against Tipperary. Cratloe’s Cathal McInerney was in the starting line-up at corner-forward in place of Davy O’Halloran.

Wing-back Seadna Morey, later named as the man of the match, had Clare in front after just 30 seconds and the game’s top scorer, Cathal O’Connell doubled his side’s advantage by the minute mark.

Throughout the field, Antrim were struggling to match their opponents and it took a fine stop from O’Mullan to deny Aaron Cunningham and Conor McGrath in the fourth minute, deflecting McGrath’s effort for a 65’, which Tony Kelly converted.

Paudge Collins put Clare four clear before Antrim opened their account when Kevin McKiernan punished a poor Ronan Taaffe puck-out when he returned the ball between the uprights in the 10th minute.

It the next 10, there was only one team in it and Clare hit 1-7 without reply to open a 13-point margin with a third of the game played. The goal came from Cathal McInerney after Paudge Collins created the chance.

Antrim responded with a brace of points but Clare continued to dictate matters and finished out the half strongly, team captain Conor McGrath firing home their second goal on the half-hour mark after he won possession from a Conor Galvin delivery. This left the half-time score at 2-14 to 0-3.

The opening five minutes of the second half were scoreless before Cathal O’Connell stretched Clare’s tally. Two minutes later, McGrath struck for his second and Clare’s third goal and they went on to lead at the three-quarter stage, 3-19 to 0-3.

Just 11 minutes remained when Antrim had their first score of this half but Clare hit back with a Seadna Morey effort, which was followed by their fourth goal, which came from substitute Niall Arthur, scorer of the winning goal in the Munster final a few weeks ago.

Paul Flanagan was outstanding at corner-back for Clare and must have pressed Seadna Morey close for the man of the match award. Cathal O’Connell was the standout player in the Clare attack on a day when the substitutes introduced all made a strong case for inclusion in the final on September 15.

In an Antrim team which was outclassed, goalkeeper James O’Mullan, Kevin McKiernan and Michael Devlin got through some good work.

Clare: Ronan Taaffe (Tubber); Paul Flanagan (Ballyea), David McInerney (Tulla), Killian Ryan (Ruan); Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge), Conor Ryan (Cratloe), Patrick O’Connor (Tubber); Colm Galvin (Clonlara), Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge); Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones), Paudge Collins (Cratloe), Tony Kelly (Ballyea); Cathal McInerney (Cratloe), Conor McGrath (Cratloe) Captain, Cathal O’Connell (Clonlara).
Subs: Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin) for Cunningham (35 minutes), Cathal Malone (Ennistymon) for Galvin (35 minutes); Davy O’Halloran (Éire Óg) for O’Connell (44 minutes); Stephen O’Halloran (Clarecastle) for O’Connor (44 minutes); Niall Arthur (Inagh-Kilnamona) for McGrath (44 minutes).
Scorers: Cathal O’Connell (0-7, 2f); Conor McGrath (2-0), Niall Arthur (1-2), Tony Kelly (0-4, 3 65s); Cathal McInerney (1-0),  Seadna Morey, Aaron Cunningham, Paudge Collins (0-2 each); Patrick O’Connor, Shane Golden, Peter Duggan, Cathal Malone, Davy O’Halloran (0-1 each).
Frees for: 9; wides: 16; 65s: 3.
Bookings: Ronan Taaffe (40 minutes).

Antrim: James O’Mullan; Ronan McCloskey, Ronan Gillan, Conal Morgan; James McCouaig, Matthew Donnelly, Fergus Donnelly; James Black, Aidan McKeown; Michael Devlin, Seamus Dobbin, Kevin McKiernan; Nigel Elliot, Conor McCann, Daniel McCloskey.
Subs: Eoin McAlonan for McKeown (18 minutes); Conor Laverty for Donnelly (30 minutes); Christopher Murray for McCouaig (40 minutes); Donal McKinley for Dobbin ( 44 minutes); Niall McFadden for McCann (51 minutes).
Scorers: Michael Devlin (1f), Kevin McKiernan (0-2 each); James Black, Conor Laverty, Eoin McAlonan, Donal McKinley (0-1 each).
Frees for: 7; wides: 9.
Bookings: Fergus Donnelly (3mins); Seamus Dobbin (31mins); Donal McKinley (47mins).

Referee: Anthony Stapleton, Laois.