Scariff are preparing for yet another Munster Final after making an impressive bow against Limerick champions Blackrock by 2-11 to 0-9 in the Killeedy Junior B series.
With Scariff-Ogonnelloe securing two of the last three Munster Senior camogie crowns and the hurling club’s flagship team denied a provincial opportunity due to COVID in 2020, Scariff’s second string took up the mantle.
The team admirably bridged a near five month gap since their county final victory over Sixmilebridge to take out a Blackrock side that had 15 points to spare in their quarter-final [against Waterford’s Forumilewater seven days previously.
A strong wind dictated matters throughout but it was a Cian Foley goal at either end of the tie that effectively shaped the outcome.
Quickest to react to a Mikey Duggan save from a Conor Downes shot in only the fourth minute, Foley’s second was a worthy clinching score as he cut in from the left to rifle to the net and put the result beyond any doubt entering the final ten minutes.
Eanna O’Brien was equally influential over the hour with four well timed points, Sean Collins and Rory Kiely also impressed but arguably the man of the hour was wing-back Andrew O’Dwyer who was an inspirational force for the East Clare side.
Foley’s early goal proved the catalyst for six different players to build up a 1-5 to 0-0 lead with the aid of the conditions by the midway mark of the opening period.
Blackrock managed to steady the ship for the second quarter though, with James O’Doherty accurate through frees to end a difficult half on a satisfactory note at 1-7 to 0-3.
With the storm now at their backs, the Limerick side did make immediate inroads through Donnacha Leahy and Barry O’Shaughnessy by the 34th minute to lessen the damage to five. However, that would be as close as Blackrock would get to Scariff who along with a gritty display, were aided by the dwindling elements.
Three of the next four points followed through Sean Cunningham, Foley and O’Brien at 1-10 to 0-6 but the decisive moment of the contest came right on the turn of the final quarter when Scariff goalkeeper William Kavanagh made a superb point blank block to deny Gavin O’Loughlin.
A goal at that stage might have turned the tide but instead a relieved Scariff dug deep and were rewarded with their own goal ten minutes later as Foley doubled his bounty in emphatic fashion.
It tees up a much-anticipated Munster Junior B Final showdown against Tipperary’s Clonoulty-Rossmore on Saturday week as Scariff look to become only the second ever Clare representatives to secure the Micheál Fitzmaurice Memorial Cup.
Scariff: William Kavanagh; Seamus McCall, Tadhg Kavanagh, Sean Collins; Eoghan Keehan, Matthew Horan, Andrew O’Dwyer; Jim Minogue, Rory Kelly; Ronan Corry, Martin Walsh, Eanna O’Brien; Cian Foley, Sean Cunningham, Conor Downes
Subs: Josh Moloney for Corry (46), Alan Corbett for Cunningham (56), Paul O’Sullivan for Walsh (61)
Scorers: Cian Foley (2-1); Eanna O’Brien (0-4); Martin Walsh, Ronan Corry, Tadhg Kavanagh, Jim Minogue, Sean Cunningham, Josh Moloney (0-1 each)
Blackrock: Mikey Duggan; Aidan Gilligan, Simon Hennessy, Don O’Flaherty; Seamie Ryan, Niall Moloney, Vinnie Herbert; Declan Gilligan, David O’Flaherty; James O’Doherty, Gavin O’Loughlin, Richie Cooke; Barry O’Shaughnessy, David Healy, Donnacha Leahy
Subs: Mark Duggan for D. Gilligan, Niall Fitzgerald for Cooke, Jordan Slattery for A. Gilligan
Scorers: James O’Doherty (0-3f); Donnacha Leahy, Barry O’Shaughnessy (0-2 each);; Gavin O’Loughlin (f), Niall Moloney (0-1 each)
Referee: Alan Tierney (Tipperary)