Clarecastle 1-12
O’Callaghan’s Mills 2-18

What will frustrate Clarecastle as they prepare for the Senior B Championship is the fact that they finished ahead of Tulla on scoring difference but still exited the championship. As has been well established at this stage, if two teams finish level they are divided by the result of their game.

Even so, the Senior B Championship is populated by some big clubs so perhaps that factor will make it more competitive than might have been the case.
The winning of this game also seemed out of Clarecastle’s reach early in the second half when they were nine points adrift.
Playing with the wind in Sixmilebridge, the Mills used it well in the opening half. Corner-back Seán O’Gorman netted his side’s first goal, having been dragged out the field by Tyrone Kearse, who was fulfilling a deep role. Adrian Donovan netted their second goal from a 21-yard free as points from Gary Neville and Eoghan Pewter helped the Mills to fashion a 2-6 to 0-5 half-time lead.
Alan Duggan had put over a trio of early points while the excellent Darragh Moloney and Eamon Callinan accounted for Clarecastle’s five-point first-half total.
Fergus Donovan and Pat Donnellan tagged on early points on the resumption for the Mills. Tyrone Kearse though, goaled for Clarecastle to give them some semblance of hope. However, points from Gary Neville steadied the East Clare men and helped them into a 2-10 to 1-5 lead.
The Mills only managed to add two points to their tally from that point onwards while Clarecastle took over, albeit helped by the breeze. The Magpies added 1-13 to their total and went on to wangle a win when it seemed almost out of reach.
Points from Jonathon Clancy, Darragh Moloney and Eamon Callinan brought Clarecastle back into the game, eventually winning it for them. Some of the scores from the Clarecastle trio were top class.
Both clubs will now compete in the Senior B Championship, which is not where either want to be but all they can do now is make the best of it.

Clarecastle: Donnagh Murphy; Seánie Moloney, Stephen O’Halloran, Kevin Clohessy; Fergus Ryan, Pat Kelly, Danny Scanlon; Jonathon Clancy, Eric Flynn; Darragh Moloney, Kieran O’Dwyer, Eamon Callinan; Tyrone Kearse, David Green, Derek Quinn.  
Subs: Conor O’Gorman for David Green, David Green for Derek Quinn.
Scorers: Eamon Callinan (0-7, 0-4f, 1 65), Tyrone Kearse (1-2), Darragh Moloney (0-5), Jonathon Clancy (0-3), Kieran O’Dwyer (0-1).
“We’re disappointed that although we’re on the same points as Tulla and have a better scoring difference, we still lost out. As for this game the wind had a big bearing on it.” Ken Morrissey, Clarecastle manager.
O’Callaghan’s Mills: John Cooney; Seán O’Gorman, Conor Cooney, Gerry Cooney; Ger Frost, Pat Donnellan, James Shanahan;
James McMahon, Gary Neville; Alan Duggan, Adrian Donovan, Jonathan Lyons; Niall Donovan, Fergus Donovan, Eoghan Pewter.
Subs: Kevin O’Callaghan for Niall Donovan, Declan Donovan for James McMahon.
Scorers: Gary Neville (0-4, 0-2f, 0-1 65), Seán O’Gorman, Adrian Donovan (1-0), Alan Duggan (0-3), Eoghan Pewter (0-2), Fergus Donovan, Kevin O’Callaghan, Pat Donnellan (0-1).
“We played well in the first half and finished it very strong. In the second half, we died down and let them get back into the game.” Peter Carmody, O’Callaghan’s Mills.
Referee: Ger Lyons (Ruan)

O’Connell goal seals first win for Tones

Wolfe Tones 3-11
Tulla 2-12

THERE may have been nothing at stake in terms of final placings when Wolfe Tones and Tulla met at Clarecastle on Sunday but both sides approached the game determined to win.
In the end, victory went to the Shannon side and while it was their first of this campaign, it was merited as they were nine points clear at the interval. The Shannon side’s victory was all the sweeter because they were forced to make major adjustments to their line-up before the throw-in due to injuries and illness.
Already down many of last year’s panel due to emigration, Tones went into Sunday’s game without Joe McGauley, Eamonn O’Neill and Ronan Hehir from the side named for duty on the match programme. Also ruled out due to illness was player/manager Patsy Keyes.
Tulla were also forced to make changes due to injuries, with Eugene Cooney and John Brennan ruled out, although Brennan was introduced during the course of the game. They were again without Andrew Quinn with an ongoing knee injury and he remains a major doubt for their quarter-final tie.
The Shannon men played with the aid of the wind in the opening half and they certainly made this count, building up a nine-point lead by the midpoint of the game. First-half goals came from Mark Regan and Gareth McPhillips and the winners would not have been flattered if they had a greater advantage at the break, as they were guilty of a number of bad wides.
Tulla, whose first-half goal came from Cathal Dinan, fought back strongly on the resumption and helped by a goal from Darragh Corry and points from Corry, Dinan, David McInerney and Aidan Lynch, they took a one-point lead as the game entered injury time.
Wolfe Tones launched one final attack and following a melee at the edge of the square, the ball broke to Daithi O’Connell who found the net. The final whistle sounded after the puck-out, giving the Shannon men their first win of this campaign. However, they will still be in the relegation play-off with Ballyea, Whitegate and Killanena.

Wolfe Tones: Paul Hogan; John Guilfoyle, Brendan Hughes, Barry Loughnane; Shane Chambers, Bobby McPhillips, Stephen McInerney; Kevin McCafferty, Daithi O’Connell; Declan O’Rourke, Gary Leahy, Aaron Cunningham; Mark Regan, Gareth McPhillips, Paul Walsh.
“Even though we knew going into this tie that we would be in the relegation play-offs, we still wanted to get a win under our belts. Our backs played very well and I believe our overall play merited this result.” Tommy Guilfoyle, Wolfe Tones coach.
Tulla: Philip Brennan; John Fahy, Sean Torpey, Mark Quinn; Cian McInerney, Paul Lynch, Donnacda McNamara; Brian Lynch, Declan Murphy; David McInerney, Darragh Corry, Aidan Lynch; Danny O’Halloran, Brian Quinn, Cathal Dinan.
Subs: John Brennan for Torpey, Mike Murphy for B Quinn and Conor O’Halloran for D O’Halloran.
“We should have held on for victory when we went in front. Conceding goals is a fault in our game at present and we have a lot conceded in our last two games. We made a great effort to get back into the lead but it was very disappointing to let it slip.” Jim McInerney, Tulla manager.
Referee: Jim Hickey, Cratloe.