Sixmilebridge edge into last four

Sixmilebridge 0-17 Inagh-Kilnamona 0-15

AN excellent game of hurling on Saturday evening was spoiled in the closing seconds by a nasty incident that ended with Inagh-Kilnamona’s Cathal Lafferty being dismissed on a straight red card.
Two minutes of injury time had been signalled by match official, Rory Hickey and this had almost expired when the incident happened. Inagh-Kilnamona were trying to mount a last attack in search of the goal they needed to keep their championship hopes alive when all hell broke loose.
The match official had no hesitation in dismissing Lafferty before blowing the final whistle. It was a disappointing end to what had been a most entertaining game of hurling.
On the run of play, Sixmilebridge just about deserved their win but Inagh-Kilnamona will feel they could now be preparing for a semi-final, such was the closeness of the contest.
While there were some excellent scores, both sides failed to capitalise on goal chances. The majority of these chances came in a five-minute spell early in the second half as play swung from end to end.
Arguably the best chance came for Conor Tierney, who was put through by Cathal Lafferty, who had made a great catch from a Patrick Kelly puck-out. As Derek Fahy advanced, Tierney shot low but the ball went into the side netting. Shortly before this, Inagh-Kilnamona goalie Kelly had made a great save from Caimin Morey and had also saved from Rory Shanahan a short time later.
The first half was a very evenly contested affair during which the sides were level on seven occasions. The first goal opportunity came in the fifth minute when Lafferty, at the second attempt, saw his effort go across the face of the goal and wide. At the other end, Niall Gilligan tried for a goal from a 20m free but Patrick Kelly saved well seconds before he became the first player to pick up a yellow card in the game.
Five minutes before the half-time whistle, former Inagh-Kilnamona player Tony Carmody, who had been a doubtful starter in the lead-up to the tie, was replaced by Rory Shanahan.
Shortly before the half-time whistle, a Ger Arthur delivery caused anxious moments in the Sixmilebridge square before the ball was deflected behind for a 65’.
It was 0-8 each at half-time but within a minute of the resumption, Sixmilebridge had put down a marker, with points from Seadna Morey and Shane Golden giving them a lead they would hold to the finish.
By the three-quarter stage, the margin was down to the minimum again with the score at 0-13 to 0-12 but the ’Bridge were now dealt a blow with the loss of goalkeeper Derek Fahy with a facial injury. From here to the finish, it remained close but the winners managed to hold the lead and when the final whistle sounded, they were two points clear. In the closing stages, John Fennessy scored two excellent points, which played a major part in his side’s win.
Tadhg Keogh, Aidan Quilligan, Páidi Fitzpatrick, John Fennessy and Danny Morey, who contributed 0-5 from play, were always prominent for Sixmilebridge.
Brian Glynn, David Hegarty, Milo Keane, Tomás Kelly and the Arthur brothers did well for Inagh-Kilnamona.

Sixmilebridge: Derek Fahy; Tadhg Keogh, Aidan Quilligan, Paul Fitzpatrick; Barry O’Connor, Páidi Fitzpatrick, Robert Conlon; Shane Golden, John Fennessy; Caimin Morey, Tony Carmody, Seadna Morey; Jamie Shanahan, Niall Gilligan, Danny Morey.
Subs: Rory Shanahan for Carmody (25 minutes), Stephen Fleming for Fahy (inj, 44 minutes) and Trevor Purcell for Paul Fitzpatrick (52 minutes).
Scorers: Danny Morey (0-5), Niall Gilligan (0-3f), John Fennessy, Seadna Morey and Jamie Shanahan (0-2 each), Caimin Morey, Rory Shanahan and Shane Golden (0-1 each).
Frees for: 11; wides: 4; 65s: 1
Bookings: John Fennessy (20 minutes) and Barry O’Connor (53 minutes).
“We prepared for a serious battle but maybe we weren’t prepared enough.
They had a tough game against Tubber. We thought we were going all right in challenges but you just can’t beat championship. We weren’t happy at half-time. We didn’t play well in the first half but we were level at half-time. There were a few harsh words and a few fellas hadn’t played well. They were up for it. We were up for it but we weren’t as hungry as them.” Christy Chaplin, Sixmilebridge.

Inagh-Kilnamona: Patrick Kelly; Milo Keane, Brian Glynn, Dermot Lynch; Ronan O’Looney, David Hegarty, Colm Pilkington; Tomás Kelly, Haulie Vaughan; Eamonn Glynn, Cathal Lafferty, Eoin Vaughan; Ger Arthur, Niall Arthur, Conor Tierney.
Subs: Dermot Gannon for O’Looney (55 minutes).
Scorers: Niall Arthur (0-8, 3f, 2 65s), Ger Arthur (0-4), Conor Tierney, Cathal Lafferty and Haulie Vaughan (0-1 each).
Frees for: 13; wides: 10; 65s: 2.
Bookings: Pat Kelly (9 minutes).
Sent off: Cathal Lafferty (62 minutes).
“We had, I suppose, four goal chances but, on the day, we didn’t take them. Congratulations to the ’Bridge and the best of luck to them in the semi-final. Today wasn’t our day and we will now look turn our attention to The Clare Champion Cup semi-final.” Paul Gannon, Inagh-Kilnamona.

Referee: Rory Hickey, Éire Óg.