Sixmilebridge unimpressive in victory

Sixmilebridge  0-15

Clarecastle  1-11

Sixmilebridge may have appeared to justify their favourites’ tag at Cusack Park on Saturday evening but when they sit down to review the match, they will quickly realise that they were fortunate to take full points from the contest.

Clarecastle had the better of the exchanges for most of this tie but they failed to avail of a number of chances and this proved costly.
Indeed, for a long time, a share of the spoils looked the likely outcome as the teams were level on nine occasions.
Rocked by an injury to Conor Plunkett in a league tie a week earlier, arguably their most experienced player, there was much speculation as to who would play at full-back in his place. The choice of last year’s county minor star Stephen O’Halloran for this role surprised many but he more that justified the selectors decision with a powerful performance. He got the better of a number of opponents, including Niall Gilligan who scored just one point from play.
Sixmilebridge also had injury problems and they went into the game without Danny Morey and Rory Shanahan to mention two.
Points were swapped twice in the opening five minutes before the ’Bridge edged into a two-point lead by the tenth, despite playing against a fresh wind. With the score at two points each, the magpies created a couple of goal chances in a three minute spell but Derek Quinn failed to get in the final shot and the danger was averted.
Clarecastle created another goal opportunity in the 18th minute but Derek Fahy somehow saved from Quinn. The ball rebounded to the magpies captain Tyrone Kierse and he passed to Quinn who made no mistake on this occasion.
Tensions were beginning to run a little high and referee Ger Hoey, after consulting with his umpires, produced a yellow card for Niall Gilligan as a result of an off-the-ball incident.
It was 1-3 to 0-6 at the break and the advantage appeared to be with the ’Bridge who would have the assistance of the wind for the second half. They resumed with Robert Conlon in the team at midfield and the resultant reshuffle saw Seadna Morey go to wing-forward with Carmody going to the centre in place of Brian Culbert.
Kierse from a 65 and John Fennessy swapped points with the latter’s score coming after Patrick Kelly’s pass to Jonathon Clancy was too strong.
The introduction of teenager Conor O’Gorman improved the Clarecastle attack. Points were exchanged three times in the next 10 minutes leaving the sides level at 0-10 to 1-7 with 12 minutes to play.
Tyrone Kierse from a free and Dara Moloney had points to edge Clarecastle two clear with ten minutes to go but the hardworking Shane Golden kept the ’Bridge in touch with his third of the evening.
Sensing that the game was slipping from them, Sixmilebridge introduced Paidi Fitzpatrick to their half-back line and moved Caimin Morey to attack.
A Tommy Morey effort from an acute angle cut the margin to one before Tony Carmody won possession and burst past a few defenders to fire over the equaliser three minutes from the end.
The ’Bridge put in a strong finish and went back in front when Gilligan converted a 65 a minute from the end. Donogh Murphy in the Clarecastle goal saved well from Caimin Morey before Golden struck for his fourth to put his side two clear. An Eamonn Callinan effort brought it back to one but time ran out for the Magpies and the ’Bridge held on for a fortunate victory.
Tadhg Keogh, John Fennessy and Shane Golden were prominent for the winners while Seanie Moloney, Stephen O’Halloran, Patrick Kelly and substitute Conor O’Gorman were prominent for Clarecastle.

Sixmilebridge: Derek Fahy; Tadhg Keogh, Aidan Quilligan, Trevor Purcell; Barry O’Connor, Caimin Morey, John Fennessy; Shane Golden, Seadna Morey; Tony Carmody, Brian Culbert, David O’Connor; Jamie Shanahan, Niall Gilligan, Pa Sheehan.
Subs: Robert Conlon for Culbert (half time); Tommy Morey for Sheehan (43 minutes), Paidi Fitzpatrick for D O’Connor (52 minutes).
Scorers: Niall Gilligan (0-6, 4f, 1 65); Shane Golden (0-4); John Fennessy, David O’Connor, Tony Carmody, Jamie Shanahan, Tommy Morey (0-1) each.
Frees for: 9; wides: 8; 65s: 1
Bookings: Tadhg Keogh (7 minutes); Niall Gilligan (23 minutes).
“I knew coming up here if we could get a point win we would take it but I didn’t expect it would be like that. Clarecastle out-hurled us for most of an hour. We got a couple of breaks and got a couple of points at the right time. A lot of our lads weren’t ready for a battle and Clarecastle were. Clarecastle were the hungrier team and probably deserved something out of it,” Christy Chaplin, Sixmilebridge manager.

Clarecastle: Donogh Murphy; Seanie Moloney, Stephen O’Halloran, Ollie Plunkett; Fergus Flynn, Patrick Kelly, Eric Flynn; Eamonn Callinan, Danny Scanlan; Darragh Moloney, Ciaran O’Dwyer, Jonathon Clancy; Aaron Considine, Derek Quinn, Tyrone Kierse.
Sub: Conor O’Gorman for Considine (37 minutes).
Scorers: Tyrone Kierse (0-4, 0-2f, 1 65); Derek Quinn (1-0); Darragh Moloney, Conor O’Gorman (0-2 each); Patrick Kelly (free); Eamonn Callinan, Aaron Considine (0-1 each).
Frees for: 12; wides: 14; 65s: 1
Bookings: Derek Quinn (7 minutes); Eric Flynn (19 minutes).
“We had two goal chances in the first half which we didn’t take. You can’t do that and expect to win. That said, it was a mighty performance and I am very proud of the lads. We have work to do but this was a great effort,” Ken Morrissey, Clarecastle manager.

Referee: Ger Hoey, Killanena.