Tag Archives: shock

Whitegate’s one point win over Cratloe in the opening round of the Clare senior hurling championship is the big talking point in Clare hurling circles this Saturday evening. While there was speculation in the lead up to the tie, played at Dr, Daly park in Tulla, as to how it might go, Cratloe remained the favourites to get their campaign off to a wining start. Substitute Eoin Patterson proved to be the East Clare side’s hero as he struck for their fourth goal which came at the death. Cratloe started well and held an early four point lead but then Whitegate got the upperhand and when the half time whistle sounded they were 3-5 to 0-9 in front. The teams exchanged points on a number of occasions in the third quarter before Cratloe battled back and edged into the lead after some good scores from Shane Gleeson, Conor McGrath and Podge Collins. They looked to have secured victory until Patterson …

St.Josephs, Doora-Barefield have regained their senior hurling status thanks to a merited five point win over hot favourites Broadford in the intermediate hurling championship final at Cusack Park this afternoon. Beaten in the final last year and unbeaten this season, Broadford went into this final as warm favourites but they never matched the hunger and commitment of the Doora-Barefield men who emerged 1-12 to 0-10 winners. The first half was an evenly fought affair at the end of which Broadford led by the odd point in thirteen (0-7 to 0-6). St. Josephs followers were angry just before the half time whistle when referee Johnnie Healy disallowed an Alan O’Neill goal from a penalty, penalising the St. Josephs player for being inside the 20m line when he struck the ball. Four minutes into the second half O’Neill, a key figure in his side’s victory, struck again and this time the goal stood. The dual player superbly fielded the ball on the …

Round 2 in the Clare senior football championship produced a number of shock results, not least of which was the defeat of champions Cratloe who went under by a point to Cooraclare on Sunday evening in Clarecastle. There was little between the sides throughout the contest and they went to the break at 1-5 each. Cooraclare showed the greater hunger in the second half and this helped them to get over the line and into the quarter finals while the champions will be in round 3 action as they seek to keep their hopes of a third title in a row alive. Last year’s beaten finalists Eire Og are out of the title race after suffering a two point loss to Lissycasey on Saturday. A strong second half showing from Lissycasey proved decisive as they outscored the town aside 0-6 to 0-1 in the final twenty five minutes to book their passage to round 3. Eire Og now find themselves …

By Seamus Hayes Crusheen 0-10 Clonlara 0-8 Championship favourites Clonlara were dumped out of the Clare senior hurling title race at Cusack Park on Saturday evening when fourteen man Crusheen deservingly took the spoils. In a dour struggle, the winners showed the greater hunger for victory and were full value for their win. They were dealt a massive blow just before half time when they had Pat Vaughan dismissed on a straight red card but throughout the second half, they were the ones that looked to have an extra man. Clonlara got the opening two points of the game after which they exchanged points three times before Crusheen levelled at 0-5 each. They swapped points in injury time to leave the half time score at 0-6 each after Clonlara had shot seven wides, five more that the winners. The third quarter produced just two points, both for Crusheen and they went three clear with ten minutes remaining. Despite Clonlara’s best …

By Seamus Hayes Clare senior football champions Cratloe got over the first hurdle in defence of the title they won for the first time last season when they accounted for Eire Og at Cusack park on Saturday evening. However, earlier in the afternoon, the first shock in this year’s race for the Jack Daly cup was recorded at Doonbeg where hot favourites Kilmurry-Ibrickane suffered a one point loss to St.Senans Kilkee. Elsewhere in first round games on Saturday, results went as predicted with St. Josephs, Miltown, Clondegad and Doonbeg all recording victories against Shannon Gaels, O’Currys, St. Breckans and Ennistymon respectively. The meeting of Cratloe and Eire Og proved to be an exciting affair. Cratloe raced into a 1-3 to 0-0 lead in the opening quarter with Podge Collins scoring 1-2. Eire Og, helped by a goal from minor Dara Walsh, fought back and led by a point, 1-4 tio 1-3 with five mintues remaining in the half. They stretched their …

Tipperary 4-22 Clare 3-11 A fourteen point defeat in the week before the 2014 Allianz National hurling league gets underway will certainly have given Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald and his backroom team plenty to think about over the coming days as they finalise plans for the county’s clash with Kilkenny in Ennis next week. Such a comprehensive defeat from Tipperary in a repeat of last year’s final wasn’t what Clare followers expected as they headed for the Gaelic grounds in Limerick on Friday evening after the match had been switched from Sixmilebridge because of the inclement weather. Clare’s display was well below anything they had shown since last summer and the management team will certainly have plenty to ponder on as they prepare for the Kilkenny game. Particularly disappointing for Clare fans in the attendance of 1,248, was the manner in which Clare’s challenge faded when Tipperary stepped up a gear after half time. With the exception of a period …

By Seamus Hayes Ballyea caused a major shock in the Clare senior hurling championship on Saturday when they defeated one of the favourites for the title, Crusheen at Cusack Park. There is no disputing the result as Ballyea were the sharper and hungrier side throughout. They led by a point at half time, 1-12 to 2-8  before outscoring their opponents 0-6 to 0-3 in the final ten minutes A ten point haul by the outstanding Tony Kelly was a key factor in Ballyea’s victory on a day when team captain Paul Flanagan was magnificent at centre back. Jack Browne, Martin O’Leary and Clare football captain Gary Brennan were  others to stand out for the winners who finished the game with fourteen players after midfielder Gearoid O’Connell picked up a second yellow card in the closing minutes. Meanwhile, county minor A hurling champions Kilmaley moved to within a game of retaining the title when they scored a two point win over …