Tulla win as Scariff struggle to field a team

Tulla 0-17   Scariff 0-6

WHAT a difference a few weeks make. A short time ago, Scariff were seen by many as serious challengers for a place in the quarter-finals of this season’s county senior hurling championship. In three weeks, that has all changed and the East Clare club now find themselves bottom of their table and heading into a relegation play-off.

All clubs across the county will agree that once a team’s involvement in the championship title race ends, it’s difficult to maintain interest. Scariff struggled to have a squad for this tie last Saturday and ended up with 17 players togged for action. This number included a couple from their junior team who were due to play in the championship later on Saturday afternoon.
Narrow losses to both Inagh-Kilnamona and champions, Clonlara, ended the Scariff team’s involvement in this year’s title race and they went into last Saturday’s final group game against neighbours, Tulla, in the knowledge that a draw would suffice to secure their senior status for the coming season.
Tulla, champions just two years ago (2007), were clearly determined to win this one and this determination saw them dominate throughout. Scariff struggled to put a team together with a number of their regulars missing for a variety of reasons.
Scariff started well and had early points from Damian O’Grady and free taker, Ross Horan, but Tulla quickly took control, helped by scores from Andrew Quinn and Danny O’Halloran. They went on to hold a six-point lead at half-time when the score was 0-10 to 0-4.
In an effort to improve matters, Scariff moved Conor McNamara from centre-back and Michael Scanlan from centre-forward to form the midfield partnership for the second half but Tulla continued to dominate and they ran out comfortable winners. The result puts them clear of the relegation play-offs into the senior B championship, the draws for which will be made next week.
Andrew Quinn was the Tulla men’s top scorer on the day with eight points to his credit while Kieran Brennan and Raymond Stewart each got a brace.
Ross Horan was Scariff’s chief marksman with four of his side’s points.

Tulla: Philip Brennan; Eugene Cooney, Paul Lynch, John Brennan; Cian McInerney, Mark Quinn, James Littleton; Andrew Quinn, Brian Lynch; Eanna Torpey, Mike Murphy, Aidan Lynch; Danny O’Halloran, Kieran Brennan, Ray Stewart.
Subs: Brian Quinn, Cathal Dinan.
“We would have preferred to be winning earlier in the campaign. Scariff were short a few bodies today. We are delighted to have won this one,” Matt Corry, Tulla

Scariff: Brendan McNamara; Cathal Nash, Darragh Kelly, Mike Rodgers; Mike Moroney, Conor McNamara, Enda Murphy; Jim Minogue, Pádraig Brody; Evan McNamara, Michael Scanlan, Patrick Moroney; Ross Horan, Damian O’Grady, Alphie Rodgers.
“Tulla were full value for their win. What is alarming for Scariff is the way we petered out of the championship,” Mark McKenna, Scariff