Waterstone the toast of Whitegate

Whitegate: 0-13
Feakle: 0-5

AFTER a lapse of 17 years, the Clare Intermediate Hurling Championship title is back in Whitegate. In difficult weather conditions at Cusack Park on Sunday, they turned in a strong second-half performance to overcome the challenge of Feakle and capture the crown for the first time since 1992.

The victory completed a tremendous day for the East Clare club from the Galway border as a few hours earlier in Tulla they captured the junior B hurling title at the expense of Kilmaley.
Having gone into Sunday’s game as favourites, Whitegate struggled against a more determined Feakle in the opening half and were a little fortunate to take a one-point advantage to the break. All of their first-half scores came from George Waterstone, two of which were from frees.
Feakle levelled in the opening minutes of the second half but from here on Whitegate took a grip on proceedings and when the final whistle sounded, they were deserving winners.
A tigerish Feakle defence gave few scoring opportunities to the favourites in the opening half. Waterstone pointed twice in the opening five minutes but after this, Feakle had the better of matters and points from Gary Guilfoyle, Thomas Moroney (both frees) and Stephen Moloney saw them take a one-point advantage as half-time approached.
While their defence was well on top, their forward line was unable to capitalise on the good amount of ball that was coming in. Two Waterstone points in the closing minutes of the half saw Whitegate take a 0-4 to 0-3 lead to the break.
It was a good position for Whitegate, who were being assisted on the day by Galway’s Cyril Farrell from neighbouring Woodford, as they would have the assistance of the wind in the second half.
The first score of the second half came to Feakle, when Stephen Moloney pointed to tie up the game but that was as good as it got for Feakle. Two Waterstone efforts inside a minute, one from a free and the second from play following a good pass from Terence Fahy, the only survivor from the team’s last victory at this level in 1992, gave them back a lead they would never surrender.
Midfielder Ian Fahy became the first player other than George Waterstone to score for the winners when he pointed in the ninth minute of the half and this score came after great work by Tommy Holland, who was now dominating on the right flank of the defence. Fahy scored again three minutes later to stretch his team’s lead to four as the three-quarter stage of the game approached.
Whitegate had now taken a firm grip on proceedings with their half-back trio of Tommy Holland, Brendan Bugler and Jason Malone controlling the play. Henry Hayes had what proved to be Feakle’s last score of the game at the midpoint of the half, before Whitegate hit back with scores from Eric Minogue and three Waterstone efforts. In the final minute, the winners completed the scoring when goalkeeper Andrew Fahy converted a free from well inside his own half.
John Bugler, Tommy Holland, Trevor Kelly and Brendan Bugler were always prominent in the winners’ defence in front of Andrew Fahy, who dealt capably with anything that came his way. Elsewhere, George Waterstone, Ian Fahy, in the second half, and Terence Fahy got through some good work.
The Feakle defence worked hard throughout, with Donal O’Grady and Henry Hayes prominent. Colm Naughton got through some good work but, overall, the forward line disappointed.
The match ended on a disappointing note for Feakle, as they has forward Ger Hanrahan sent off on a straight red car shortly before the final whistle after he clashed with Tommy Holland.
After the game, Clare GAA chairman, Michael O’Neill presented the Browne Memorial Cup to the winning captain, Patrick Minogue with Tommy Holland.

Whitegate: Andrew Fahy; Cathal Mulvihill, John Bugler, Trevor Kelly; Tommy Holland, Brendan Bugler, Jason Malone; Patrick Minogue (capt), Ian Fahy; Stephen Malone, Raymond Cahill, Eric Minogue; George Waterstone, Terence Fahy, Michael O’Brien.
Subs: John O’Brien for M O’Brien (48 minutes), John Minogue for S Malone (57 minutes), Shane O’Rourke for Fahy (58 minutes) and Jody Bleach for J Malone (58 minutes).
Scorers: George Waterstone (0-9, 0-6f), Ian Fahy (0-2), Andrew Fahy (free) and Eric Minogue (0-1 each).
Feakle: Ronan McGuinness; Alan Hogan, Francis O’Grady, Donal O’Grady; Padraig Hogan, Henry Hayes, Patrick Daly; Colm Naughton (capt), Raymond Bane; Thomas Moroney, Gary Guilfoyle, Colin Nelson; Stephen Moloney, Seán O’Grady, Ger Hanrahan.
Sub: Ronan Harrington for S O’Grady (41 minutes).
Scorers: Stephen Moloney (0-2), Gary Guilfoyle (free), Thomas Moroney (free) and Henry Hayes (0-1 each).
Referee: Seánie McMahon, Newmarket.