*Gavin O’Brien wins the ball in defence for Crusheen. Photograph: Ruth Griffin
EXPERIENCE’s value was highlighted as Crusheen got their Clare SHC campaign off to a winning start defeating St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield by five points.
Crusheen 0-23
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 1-15
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Cíosóg, Ennis
The Clare Echo’s online coverage of the Clare SHC is with thanks to The Temple Gate Hotel.
Outscored 1-6 to 0-1 in the opening nine minutes of the second half, Crusheen looked to be in trouble as they faced a fresh wind.
However, they showed no signs of panic and helped by the introduction of players like Diarmuid Mullins who landed two important points and Gerry O’Grady, they dominated the closing stages shooting seven unanswered points in the last ten minutes to claim victory.
Doora/Barefield will be disappointed with the outcome but they showed that they have some impressive young talent coming through and they will be hoping to benefit from the experience gained.
Crusheen played with the aid of the breeze in the opening half and they took the lead in the first minute when Ross Hayes pointed.
David Conroy responded with two pointed frees before Crusheen landed four in a row. St. Joseph’s responded with three and the sides were level at 0-5 each at the end of the opening quarter.
Crusheen had the better of matters in the second quarter and they hit eight points while conceding just one before two minutes of ‘added time’ were signalled during which St. Josephs scored twice to leave the half time score at 0-13 to 0-8.
Ross Hayes was prominent throughout that second quarter and in addition to been part of a lot of good moves, he converted a number of long range frees which proved important.
The second half was just two minutes old when Padraig O’Donovan found the net after the opening was created by Michael Nash.
Jamie Fitzgibbon landed a Crusheen point but like scores from Nash and O’Donovan tied up the contest with just four minutes played in the new half.
Three in a row from David Conroy saw Doora/Barefield take a three point lead and with wind assistance, it looked like they might pull away for victory.
It was from here on that the greater experience of the Crusheen side came to the fore. Conor O’Donnell and Ross Hayes from a ‘65 had points before Conroy struck for another for St Josephs to leave them two clear entering the final quarter.
As Crusheen got on top in vital areas, Doora/Barefield failed to score in the final quarter while Crusheen hit seven without reply to claim victory.
Scorers Crusheen: Breffni Horner (0-7, 6f); Ross Hayes (0-6, 5f); Conor O’Donnell(0-3), Oisin O’Donnelll, Diarmuid Mulins (0-2) each; Jamie Fitzgibbon, , Luke Ketalaar, Can Dillon \(0-1) eacj
Scorers St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: David Conroy (0-8, 7f); Padraig O’Donovan (1-2); Darragh McMahon, Michael Nash (0-2) each; Darragh Ball (0-1);
Crusheen;
1: Donal Tuohy;
2: Ian O’Brien
19: Gavin O’Brien
4: Luke Hayes
7: Cilléin Mullins,
9: Ross Hayes
3: Tadhg Dean
8; Oisin O’Donnell
6: Eanna McMahon;
20: Cian Dillon
12: Jamie Fitzgibbon
10: Conor O’Donnell
15: Breffni Horner
11: Fergus Kennedy
13: Luke Ketalaar
Subs:
17: Diarmuid Muilins for F. Kennedy (39);
18: Gerry O’Grady for L. Ketalaar (44);
21: James O’Sulivan for C. Dillon (61)
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield
1: Aaron Landy
2: Conor Daly
3: Jarlath Colleran
4: Fionn Kellleher
5: Adam Mungovan,
6: Darragh O’Shea,
7: Eoin McMahon;
8; Darragh McMahon
9: Darragh Balll
10: Senan Crosbie
11: David Conroy
20: Dara Nagle
13: Padraig O’Donovan
14: Eoin Burke
15: Michaell Nash;
Subs:
29 Shane Mescall for S. Crosbie (46);
17; Brian Guilfoyle for D. Nagle (48);
26; Matthew Power for D. Ball (inj. 53;
Referee: Niall Malone (Éire Óg)
