*Corofin’s Gearoid Kelly. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
The race for the intermediate hurling championship title is heating up and an exciting battle is developing for the quarter final places.
Bodyke, Corofin and Parteen/Meelick remain unbeaten heading into round four when results are likely to give a clearer picture as to what teams are likely to make the play offs.
Kelly brothers sparkle for Corofin
Corofin 1-22
Whitegate 1-18
Venue: Dr Daly Park, Tulla
A contribution of 0-15 from the Kelly brothers steered Corofin to this victory over Whitegate in a top of the table clash in the TUS intermediate hurling championship at Dr. Daly Park in Tulla on Saturday evening.
Occupying the right flank of the attack Gearoid and Michael Kelly landed some excellent points with all of Michael’s seven scores coming from play while five of Gearoid’s eight came from placed balls.
Full forward Shane O’Brien chipped in with five from play as Corofin maintained their winning run as they recorded a merited win.
After points were exchanged twice, the winners hit five in a row to lead 0-7 to 0-2 by the end of the first quarter.
For the next ten minutes Whitegate had the better of matters and they outscored their opponents 0-6 to 0-1 to level the game at 0-8 each.
Corofin finished the half with three points in two minutes to lead 0-11 to 0-8 at the interval.
Points were exchanged seven times in twenty minutes in the second half and three points still separated the sides with ten minutes to play.
A Paddy Burke goal levelled the tie and this drew an impressive response from Corofin who hit 1-4 in the next five minutes and conceded just a point. Substitute Fergus Killeen scored the goal after a great break by Gearoid Cahill.
Damien O’Loughlin, Shay Malone, Shane O’Brien and the Kellys were prominent through for the winners while Conor McDermott, Conor Whelan, and goalkeeper George Waterstone did well for Whitegate.
Corofin: Liam Corbett; Shay Malone, Damien O’Loughlin, Marc O’Loughlin; Conor Leen, Killian O’Connor, Damien Ryan; Fionn Clancy, Cillian McGroary (0-1); Gearoid Kelly (0-9, 5f), Gearoid Cahill (0-1), Kevin Keane; Michael Kelly (0-7), Shane O’Brien (0-5), Micheál Duffy;
Subs; Eoin Davoren for K. O’Connor; Fergus Killeen (1-0) for Duffy;
Whitegate: George Waterstone; Dylan White, Finn Madden, Ciaran Quinn; Brendan Bugler (0-1), Conor McDermott (0-1), Ian Fahy; Luke Sugrue. Conor Whelan (0-4, 2 frees); Danny Hynes (0-1), Eoin Patterson (0-3), Ciaran Keenan (0-1); Eoin Quirke (0-4), Ronan Hayes, Paddy Burke (1-3)
Subs: Colm Madden for C. Quinn; Thomas Holland for Whelan; Whelan for Patterson;
Referee: Kevin Corry (Sixmilebridge)
A comfortable win for Ruan
Ruan 3-25
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 1-18
Venue: Clarecastle
Ruan kept up their challenge for a place in the play offs in the intermediate championship when they comfortably disposed of the challenge of St Josephs, Doora/Barefield at Clarecastle on Saturday.
The winners led throughout in a tie in which they had goals from Robin Mounsey, Aidan Lynch and Jack McDonagh.
They held an eight point advantage at half time when the score was 1-16 to 1-8, the Doora/Barefield side’s goal having come from Aaron Landy.
Another plus for the winners was the return of Conal Ó hÁiniféin who has been out of action for most of the past year due to injury. He was introduced during the second half of this tie.
Ruan will be back in championship action on this Friday evening when they will return to Clarecastle to take on O’Callaghans Mills and a win here should be enough to see them through to the quarter finals.
Ruan: Keelan Mounsey; Alan Woodford, Killian Ryan, Jason Power; Michael Lyons, Thomas O’Halloran, Patrick O’Halloran; Ashley Brohan, Robin Mounsey; Piaras O’Se, Ryan Power, Aidan Lynch; Frankie Lyons, Shane Punch, Patrick O’Gorman;
Subs: Jack McDonagh for P. O’Gorman; Darragh McInerney for F. Lyons; Conal Ó hÁiniféin for P. O’Halloran; Michael Barrow for Brohan; Tom O’Halloran for A.Lynch
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Brendan Cleland; Ciaran O’Driscoll, Mark Hallinan, Fionn Mulqueen; Ian Williams, Darragh O’Callaghan, Peter Collins; Luke Carmody, Arthur Rogers; Padraic Geraghty, Eoghan Talty, Conor Hassett; Barry Millane, Aaron Landy, Eoin Burke.
Subs: Dara Murphy for Mulqueen; Mikey Roseingrave for Rogers
Referee: Andy McMahon (Cratloe)
Sixmilebridge return to winning ways
Sixmilebridge 1-17
Inagh/Kilnamona 0-16
Venue: Gurteen
Sixmilebridge got their hopes of being in the play offs back on track when they accounted for Inagh/Kilnamona at Gurteen on Saturday.
Ahead by three points at the interval when the score was 0-10 to 0-7, the result was in doubt right to the final minute when Ronan Tuohy struck for the game’s only goal, a score that sealed victory for the winners.
It was a double blow for Inagh/Kilnamona as their goalkeeper Pa Kelly was shown a red card and the mid Clare outfit finished the game with fourteen players.
Jack Corry top scored for Sixmilebridge who had lost a number of their squad to the club’s senior side on the previous evening.
Sixmilebridge; Cian Hogan; Dylan Downes, Aidan Quilligan, Cillian Custy; Oisin Breen, Evan McInerney, Dara Fitzgerald; Colm Flynn, Colin Kelly; Jack Corry, Luke Keogh, Adam Breen; Adam Murray, Kevin Lynch, Ronan Tuohy.
Sub: Luke O’Halloran for K Lynch
Inagh/Kilnamona; Pa Kelly; Padraig Devitt, Austin Kerin, Jamie Wynne; Cathal Ryan, Liam Hehir, Colm Kearney; Marc Barry, Dean Lynch; Gerry Coote, Paul O’Looney, Keith Barry; Darragh Power, Jamesy Mc Conigley, Dean McInerney;
Referee: Gus Callaghan (Feakle)
Bodyke in control
Bodyke 2-19
Killanena 0-6
Venue: Whitegate
Tomas Minogue scored both goals as Bodyke recorded a comfortable win over Killanena in this intermediate hurling championship tie played at Whitegate on Saturday.
The winners were on their way to their second successive win in this campaign when they took a six point advantage to the break when the score was 1-7 to 0-4.
The absence of inter county panelist, Keith Smyth was a big blow to Killanena who were also without goalkeeper Todd Kelsey.
Their defence battled bravely throughout with Cathal Noonan, Tobias O’Mara and Jason Keehan getting through a lot of work.
Bodyke also had to make changes to their regular line out with Seanie Doyle absent due to injury.
On the day, Cian Minogue, Sean Wiley and Paddy Fitzgerald got through a lot of work as their side edged closer to the play offs.
Bodyke: Daryl O’Donnell; Tadhg Kilkenny, Éanna Doyle, Cormac Treacy; Ian Murray, Sean Wiley, Cian Minogue; Cathal Doyle Jamie O’Donnell; Tomas Wiley, Tiernan Slattery, Paddy Fitzgerald; Michael O’Brien, Tomas Minogue, William Fitzgerald;
Subs: Jamie Howard for M. O’Brien; Finn Slattery for W. Fitzgerald; Peter Flower for J. O’Donnell
Killanena; David Noone; Ryan Keane, Jason Keehan, Jamie Canny; Dara McNamara, Cathal Noonan, Donal Moloney; Micheal Smyth, Seamie O’Donnell; Darren Keehan, Ian Macnamara, Stevie O’Brien; Diarmuid McMahon, Tobias O’Mara, Gearoid Keane
Subs: Shane Broderick for Stevie O’Brien; James Green for D. Keehan; Darren McMahon for Diarmuid McMahon; Aidan McMahon for J. Canny
Referee: John Bugler (Whitegate)
Bright start stands to Parteen/Meelick
Parteen/Meelick 2-14
Ogonnelloe 2-12
Venue: Clonlara
A strong start which yielded goals in the opening quarter from Sean Connolly and Joe O’Connor played a key part in Parteen/Meelick’s victory over Ogonnelloe at Clonlara on Sunday.
Another key ingredient in their victory was the form of goalkeeper Alan Murnane who produced three top quality saves in the second half when Ogonnelloe piled on the pressure
The winners led 2-9 to 1-7 at the interval, the loser’s goal having come from Henry Vaughan. Overall, the Ogonnelloe forward line struggled to break down a well-balanced Parteen/Meelick defence on a day when Gearoid Sheedy was prominent throughout at centre back.
In addition to goalkeeper Murnane, Sean Connolly, Nathan Fox and Joe O’Connor got through a lot of work
Parteen/Meelick; Alan Murnane; Adam Sherlock, Phil Lavin, Gavin O’Sullivan; Gavin Rackard, Nathan Fox, Tom Collins; Darragh McDermott, Daniel Cooney’ Sean Connolly, Joe O’Connor, Greg Daly; Oisin Hickey, Gearoid Reddy, Dara Nolan;
Subs: Jack Kirwan for Reddy; Martin Moroney for O’Sullivan; Eoin Phelan for Daly; Peter Small for Kirway (inj.)
Ogonnelloe: Rob Dreelan; Eoghan Heffernan, Brian O’Mara, Thomas Condon; Aaron Fitzgerald Bradley, Gearoid Sheedy, Fergal Collins; Adam Cunnane, Paul McGee; Mici Sheedy, Rory Skelly, Barry Kiely; Adam Sheedy, Colm Quinn, Henry Vauhan
Subs: Mark Walsh for McGee; Donnacda McNulty for M. Sheedy; Cian Fitzgerald Bradley for Vaughan
Referee: Fearghal Gray (Feakle)
Important victory for Tulla
Tulla 2-15
Smith O’Briens 0-9
Venue: Whitegate
With just one point from two games, Tulla knew that they needed to beat unbeaten Smith O’Briens in this intermediate championship tie played at Whitegate on Sunday.
Exchanges were fairly even in the early stages and the Killaloe side are likely to be a bit disappointed that they didn’t convert a few good chances which they created.
As the game progressed and a goal from Conor Murphy helped the winners to open a six point lead by half time when the score was 1-7 to 0-4.
They continued to keep control of the tie in the second half and they had a second goal from Daragh Corry before he suffered an injury which caused him to be substitutes and as they prepare for their meeting with neighbours Killanena on this Sunday, that injury is a concern.
For a disappointing Smith O’Briens, David Gough contributed 0-6, five coming from placed balls.
Tulla: Dan Vaughan; Kevin Conlon, Fergal Kearney, Fionn Ryan; David Meehan, Tony Leyden, Padraic Mulconry; Dan Withycombe, Ronan Molloy; David McInerney, Sean Withycombe, Darragh Corry; Conor Murphy, Niall Bolton, Willie Halpin;
Subs: Michael Ryan for Bolton; Jimmy O’Gorman for Corry (inj); Colm McInerney for S. Withycombe
Smith O’Briens: Mark McInerney; Cian Moloney, Cian Nolan, Ben Murnane; Marc O’Halloran, Cathal Stritch, Dwayne Sheedy; Eddie Burke, Sean McMahon; Mike Gough, David Gough, Eoin Heffron; Jason Monahan, Micheal Ryan, John Cusack;
Subs; Cathal Howard for C. Moloney; Eoin Power for D. Gough; Shane Geraghty for Cusack; Cillian Collins for Monahan
Referee: Ger Hoey (Killanena)
