*Ian Galvin battles with Conor Daly of St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
CAPTAIN Ian Galvin led by example when contributing 2-10 of Clonlara’s tally as they recorded successive victories to advance to the quarter-finals of the TUS Clare SHC.
Clonlara 3-21
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 0-12
Venue: O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge
The Clare Echo’s online coverage of the Clare SHC is with thanks to The Temple Gate Hotel.
Seven unanswered points, six from Galvin, in an eight minute spell leading to the end of the opening quarter set the scene and from here on there was no doubting the outcome.
Without their leader John Conlonfollowing a serious hand injury sustained two weeks ago, , there was a determination in their play from an early stage.
In addition to Conlon they were also short the services of a number of regulars ruled out due to injury including Cathal Tots O’Connell and Jathan McMahon while Micheál O’Loughlin is out of the country.
While the win was fully merited, St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield started impressively but failed to translate early supremacy onto the scoreboard.
They had the opening score of the game and led 0-3 to 0-1 after five minutes but, gradually, Clonlara got the upperhand and at the midpoint of the half they were 0-8 to 0-3 in front.
Doora/Barefield pulled two back but these were quickly cancelled out before the winners struck a vital blow, capitalising on a defensive error. An attempted back pass from Conor Daly was overhit and Bryan McLeish punished the error when shooting to the net.
The score clearly rocked the Doora/Barefield outfit and they struggled from here to the end.
Ian Galvin found the net two minutes from the half time whistle, a score which helped his side to a thirteen point interval lead, 2-14 to 0-7.
Points were exchanged twice in the early minutes of the second half before efforts from Galvin and Michael Collins stretched the winners advantage to fifteen with the final quarter to play.
Five minutes from the end Clonlara won a penalty which Galvin duly converted and they finished with points from Galvin and Michael Collins to seal victory.
The half back trio of Páraic O’Loughlin, Aidan Moriarty and Dylan McMahon held the upperhand while elsewhere Diarmuid Stritch, and Michael Collins gave good support to Galvin.
Eighteen year old Darragh Ball had a fine game at midfield for St. Joseph’s on a day when Fionn Kelleher, Padraic O’Donovan and David Conroy had their moments.
Scorers Clonlara: Ian Gallvin (2-10, 1-0 pen. 0-7 frees); Bryan McLeish (1-1); Michael Collins (0-3); Daniel Moloney, Padraic O’Loughlin, Aidan Moriarty, Darragh Dillon, Colm Galvin, Dylan McMahon (free), Michael Clancy (0-1) each;
Scorers St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: David Conroy (0-6, frees); Padraic O’Donovan (1f), Darragh Ball (0-2) each; Eoin Burke, Michael Nash (0-1) each;
Clonlara:
1: Alan Murnane
2: Paul McNamara
3: Oisin O’Brien
4: Logan Ryan
7: Páraic O’Loughlin,
6: Aidan Moriarty
5: Dylan McMahon
8: Diarmuid Stritch
22: Colm O’Meara;
23: Bryan McLeish,
11: Daniel Moloney
12: Collm Galvin;
13: Darragh Dillon
14: Ian Galvin,
15: Michael Collin
Subs:
28: Eoin Begley for B. McLeish (50);
21: Michael Clancy for D. Moloney (51)
19: Kieran Howard for D. Dillon (52)
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield
1: Aaron Landy
2: Conor Daly,
3: Jarlath Colleran
4: Fionn Kelleher
5: Adam Mungovan,
6: Darragh O’Shea
7: Eoin McMahon
8: Darragh McMahon
9: Darragh Ball
20: Dara Nagle
11; David Conroy
12: Eoin Fanning
13: Padraic O’Donovan
14: Michael Nash
15: Eoin Burke
Subs:
10: Senan Crosbie for D. O’Shea (36)
19: Ian Williams for D. Nagle (38)
17: Brian Gullfoyle for E. McMahon (53)
Referee: John Bugler (Whitegate)