*Noel Purcell gathers possession for Sixmilebridge. Photograph: Ruth Griffin
SIXMILEBRIDGE have qualified for an eighth Clare SHC quarter-final in nine years after a ten point victory over St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield saw them put back to back wins together.
Sixmilebridge 1-27
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 2-14
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, Ennis
The Clare Echo’s online coverage of the Clare SHC is with thanks to The Temple Gate Hotel.
Strong favourites heading into the third round, Sixmilebridge justified this tag, they showed the greater experience throughout and were in control for most of the tie.
Doora/Barefield enjoyed two short periods of dominance but overall they struggled to compete with a physically stronger Sixmilebridge outfit.
St Joseph’s will be disappointed with the amount of frees they conceded and these indiscretions were punished by Alex Morey who converted twelve placed balls, eleven frees and one ‘65.
On the other end, Doora/Barefield were off target with several frees and this proved costly.
Sixmilebridge looked to have an extra man such was the ease with which they won possession throughout the opening half.
They were 0-7 to 0-3 in front at the end of the opening quarter, all of Doora/Barefield’s scores having come from David Conroy.
With five minutes to go to the break it was 0-14 to 0-4 in favour of Sixmilebridge.
Pádraic O’Donovan punished a defensive slip by Sixmilebridge a minute later when shooting to the net and The Parish followed with points from O’Donovan and Ógie Fanning.
The ‘Bridge finished the half with points from Alex Morey, bringing his tally at this stage to 0-9 and Brian Corry to go to the break 0-16 to 1-6 in front.
On the resumption the winners hit an early 1-2 without reply, 1-1 coming from the experienced Shane Golden.
The introduction of Cian Barron helped the challengers and he caused a number of problems for the winners. He created an opportunity which saw Eoin Burke find the net and at the three quarter stage the score was 1-18 to 2-8 in favour of he winners.
Points were exchanged fur times in the next ten minutes but then the ‘Bridge hit four in a row in a three minute spell to push their advantage out to ten as the game drifted into ‘added time’.
For the winners Páidí Fitzpatrick, Fiachra Ó Braoin, Shane Golden, Brian Corry and Alex Morey were prominent.
They lined out without the injured Barry Fitzpatrick who is ruled out for he season, Seadna Morey, Colm Flynn, and Cathal Malone.
All photographs by Ruth Griffin.
Damien Kennedy’s Doora/Barefield now face into a relegation play-off, their best players were Fionn Kelleher, Adam Mungovan, Padraig O’Donovan, Darragh Ball plus substitutes Cian Barron and Eoin Burke.
Scorers Sixmilebridge: Alex Morey (0-12, 11f and 1’65); Shane Golden (1-4); Brian Corry (0-5); Brian Carey, Lorcan Fitzpatrick, Luke O’Halloran, Fiachra Ó Braoin, Sean Manamara, Jason Loughnane (0-1) each
Scorers St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield; David Conroy (0-7, 5f), Pádraic O’Donovan (1-4, 0-2f); Eoin Burke (1-2); Eoin Fanning (0-1)
Sixmilebridge;
1: Derek Fahy;
21: Pa Mulready
4: Noel Purcell
18: Leon Kelly;
8: Matthew O’Halloran
6: Paidi Fitzpatrick
19: Fiachra Ó Braoin
14: Shane Golden
9: Brian Carey
10: Lorcan Fitzpatrik
11: Jamie Shanahan
23: Luke O’Halloran
13: David Kennedy
12: Alex Morey
15: Brian Corry
Subs:
22: Jason Loughnane for J. Shanahan (39)
20: Alan Mulready for B. Carey (44)
26: Sean Macnamara for L. O’Halloran (44)
7: Conor Deasy for L. Kelly (49)
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield:
1: Aaron Landy;
2: Conor Daly
3: Jarlath Colleran
4: Fionn Kellleher
5: Adam Mungovan
8: Darragh McMahon
7: Eoin McMahon;
19: Ian Williams
6: Darragh O’Shea;
13: Pádraic O’Donovan
12: Eoin Fanning
10: Senan Crosbie;
9: Darragh Ball
11: David Conroy
15: Michaell Nash
Subs:
14: Eoin Burke for S. Crosbie (25);
30: Cian Barron for E. Fanning (38);
20: Dara Nagle for E. Mc\Mahon (55)
24: Mark O’Connor for I Williams (60)
22: Francis Meaney for P.O’Donovan (inj. 32)
Referee: Jarlath Donnellan (Wolfe Tones)
