*Éire Óg’s Darren Moroney doesn’t let the hurley of Feakle’s Oisin Clune distract him. Photograph: Mike Brennan
FOURTEEN MAN Éire Óg held off the challenge of county champions Feakle by four points, a result that sees both sides advance to the quarter-finals.
Éire Óg 3-16
Feakle 1-18
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, Ennis
The Clare Echo’s online coverage of the Clare SHC is in association with The Temple Gate Hotel.
Éire Óg were fancied to emerge as winners in this third round tie in Group 3 but they were made battle all the way by the East Clare side.
For the majority of the second half, the winners played with fourteen men. Aaron Fitzgerald picked up a second yellow card which ended his involvement in the game, five minutes into the second half.
Feakle were dealt a huge blow earlier in the week when Shane McGrath suffered a knee injury in training. A scan later this week will determine the seriousness of the injury. Already without inter-county goalkeeper Eibhear Quilligan who is due to have surgery on his injured knee this week, their supporters will be happy that they are through to the knockout stage of the championship.
The respective freetakers, Danny Russell and Oisin Donnelllan exchanged points in the opening two minutes before Éire Óg opened a three point lead.
As the game entered the second quarter Donnellan converted a long range effort to level the tie at 0-6 each.
Two minutes later Feakle were awarded a penalty but David Reidy’s effort was superbly saved by Liam O’Connor.
A brace from Russell had the Ennis men two ahead when Feakle pounced for a goal from Oisin O’Connor who was put through by Seven Conway. Four points followed from Donnellan as the champions took a four point lead to the break, 1-10 to 0-9.
Éire Óg resumed with two changes to their attack, Tadhg Kavanagh and Darren O’Brien replacing David McNamara and Luca Cleary.
Calls for a free to Feakle in an attacking position were ignored and the winners quickly launched a counter attack which ended with a Marco Cleary goal.
David Reidy followed with a point to level the tie before Danny Russell found the net to give his side a lead they would hold to the finish.
It was 2-12 to 1-12 in the Ennis side’s favour as the game entered the final quarter. Then Russell struck for his second goal to put six between the teams.
They swapped points twice before Feakle landed three in a row leaving a goal between the sides when four minutes of ‘added time’ were signalled.
The champions fought gallantly but fourteen-man Éire Óg held on for victory and top spot in the group.
Ciaran Russell, Robert Loftus, Rian Mulcahy, Oran Cahill and Danny Russell had their moments for the winners who will need to deliver a more consistent display if they are to progress further in the competition.
(All photographs by Mike Brennan)
Adam Hogan, Eoin Tuohy, Ronan and Oisin O’Connor, Steven Conway and Oisin Donnellan were prominent for Feakle.
Scorers Éire Óg: Danny Russell (2-10, 0-6 frees, 0-2 ‘65’s) Marco Cleary (1-1); David Reidy (0-2); Oran Cahill, Shane O’Donnell, Tom Kavanagh (0-1) each
Scorers Feakle: Oisin Donnellan (0-11, 8 frees, 1 ‘65) Oisin O’Connor (1-1); Steven Conway (0-3), Ronan O’Connor (0-2), Patrick Daly (0-1)
Éire Óg:
1: Darragh Stack
2: Fionan Treacy
3: Ciaran Russell
4: Liam Corry
5: Robert Loftus
6: Aaron Fitzgerald
7: Rian Mulcahy
8: Oran Cahill
9: Darren Moroney
10: Shane O’Donnell
11: David Reidy
12: David McNamara
20: Luca Cleary
14: Danny Russell
15: Marco Cleary
Subs:
25: Tom Kavanagh for D. McNamara (HT)
13: Darren O’Brien for Cleary (HT)
24: Aidan McGrath for Corry (41)
19: Conor Perrill for D Moroney (46);
21: Niall McMahon for F. Treacy (52)
Feakle;
16: Liam O’Connor
17: Eoghan Daly
5: Adam Hogan
3: Evan McMahon
2: Killian Bane
25: Conn Smyth
6: Eoin Tuohy
8: Enda Noonan
9: Ronan O’Connor;
10: Oisin Donnellan
4: Oisin Clune
14: Ray Bane
7: Patrick Daly
13: Steven Conway
15: Oisin O’Connor
Subs:
20: Owen McGann for E. Noonan (47)
17: Eoghan Daly for K. Bane (52)
19: Gary Guilfoyle for C. Smyth (55)
Referee: Eoghan O’Leary (Whitegate)
