*Whitegate’s Conor Whelan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
EAST Clare sides Whitegate and Bodyke produced a cracking TUS intermediate hurling championship round three re-fixture on Tuesday evening.
Whitegate 1-20
Bodyke 0-19
Venue: Dr Daly Park, Tulla
The original fixture on Friday evening last was abandoned because of an injury to Bodyke full back Eanna Doyle who, thankfully, is on the mend.
This evening’s game ebbed and flowed and the result was in doubt right to the end. The sides were level on seven occasions before Kalum Fahy’s goal, eight minutes from the end, gave his side a lead they held to the finish.
Bodyke made the better start and it took some great defensive work from Whitegate, including an outstanding save by Andrew Fahey from Tiernan Slattery in the fifth minute to prevent them from opening a big lead.
The lead changed hands regularly throughout the opening quarter at which time they were level for the fifth time at 0-6 each.
Four in a row from Bodyke in as many minutes followed and they went on to lead by two, 0-12 to 0-10 when the half time whistle sounded.
Bodyke had reason to be a little disappointed at not been further ahead at this time given their play in the opening thirty minutes.
There was more urgency in Whitegate’s play when the second half got underway and they outscored their neighbours 0-6 to 0-1 in the third quarter at which time the score was 0-16 to 0-13 in the winner’s favour.
Bodyke stormed back into the contest and Seanie Doyle fired over 0-3, two from play, in the next five minutes to tie up the scores for what proved to be the final time.
Despite an outstanding save by Cathal Doyle from Finn Madden, Bodyke were unable to prevent Kalum Fahy from finishing the ball to the net.
Another brilliant save by Doyle followed as he denied Conor Whelan but the winner’s stretched their lead to five with points from Ciaran Keenan and Whelan.
Bodyke refused to throw in the towel and points from Fionn Slattery and Paddy Fitzgerald left just one score between the teams as the game went into the fourth minute of added time.
Whitegate had the final say and it was fitting that their top scorer Conor Whelan sealed their win when he converted 25m free for his ninth point of the contest.
Eoin Quirke, Ian Fahy, Donal Burke, Andrew Fahey and Conor Whelan made huge contributions to this win on an evening when Cathal Doyle Cian Minogue, Ian Murray, Seanie Doyle, and Sean Browne were prominent for Bodyke.
Both sides will be back in action on Sunday in their final group games where Whitegate face Sixmilebridge and Bodyke take on Ruan with all four still in the hunt for places in the knock out stage of the championship. Bodyke need a victory to have a chance of progressing.
Scorers Whitegate: Conor Whelan (0-9, 5f); Kalum Fahy (1-2); Finn Madden (0-3); Danny Hynes Ciaran Keenan (0-2) each; Ian Fahy, Ronan Hayes (0-1) each
Scorers Bodyke; Seanie Doyle (0-10, 6f); Paddy Fitzgeralld (0-4); Fionn Slattery, Tiernan Slattery (0-2) each; Sean Browne (0-1);
Whitegate: Andrew Fahey; Dylan White, Donal Burke, Conor McDermott; Liam Murray, Eoin Quirke, Ian Fahy; Conor Whelan, Mikey Bogenberger; Danny Hynes, Finn Madden, Ciaran Keenan; Kalum Fahy, Ronan Hayes, Paddy Burke;
Subs; Harry Bogenberger for M. Bogenberger (HT); Michael Heffernan for D. Hynes (50);
Bodyke; Cormac Doyle; Tadhg Kilkenny Cian Minogue, Tommy Wiley; Mike O’Brien, Ian Murray, Sean Óg Kilkenny; Fionn Slatttery, Ciaran Hickey; Kevin Moloney, Seanie Doyle, Tommy Minogue; Sean Browne, Paddy Fitzgerald, Tiernan Slattery.
Subs; Jamie Howard for K. Moloney (HT); Willie Fitzgerald for T. Slattery (40); Cathal McKenna for C. Hickey (49)
Referee: Niall Malone (Éire Óg)
