Clarecastle claim their place in Clare PIHC final with merited win over Whitegate

*Clarecastle’s Evan Price offloads under pressure. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

CLARECASTLE deservedly claimed their place in the final of the Clare Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship (PIHC) with a comprehensive win over Whitegate.

Clarecastle 3-17
Whitegate 1-8
Venue: Dr Daly Park Tulla.

Fifteen points is a flattering winning margin for Clarecastle but there is no denying that they were the better side over the hour. All three of the Magpies’ green flags arrived in the final four moments of the tie.

Tulla lived up to its name as the ‘Windswept Hill’ the aftermath of Storm Amy creating difficult conditions for both sides. It was a strong cross-field breeze blowing into the far-left corner of Dr Daly Park it favoured Clarecastle in the opening half and Whitegate in the second half but the aid of the conditions didn’t really suit either side Clarecastle hit seven points with the gale and Whitegate five.

Ten wides and three missed goal chances in the opening half left Clarecastle frustrated at the interval when only a point separated the teams. Andrew Fahey to his credit made three fine saves to stop them from raising a green flag but his side were rightfully in contention when the half-time whistle sounded.

Liam Murray received his marching orders for a second bookable offence on forty three minutes leaving Whitegate a man down for the defining period of the semi-final. At this juncture the score was 0-12 1-6 in favour of Clarecastle but the numerical difference became obvious as the game reached its conclusion.

Half-time changes were also a big factor in Clarecastle taking control. They moved captain Colin Brigdale to midfield and he really led by example setting up scores and taking the right option when in possession. James Doherty was also introduced at this stage he finished with 2-2 to his credit while Oisin Whelan another substitute clocked up a tally of 0-3.

Such an outlook wasn’t as warm for Clarecastle when they took shelter in the dressing rooms at half time. They will admit that they were concerned but there was no stopping them once the sliotar was thrown in for the second half. How they finished the game plus their dominance of Tubber in the quarter-finals leaves them in a positive mood for their upcoming final showdown with O’Callaghans Mills.

Within the opening ten minutes, Fahey made his excellent saves from Paul O’Connell, Harry Doherty and Conor Ralph while by the end of the first quarter, Clarecastle had missed 3-6, they hit six wides in a row within the space of five minutes.

Needing to strike while Clarecastle’s inaccuracy was rising, Whitegate did indeed raid for goal. Fahey’s puckout found Conor Whelan who hit the ball to Paddy Burke, he offloaded to Ronan Hayes and the end result was the first green flag of the game.

Conor Halpin and Hayes then traded points, Cian Galvin claimed a Whitegate puckout in the air, powered forward and split the posts to level matters and they headed in ahead at the break thanks to a Paul O’Connell free after his older brother Rory was fouled.

Clarecastle struck three points in succession, all via the substitutes Whelan and Doherty to go four points ahead by the thirty sixth minute. Whitegate added three of the next five scores leaving a three point gap. Then Murray received his marching orders for a late challenge on Brigdale, to pick up a second yellow.

From here, the gap only widened, the East Clare side just hit two more points, a free from Whelan and another Danny Hynes point while Clarecastle smelling blood went for the kill and hit 3-5. Conor Ralph had the assist for Doherty’s double with Paul O’Connell finishing to the net following an Oisin Whelan line ball.

Relegated by Clarecastle in 2022, Whitegate’s wait to return to the senior ranks stretches on. The manner in which they fell apart in the final quarter is capable of leaving scars. Without question, the final score didn’t do justice to how close proceedings were for three quarters of the game but nothing is over until the final whistle and so the fifteen point loss will sting.

Unquestionably they were able to match the Magpies in the first half, possibly aided by poor efficiency from their counterparts but they seemed unable to deal with Clarecastle running at them in the second half. Niall Hayes’ side had strong performances from Ronan Hayes, Andrew Fahey, Dylan White and Danny Hynes.

A place in the final and a chance to return to senior hurling is the reward for Clarecastle. They’ve bounced back well from their setbacks in the group stages which included losses to Ruan and Sixmilebridge’s second string. Repeating parts of their first half showing or any of their group displays will be punished against the Mills in the final so the Magpies will know only performances like what they produced in the second half of this tie and the entire Tubber triumph will suffice if they wish to rejoin the top table.

Once they got going, Ger ‘Sparrow’ O’Loughlin’s side worked the ball well and decision making, when they did this Whitegate had no answer. Conor Halpin again was a ball of energy and has been one of their most consistent performers all year, Filip Wiechinski was exceptional in defence, the impact of Oisin Whelan and James Doherty was vital, though he didn’t get on the scoresheet Conor Ralph was one of their most influential forwards through his use of the ball but Clarecastle’s best over the hour was captain Colin Brigdale.

All photographs by Gerard O’Neill