*Ballyea’s Cathal Doohan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

BALLYEA’s bid to become back to back Clare SHC champions for the first time in their history took another step in the right direction when overcoming neighbours Clarecastle.

Ballyea 0-21
Clarecastle 1-14
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

While they were never behind, the winners were hard pressed by their neighbours who will be disappointed with a number of missed opportunities over the course of the game.

Ballyea held a five point advantage at half time when the score was 0-11 to 0-6 after Niall Deasy and Aaron Griffin each had contributed 0-4.

It was a lead the champions just bout deserved although Clarecastle followers felt that they would not have been flattered to have been a little closer to their fellow parishioners at this stage.

Surprisingly Tony Kelly had not got on the scoresheet in the opening half but he came closest to getting a goal when his piledriver was saved by Cian Broderick after eight minutes.

The county star was doubtful all week due to illness which ruled out their captain James Murphy who was replaced by Cathal Doohan who had recovered from the injury which he picked up in the first round

Clarecastle had Cian Galvin in their starting line up in place of Gearoid Ryan. Their followers weren’t happy with some frees awarded by referee Jarlath Donnellan to the winners in the opening half but team manager Brian Russell didn’t offer any complaints about this when he spoke after the game

The Magpies closed the gap to two points inside five minutes of the resumption thanks to points from Patrick Kelly and team captain Bobby Duggan but Ballyea responded with like scores from Niall Deasy and Aaron Griffin.

Cian Galvin returned for Clarecastle.

The champions were still four clear at the three quarter stage and they pushed this out to six with ten minutes remaining.

Clarecastle were given a great boost two minutes later when Bobby Duggan won a delivery from Darragh Healy and promptly dispatched the sliotar to the roof of the net.
Ballyea refused to buckle and points from Thomas Kelly and Aaron Griffin with his sixth of the afternoon left them six clear with five minutes to go.

The Magpies battled to the end and they had the final two scores of the game, both from Bobby Duggan but when the final whistle sounded Ballyea were deserving winners.

Scorers Ballyea: Niall Deasy (0-06 3f), Aaron Griffin (0-6); Tony Kelly (0-3) Thomas Kelly (0-2), Cathal O’Connor, Mossy Gavin, Pearse Lillis, Martin O’Leary (0-1) each

Scorers Clarecastle: Bobby Duggan (1-7, 0-5 frees); Jack Murphy (0-2); Stephen O’Halloran, Darragh Healy (free), Killian McDermott, Patrick Kelly, James Doherty (0-1) each

Ballyea
1: Barry Coote

2: Gearoid O’Connell
3: Peter Casey
4: Paul Flanagan

18: Cathal Doohan
6: Jack Browne
7: Brandon O’Connell

8: Tony Kelly
9: Thomas Kelly

10: Cathal O’Connor
11: Pearse Lillis
12: Morgan Garry

13: Mossy Gavin
14: Niall Deasy
15: Aaron Griffin

Subs:
19: Martin O’Leary for Garry (48)

Clarecastle
1: Cian Broderick

2: Marc McAuliffe
24: Cian Galvin
3: David Tuohy

5: Stephen O’Halloran
6: Darragh Healy
7: Colin Brigdale

8: Killian McDermott
9: Eoghan Wallace

10: Jack Murphy
11: Bobby Duggan
12: Rory O’Connell

13: Conor Halpin
14: Patrick Kelly
15: James Doherty

Subs:
23: Kevin Hartigan for Halpin (48)
4: Gearoid Ryan for O’Connell (50)
22: Aaron Hayes for Doherty (60)

Referee: Jarlath Donnellan (Wolfe Tones)

Related News

burren stone walls 1
Two-day event celebrates tradition dry stone walling which has shaped The Burren
clare gaa convention 12-12-19 18 niall gilligan
All-Ireland winner Gilligan pleads not guilty to assault of boy with a stick
murt mcinerney 2
'He is a huge loss to Doonbeg, West Clare & his family' - councillors adjourn July meeting in respect to Murt McInerney
connolly 1
Connolly development for community building gets green light

Advertisement

Latest News
connolly 1
Connolly development for community building gets green light
teresa roseingrave 1
Roseingrave resigns as Clare LGFA Chair with McMahon & Shannon also stepping down from Executive
ladies football trophy 1
Munster LGFA intervene to postpone adjourned Clare LGFA meeting
ronan collins 1-2
Ronan Collins recalls Clare show band scene ahead of Scariff Harbour Festival performance
valentines card 1
Five year Safety Order granted to Clare woman after Valentines Day card arrives from Limerick prison inmate
Premium
valentines card 1
Five year Safety Order granted to Clare woman after Valentines Day card arrives from Limerick prison inmate
1 DSC_2001
Next step for Clare camogie is returning to quarter-finals says Carmody
clare lgfa football 1
Adjourned Clare LGFA meeting to go ahead after breach of confidential correspondence investigated
clare v limerick 02-03-25 brian lohan 1
Lohan: early indicators positive on all experienced Clare players returning & wide net will be cast during club campaign
knockanean school
Council take wide berth on request to widen road leading to Knockanean NS

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Advertisement