*Shane McInerney, Mikey McInerney and Darren Cullinan in action. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
NEWMARKET-ON-FERGUS and Inagh/Kilnamona recorded wins on Friday evening to ensure they will face off in the final of the FutureTicketing Clare Cup.
Clarecastle is expected to host the league final next Friday with the two top sides from Division 1A to do battle.
In a repeat of last yearโs first round championship tie, Newmarket-on-Fergus accounted for neighbours Cratloe in the semi-final while Inagh/Kilnamona overcame a strong challenge from St Josephโs Doora/Barefield.
Edging past Doora/Barefield saw Inagh/Kilnamona return to winning ways having suffered defeat in their final two group games prior to this.
So far, Newmarket-on-Fergus have only lost one game in the Clare Cup this year, the side to reign supreme against them was of course Inagh/Kilnamona.
Early Power goal puts Newmarket on road to victory
Newmarket-on-Fergus 1-21
Cratloe 0-17
Venue: OโGarney Park, Sixmilebridge
A more settled Newmarket-on-Fergus outfit were deserving winners in this semi-final. The gameโs only goal, scored by Peter Power early in the opening half, played a key role in this victory for the blues.
The sides exchanged points on a number of occasions in the opening half but Powerโs goal gave the winners an edge which they carried to the end.
Helped by this score they led by five points at half time when the score was 1-14 to 0-12.
Clareโs All-Ireland winning hero from 2013, Colin Ryan, started his first game of the season and he picked off some impressive points on an evening when eight players shared in their final tally.
Rian Considine was his sideโs top scorer and best player on an evening when the absence of such as Conor McGrath, Sean and David Collins, Cathal McInerney, Enda Boyce all due to injury and Diarmuid Ryan due to his involvement with Clare meant that Cratloe included a number of players who are in their first season as this level of hurling.
That said, they made their opponents battle all the way but the greater experience of Newmarket proved decisive.
Scorers Newmarketon-Fergus: Peter Power (1-7); Colin Ryan (0-4), Eoin Guilfoyle, Mikey McInerney (0-3) each, Noel Frawley, Niall OโConnor, James Freeman, Seadna Liddy (0-1) each
Scorers Cratloe: Rian Considine 0-9, 4 frees; Podge Collins, Eoin Carey (0-3 each; Kevin Danagher, Jamie Costigan (0-1 each
Newmarket-on-Fergus: Padraic Guilfoyle; Conor McCarthy, Jack Enright, Stephen Casey; Noel Frawley, Liam OโConnor, Niall OโConnor; Shane Lynch, John Feehilly; Eoin Guiilfoyle, Eoin Hayes, James Freeman; Peter Power, Colin Ryan, Mikey McInerney;
Subs: James Power for L. OโConnor; Seadna Liddy for C. Ryan; Mark Delaney for E. Hayes, Aaron Moroney for J. Freeman; Liam Harkin for N. Frawley
Cratloe: Eoin Deegan; Oisin Collins, Damian Browne, Jack Manley; Jamie Costigan, Conor Ryan, Cathal Lohan; Daithi Collins, Eoin Carey; Sean Gallagher, Podge Collins, Kevin Danagher; Rian Considine, Mikey Hawes, Daire Neville;
Subs; Jack Donnelly for Hawes; Jack Danagher for S. Gallagher; Keelan OโDonoghue for K. Danagher
Referee: Kevin Corry (Sixmilebridge)
Inagh/Kilnamona survive strong St. Josephโs finish
Inagh/Kilnamona 2-22
St Josephโs Doora/Barefield 1-23
Venue: Ruan
Inagh/Kilnamona got off to a dream start in this semi-final game at Ruan when Fred Hegarty found the net inside the opening minute of the tie
It was a score which helped his side to a five point interval lead when the score was 1-12 to 0-10.
They went on to build the lead to eight points inside the final quarter but St Josephโs put in a strong finish and they battled back to within a point of their opponents before a point from midfielder Seamus Foudy sealed a hard earned win for Inagh/Kilnamona.
Eoghan Foudy was the winnerโs second half goalscorer before a delivery from Doora/Barefield substitute Darragh OโShea deceived the Inagh/Kilnamona defence on the way to the net, a score which inspired the Parish outfit to a strong finish.
Ten players shared in the winners impressive final tally with Fred Hegarty leading the way with 1-8 to his credit.
Davy Conroy top scored for St. Josephs with 0-15 to his credit, seven coming from placed balls. He caused a lot of problems for the Inagh/Kilnamona defence on the evening.
Scorers; Inagh/Kilnamona; Fred Hegarty (1-8, 5f, 1 line ball), Eoghan Foudy (1-1), Niall Mullins (0-3), James Hegarty, Seamus Foudy, Evan McNamara (0-2) each; Eamonn Foudy, Jason McCarthy Jason Griffin, Keith Barry (0-1) each
Scorers St. Josephโs; Davy Conroy (0-15, 7f); Dara OโShea (1-0), Eoin Lahiffe (0-2), Alan OโNeill, Eoghan McMahon, Michael Nash, Padraic OโDonovan, Cian Barron, Tom Hannan (0-1) each
Inagh/Kilnamona; Eamonn Foudy; Conor Rynne, Colin Shannon, Kevin Hehir; Brian Foudy, James Hegarty, Jason McCarthy; Jason Griffin, Seamus Foudy; Fred Hegarty, Darren Cullinan, Keith Barry; Evan McNamara, Eoghan Foudy, Niall Mullins.
Subs: Josh Guyler for K. Barry; Ronan Mescall for D. Cullinan (inj.)
St. Josephs; Aaron Landy; Francis Meaney, Fionn Kelleher, Adam Mungovan; Darragh McMahon, Alan OโNeill, Mark OโConnor; Eoin McMahon, Eoghan Thynne; Senan Crosbie, Davy Conroy, Michael Nash; Padraic OโDonovan, Cian Barron, Eoin Lahiffe;
Subs: Darragh OโShea for S. Crosbie; Brian Guilfoyle for P. OโDonovan; Tom Hannan for A. OโNeill; Niall Talty for E. Thynne; Conor Daly for F. Kelleher
Referee: John Bugler (Whitegate)
