As the Under 13 Hurling and Football Championships enter the concluding stages, there was some welcome silverware for Newmarket-on-Fergus and Tulla last Saturday.
Ahead of this weekend’s Under 13A Hurling Championship and Shield Semi-Finals, five timely goals helped Newmarket to secure the Under 13A Plate at the expense of hosts Clonlara by 5-4 to 1-9.
With the sides having played out an opening draw in Mid-June, the Blues produced an eleven point turnaround to record what was their first victory of the campaign.
Goals through Colin Cavanagh (2), Ricardo Lameda (2) and Liam Murphy inflicted the major damage while there were also superb leadership displays from captain Dara McInerney and inspirational defenders Evan Crimmins and Joe Arthur as Newmarket grew in confidence with every passing minute.
A faltering finish to the season would be costly to hosts Clonlara who still had excellent performances from full-back Ben Power along with scorers-in-chief Mark and Dan Hogan. Indeed, that attacking duo combined for Mark to spectacularly open the scoring with a fourth minute goal, with Newmarket responding in kind when Colin Cavanagh managed to find the net at the other end. The Hogan’s, Mark (3) and Dan (2) would actually carve out a four point cushion for Clonlara by the 20th minute at 1-5 to 1-1 but far from being deterred, the Blues would regain full parity within seven minutes, thanks in the main to a Liam Murphy goal.
Points from Dan Hogan and Conor McDonnell either side of the break kept Clonlara’s noses in front at 1-7 to 2-2 but they would be powerless to stop the Blues’ momentum that was glittered by three goals. Sucker-punches either side of the water break from Cavanagh and Ricardo Lameda powered Newmarket into the ascendancy before the latter sealed the title with a clinching second goal.
A similar narrative would decide the destination of the Under 13 Academy B Hurling crown as four goals helped Tulla overcome Scariff/Ogonnelloe on home soil by 4-8 to 0-6. A Brian Conheady strike was the ultimate difference in a tight first half at 1-4 to 0-3 before additional green flags were raised through Cillian O’Neill (2) and top-scorer Tom Moroney (1-4) as Tulla’s second team claimed the East Clare bragging rights.
Scariff/Ogonnelloe did finish the weekend on a high when their flagship side booked their place in the Under 13B Championship Final against either Clooney-Quin or Cratloe following a 6-10 to 3-03 semi-final win over Broadford in Ogonnelloe.
Crusheen/Tubber will contest the Under 13B Shield decider against the winners of Sunday’s encounter between Corofin/Ruan and Smith O’Brien’s.
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield host Inagh-Kilnamona (Saturday at 11am) while Ballyea welcome Sixmilebridge (Sunday at 11am) in the Under 13A Championship Semi-Finals while the Shield version on Sunday morning at 11am sees Clarecastle at home to Kilmaley while Tulla make the trip to Ennis to take on Éire Óg.
The Under 13 Football Championship Finals take place next weekend (October 9th/10th), with the headline act being a much-anticipated Division 1 derby between Lissycasey and Clondegad. The Division 2 decider will be an All-Magpie affair between Clarecastle and Doonbeg; Parteen and Kildysart/Coolmeen contest the Division 3 final while St Breckan’s and Kilrush/Killimer face-off for the Division 1 Shield honours.
