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*Lorcan Fitzpatrick was a constant threat and finished with a goal. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
SIXMILEBRIDGE TOOK ANOTHER STEP closer to the quarter-finals of the Clare SHC following a comprehensive win over Feakle.
Sixmilebridge 1-31
Feakle 0-13
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
Sean Stack’s Sixmilebridge are one win away from a place in the last eight in the race for the Canon Hamilton after recording a successive win.
They blew away the challenge of Feakle on Sunday afternoon, following up on their impressive first round display against Newmarket-on-Fergus. Eight days ago when they beat the Blues, The Bridge produced a storming final quarter in a second half where they outscored their opponents 0-12 0-04.
This time round, a blistering opening half saw the fifteen time champions built a sturdy foundation of twelve points that would not be rocked. Their second half showing was equally as strong and would see them pass the thirty point mark to certainly stamp their mark as contenders for the Canon Hamilton.
Though Sixmilebridge were considered favourites for this round two clash, very few people would have predicted they would have prevailed by a margin of thirty one points.
With thirteen minutes on the clock, the gap was three points with Lorcan Fitzpatrick hitting two from play in this period. Lining out at full forward with his older brother Barry at the full-back berth, Lorcan would raid for goal on forty two minutes in what is his first senior championship campaign.
Derek Fahy who was alert throughout did well to deny Shane McGrath a goal in the opening quarter at a stage when the game was still in the balance. His opposite number, Eibhear Quilligan would score from play with an impressive effort from 100 yards in what ultimately proved to be the highlight of their half.
Quilligan’s point on twenty three minutes was their last score of the opening period with Sixmilebridge putting together a run of 0-09 in succession to hold a 0-17 0-05 lead at the interval.
Without the injured Steven Conway, Feakle’s cause was weakened from the get-go. PJ Kelleher and his management made three switches at half-time to try claw their way back into proceedings with two of these, Oisin O’Connor and Fiachra Donnellan registering scores soon after.
Ultimately the margin would prove insurmountable with Stack’s Bridge continuing to keep the scoreboard ticking through an array of scorers in the second period.
Scorers Sixmilebridge; Lorcan Fitzpatrick (1-5), Jamie Shanahan (0-8, 5fs), Shane Golden (0-4), Cathal Malone (0-3); Caimin Morey (1 free), Paidi Fitzpatrick, Seadna Morey, Brian Carey, Evan McInerney (0-2) each; Kevin Lynch (0-1)
Scorers Feakle: Shane McGrath (0-7, 4fs); Eibhear Quilligan, Adam Hogan, Eoin Tuohy, Raymond Bane, Oisin O’Connor, Fiachra Donnellan (0-1) each
Sixmilebridge:
1: Derek Fahy
2: Noel Purcell
3: Barry Fitzpatrick
4: Pa Mulready
5: Conor Deasy
6: Caimin Morey
7: Páidí Fitzpatrick
8: Brian Carey
9: Seadna Morey
10: Cathal Malone
11: Jamie Shanahan
15: Cathal Lynch
12: Shane Golden
14: Lorcan Fitzpatrick
19: Evan McInerney
Subs:
18: Christy Carey for Lynch (38)
23: Kevin Lynch for Malone (40) (inj)
15: Cathal Lynch for K Lynch (57)
25: David Kennedy for Golden (59) (blood)
Feakle:
1: Eibhear Quilligan
2: Evan McMahon
10: Martin Daly
23: Ger Hanrahan
20: Gary Guilfoyle
9: Ronan O’Connor
8: Killian Bane
6: Eoin Tuohy
7: Oisin Clune
3: Adam Hogan
19: Justin Nelson
15: Shane McGrath
12: Enda Noonan
13: Raymond Bane
11: Oisin Donnellan
Subs:
4: James Noonan for Hanrahan (HT)
18: Oisin O’Connor for Nelson (HT)
17: Fiachra Donnellan for Guilfoyle (HT)
21: Eoin McGuinness for R O’Connor (39)
Referee: Niall Malone (Éire Óg)
