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*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Reigning Clare SHC champions Sixmilebridge are the first side to secure their place in the semi-finals of the competition.
Sixmilebridge 0-21
Broadford 0-12
Venue: Cusack Park
In the battle of the current senior and intermediate winners it was the men from Sixmilebridge that deservedly came out on top. Regrettably from Broadford plenty of their bigger players didn’t fire and ultimately this was a critical missing ingredient.
With three wins is as many games, the argument has been put forward that The Bridge have not played particularly well, this outing was their best of the campaign to date but is still off their previous levels. However, the result is the main outcome of interest and in this regard they are still coming out on top.
Little separated the sides inside the opening quarter with Sixmilebridge boasting a slender one point lead as the sides retreated for the water break. In what appeared to be more of a case of a Broadford dip rather than a Sixmilebridge surge, Tim Crowe’s charges outscored their neighbours 5-2 inside the final ten minutes of the half.
Points from Diarmuid Moloney and Davy Boland saw Broadford reduce the deficit to four points at the beginning of the second half but they would let Sixmilebridge score five of the next six points as they regained a six point advantage.
Failing to grab a foothold in the contest, Broadford were limited to just two single scores in the final quarter of the game. Sixmilebridge continued to rattle off efforts with Seadna Morey, Alex Morey, Paidi Fitzpatrick and Brian Corry registering on the board.
After four years of trying, Broadford’s return to the senior ranks was secured last year. In this campaign, Jimmy Browne’s side showed they are capable of matching most senior sides and are more than capable of reaching the knockout stages. A more sustained performance was needed for them to cause a massive upset but when the year is reflected on, they will have more positives than negatives. On this day, the Donnellan brothers, Stiofan McMahon and Sean Phelan did best for Broadford.
Composure was a constant during this win for Sixmilebridge, even when at times extra space in front of their full-forward line had the potential to cause problems they didn’t panic. Though the fact that they haven’t set their world alight will be a slight concern, they are still standing in their bid to retain the Canon Hamilton. Jamie Shanahan, Jason Loughnane, Paidi Fitzpatrick and Brian Carey impressed for the winners.
Scorers for Sixmilebridge: A Morey (0-07 7f), J Shanahan (0-03), P Fitzpatrick (0-02), C Deasy (0-02), C Malone (0-02), S Morey (0-02), B Corry (0-01), J Loughnane (0-01), S Golden (0-01).
Scorers for Broadford: S McMahon (0-03), Cathal Chaplin (0-02 2f), M Moloney (0-02), S Taylor (0-01), D Moloney (0-01 1f), D Boland (0-01), S Phelan (0-01), Craig Chaplin (0-01 1f)
Sixmilebridge:
Derek Fahy
Noel Purcell
Barry Fitzpatrick
Brian Carey
Pa Mulready
Caimin Morey
Seadna Morey
Jason Loughnane
Brian Corry
Paidi Fitzpatrick
Shane Golden
Alex Morey
Conor Deasy
Cathal Malone
Jamie Shanahan
Subs:
Alan Mulready for Deasy (56)
Evan McInerney for Malone (62)
Broadford:
Cian O’Brien’s
Eoin Donnellan
Paddy Donnellan
Sean Phelan
Darren Chaplin
Diarmuid Whelan
Cathal Chaplin
Davy Boland
Diarmuid O’Brien
Padraig Taylor
Shane Taylor
Diarmuid Moloney
Donie Whelan
Paul Moloney
Stiofain McMahon
Subs:
Craig Chaplin for P Taylor (29)
Danny Reddan for P Moloney (29)
Mark Moloney for Donie Whelan (HT)
Cian Mulqueen for D Moloney (48)
Cian Cremmins for Boland (54).
Referee: Jarlath Donnellan (Wolfe Tones)
