*Broadford’s Sean Phelan. Photograph: Martin Cooper
Broadford’s 2019 campaign came to a crashing end on Sunday with Cork side Fr O’Neill’s comprehensively knocking them out of the Munster IHC.
Fr O’Neill’s 3-22
Broadford 0-14
Venue: Midleton
Twenty nine days after their county final win over St Josephs Doora/Barefield, Broadford made their first Munster outing which also turned out to be their last as a far superior Fr O’Neill’s side outclassed them from start to finish.
Sharp shooter Declan Dalton, a member of the Cork senior hurling panel fired 1-12 over the hour, a greater score than Broadford’s entire tally. Fr O’Neill’s made it two from two, one week on from their provincial quarter-final win over Limerick’s Blackrock. Their final clash with Ballysaggart of Waterford has the makings of a mouth watering tie.
More than 1,500 people were in Midleton for the semi-final clash where the Leesiders started much the brighter with six scores on the trot. Broadford once they got their first score on seven minutes added two more but Fr O’Neill’s were always able to respond at the other end.
A two minute spell on the verge of half-time saw the Aghavine men run riot hitting Broadford for 2-01, Billy Dunne and Dalton supplied the goals to give them a twelve point cushion at the interval.
Tom Howard’s men fired the first three scores of the second half but that would be as good as it got. On forty seven minutes, Billy Dunne netted his second goal of the day and the 2006 Junior All-Ireland Club champions saw out the contest with efforts from Rob Cullinane, Paudie McMahon and Dalton.
When 2019 draws to a close, all that will be remembered in Broadford will be their successful and sought after return to the senior ranks. Without question, they failed to turn up for this clash but certainly have the ability to be making the knockout stages of the top grade in Clare.
Scorers for Fr O’Neill’s: D Dalton (1-12 0-06f, 1’65), B Dunne (2-01), R Cullinane (0-03), P McMahon (0-03), K O’Sullivan (0-01), M O’Keefe (0-01), J Hankard (0-01).
Broadford: S Taylor (0-03), D Moloney (0-03), Donie Whelan (0-02), Craig Chaplin (0-01), K O’Connell (0-01), N Maloney (0-01), P Hickey (0-01).
FR.O’NEILL’S: Colin Sloane; Mike Mellerick, Podge Butler, Ger Mellerick; John Barry, Dan Harrington, Tomás Mellerick; Joe Mellerick, Kevin O’Sullivan; Mark O’Keeffe (c) Robbie Cullinane, Paudie McMahon; Eoin Conway, Declan Dalton, Billy Dunne.
Subs: Liam O’Driscoll for E Conway (HT), Jason Hankard for B Dunne (50), Cillian Broderick for K O’Sullivan (52), Adrian Kenneally for J Barry (53), Eoin Motherway for M O’Keefe (55).
BROADFORD: JC McMahon; Paddy Donnellan, Eoin Donnellan, Darragh Whelan; Cathal Chaplin, Darren Chaplin, Padraig Taylor; Kieran O’Connell, Mark Moloney; Sean Phelan, Craig Chaplin, Diarmuid Moloney; Donie Whelan, Shane Taylor, Stiofain McMahon.
Subs: Danny Reddan for K O’Connell (HT), Niall Moloney for M Moloney (HT), Padraig Hickey for Craig Chaplin (50), Cian Cremmins for D Chaplin (53).
Referee: John McCormack (Tipperary)
