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*Darragh Whelan breaks the challenge of Paul Rodgers. Photograph: Joe Buckley.
BROADFORD produced the first big shock of the Clare SHC on the opening night when defeating Scariff.
Broadford 0-27
Scariff 0-22
Venue: O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge
Broadford followers may not agree that this was a shock but given that Scariff had recently contested the senior hurling league final, they carried the favourites tag into this game.
Halfway through this tie they looked to be on course to justify that favourites tag as they led by four, 0-15 to 0-11, having outscored their neighbours 0-7 to 0-1 in the final ten minutes of the half.
Broadford clearly weren’t rattled by Scariff’s strong finish to the half and by the midpoint of the second half they had drawn level at 0-19 each. As the game went on, their grip on the contest grew stronger and the introduction of Shane Taylor ten minutes into the second half had a huge bearing on the game.
Similarly a hand injury to Scariff captain Mark Rodgers had a huge impact. Having scored 0-6 in the opening half, the Clare star was clearly hampered by the injury even though he remained on the field until the final whistle.
He had the opening score of the game in the first minute but Broadford responded with three in a row before a brace from Mark and Paul Rodgers tied up the game for the second of seven times on the evening. Paul Rodgers’ first point was a superb line ball from 50m on the stand side of the grounds.
The winners were 0-10 to 0-8 ahead after twenty minutes but from here to the half time whistle Scariff dominated.
Scariff’s ninth point came from a Paul Rodgers free but their supporters will question the awarding of the free. Mark Rodgers had won possession, rounded his marker and, while he was fouled, he had dispatched the ball to the roof of the net but referee Jarlath Donnellan called back play and awarded the free much to the annoyance of the Scariff following.
Scariff dominated from here to the half time whistle adding 0-6 to just none reply from their neighbours.
Two Diarmuid Moloney frees early in the second half closed the gap to two and clearly Broadford grew in confidence from here on. Points were then exchanged four times before Broadford landed three in a row to level the tie at 0-19 each.
Freetakers Diarmuid Moloney and Paul Rodgers swapped points to level the tie for the final time. Moloney converted a ‘65 to give his side a lead they would hold to the finish and substitute Shane Taylor quickly followed with a brace to open a three point lead for his side.
This was still the margin as four minutes of ‘injury time’ were signalled. Scariff were dealt a big blow at this moment as Keelan Hartigan was shown a second yellow ending his involvement in the tie.
Paul Rodgers kept his side’s hopes alive when he converted a 40m free but Broadford’s tails were up and they finished with points from Diarmuid O’Brien and two from Michael Vaughan to seal victory.
Gallery of photographs by Joe Buckley
Scorers Broadford; Diarmuid Moloney (0-12, 10 frees, 1 ‘65); Diarmuid O’Brien (0-4), Michael Vaughan (0-3), Shane Taylor (0-3), Niall O’Farrell (0-2); Oisin Kavanagh, Davy Boland, Darren Chaplin, (0-1) each;
Scorers Scariff; Paul Rodgers (0-8, 5 f, 1 line ball); Mark Rodgers (0-6, 4 frees); Liam Crotty, Keelan Hartigan, Patrick Ryan (0-2) each); Shane Kavanagh (free), Patrick Crotty (0-1) each;
Broadford;
16: Jack Lovett;
9: Cormac Gunning,
3: Darragh Whelan,
4: Paddy Donnellan;
2: Davy Boland
6: Eoghan Gunning
7: Cathal Chaplin;
8: Diarmuid O’Brien
12: Conor O’Donnell;
15: Darren Chaplin
11: Niall O’Farrell
17: Oisin Kavanagh;
10: Michael Vaughan
13: Donie Whelan
14: Diarmuid Moloney
Subs:
28: Shane Taylor for C. O’Donnell (37);
27: Eoin Donnellan for D. Whelan (57)
Scariff;
1: William Kavanagh;
17: Scott Cairns
3: Michael Scanlon
4: Daniel Treacy;
9: Liam Crotty
6: Matthew Crotty
7: Shane Kavanagh;
8: Conor Downes
5: Sean Collins;
10: Rossa Keehan
11: Keelan Hartigan
12: Patrick Crotty;
13: Paul Rodgers
14: Mark Rodgers
15: Patrick Ryan;
Subs:
20: Éanna O’Brien for R. Keehan (45)
27: Ben Sweeney for R. Keehan (49)
25: Seanie Hartigan for M. Scanlan (53);
21: Patrick Nugent for P. Ryan (55)
Referee: Jarlath Donnellan (Wolfe Tones)
