*Clonlara’s Colm Galvin. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Holders Clonlara had an impressive performance in the first game of this year’s chase for the Canon Hamilton Cup, when they totally outclassed a Tony Kelly led Ballyea by eight points at the whistle.
Clonlara 1-28
Ballyea 1-20
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
By Gerry Quinn
They were never really troubled on an evening that saw ten different scorers help the South East Clare claim their first victory. Leading by 0-15 to 0-7 at the break, six unanswered points between the twelfth and twenty-sixth minutes proved to be the plat form that set up this special victory.
Ian Galvin, who had a superb game at full-forward. Had the games first two points and he was ably assisted on the scoring front from the likes of Paraic OLoughlin in defence and in attack by John , Diarmuid Stritch and Michael Collins. All of them grabbed some fine scores before the break. Three placed balls by Tony Kelly kept Ballyea in contention but they were constantly chasing the game.
Trailing by 0-20 to 0-9 eleven minutes into the second period Ballyea did strike back for a goal when Brandon O’Connell’s speculative shot from about sixty meters out on the left side-line deceived Seimi in the Clonlara goal and anded up in the roof of the net.
But Ian Galvin struck back with a Clonlara goal eight minutes from normal time after he received a sweet pass from Aidan Moriarty and he gave Barry Coote no chance from close range. Clonlara will now face Éire Óg in the next round, while Ballyea must meet Clooney Quin in a fortnight’s time.
Scorers Clonlara: I Galvin (1-4) 0-1free, M O’Loughlin (0-4) 3 frees 1’65, M Collins (0-4) P O’Loughlin (0-4), J Conlan (0-4) D Stritch (0-3), C O’Meara (0-3), D Fitzgerald (0-1), A Moriarty (0-1),
Scorers Ballyea: T Kelly (0-6) 0-2 frees, B O’Connell (1-1), N Deasy (0-4) 0-2 frees, C Kirby (0-3) C O’Connor (0-2), D Costello, M Gavin, F Ginnane, J Browne (0-1) each.
Teams:
Clonlara:
1: Seimi Gully
2: Logan Ryan
3: Dylan McMahon
4: Michael Clancy
5: Paraic O’Loughlin (Captain)
6: Colm Galvin
7: David Fitzgerald
8: Jathan McMahon
9: Aidan Moriarty
10: Colm O’Meara
11: John Conlon
12: Diarmuid Stritch
15: Michael Collins
14: Ian Galvin
13: Michael O’Loughlin
Subs:
Michael Stritch for Collins inj. (48)
Bryan McLeish for M O’Loughlin inj. (58)
Ballyea:
1: Barry Coote
3: Peter Casey
2: Paul Flanagan
4: Fergal Ginnane
5: Gearoid O’Connell
6: Jack Browne
7: James Murphy
8: Brandon O’Connell
9: Cillian Gavin
12: Tadgh Ó hUallachain
11: Tony Kelly
10: Cathal O’Connor
15: Mossy Gavin
14: Niall Deasy
13: Aaron Griffin
Subs:
Thomas Kelly for G O’Connell (38)
Eoghan Donnellan for M Gavin (41)
Cian Kirby for J Murphy (43)
Brian Murphy for O’ hUallachain (52)
Daniel Costello for Griffin (53)
Referee: John Bugler (Whitegate)
