Champions Cratloe claim top spot in Group 3 with hard-fought Doonbeg win

*Cratloe captain, Kevin Harnett. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

COUNTY CHAMPIONS Cratloe have taken top spot in Group 3 of the TUS Clare SFC after battling past the challenge of Doonbeg.

Cratloe 2-8
Doonbeg 0-12
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

Two goals in the space of a minute turned this senior football championship tie in Cratloe’s favour at Cusack Park this Sunday afternoon.

Underdogs Doonbeg had started really well and led 0-4 to 0-2 after twenty minutes when referee Fergal O’Brien signalled for a free for Cratloe. He move the ball to a more central position on the 20m line in front of goals and, in a flash, Cathal McInerney blasted to the net.

Just over a minute later McInerney repeated the feat, this time from a penalty after Jamie Moylan had been fouled.

While champions Cratloe emerged with victory, they left Cusack Park relieved at the outcome as they were put under huge pressure by Doonbeg throughout and the Magpies would not have been flattered to have at least got a draw from this tie.

Their play certainly didn’t reflect the fact that they were already consigned to the relegation battle prior to this fixture.

Cratloe were 2-5 to 0-6 in front at the interval and this was still the margin five minutes into the second half after the sides had exchanged points.

From then on Doonbeg held the upperhand and it took a few timely interventions on Cratloe’s part to deny the West Clare men further scores.

In the opening minute of the second half the Magpies had two great goal chances but Eoghan Tubridy’s efforts were saved at the expense of a ‘45 which David Tubridy converted on a day when the former Clare star top scored with 0-8 to his credit.

At the three quarter stage the lead was down to two points after Darragh Burns and two from Tubridy had closed the gap for Doonbeg.

Try as they did in the final quarter they failed to draw level and Cratloe sealed victory with a Jack McInerney point in the second minute of added time.

Scorers Cratloe: Cathal McInerney (2-1, 0-1 play); Conal O’Hanlon, Jack McInerney (0-2) each; Sean Collins, Jamie Moylan, Rian Considine (0-1) each;

Scorers Doonbeg: David Tubridy (0-8, 4 frees, 2 ‘45’s) Darragh Burns (0-3); Gavin O’Shea (0-1)

Cratloe;
1: Padraigh Chaplin

2: David Collins
3: Kevin Harnett
4: Riain McNamara;

11: Sean Collins,
6: Michael Brennan
7; Shane Neville;

8: Diarmuid Ryan
9: Conor Ryan

10: Conal O’Hanlon
15: Rian Considine
12: Tommy Rooney;

13: Jamie Moylan
14: Cathal McInerney
17: Jack McInerney

Subs:
19: Denis Mundy for D Collins (half time)
20: Keelan O’Donoghue for O’Hanlon (inj) (37)
21: Alex Brady For S Neville(57)

Doonbeg;
1: Eamonn Tubridy

2: Tadhg Lillis,
3: James Killeen
4: Jason Linnane;

5: Conor O’Mahoney
19: Eoghan Tubridy
7: Cian O’Mahoney;