*Oisin Whelan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Clare will play Offaly in the semi-final of the All-Ireland minor hurling championship thanks to a hard earned six point win over Laois at Cusack Park this Saturday afternoon.
Clare 0-21
Laois 1-12
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
Despite the fact that they went sixteen minutes without a score in the final quarter of the game, the home side deserved this victory on a day when their defence played some great hurling.
There was some concern amongst Clare followers in the official attendance of 619 when the Banner side went sixteen minutes without a score in the final quarter but two injury time pointed frees from Oisin Whelan eased those worries as Clare progressed to the All-Ireland semi-finals in two weeks time.
Playing with the aid of a strong breeze Clare started well and had 0-4 on the scoreboard with under five minutes played. A further three minutes had elapsed before Laois opened their account with a Ben Duggan pointed free.
It was 0-8 to 0-3 at the mid point of the half and the home side had pushed the lead out to nine, 0-12 to 0-3, with two minutes remaining in the half. In the remaining time to the half time whistle both sides added two points leaving Clare nine ahead, 0-14 to 0-5 at the interval.
Clare came closest to a goal in that opening half but Laois goalie Brogan O’Reilly produced an excellent save from Cian Neylon seven minutes from the half time whistle
Scorers Clare: Oisin Whelan (0-8, 6 frees); Jack O’Neill (0-3); James Organ, Sam Scanlan, Diarmuid Stritch, Michael Collins (0-2) each; James Hegarty, Cian Neylon (0-1) each.
Scorers Laois: Ben Deegan (1-8, all frees) Eoghan Cuddy, Eoghan Murphy, Jack Breen, Jer Quinlan (0-1) each.
Clare
1: Mark Sheedy (Sixmilebridge)
2: Eoghan Gunning (Broadford)
3: Fionan Treacy (Éire Óg)
4: John Cahill (Clooney/Quin)
5: Sean McMahon (Smith O’Briens)
6: James Hegarty (Inagh/Kilnamona)
7: Riain McNamara (Cratloe)
20: Matthew O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge)
9: Diarmuid Stritch (Clonlara)
10: Michael Collins (Clonlara)
11: Jack O’Neill (Clooney/Quin)
12: James Organ (Corofin)
13: Sam Scanlan (Clooney/Quin)
14: Oisin Whelan (Clarecastle)
15: Cian Neylon (Kilmaley)
Subs:
17: Jamie Moylan (Cratloe) for McNamara (HT)
19: Dylan Keane-Hayes (Kilmaley) for Neylon (54)
22: Eoin Lahiffe (St Josephs Doora/Barefield) for Collins (56)
24: Dannan Fox (Clooney/Quin) for Scanlan (60
8: Piaras O’Shea (Ruan) for Stritch (63);
Laois
1: Brogan O’Reilly
2: Bobby Murphy
3: Ciaran Flynn
4: Joseph Pearson
5: Rory Kelly
6: Tom Cuddy
7: Cormac Hogan
8: Eoghan Cuddy
9: Kevin Byrne
10: Ben Deegan
11: Thomas Brennan
12: Eoghan Murphy
13: Jack Breen
14: Jer Quinlan
15: Cormac Byrne
Subs:
Andrew McDonagh for R. Kelly (half time);
Mark Downey for C. Byrne (half time);
Liam Kirby for E.Murphy (46);
Ciaran Ross for T. Brennan(58);
Referee: Brian Keon (Galway)
