*Darragh McInerney and Rory O’Connell get better acquainted during the meeting of Ruan and Clarecastle. Photograph: Chris Copley.
SHOCK results in the third round of the Clare premier intermediate hurling championship has blown the race for promotion wide open.
Round 3 in the TUS premier intermediate hurling championship produced a number of surprise results at the weekend.
Clarecastle, Sixmilebridge and O’Callaghans Mills all carried the favourites tag into their games against Ruan, Bodyke and Tulla but neither managed to win.
Having had a bye in the opening round, Parteen-Meelick got their first points on the board when they defeated Killanena. They had suffered defeat from Tulla two weeks earlier
The results have thrown the race for the title wide open and the outcome of the round 4 games this weekend will be key to who might progress to the knockout stages of a championship which is proving very difficult to win.
As it stands in Group 1, O’Callaghans Mills sit in top spot with five points from three games, the trio of Tulla, Tubber and Parteen/Meelick all have two points but Tulla only have one game remaining. Killanena have no points from their two outings and face Tulla in a crunch game this Sunday.
Clarecasle occupy pole position in Group 2, they have four points from a total of six with three games played. Ruan also have three games played but have two three points. Whitegate and Bodyke have both played two games and have two points each while Sixmilebridge are bottom of the table with one point from their two games.
The top team in each group progresses automatically to the semi-finals with second and third advancing to the quarter-finals.
Mills battle back for share of the spoils with Tulla
Tulla 1-16
O’Callaghans Mills 0-19
Venue: Clonlara
Neighbours Tulla and O’Callaghans Mills produced a lively contest when they clashed in round 3 of the TUS premier intermediate hurling championship before a good attendance on Friday evening.
O’Callaghans Mills carried the favourites tag into the contest and it took a strong second half showing from them to hold onto their unbeaten run in this campaign.
Arguably Tulla’s need was greater as they had suffered a defeat in their opening tie and this was reflected in their play in the opening half when they showed the greater hunger for victory.
Both sides went into the game showing changes in personnel from their previous round games.
Coincidentally both were without their regular full backs, Paul Lynch and Conor Cooney due to injury, the ‘Mills man having suffered a broken jaw in training a few days earlier.
Points were exchanged three times in the opening seven minutes before Tulla hit a purple patch which yielded 1-4 without reply in eight minutes.
The game’s only major came at the midpoint of the half from Darragh Corry who caused a lot of problems for the Mills in the first half.
That score sparked a response from the favourites who landed three in a row in as many minutes but Tulla finished the half strongly and went to the dressing room five points clear, 1-11 to 0-9.
The third quarter was dominated by O’Callaghans Mills who scored 0-5 without reply to level the tie at the three quarter stage.
The game was a minute into the final quarter when Tulla struck for their first score of the half, a Sean Withycombe free from a difficult angle.
Sean Boyce levelled before Aidan Fawl put the Mills into the lead only for Withycombe to level.
From here to the finish which included five minutes of ‘added time’, points were exchanged three times with Ronan Molloy sending over the final score.
An O’Callaghans Mills free by Killian Nugent from his own ‘45 dropped short before the final whistle sounded.
Liam McInerney until injured, Ryan Hayes and Tony Leyden were prominent in a strong Tulla defence while elsewhere Daragh Corry in the first half and Sean Withycombe did well for Tulla.
Aidan Fawl continued his good form for the Mills getting good support from Aidan O’Gorman, Cathal McNamara, Seanie Boyce and Cormac Murphy who contributed 0-5 from play from midfield.
Tulla; Dan Vaughan; Fionn Ryan, Kevan Conlon, Liam McInerney; Tony Leyden (0-1), Ryan Hayes, Padraic Mulconroy (0-1); David Meehan, Eanna Culloo (0-1); Dan Withycombe (0-1), Seán Withycombe (0-10, 9f), Colin Corbett; Daragh Corry (1-1), Roan Molloy (0-1), Emmet Mulcahy.
Subs; Feargal Kearney for L McInerney (inj. 45); Willie Halpin for C. Corbett (47); Colm McInerney for E. Mulcahy (48); Michael Ryan for D. Corry (57).
O’Callaghans Mills; Killian Nugent (0-1f); Cathal McNamara, Keith Donnellan, Gerry Cooney; Sean O’Gorman, Aidan O’Gorman (0-1), Aidan Fawl (0-2); Fionn Hickey, Cormac Murphy (0-5) Jacob Loughnane (0-3, 2f), Darragh Moroney, Sean Cotter; Seán Boyce (0-6, 2f), Conor Henry, Gary Cooney (0-1);
Subs; Colin Crehan for S. Cotter (44); Colm Cleary for J. Loughnane (48); Mark Pewter for D. Moroney (52); Michael Cotter for S. O’Gorman (54).
Referee: Kevin Corry (Sixmilebridge)
(Gallery of photographs by Gerard O’Neill)
Parteen/Meelick get their first win
Parteen/Meelick 2-19
Killanena 1-17
Venue: The Evicted Field, Bodyke
A contribution of 1-10 from Jack Kirwan helped Parteen/Meelick to their first win in this season’s premier intermediate championship when they accounted for Killanena on Sunday afternoon.
Both sides were pointless from their opening ties so a win was important and it was the club from the Limerick border that emerged with the points.
On this Friday they face a huge test against last year’s finalists Tubber both of whom now have a win and a loss to their names.
This weekend’s round 3 game for Killanena against Tulla is particularly important as they are still pointless and another loss could see them in danger of relegation.
Parteen/Meelick got off to a great start on Sunday with a goal from Andrew Cleary. Killanena’s response was impressive and they quickly levelled with three points. For the rest of the half it was nip and tuck and the sides went to the break with Killanena leading by a point, 1-11 to 1-10.
Early in the second half Kirwan struck for the winner’s second goal and from here on they held the lead.
Parteen/Meelick: Oisin Hickey; Hugo McDonald, Shane Fox, Sean Connolly; Noel Bridgeman, Nathan Fox, Damien Moloney; Darragh McDermott, Tom Collins; Rory McDermott (0-2), Dara Nolan (0-1), Daniel Cooney (0-3); Andrew Cleary (1-1), Jack Kirwan (1-10), Joe O’Connor (0-2).
Subs; Ruaidhri Noan for T. Collins; Gearoid Reddy for Andrew Cleary; Peter Small for J. O’Connor;
Killanena: Colm Moloney; Darren McMahon, Jason Keehan, Aidan McMahon; Ronan Keane, Donal Moloney, Cathal Noonan (0-2); Ian Macnamara (0-1), Michael Smyth (0-1); Aaron Moloney (0-1), Shane Broderick, Seamie O’Connell (0-1); Mark Flaherty (0-1), Tobias O’Meara, Keith Smyth (1-9, 0-7 frees);
Sub: Ronan Bowes (0-1) for M. Smyth; Padraig O’Callaghan for J. Keehan;
Referee: Pat Healy (Kilmaley)
Ruan roar back in contention with shock win over Clarecastle
Ruan 0-20
Clarecastle 1-13
Venue: Gurteen
By Páraic McMahon
Ruan brought their Clare PIHC campaign to life when overcoming Clarecastle on Friday evening.
A second round loss to Whitegate preceded by a first round draw to Sixmilebridge left Ruan in need of a performance and a result, they duly delivered and were the far hungrier side to inflict a first championship loss of the season on Clarecastle.
Given that Ruan tested Clarecastle when they joined the intermediate ranks in last year’s first round, the tie finishing 2-16 1-15 in favour of the Magpies, they were not short of belief that they could match their opponents if given another chance and they duly grabbed it on Friday evening.
Leading by nine points at half time, Ruan put themselves in a commanding position. This thanks to their ability to hoover up breaks in the middle third, Patrick O’Halloran at wing forward in particular clocked a dozen possessions from simply drifting back to clean up spillages from his own half-back line. He was effective in supplying corner forward Frankie Lyons who clocked up his entire tally of three points within the first ten minutes of the game.
Slack marking from Clarecastle also aided Ruan’s cause with too much freedom and space given by the Magpies defence.
Aidan Lynch had one hundred percent accuracy from placed balls while Clarecastle went through three different freetakers over the hour.
Clarecastle took the lead twice inside the opening five minutes, Oisin Whelan and Conor Ralph hitting the target. Ruan went ahead for the first time, nine minutes in following a Lyons brace and a Lynch effort.
Within five minutes in the second quarter, they hit five points in succession to go nine points clear. This remained the cushion at half-time as the Magpies following found themselves in a state of shock at the interval.
More energy was exerted by Clarecastle on the restart and it brought the desired outcome with Josh Brack winning the ball in his own half-back line to find Conor Ralph who did well to raid for goal. They followed with points from Rory O’Connell and Ralph to suddenly cut the deficit to six with thirty four minutes played.
However, Clarecastle were unable to come any closer than four points to their opponents who even had a late goal disallowed as Aidan Lynch was adjudged to have been in the square.
Keelan Mounsey did save a penalty at the death with Harry Doherty not getting much power behind his effort.
For Ruan, this result meant a lot as evident by their post-match celebrations. It will certainly strengthen the belief within their camp and rightly so, they played very well in the opening half and brought their danger men into the game while working tremendously hard. Their second half display was a considerable step down and they were outscored 1-7 0-5, the tale of two halves could become costly as the campaign progresses. For the winners, Killian Ryan, Patrick O’Halloran, Aidan Lynch and Robin Mounsey were best throughout while Frankie Lyons was very impressive for the opening exchanges.
All is not lost for Clarecastle but they will be well aware that this display is well off what is required to be in contention at this level. Ger ‘Sparrow’ O’Loughlin and his management will need to find a better balance and structure to their side if they are to be in the mix for promotion. Their bigger names were well shut down by Ruan, as well as producing a flat display they lacked leadership at times, arguably a symptom of the high levels of criticism this panel of players have received over recent years, the most vocal of which has been internal.
This needs to be the wake-up call for Clarecastle who are certainly on their day capable of determining how this championship unfolds. Josh Brack, Colin Brigdale, Rory O’Connell and Conor Ralph were among the best for the Magpies while Evan Price and Eoghan Wallace both caused problems when introduced in the final ten minutes.
Scorers Ruan: A Lynch (0-9 5f 1’65), R Mounsey (0-4), F Lyons (0-3), R Power (0-1), J McDonagh (0-1), S Punch (0-1), P O’Halloran (0-1)
Scorers Clarecastle: P O’Connell (0-5 4f 1’65), C Ralph (1-2), O Whelan (0-2 2f), C Brigdale (0-1), H Doherty (0-1), R O’Connell (0-1), E Price (0-1)
Ruan: Keelan Mounsey; Jason Power, Killian Ryan, Patrick O’Gorman; Ashley Brohan, James Cullinan, Brian Roughan; Darragh McInerney, Ryan Power; Jack McDonagh, Aidan Lynch, Patrick O’Halloran; Robin Mounsey, Shane Punch, Frankie Lyons.
Subs: Christian Cummins for McDonagh (45), Daire Corey for Roughan (55) (inj), Conor Wynne for O’Halloran (57), Jamie Ryan for McInerney (63)
Clarecastle: Cian Broderick; David Tuohy, Aaron Hayes, Filip Wiechcinski; Darragh Healy, Cian Galvin, Josh Brack; Colin Brigdale, Conor Whelan; Conor Halpin, Conor Ralph, Rory O’Connell; Oisin Whelan, Harry Doherty, Paul O’Connell.
Subs: Ronan Donnelly for Tuohy (25), James Doherty for O Whelan (25), Evan Price for C Whelan (50), Eoghan Wallace for P O’Connell (57)
Referee: Johnny Healy (Smith O’Briens)
(Gallery of photographs by Chris Copley)
First points for Bodyke
Bodyke 1-23
Sixmilebridge 3-13
Venue: Glenomra Park, Broadford
It will go down as a surprise result but Bodyke’s victory over a fancied Sixmilebridge outfit at Broadford on Friday evening was merited as they held the upperhand for much of the tie.
Two goals in a couple of minutes just before half time helped the favourites to lead at the break when the score was 3-7 to 1-10.
Bodyke didn’t allow themselves to be unsettled by the manner in which the Bridge finished the opening half and they outscored their opponents, 0-13 to 0-3 in the second period.
Paul Corry who had also found the net earlier in the tie and goallkeeper Mark Sheedy from a penalty were the goalscorers for Sixmilebridge just before half time while the winners had their goal from Paddy Fitzgerald.
Sixmilebridge enjoyed the better of the exchanges in the opening quarter but Bodyke took control for the next ten minutes before two goals in quick succession saw Sixmilebridge ahead at the halfway point.
Seanie Doyle’s contribution of 0-12, five coming from open play, played a key part in Bodyke’s win as did Paddy Fitzgerald’s contribution of 1-4, all from play.
Bodyke will be back in action on this Friday evening when they take on Whitegate at Scariff at 6.45p.m. At the same time in Shannon Sixmilebridge will face Clarecastle.
Bodyke; Cormac Doyle; Ciarán Hickey, Eanna Doyle, Tommy Wiley; Ian Murray (0-2), Cian Minogue (0-1), Sean Og Killkenny; Cathal Doyle, Fionn Slattery (0-3); Sean Browne (0-1), Seanie Doyle (0-12), Ronan Fitzmaurice; Peter Flower, Paddy Fitzgerald (1-4), Tommy Minogue.
Subs: Jamie Howard for P. Flower; Keith Mooney for R. Fitzmaurice
Sixmilebridge; Mark Sheedy (1-0, pen); Adam Breen, Cilllian Custy, Oisin Breen; Ronan Tuohy, Dara Fitzgerald, Seamus O’Connell; Dylan Downes (0-3), Callum Phelan; Luke Keogh (0-1), Cathal Lynch, Cathaoir Agnew; Adam Murray (0-1) Sean Lynch (0-5), Paul Corry (2-1).
Subs; Dara Casey (0-1) for A. Murray (inj); Jack Corry (0-1) for C. Phelan; Fionn Hayes for C. Lynch; Aidan Quilligan for C. Custy; Daniel Chaplin or R Tuohy.
Referee: Ger Hoey (Killanena)
