Clarecastle crash out of Munster with one point loss to Dromin Athlacca

*Clarecastle’s James Doherty gets onto the ball. Photograph: Ciaran Kelly.

There was an agonising one-point loss for Clarecastle against Dromin Athlacca in their keenly fought Munster Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-final on Sunday afternoon.

Dromin Athlacca 1-20
Clarecastle 0-22
Venue: Kilmallock

By Tom Clancy

Played at a heavy Kilmallock pitch, the Limerick Premier Intermediate champions inched the tie, during which the Magpies were wasteful in front of goal, in contrast to a highly accurate effort from the blue and white of south Limerick.

That will form a huge part of the regret for Ger O’Loughlin and Stephen Sheedy’s charges, who, despite creating a late chance to level the contest, saw another effort drop short, which added to ten wides over the sixty-odd minutes.

Dromin Athlacca were inspired by Limerick star David Reidy, while Jack Fitzgibbon bagged his sixth goal of the season, in a superb opening half display, where he proved too hot to handle for the Clarecastle defence.

St. Mary’s, Clonmel await Dromin Athlacca in the provincial final. Clarecastle will begin to look ahead to 2027, and their return to the top table.

A bright opening from the away side saw them lead 0-4 to 0-1 after seven minutes. They had Aaron Hayes and James Doherty (twice) on the scoresheet, while Cian Galvin pointed a 65. They were well on top and had Galvin dictating things from centre-back.

His influence was strong but eventually, the Treaty club began to show why they had won a closely fought second tier in their county.

Reidy and Fitzgibbon both added to Tadhg Boddy’s earlier point and they were making hay when the chances arrived, only hitting three wides over the sixty minutes.

In contrast, seven wides, an effort off the post and three into the paw of keeper Robbie Breen contributed to Clarecastle’s downfall. They fell behind with the games only goal on 14 minutes.

Collecting a long-delivery, Fitzgibbon was fouled by Eoghan Wallace. However, allowed the advantage by Tipperary referee Ciaran O’Donovan, Fitzgibbon blasted an unstoppable effort high into the net.

Wallace’s high challenge didn’t merit a yellow card, however, his punishment was the concession of vitally important green flag.

Fitzgibbon added further points while Reidy was able to score all his frees. Cian Scully and Fitzgibbon put them four clear by 24 minutes.

There was a trio of opening half points for James Doherty, who was selected to start at full-forward ahead of the listed Evan Price.

By the interval, the lead was whittled back to just a point, with Dromin Athlacca’s poor tackling yielding a large amount of frees against them. Galvin, from range pointed two of those, while Colin Brigdale joined the scoring list in stoppage time.

1-10 to 0-12 behind, Clarecastle opted to make two half-time subs. Conor Ralph and David Tuohy were called for but they would only lead briefly in a tense second half.

They didn’t waste as much in the second period but when they moved ahead thanks to another Galvin free, they would concede the next three.

Reidy, whose influence for his club cannot be overstated, pointed two frees, while Cian Scully found a point from range.

From here to the finish, there was no shortage of drama. Clarecastle half threatened a goal a few times. Cynical fouling stopped Paul O’Connell and later Galvin, while poor handling also allowed the defence to escape.

Reidy and later captain David Breen picked off scores, to put the gap out to three with as many minutes remaining.

The final two points went to the Claremen, with O’Connell and Galvin, again off placed balls, setting up a grandstand finish.

A late delivery was batted clear by keeper Robbie Breen, and with it the whistle saw Clarecastle bow out, 21-years after their last Munster hurling appearance.

All photographs by Ciaran Kelly.

Scorers for Dromin Athlacca: D Reidy 0-10 (7f, 1 65); J Fitzgibbon 1-3; C Scully 0-3; D Breen 0-2; S Fitzgibbon, T Boddy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Clarecastle: C Galvin 0-6 (4f, 1 65); P O’Connell 0-6 (0-4f); J Doherty 0-4; H Doherty 0-2; A Hayes, C Whelan, C Brigdale, C Ralph 0-1 each.

Dromin Athlacca:
1. R Breen;
2. S Scully,
3. W Dore,
4.S Morrissey

5. S Fitzgibbon
6. M Reidy
7. C Scully

8. P O’Donoghue
9. D Reidy

10. D Griffin
11. T Boddy
12. D Scully

15. S O’Leary
14. D Breen
13. J Fitzgibbon.

Subs: 18. M Quaid for S Scully (47)
22. Peter Ryan for O’Donoghue (56).

Clarecastle:

1. C Broderick

7. E Wallace
3. D Healy
4. S O’Halloran

9.C Brigdale
6. C Galvin
5. A Hayes

8. C Whelan
20. L Brack

10.H Doherty
11. C Halpin
12. R O’Connell