*Seán McAllister holds off Seán Bonfil. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
CLONDEGAD claimed their place in the TUS Clare IFC semi-finals with a comfortable victory over last year’s finalists Naomh Eoin.
Clondegad 2-20
Naomh Eoin 1-11
Venue: Páirc Cuar an Chláir, Cooraclare
Having been knocked out of the championship in 2024 by the Cross/Kilbaha outfit, Clondegad’s determination to avenge that result was evident from the start.
That said the winners trailed twice in the opening half but a strong finish which yielded 1-2 in the final three minutes of the half helped Clondegad to a four point interval lead and they were never headed after this.
Hitting 1-5 without reply in a six minute spell in the middle of the second half killed off the Westerners challenge.
Naomh Eoin did respond with 1-1 but it wasn’t enough to get them back into contention.
The Peninsula outfit opened the scoring with a Conor Magner free in the second minute but Clondegad’s response clearly indicated their determination to win this one as they hit points from Fiachra Kirby (2), Cian Kirby and Barry Toner (free) by the eighth minute.
A Conor Magner two pointer was cancelled out by two Barry Toner frees and Clondegad led 0-6 to 0-3 at the end of the first quarter.
Naomh Eoin hit a purple patch which yielded a point from Adam Haugh and a two pointer from the same player to level the contest at 0-6 each before Conor Magner converted a ‘45 to give his side the lead as the game went into ‘added time’ at the end of the opening half.
Clondegad dominated the remaining minutes which yielded a Fiachra Kirby goal followed by points from Barry Toner (free) and Colm Meaney and they went to the break 1-8 to 0-7 ahead.
The winners picked up where they had left off when the second half got underway hitting points from Daniel Costelloe and a Barry Toner free.
Two Owen Lynch pointed frees at either side of a Daniel Costelloe effort left the score at 1-11 to 0-9 in the winner’s favour five minutes into the second moiety.
The winners then hit a purple patch in which they hit 1-5 without reply, a tally that included two 2 pointers from frees by their goalkeeper Daniel Kelly while the goal came from a Barry Toner penalty which was awarded for a foul on Fiachra Kirby.
Naomh Eoin kept their hopes alive with an Odhran Lynch goal but Clondegad retained control and finished out the tie with points from Sean McAllister, Daniel Costelloe and Cian Kirby.
Naomh Eoin finished with fourteen men as substitute Seamus Boland was shown a black card five minutes from the end.
The half back trio of Daniel Costelloe who contributed 0-3, Cillian Brennan and team captain Tadhg Ó hUallachain did well throughout for the winners while up front the Kirby brothers were very impressive throughout.
For Naomh Eoin, Conor Magner, Adam Haugh and Fergal Keane did well but their forwards failed to trouble the winner’s defence.
The Westerners showed some changes from the team listed on the programme and declined to release their line out prior to the game. Three of their starting team did not wear the numbers assigned to them on the programme.
Scorers; Clondegad; Barry Toner (1-6, 1-5 frees); Fiachra Kirby (1-2); Daniel Kelly (0-4, 2 tp); Daniel Costelloe (0-3); Cian Kirby (0-2) Sean McAllister, Diarmuid O’Neill. Colm Meaney (0-1) each
Scorers Naomh Eoin; Conor Magner (0-4, 1tp, all frees); Adam Haugh (0-3, 1tp); Owen Lynch (0-3, 2f); Odhran Lynch (1-0)
Clondegad;
1: Daniel Kelly
2: Niall Carigg
3: Brian Casey
4: Dilllon Killoughery;
5: Daniel Costelloe,
6: Cillian Brennan
7: Tadhg Ó hUallachain
8: Sean McAllister
9: Diarmuid O’Neill;
10: Colm Meaney
11: Cian Kirby,
12: Morgan Garry
18: Evan Flynn
14: Fiachra Kirby
15: Barry Toner
Subs:
24: Colin McNeilis for E. Flynn (41)
21: Podge McMahon for B. Toner (50)
13: Kieran McDonnell for F. Kirby
17: Peter Casey for D. Killoughery (55)
22: Eoghan Gavin for M. Garry (57)
Naomh Eoin;
1: Eoin Daly
17: Declan Keniry
3: Tomas Bonfil
4: Conor Tevlin;
5: Mark McQuaid
6: Conor Magner
7: Adam Haugh
10: Gavin Magner
9: Fergal Keane;
8: Sean Bonfil
24: Odhran Lynch
21: Niall Bonfil;
23: Joseph Roche
12: Conor Downes
18: Owen Lynch
Subs:
13: Gearoid Lynch for J. Roche (43)
2: Adam Foley for D. Keniry (50)
20: Seamus Boland for G. Magner (53)
15: Eoin Hanrahan for M. McQuaid (53)
Referee: Eoin Keane (Corofin)
