*Clonlara’s Colm Galvin is chased by Luke O’Halloran of Sixmilebridge. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLONLARA qualified for a second Clare Cup final in four years after they withstood a strong Sixmilebridge comeback to set up a league decider with Inagh/Kilnamona.
Clonlara 1-19
Sixmilebridge 1-17
Venue: Fr Murphy Memorial Park, Newmarket-on-Fergus
A strong second half which saw them wipe out a ten point deficit wasn’t enough for Sixmilebridge as they had to give best to Clonlara in this willwego.com Clare Cup semi-final on Sunday afternoon.
Rain fell throughout the game which made conditions very slippery.
Inspired by Diarmuid Stritch and John Conlon, Clonlara dictated matters in the opening half at the end of which they led, 1-15 to 1-5 having played with the aid of a fresh breeze.
Scores came quickly in the opening seven minutes by which time Clonlara were 0-5 to 0-3 in front.
Diarmuid Stritch and Cathal Malone had swapped scores inside the opening minute before points from John Conlon and Mícheál O’Loughlin pushed the eventual winners two clear as the game entered the third minute.
Four points in a row from O’Loughlin (2), Conlon and Tom Power helped the winners to lead 0-11 to 0-4 at the end of the opening quarter.
Five minutes later they struck for the first goal, Darragh Dillon providing the finish after a great break by midfielder Stritch.
A few minutes later a slip by goalkeeper Alan Murnane was punished as Paul Corry poked the ball over the line for a Sixmilebridge goal but Clonlara responded impressively with points from Stritch, Daniel Moloney and Conlon.
Sixmilebridge returned for the second half with Jamie Shanahan in their line up and he played a key part in getting them back into contention before he had to make way after twenty minutes in what seemed a precautionary measure.
They struck for points from Paul Corry and two each from Shanahan and Shane Golden in the opening ten minutes before Jathan McMahon converted a free for the winners.
The Bridge then hit six in a row to level the tie with six minutes remaining and had themselves in a great position to qualify for the final. The loss of Shanahan proved a big blow while credit must go to Clonlara who finished strongly with John Conlon playing a key part in helping them to regain their composure.
With extra time looking likely, Clonlara struck for three unanswered points, two coming from the inspirational Conlon.
Sixmilebridge battled to the end but the Clonlara defence held firm with Logan Ryan, Aidan Moriarty and Páraic O’Loughlin making timely clearances. Diarmuid Stritch, Micheál O’Loughlin and Conlon made valuable contributions also.
Páidí Fitzpatrick, Seadna Morey, Cathal Malone, Shane Golden and Jamie Shanahan were prominent for Sixmilebridge.
Both sides were short players who will be expected to be in their starting line ups when the championship race gets underway at the end of July. Among the missing personnel were Ian Galvin, Dylan McMahon, Colm O’Meara, Kieran Galvin, Oisin O’Brien, Cathal ‘Tots’ O’Connell, Michael Clancy and the injured David Fitzgerald for Clonlara. The Bridge were without Derek Fahy, Alex Morey, Brian Corry, Barry Fitzpatrick, Jason Loughnane and Leon Kelly.
Interestingly they are due to meet in the opening round and it remains to be seen what bearing, if any, this tie will have come their championship meeting.
Scorers; Clonlara; John Conlon (0-6, 1f); Micheal O’Loughlin (0-5, 3f) Diarmuid Stritch (0-3); Darragh Dillon (1-0); Daniell Moloney (0-2); Jathan McMahon (free), Padraic O’Loughlin, Tom Power (0-1|) each
Scorers Sixmilebridge; Paul Corry (1-2); Jamie Shanahan (0-5, 2f); Cathal Malone (0-4); Luke O’Halloran (1 free), Shane Golden (0-2) each Matthew O’Halloran, Lorcan Fitzpatrick (0-1) each
Clonlara
1: Alan Murnane
2: Ciaran Howard
3: Paul McNamara
4: Logan Ryan;
7: Páraic O’Loughlin,
6: Aidan Moriarty
5: Colm Galvin
8: Diarmuid Stritch
9: Jathan McMahon
10: John Conlon
11: Daniel Moloney
12: Tom Power
13: Darragh Dillon,
14: Brian McLeish
15: Micheal O’Loughlin
Subs:
18: Michael Collins for T. Power (42)
19: Eoin Begley for B. McLeish (51)
17: James McCormick for C. Galvin (inj. 55)
Sixmilebridge
1: Mark Sheedy
2: Colm Flynn
3: Noel Purcell
4: Fiachra Ó Braoin
5; Seadna Morey
6: Paidi Fitzpatrick
7: Conor Deasy;
8: Brian Carey
9: Matthew O’Halloran;
10: Luke O’Halloran
11: Cathal Malone
12: Lorcan Fitzzpatrick;
13: Shane Golden
14: Paul Corry
15: Adam Murray
Subs:
18: Jamie Shanahan for C. Flynn (half time)
25: Pa Mulready for M. O’Halloran (42)
19: Caimin Morey for Shanahan (inj. 50)
17: Dara Fitzgerald for C. Deasy (55)
21: Seamus O’Connell for L. O’Halloran (59)
Referee: John Bugler (Whitegate)
