*Clonlara’s Cian Moriarty. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

A rally of 1-03 in the opening three minutes of the second half was central to Clonlara overcoming last yearโ€™s beaten county finalists Oโ€™Callaghans Mills in round one of the Clare SHC.

Clonlara 1-20
Oโ€™Callaghans Mills 1-16
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

Trailing by six points, 0-8 to 1-11 at the half time whistle, that bright start to the new half levelled the tie and from here on they held a slight edge and deservedly captured the victory.

The winners got off to a great start racing 0-5 to 0-1 clear after twelve minutes. A brace from Colin Crehan cut their lead to two by the first water break and when play resumed the Mills continued to hold the upperhand and added 1-2 without reply to open a three point lead with eight minutes remaining to the half time whistle. Their goal came from a Colin Crehan penalty after Gary Cooney had been fouled.

They continued to enjoy the upperhand from here to half time when the score was 1-11 to 0-8.

Clonlara clearly needed to step up a gear and when the new half got underway there was more urgency in their play. Micheรกl Oโ€™Loughlin, Cathal Oโ€™Connell and David Fitzgerald had points inside two minutes before John Conlon put Cormac Oโ€™Donovan through on goal and the former Clare under 21 hurler made no mistake when drilling the ball to the Oโ€™Callaghans Mills net.

With just three minutes of the half played, the Millsโ€™ six point half time advantage had been wiped out.

Two pointed frees from Micheรกl Oโ€™Loughlin who was much more influential in the second half, had the South Clare outfit ahead but Jacob Loughnane responded by converting two frees and the teams were level again with twelve minutes of the half played.

Clonlara had edged two clear when the second waterbreak arrived and they stretched this out to three when play resumed. The Mills kept their hopes alive through Jacob Loughnane frees but a better balanced Clonlara held the edge and deservingly emerged with the points.

Padraic Oโ€™Loughlin, Paul McNamara, Cathal Oโ€™Connell, John Conlon and Micheรกl Oโ€™Loughlin in the second half were prominent for the winners while Pat Donnellan, Jacob Loughnane, Aidan Oโ€™Gorman, and Colin Crehan got through some good work for the Mills.

Scorers; Clonlara; Cathal Oโ€™Connell (0-5, 1f); Micheal Oโ€™Loughlin (3 frees) John Conlon (0-4) each Cormac Oโ€™Donovan (1-1) Ian Galvin, David Fitzgerald (0-2) each; Colm Galvin, Cian Moriarty (0-1) each

Scorers Oโ€™Callaghans Mills: Jacob Loughnane (0-9, 6f, 2 โ€˜65โ€™s); Colin Crehan (1-2, 1-0 penalty) Sean Cotter (0-3); Ciaran Cooney, Conor Henry (0-1) each

Clonlara:
1: Cillian Oโ€™Brien

2: Colm Oโ€™Meara
3: Paul McNamara
4: Jathan McMahon

5: Aidan Moriarty
6: Paraic Oโ€™Loughlin
7: Dylan McMahon

8: Colm Galvin
9: Ian Galvin

10: Micheรกl Oโ€™Loughlin
21: Cian Moriarty
12: John Conlon

13: Cormac Oโ€™Donovan
14: Conor Bourke
15: Cathal Oโ€™Connell

Subs:
20: David Fitzgerald for C. Bourke (HT)

Oโ€™Callaghans Mills:
1: Killian Nugent

2: Michael Cotter
3: Conor Cooney
4: Sean Oโ€™Gorman

5: Pat Donnellan
6: Aidan Oโ€™Gorman
7: Ciaran Cooney

8: Conor Henry
9: Sean Cotter

10: Jacob Loughnane
20: Colm Cleary
12: Aidan Fawl

13: Gary Cooney
14: Cormac Murphy
15: Colin Crehan

Subs
22: Conor Cooney (Ermhill) for Murphy (49)
18: Michael McGrath for S. Cotter (59)
21: Adrian Flaherty for Cleary (59)

Referee: Niall Malone (ร‰ire ร“g)

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