*Sixmilebridge’s Brian Corry celebrates. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
The Canon Hamilton trophy is destined for a new location next month after holders Clonlara were dethroned by neighbours Sixmilebridge in Cusack Park.
Sixmilebridge 2-18
Clonlara 0-21
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
Perhaps it was the challenge of putting their wits against the champions that fired the ‘Bridge up so well as this was easily their best performance since last clinching the prestigious crown in 2020.
It wasn’t just about motivation either as packed full of title-winning experience, Tommy Liddy and Stiofan Fitzpatrick’s side clearly had their homework done. Central to that plan was Seadna Morey’s shadowing of Clonlara chief marksman Ian Gavin, a duty he carried out meticulously to inspire his team-mates.
All around the field though, the ‘Bridge seemed a step ahead of their opponents and as a result, it wasn’t a surprise to see them lead from start to finish on their way to a first semi-final in two years.
With Micheál O’Loughlin’s handsome free tally keeping Clonlara in touch, the ‘Bridge’s timely goals were crucial jolts. The first arrived in the seventh minute through David Kennedy to power their side five clear while just as when it seemed that Clonlara were about to regain full parity, Jamie Shanahan’s rebound goal provided the boost to top up their advantage entering the final quarter.
While they were far from their 2023 best, Clonlara still had plenty of chances to rescue this tie but passed up five glorious goal chances.
The first was perhaps the most important as Colm O’Meara looked to have levelled the tie entering the break when goalkeeper Derek Fahy pulled off an excellent save.
Aidan Moriarty was equally unlucky after the ‘Bridge’s second goal to end a surge through the centre by kicking just over the bar while in injury-time substitute Michael Stritch had the best of three goal sightings when his instinctive shot off the hurley whistled past the crossbar.
Extra-time would have been cruel on Sixmilebridge who had answered every time that Clon came back at them throughout the hour as Seadna Morey, Jamie Shanahan and Alex Morey led by example.
Kennedy’s goal was the highlight of a low-key opening period that saw Clonlara cente-back Dylan McMahon stretchered off after a serious leg injury in the 24th minute.
Shane Golden and Matthew O’Halloran played some intricate passing to offload to Kennedy to break through two tackles and flick to the net at 1-3 to 0-1.
Micheál O’Loughlin, who hit all but a point of Clonlara’s first half tally, did reduce the arrears to a goal but with McMahon’s injury, John Conlon had to revert to his inter-county position as defensive anchor.
With seven minutes of additional time, Fahy’s stop was pivotal to keeping the ‘Bridge 1-10 to 0-10 clear by the break, with that margin still in situ by the two-thirds mark.
Unanswered points from O’Loughlin and Ian Galvin did lessen the damage to the minimum by the 43rd minute but they failed to pull level and would be punished when Sixmilebridge raided for their second goal four minutes later.
It stemmed from a booming Fahy restart that was caught and offloaded by Alex Morey to Brian Corry whose shot was initally parried by Seimi Gully. Jamie Shanahan was quickest to react to flick the rebound to the net and ensure a four point cushion once more at 2-13 to 0-15.
From the puck-out Aidan Moriarty raced through only to drop-kick over the bar, a let-off that the ‘Bridge capitalised upon as Alex Morey stretched the gap to five by the 57th minute.
Game over? not even close as a brace of Micheál O’Loughlin frees made it a goal game entering injury-time. Colm O’Meara had a one-handed flick stopped by substitute Fiachra Ó Braoin, Michael Stritch’s shot shaved the crossbar while a last gasp Micheál O’Loughlin 20 metre free was also stopped by a defiant ‘Bridge to blow the senior title race wide open.
Scorers for Sixmilebridge: Alex Morey 0-9 (9f), Jamie Shanahan 1-2, David Kennedy 1-1, Brian Corry 0-3, Lorcan Fitzpatrick 0-1, Jason Loughnane 0-1, Alan Mulready 0-1
Scorers for Clonlara: Micheál O’Loughlin 0-15 (13f), Cathal O’Connell 0-1, Colm O’Meara 0-1, Ian Galvin 0-1, Michael Collins 0-1, Aidan Moriarty 0-1, Michael Stritch 0-1
Sixmilebridge
1: Derek Fahy
2: Colm Flynn
8: Seadna Morey
3: Barry Fitzpatrick
5: Conor Deasy
6: Paidi Fitzpatrick
7: Leon Kelly
10: Jason Loughnane
18: Matthew O’Halloran
14: Lorcan Fitzpatrick
11: Jamie Shanahan
12: Shane Golden
13: Brian Corry
24: David Kennedy
15: Alex Morey
Subs
4: Fiachra Ó Braoin for Kelly (39)
21: Alan Mulready for L. Fitzpatrick (48)
20: Caimin Morey for Kennedy (52)
17: Noel Purcell for Deasy (54)
9: Brian Carey for Loughnane (62)
Clonlara
1: Seimi Gully
4: Michael Clancy
3: Paraic O’Loughlin
7: David Fitzgerald
5: Colm Galvin
6: Dylan McMahon
17: Jathan McMahon
8: Diarmuid Stritch
9: Cathal O’Connell
12: Aidan Moriarty
11: John Conlon
10: Colm O’Meara
13: Micheál O’Loughlin
14: Ian Galvin
15: Michael Collins
Subs
20: Eoin Begley for D. McMahon (24, inj)
2: Logan Ryan for Conlon (30+4-30+5, BS)
18: Michael Stritch for Collins (52)
Ryan for C. Galvin (58)
Referee: Eoghan O’Leary (Whitegate)
