*Michael Collins. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Cathal O’Connell’s point from a 60m free in the fourth minute of added time after Brian Carey had been penalised for over-carrying sealed victory for Clonlara over Sixmilebridge in the opening round of the TUS Clare SHC.
Clonlara 1-19
Sixmilebridge 1-18
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Pairc Cíosóg, Ennis
The Clare Echo’s online coverage of the Clare SHC is with thanks to The Temple Gate Hotel.
It was a result which left Clonlara followers in jubilant mood while Sixmilebridge were clearly disappointed with the end result, some not happy with the awarding of the free which led to the winning score.
This was a tie which ebbed and flowed with the eventual winners holding a slight edge for much of the tie.
Both sides lost players to injury during the course of this contest. Cathal Malone didn’t return for the second half after picking up an injury just before the half time whistle while full back Barry Fitzpatrick was helped from the pitch with a leg injury just before the three quarter mark. Seadna Morey departed the action five minutes from time.
Clonlara lost Diarmuid Stritch early in the second half and he was replaced by All Star Colm Galvin while Ian Galvin, out through injury for a number of weeks, was replaced in the closing minutes.
Points were exchanged twice in the early minutes before scores from Michael Collins and Diarmuid Stritch gave the winners a lead they would hold until ten minutes into the second half.
Clonlara held a three point advantage when John Conlon put Michael Collins through for a goal in the twentieth minute, a score which put his side six clear and which brought Collins’ tally for the opening half to 1-3.
Sixmilebridge responded impressively to that goal with points from Alex Morey (2) and Cathal Malone but the winners were four clear, 1-10 to 0-9 when the half time whistle sounded.
The margin was down to a goal seven minutes into the second half and two minutes later they were level after Brian Corry got through for his side’s goal. Alex Morey followed with a point to give his side the lead for the first time.
Michael Collins levelled before Morey put the ‘Bridge ahead again only for Colm Galvin to convert from midfield to level the tie for the fifth time with twelve minutes remaining.
Two Cathal O’Connell frees and one from John Conlon pushed Clonlara three ahead with nine to go.
The ‘Bridge hit the next two through Alex Morey before Michael Collins pointed for the winners as four minutes of ‘additional time’ were signalled.
Two Alex Morey frees tied up the contest for the sixth time and a share of the spoils looked likely but there was time for one more play and Cathal O’Connell calmly slotted what proved to be the winner from that 55m free.
The final whistle sounded as the puckout came leaving Clonlara with victory by the minimum margin, just as happened a few weeks earlier in the Clare Cup semi-final.
Logan Ryan, Padaic O’Loughlin, John Conlon, Darragh Dillon and especially Michael Collins played key roles for the winners while Paidi Fitzpatrick, Alex Morey, Barry Fitzpatrick until injured, and Jamie Shanahan got through some good work for Sixmilebridge.
Scorers Clonlara: Michael Collins (1-5); Cathal O’Connell (0-7, 6frees, 1 ‘65); Diarmuid Stritch, John Conlon (0-2) each; Ian Galvin, Darragh Dillon, Colm Galvin (0-1) each
Scorers Sixmilebridge; Alex Morey (0-11, 8 frees, 1’ 65); Brian Corry (1-0); Jamie Shanahan (0-2), Lorcan Fitzpatrick, Cathal Malone, Davy Kennedy, Fiachra O’Braoin, Paidi Fitzpatrick (0-1) each
Clonlara;
1: Alan Murnane;
2: Paul McNamara,
3: Oisin O’Brien,
4; Logan Ryan;
7: Paraic O’Loughlin
6: Aidan Moriarty
5: Dylan McMahon,
22; Colm O’Meara
8: Diarmuid Stritch;
10: John Conlon
11; Daniel Moloney
17; Cathal O’Connell;
13; Darragh Dillon
14; Ian Galvin
15; Michael Collins;
Subs:
12; Colm Galvin for D. Stritch (inj. 39);
18; Kieran Galvin for D. Moloney (42);
19: Ciaran Howard for P McNamara (52)
23: Bryan McLeish for I. Gavin (63)
Sixmilebridge;
1: Derek Fahy
2: Colm Flynn
3: Barry Fitzpatrick
5: Seadna Morey;
9; Brian Carey
6; Paidi Fittzpatrick
4: Noel Purcell
8; Matthew O’Halloran
17; Cathal Malone;
10: Lorcan Fitzpatrick,
11; Jamie Shanahan,
14; Shane Golden;
13; Davy Kennedy
12; Alex Morey,
15; Brian Corry;
Subs:
19 Fiachra O’Braoin for Malone (inj. 29);
7; Conor Deasy for C. Flynn(37)
18; Leon Kelly for B. Fitzpatrick (inj, 43);
20; Alan Mulready for D. Kennedy (51);
21: Pa Mulready for S. Morey (56)
23; Luke O’Halloran for S. Golden (57)
Referee: Jarlath Donnellan (Wolfe Tones)
