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*Cathal McInerney weighs up his options. Photograph: Ruth Griffin
CRATLOE’s defence of their TUS Clare Senior Football Championship title began with exactly what manager Colm Collins wanted out of it, two points on the table and no injuries on the sideline.
Cratloe 2-09
St. Joseph’s Miltown Malbay 0-10
Venue: Clarecastle
By Ross O’Donoghue
St. Joseph’s Miltown will know this game was there for them. Decision making may have been the key factor over the 60 minutes although it was two green flags from Cathal McInerney and some key defensive plays from Diarmuid Ryan that made the difference on the scoreboard.
It was a bright evening in Clarecastle with a breeze over the wall on the Ennis side proving tricky for shooters. Both sides fired off a couple of wides in the opening exchanges before Sean Neylon broke the deadline after eight minutes. Before that, Cormac Murray looked odds on for goal after some great footwork but his shot was straight into the chest of Padraigh Chaplain.
Chaplin’s kickouts were short and his back six looked comfortable bringing the ball up the field, including Eoin Carey, a late call-up at corner back for Liam Markham. Miltown lined out as per programme and led 0-2 to 0-0 after twelve minutes thanks to Kieran Malone.
Miltown cúl báire Sean O’Brien was hitting the wings to great effect off the kicking tee, but Cratloe’s half forwards were starting to get on top. Tommy Rooney was relishing the physical exchanges and opened Cratloe’s account after a strong run up the middle from Conal O’Hanlon. O’Hanlon was next to score when he opted to take the mark in space and tap one over after fifteen minutes.
McInerney’s first goal was next. A low ball into the full-forward line broke loose and when Miltown failed to clear, last year’s top scorer in the championship was on hand to finish coolly to the keeper’s left. Podge Collins was next to score and after an errant start, Cratloe found themselves four points up after eighteen minutes.
Euan Lineen and Kieran Malone were starting to find pockets of space in Cratloe’s rear guard. They both got shots away from tight angles to reduce the deficit and the intensity was ramping up. Both sides were forced into conceding scoreable frees. Cathal McInerney picked off a couple either side of a Cormac Murray free.
Murray, the only man on the field to feature in the Clare’s Munster Football Championship campaign did brilliantly to catch high and shoot low at short range after 25 minutes. Diarmuid Ryan did equally well to get the block in and was imposing himself on the game. Moments earlier he made a big statement in midfield, rising highest to claim a Miltown kickout.
The score of the half went to Miltown’s Cian Mahoney after 28 minutes but there was still time for McInerney to clip over a third free, leaving the South Clare men 1-06 to 0-06 up at the break.
Miltown came out with a degree of urgency from the restart. Oisin Looney saw one go wide but Martin Guerin’s men were pushing up well, Cormac Murray pointing from a turnover after thirty three minutes.
Both sides were both pinged for steps in attacking positions before Murray again profited from Miltown’s press. Cratloe were getting pinned in their own half, prompting Podge Collins to drop back as an outlet. Miltown still worked themselves into two scoring positions to level the game, but Murray and Darragh McDonagh both saw their efforts go wide. Chance missed?
McInerney converted a free from an acute angle before his second major of the evening for Cratloe. Podge Collins disguised the low pass inside and Macca again found a way to finish under pressure. Diarmuid Ryan made another statement catch in midfield and was more than able for anything physical that came his way.
The sweetest point of the day belonged to Cratloe’s David Collins on thirty seven minutes. The corner back hit the brakes, turned inside and let one fly off the outside of his right boot, curling over the bar towards the clubhouse.
Miltown looked intent on getting a goal to force their way back. Ageless at 41, Gordon Kelly had a couple of raids up the pitch and a low shot cleared off the line for a 45. Murray and substitute Ralph Whelehan saw efforts go wide off the post.
Cratloe withstood the mortar launches into their goalmouth, even as Miltown’s sideline was calling for points over the bar with overall scoring difference in mind. Despite the five-point defeat, St. Joseph’s won’t need to hit the panic button in a group where three teams advance to the quarter-final.
Scorers Cratloe: C McInerney (2-05 5f), D Collins (0-01), P Collins (0-01), C O’Hanlon (0-01), T Rooney (0-01).
Scorers St. Joseph’s Miltown Malbay: K Malone (0-03), C Murray (0-03 1f), C Mahoney (0-02 1f), E Lineen (0-01), S Neylon (0-01).
Cratloe:
1: Padraigh Chaplin
2: David Collins
3: Kevin Harnett (c)
21: Eoin Carey
5: Enda Boyce
6: Michael Brennan
7: Riain McNamara
8: Diarmuid Ryan
9: Conor Ryan
10: Conal O’Hanlon
11: Sean Collins
12: Tommy Rooney
13: Padraic Collins
14: Cathal McInerney
15: Rian Considine
Subs:
24: Jamie Moylan for T Rooney (43)
28: Jack Danagher for S Collins (51)
St. Joseph’s Miltown Malbay:
1: Sean O’Brien
2: Enda O’Gorman (c)
3: Seanie Malone
4: Eoin O’Brien
5: Cian Mahoney
6: Gordon Kelly
7: Oisin Looney
8: Darragh McDonagh
9: Paul Frawley
10: Jamesie O’Connor
11: Brian Curtin
12: Kieran Malone
13: Sean Neylon
14: Euan Lineen
15: Cormac Murray
Subs:
30: Paul Keane for S Neylon (51)
17: Cormac Devitt for E Lineen (57)
25: Ralph Whelehan for P Frawley (43)
Referee: Fergal O’Brien (Broadford)
