*Cathal McInerney controls the sliotar ahead of Colin Ryan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

It had to take a late brace of goals to finally rubber-stamp Cratloe’s first semi-final appearance in three years following a deserved derby victory over Newmarket-on-Fergus in Cusack Park on Saturday afternoon.

Cratloe 2-23
Newmarket-on-Fergus 2-16
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

The seeds of victory were sown in a dominant first half display in which led by the electric Podge Collins, seven different scorers contributed to a powerful second quarter in which Cratloe outscored their neighbours by 0-9 to 0-2 to ease 0-14 to 0-5 clear by the break.

That cushion would eventually be stretched to ten at the start of the second period. However, far from being game over, the Blues, who were surprisingly lacking their usual battling qualities, finally found their feet with the aid of the conditions.

A brace of Eoin Guilfoyle goal chances went abegging but Newmarket remained steadfast, with a five point unanswered blitz from play through Colin Ryan, Eoin Hayes, Peter Power, Niall O’Connor and Eoin Guilfoyle slashed the deficit to just four entering the final quarter at 0-16 to 0-12.

Cratloe did relievedly halt a 15 minute barren patch through points from Shane Gleeson and the immense Diarmuid Ryan by the 52nd minute, only to be sucker-punched by a superb Peter Power strike that billowed the left corner of the net following great work from Eoin Hayes at 0-19 to 1-14.

It seemed to come at just the right time for Newmarket but as quickly as they gathered momentum, they would be left deflated by a devastating brace of Cratloe goals within the space of a minute nearing the hour mark.

The first was a brilliant solo goal from Rian Considine to turn his marker and finish to the net while he inadvertently turned provider for the second in the next passage of play as he shot was only parried into the path of substitute Sean Gallagher to providing the finishing touches at 2-21 to 1-15
.

Newmarket did score a consolation goal with the final puck of the game when a foul on Coin Guilfoyle saw Colin Ryan emphatically convert the penalty to the right corner. However, there was no denying the merits of Cratloe’s victory, even if they made harder work of it than entirely necessary.

Scorers for Cratloe: Rian Considine (1-8, 3f, 3’65); Cathal McInerney, Shane Gleeson, Diarmuid Ryan (0-3 each); Sean Gallagher (1-0); Podge Collins, Conor McGrath (0-2 each); Daithi Collins, Shane Neville (0-1 each)

Scorers for Newmarket-on-Fergus: Colin Ryan (1-4, 1-0 Pen, 1f, 1’65); Peter Power (1-2, 1f); Liam Clancy (0-3f); Eoin Guilfoyle, Mikey McInerney (0-2 each); Colin Guilfoyle, Eoin Hayes, Niall O’Connor (0-1 each)

Cratloe:
1: Gearoid Ryan

4: Damien Browne
3: Liam Markham
2: David Collins

5: Shane Neville
6: Diarmuid Ryan
7: Sean Collins

8: Daithi Collins
19: Sam Sheehy

13: Shane Gleeson
12: Cathal McInerney
9: Conor McGrath

11: Padraic Collins
14: Mikey Hawes
15: Rian Considine

Subs:
20: Jack Donnelly for Sheedy (46)
22: Sean Gallagher for D. Collins (48)
17: Emmet Costigan for Daithi Collins (61)

Newmarket-on-Fergus
1: Ronan McCormack

2: Sean O’Connor
3: James McInerney
4: Jack Enright

5: Colin Guilfoyle
6: Enda Barrett
7: Stephen Casey

8: Paudie McMahon
10: Mikey McInerney

14: Colin Ryan
11: John Feehily
12: Liam Clancy

15: Peter Power
9: Eoin Guilfoyle
13: Éanna Crimmins

Substitutes:
17: Niall O’Connor for Enright (27)
18: Eoin Hayes for Clancy (HT)
20: Frank Melody for N. O’Connor (60, inj)

Referee: Niall Malone (Éire Óg)

Related News

peter o'connell madeline taylor quinn patrick keane páraic mcmahon
The Electoral Chair: What will influence West Clare voters / Peninsula penetration of runners
ge2020 count 3 joseph woulfe
Joseph Woulfe phones in to run as Independent candidate in West Clare
dora gola
'A boom like a warning from the deep'
boylesports roslevan 1
Judge jails balaclava covered knife wielding robber
Latest News
dora gola
'A boom like a warning from the deep'
boylesports roslevan 1
Judge jails balaclava covered knife wielding robber
enzo d'auria
The Italian Job: How the movie industry brought Enzo to Ennis
clare v down 24-03-24 ronan lanigan shane annett
Lanigan looks to the bright side as Clare's league campaign ends
Shirley Brohan headshot
Blossoms on the Go garden centre's tip for the final week of March.
Premium
enzo d'auria
The Italian Job: How the movie industry brought Enzo to Ennis
clare v down 24-03-24 ronan lanigan shane annett
Lanigan looks to the bright side as Clare's league campaign ends
martina cleary 1
Sinn Féin announce Clare Pyrite Action Group founder Martina Cleary as Killaloe MD candidate
colette cowan 1
UHL CEO Cowan returns from leave period
helen downes 1
'We'll meet on our terms & not be dictated to by Shannon Chamber' - Shannon Town Cllrs

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Scroll to Top