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*Podge Collins and Marc O’Brien celebrate. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
TWO GOALS in the dying stages of additional time rescued a draw for Cratloe in a pulsating clash with O’Callaghans Mills on Saturday evening.
Cratloe 4-15
O’Callaghans Mills 1-24
Venue: O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge
In what was a very entertaining second half in Sixmilebridge, Cratloe saw their half-time advantage of three points slip and they found themselves trailing by six points with five minutes remaining and this remained the gap when additional time commenced.
Marc O’Brien struck for their third goal as the game entered the four minutes of additional time to renew hope for Alan Neville’s side.
2013 All-Ireland winner Conor Ryan scored the all-important equalising goal in the very last move of the game. Rian Considine stepped over a free from distance, he lobbed the ball into the danger area where Ryan rose highest and flicked the sliotar to the back of Killian Nugent’s net.
There was a stunned silence when Jarlath Donnellan sounded the final whistle in the seconds after this. Cratloe supporters admitted they got out of jail while the Mills were in disbelief that having done so well in the second half to get in control, that they let victory slip from their grasp.
Though Cratloe led 2-9 0-12 at half-time, the tie itself was far from clear-cut and it took on a life of its own in the second half where Liam Murphy led the way for O’Callaghans Mills as they produced a nine point turnaround to put themselves in a commanding spot entering the closing stages.
For both the beginning and end of the first half, O’Callaghans Mills were quickest out of the blocks. They began proceedings with three points on the trot, Cormac Murphy pointing straight from the throw-in with efforts from Aidan Fawl and his younger brother Liam following.
By the fifth minute, Cratloe were within a point, Daire Neville and Jamie Moylan getting them off the mark.
Two Jacob Loughnane frees and a Fionn Hickey point helped the Mills to create their biggest lead of the day, a four point gap by the ninth minute.
Not for the first time, the game was turned on its head when Cratloe struck 1-2 in a five minute spell. Rian Considine struck for goal as a long delivery went over the heads of the Mills’ defence while Fionn Hickey lost his footing in the same movement, Considine soloed form fifty yards before striking to the net.
Though Loughnane responded with a free, Cratloe again hit for 1-2 without reply. Podge Collins had their second goal when he produced his trademark wizardry to weave, twist and turn before finishing to the corner of the net.
Finishing the half strongly, the Mills tapped over three points in succession to lower the deficit to 2-9 0-12.
They had a much bigger input in the second half, between the forty fifty and fifty fifth minute, they scored 1-6 without reply to put themselves on course for a first Clare SHC win since 2023.
Liam Murphy in particular ran riot in attack for the Mills. While he only scored a point off Eoin Carey in the opening half, the former Clare minor then landed 0-3 off Oisin Collins and 1-1 off Cathal Lohan when he showed his talent. He was aided by an excellent supply of ball and the Mills forwards pulling their opponents out wide which left the pacy corner forward with the space to cause damage.
Seán Boyce had the first score of the half before Cratloe replied with three points in a row.
Changes made by Seán Doyle and his management made a difference for the Mills. Ciaran Cooney tackled hard when introduced to defence, Conor Henry grew into the game in the middle third and Mark Pewter laid off the ball for Murphy on his way to getting their goal.
Doyle’s side were dominating the play, trailed 2-14 0-17 at the end of the third quarter but hit their groove with 1-6 without reply.
They held that six point advantage when four minutes of additional time was signalled but Cratloe produced the goods when the need was greatest to collect their second draw of the championship while it is the first point on the board for the Mills.
Scorers Cratloe: R Considine (1-4 2f), M O’Brien (1-1), D Ryan (0-3), D Neville (0-3), C Ryan (1-0), P Collins (1-0) C McGrath (0-2 1’65), Jamie Moylan (0-2).
Scorers O’Callaghans Mills: J Loughnane (0-10 10f), L Murphy (1-4), S Boyce (0-3), C Murphy (0-2), A Fawl (0-1), F Hickey (0-1), D Moroney (0-1), A O’Gorman (0-1), C Henry (0-1).
All photographs by Gerard O’Neill.
Cratloe:
1: Eoin Deegan
2: Eoin Carey
3: Shane Gleeson
4: Cathal Lohan
5: Jamie Moylan
7: Diarmuid Ryan
9: Enda Boyce
8: Riain McNamara
10: Daire Neville
12: Marc O’Brien
11: Conor McGrath
17: Conor Ryan
13: Podge Collins
15: John Flanagan
14: Rian Considine
Subs:
20: Oisin Collins for Carey (35)
19: Jake Moylan for Flanagan (44)
O’Callaghans Mills:
1: Killian Nugent
4: Keith Donnellan
3: Conor Cooney
2: Niall Melody
5: Seán Cotter
6: Aidan O’Gorman
7: Aidan Fawl
8: Fionn Hickey
9: Cormac Murphy
12: Stephen Donnellan
11: Darragh Moroney
20: Jacob Loughnane
13: Seán Boyce
14: Bryan Donnellan
15: Liam Murphy
Subs:
10: Conor Henry for S Donnellan (25)
30: Ciaran Cooney for K Donnellan (HT)
24: Colm Cleary for B Donnellan (HT)
19: Mark Pewter for Moroney (50)
17: Colin Crehan for Loughnane (60) (inj)
Referee: Jarlath Donnellan (Wolfe Tones)
