*Tubber’s Ronan Monahan struggles to keep his footing, his goal was decisive for their first round win. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
There were no major shocks as the race for the inaugural premier intermediate hurling championship got underway with four first round games at the weekend.
Joint favourites O’Callaghans Mills and Clarecastle negotiated their first round hurdles in the race for the Paddy Browne Cup.
Last year’s beaten finalists Tubber put in a strong final quarter to account for Tulla while a share of the spoils resulted when Ruan and Sixmilebridge did battle on Sunday.
Tubber take control in final quarter
Tubber 1-22
Tulla 1-16
Venue: Clarecastle
In a game in which the sides were level on eight occasions, Ronan Monahan’s goal for Tubber, twelve minutes into the second half proved a key score.
Before a good attendance at Clarecastle on Thursday evening, the first ever game in a Clare premier intermediate championship produced some good hurling.
For a long time a share of the spoils looked the likely outcome but Monahan’s goal sparked off a good spell for last year’s beaten finalists and they added seven points to Tulla’s one in the next fifteen minutes.
Lorcan O’Grady and Sean Withycombe traded scores from placed balls on a number of occasions throughout the hour.
At the end of a first half in which the sides were level on five occasions, Tulla went to the break leading by the minimum margin, 0-10 to 0-9.
They had the first score of the new half to go two clear but Tubber quickly levelled before points were again swapped to leave the teams deadlocked a 0-12 each.
O’Grady and Withycombe then traded frees before Colin Corbett put the Tulla men one clear, 0-14 to 0-13.
Tubber captain Patrick O’Connor then found Ronan Monahan with a good delivery and Monahan got past the Tulla defence and shot to the net.
(All photographs by Gerard O’Neill)
Lorcan O’Grady, Monahan and Joe Clancy followed with points as both sides rung the changes with the introduction of Senan Dunford making a huge difference for Tubber. In the final ten minutes he struck for 0-3 from play.
To their credit Tulla finished strongly and substitute Niall Bolton struck for their goal when he converted a penalty. As the East Clare men piled on the pressure in search of more goals, the winner’s defence held firm with Joey Droney particularly impressive.
Others to play key roles for the winners were James Howard, Cathal Droney, and Clive Earley.
Paul Lynch, Padraic Mulconroy, Ryan Hayes and Colin Corbett did well for Tulla.
Tubber; Ronan Taaffe (0-1, f); Darragh O’Connor, Fergal O’Grady, Joey Droney; Pappy Taaffe, Patrick O’Connor, James Howard; Cathal Droney (0-1), Ronan Monahan (1-1); Clive Earley (0-2), Padraig Kelly, Lorcan O’Grady (0-8, 5f, 1’65); Joe Clancy (0-4), Oscar Dunford, Blaine Earley (0-1).
Subs: Senan Dunford (0-3) for O Dunford (44); Mark Earley for C. Earley (60).
Tulla: Daniel Vaughan; Fionn Ryan, Paul Lynch, Kevin Conlon; Jimmy O’Gorman, Ryan Hayes, Padraic Mulconroy; David Meehan, Eanna Culloo; Colin Corbett (0-4), Dan Withycombe (0-2), William Halpin (0-1); Emmett Mulcahy (0-1), Darragh Corry, Sean Withycombe (0-8, 6f)
Subs: Tony Leyden for E Culloo (37); Niall Bolton (1-0, pen.) for D. Corry (43); Ronan Molloy for W Halpin (44); Andrew Conheady for D. Withycombe (46); Cathal Culloo for R. Molloy (inj. 50).
Referee: Niall Malone (Éire Óg)
Twelve share in Mills’ impressive tally
O’Callaghans Mills 2-32
Killanena 1-14
Venue: Scariff
O’Callaghans Mills, one of the favourites for the TUS premier intermediate title, got their campaign off to a winning start when they recorded a comfortable win over Killanena at Scariff on Friday evening.
Killanena received a huge boost ahead of the tie when key players Keith Smyth and Ian Macnamara returned from the U.S. where they had been for the summer and they lined out at centre back and centre forward.
However, their presence wasn’t enough to stop an O’Callaghans Mills outfit that has been growing in confidence throughout the season to date.
At the end of a fairly even fought opening half the Mills were 0-16 to 0-12 ahead.
On an evening when twelve players shared in their impressive tally, they took control in the second period and goals from Seanie Boyce and substitute Mark Pewter helped them to pull clear of their opponents
Jacob Loughnane top scored with 0-11, 0-7 coming from placed balls while Seanie Boyce contributed 1-6 to their tally.
Keith Smyth, Mark Flaherty and Toby O’Meara each contributed 0-4 to Killanena’s tally while Gearoid Keane was their goalscorer.
In round two the Mills will face another first round winner in Tubber while Parteen/Meelick will have their first outing when they take on Tulla.
O’Callaghans Mills; Killian Nugent (0-1, f); Micheal Cotter (0-1), Conor Cooney, Gerry Cooney; Aidan Fawl (0-2), Aidan O’Gorman (0-2), Sean O’Gorman (0-1); Fionn Hickey (0-1), Mike McGrath; Jacob Loughnane (0-11, 7f), Darragh Moroney (0-2), Sean Cotter (0-3); Sean Boyce (1-6), Cormac Murphy (0-2), Conor Henry
Subs; Mark Pewter (1-0) for Conor Henry (inj.); Keith Donnellan for Sean O’ Gorman; Colm Cleary for Cormac Murphy; Stephen Donnellan for Mike McGrath
Killlanena; Colin Moloney; Ryan Keane, Jason Keenan, Aidan McMahon; Aaron Moloney, Ian McNamara, Donal Moloney; Shane Broderick, Micheal Smyth; Seamus O’Donnell, Keith Smyth (0-4, 2f), Ronan Keane (0-2); Mark Flaherty (0-4 frees), Toby O’Meara (0-4), Gearoid Keane (1-0);
Subs; Darren McMahon for R. Keane; Seamus Keane for I. McNamara; Ronan Bowes for R. Keane; Diarmuid McMahon for G. Keane
Referee: Pat Healy (Kilmaley)
Doherty leads the way for Clarecastle
Clarecastle 1-22
Whitegate 0-17
Venue: The Evicted Field, Bodyke
Harry Doherty top scored with 1-5 as Clarecastle got their challenge for premier intermediate honours off to a winning start when they accounted for Whitegate at Bodyke on Saturday evening.
Doherty’s first half goal helped his side to be four clear at the break when the score was 1-12 to 0-11.
The sides were evenly matched early on but the game’s only major gave the Magpies a lead they held to the finish.
Whitegate battled hard in the third quarter and got to within a point of the winners but the Magpeies finished strong for a comfortable win.
Despite Whitegate’s best efforts, Clarecastlle held the edge through the second half when Conor Whelan and Paul O’Connell also chipped in with important scores as nine players got on the scoresheet for the winners.
Midfielder Conor Whelan was the East Clare side’s main marksman, contributing 0-8 to his side’s tally.
Clarecastle: Cian Broderick, David Tuohy, Aaron Hayes, Stephen O’Halloran, Evan Price, Cian Galvin (0-1), Darragh Healy, Colin Brigdale (0-2), Conor Whelan (0-3), Conor Ralph (0-1), Oisín Whelan (0-3, f), Conor Halpin (0-3), Paul O’Connell (0-2), Eoghan Wallace (0-1), Harry Doherty (1-5, 0-2f)
Subs: Ronan Donnelly for Evan Price; Rory O’Connell (0-1) for Eoghan Wallace; Josh Brack for Oisin Whelan;
Whitegate; Andrew Fahey; Dylan White, Donal Burke, Conor McDermott; Liam Murray, Eoin Quirke, Kalum Fahy; Conor Whelan (0-8, 6f) Mikey Bogenberger (0-1); Danny Hynes (0-1), Finn Madden (0-1), Ciaran Keenan (0-3); Ronan Hayes (0-3), Ian Fahy, Paddy Burke;
Sub; Harry Bogenberger for P. Burke; Cia McDermott for I. Fahy
Referee: Jarlath Donnellan (Wolfe Tones)
Lynch saves the day for Ruan
Ruan 1-20
Sixmilebridge 3-14
Venue: Páirc Michael Uí Heithir, Cratloe
There were a number of times in this premier intermediate tie at Cratloe on Sunday when Ruan looked to be pulling away for victory but they ended up having to depend on an Aidan Lynch point at the death to earn a share of the spoils
It was 0-3 each when Sixmilebridge were awarded a penalty for a foul on Cathaoir Agnew. Goalkeeper Mark Sheedy came up and drilled the ball to the net.
Ruan’s response was impressive as they hit five unanswered points on their way to a four point interval lead when the score was 0-12 to 1-5.
They had a great start to the second half, Shane Punch finding the net. Sixmilebridge responded to this with four unanswered points but Ruan were still in a strong position when they moved six clear.
An Adam Murray goal sparked a response from Sixmilebridge and they followed with points from Paul Corry and Sean Lynch to level the tie at 1-16 to 2-13.
Ruan hit back again and they had opened a two point lead with the game in ‘added time’. Dylan Downes was adjudged to have been fouled and up came goalkeeper Mark Sheedy to drill a 20m free to the net and put his side into the lead.
There was still enough time and Aidan Lynch pointed to earn his side a share of the spoils.
(All photographs by Gerard O’Neill)
Ruan; Keelan Mounsey; Jamie Ryan, Killian Ryan, Patrick O’Gorman; Ashley Brohan, James Cullinan, Brian Roughan; Darragh McInerney, Robin Mounsey (0-3, 1SC); Aidan Lynch (0-9, 7f), Jack McDonagh (0-1), Christian Cummins; Frankie Lyons (0-1), Shane Punch (1-6, 0-3 f), Patrick O’Halloran.
Sub; Daniel Guinnane for C. Cummins
Sixmilebridge: Mark Sheedy (2-0, 1 pen., 1 free); Adam Breen, Cillian Custy, Oisin Breen; Seamus O’Connell, Caimin Morey, Dara Fitzgerald; Dylan Downes, Calum Phelan (0-2); Cathaoir Agnew, Cathal Lynch, Luke Keogh; Adam Murray (1-1), Sean Lynch (0-9, 7f, 1 ‘65), Paul Corry (0-2);
Sub; Dara Casey for Keogh;
Referee: Gus Callaghan (Feakle)
Race for Pappy Callaghan cup gets underway:
The race for the new Pappy Callaghan memorial trophy also got underway with four games decided in the intermediate championship.
Favourites Smith O’Briens had nine points to spare over St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield winning on a final scoreline of 0-24 to 0-15.
Neighbours O’Callaghans Mills and Broadford played a high scoring tie with the Mills emerging with a two point win on a scoreline of 1-22 to 3-14.
Inagh/Kilnamona recorded a comfortable win over Scariff winning on a scoreline of 2-25 to 1-10.
Kilmaley completed a good weekend for the club with a 0-21 to 0-15 win over Newmarket-on-Fergus a day after their seniors had accounted for Ballyea by the minimum margin, Cian Neylon impressing for the winners in attack.
In round two Ogonnelloe and Éire Óg will enter the race, having had byes in the weekend’s opening rounds.
