*Feakle/Killanena’s Keith Smyth holds off Matthew Corbett and Evan Maxted of Clooney/Quin. Photograph: Ruth Griffin
CLARE HURLING followers can look forward with confidence to more titles for the Banner county on the inter county front in the coming seasons if this weekend’s games in the under 21 championship are an indication.
Three quarter final games in the race for the A title all went down to the wire with all three producing some outstanding play.
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield, Inagh/Kilnamona and title holders Feakle/Killanena have booked their places in the semi-final and they will be joined by Éire Óg or Scariff/Ogonnelloe whose clash takes place on Friday night.
Meanwhile the way is clear for the B semi-finals with Kilmaley, Clarecastle, Cratloe and Broadford safely through.
The way is also clear for the semi-finals of the under 21 C championship. Banner, O’Callaghans Mills, Crusheen and Ruan have qualified thanks to their victories over Parteen/Meelick, Smith O’Briens, Corofin and Wolfe Tones respectively on this Sunday morning.
There was just one game in the D1 championship with Ennistymon recording a 5-17 to 2-17 win over Tubber. They join Whitegate, Kilkee/Bealaha and Bodyke in the semi-finals.
In the D2 competition St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield, Clarecastle and Éire Óg are through to the semi-finals thanks to victories over Scariff/Ogonnelloe, Inagh/Kilnamona and Sixmilebridge respectively. They will be joined in the semi-final by Clooney/Quin who received a bye.
Smyth sparkles for the champions
Feakle-Killanena 4-22
Clooney-Quin 2-24
Venue: Dr Daly Park, Tulla
A tally of 1-14 from Keith Smyth was one of many highlights in this cracking contest at Dr Daly Park on Saturday afternoon.
This tie ebbed and flowed from start to finish with extra time required to separate the teams.
Indeed for much of the contest a penalty shootout looked to be on the cards so evenly matched were the sides. On an afternoon when the teams were level on ten occasions, both sides had periods of dominance.
When they reflect on this both will be disappointed with the number of wides they amassed.
Clooney/Quin were quickest out of the traps hitting three points without reply in the opening five minutes. Feakle/Killanena responded with three to level the game for the first time.
Clooney/Quin had pushed three ahead by the end of the opening quarter but two minutes into the second quarter Smyth struck for the game’s opening goal, levelling the tie for the third time.
They then hit three in a row before Clooney-Quin came roaring back, helped by a Callum Hassett goal.
When the half time whistle sounded it was 1-10 to 1-9 in the winner’s favour.
Clooney/Quin levelled on the resumption but Feakle/Killanena responded with an Eoin McGann goal and, at the turn of the final quarter, Ronan Keane found the net to push his side five clear, 3-12 to 1-13.
Points were exchanged before Clooney/Quin hit a purple patch landing five in a row to level matters as the game went into ‘added time’.
David Considine struck for a point which Clooney/Quin supporters cheered loudly believing that it was the winning score but from the resumption of play Feakle/Killanena won a free in midfield and from 70m, Keith Smyth levelled matters yet again.
Points were exchanged three times in the opening minutes of the first period of extra time but the title holders finished this first period strongly shooting 1-2 without reply, the goal coming from Oisin O’Connor.
Clooney/Quin were dealt a huge blow at the start of the second period of extra time when Jack O’Neill was shown a straight red card.
Two minutes later both were down to fourteen after Darren McMahon picked up a second yellow which led to his dismissal.
Six points separated the sides as the game moved towards the end of extra time but a Darragh Keogh goal brought Clooney/Quin to within a goal of the winners. Time wasn’t on their side and Keith Smyth fired over the final score of a cracking tie to give his side a four point win.
Smyth, Oisin Clune, Adam Hogan, Ian Macnamara, Ronan O’Connor, Ronan Keane and Aaron Moloney were amongst the heroes for the winners while Evan Maxted, David Considine, Matthew Corbett, Callum Hassett, Jerry O’Connor and Dannan Fox were to the fore for Clooney/Quin.
Feakle-Killanena: Seamus O’Donnell (Killanena); Darren McMahon (Killanena), Eoghan Daly (Feakle), Ryan Keane (Killanena); Oisin Clune (Feakle) 0-1, Adam Hogan (Feakle), Padraig O’Callaghan (Killanena); Ronan O’Connor (Feakle) 0-2, Ian McNamara (Killanena) 0-1; Ronan Keane (Killanena) 1-1, Eoghan McGann (Feakle) 1-0, Patrick Daly (Feakle) 0-1; Aaron Moloney (Killanena) 0-2, Keith Smyth (Killanena) 1-14, 6f, 3 ‘65’s, Oisin O’Connor (Feakle) 1-0;
Subs: Ronan Bowes (Killanena) for McGann; Sean Walsh (Feakle) for A. Moloney; McGann for Ronan Keane (inj); Tommy Walsh (Feakle) for P. Daly
Clooney/Quin: Cathal Leamy; Fionn O’Gara, Evan Maxted, Sean McNamara; David Considine(0-1), John Conneally, Matthew Corbett (0-7, 6f,1’65); John Cahill, Sam Scanlon; Calum Hassett (1-3), Jack O’Neill (0-1), Darragh Keogh (1-1); Dylan Cunningham, Jerry O’Connor (0-7, 5f), Dannan Fox (0-3).
Subs: Darragh White for Cunningham; Darragh McNamara (0-1) for Keogh; P.J. McCarthy for White;
Referee: John Bugler (Whitegate)
All photographs by Ruth Griffin
Strong second half showing by Doora/Barefield
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 0-19
Corofin/Ruan 2-12
Venue: Gurteen
Five points in arrears at half time, St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield staged a strong second half rally to secure a one point win over Corofin/Ruan in the first of this season’s under 21 hurling championship games.
This win, at their own grounds in Gurteen on Friday night, has sent them into the championship semi-final.
First half goals from James Organ and Frankie Lyons steered the combination side to a 2-6 to 0-7 half time lead and at this stage everything pointed to victory form the side.
However a strong second half showing from the home side allied to the loss of Marc O’Loughlin from the Corofin/Ruan side due to injury saw matters turn in favour of the Doora/Barefield outfit for whom Padraic O’Donovan top scored with 0-6 to his credit while Eoghan Talty and Darragh McMahon contributed 0-3 each.
The game’s top scorer was James Organ who contributed 1-8, 1-3 coming from open play.
The losers finished with fourteen players after Cillian McGroary was sent off in the closing minutes.
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Evan Creavan; Fionn Kelleher, Paddy Nagle, Ciaran O’Driscoll; Mark O’Connor, Eoin McMahon, Francis Meaney; Ian Williams (0-1), Dara Nagle; Darragh Ball (0-1), Eoghan Talty (0-3), Padraic O’Donovan (0-6); Ogie Fanning (0-2), Michael Nash, Eoin Lahiffe (0-1)
Subs; Darragh McMahon (0-3) for M. Nash; Tom Curran for M. O’Connor; Conor Daly for D. Ball; Cian Moloney (0-2) for O. Fanning
Corofin/Ruan; Keelan Mounsey (Ruan); Marc O’Loughlin (Corofin), Tom O’Halloran (Ruan), Colin Fitzgerald (Corofin); Jason Power (Ruan), Piaras Ó Sé (Ruan), Cillian McGroary (Corofin); Alan Woodford (Ruan), Dara McInerney (Ruan); Cathal Flanagan (Corofin), James Organ (Corofin) 1-8, Ryan Power (Ruan); Frankie Lyons (Ruan) 1-0), Jack McDonagh (Ruan) 0-1, James Cullinan (Ruan) 0-3;
Subs: Jason Ryan (Ruan) for O’Loughlin (inj); Christian Cummins (Ruan) for Flanagan; Killian O’Connor (Corofin) for Woodford;
Referee: Kevin Corry (Sixmilebridge)
Inagh/Kilnamona by the minimum margin
Inagh/Kilnamona 1-20
Sixmilebridge 1-19
Venue: Gurteen
Five points in front at half time, Inagh/Kilnamona had to survive a strong second half showing by Sixmilebridge before emerging with the minimum margin to spare in this under 21A quarter final played at Gurteen on Saturday afternoon
Ronan Mescall’s goal put the winners 1-13 to 0-11 in front at the midway point and the favourites tag rested with them progressing as they headed into the second half.
Showing greater determination on the resumption, Sixmilebridge started to close the gap, helped greatly by the accurarcy of senior player David Kennedy who top scored on the day with 0-13 to his name, nine coming from placed balls.
In the end, however, time wasn’t on their side and the Mid-Clare side justified favouritism and held on for victory and a place in the last four.
Inagh/Kilnamona: Frank Roughan; Conor Rynne, James Cullinan, Mark Callinan; Neil Hegarty, Ricky Wynne, Jamie Wynne; James Hegarty (0-8, 5f), Sean Rynne (0-1); Keith Barry (0-2), Niall Mullins (0-1), Fred Hegarty (0-4, 1f); Josh Guyler (0-3), Ronan Mescall (1-1), Jack Cullinan.
Subs: Cathal Ryan for J. Cullinan; Michael Cotter for K. Barry
Sixmilebridge; Mark Sheedy; Michael Carey, John Deasy, Evan O’Callaghan; Luke O’Halloran, Fiachra Ó Braoin, Dara Fitzgerald (0-1); Mattthew O’Halloran (0-2), Colm Flynn (0-1); Calum Phelan (0-1), Adam Murray, Seamus O’Connell; David Kennedy (0-13, 9f), Fionn Hayes, Dara Casey (1-1);
Subs; Cian Gleeson for F Hayes; Jack O’Halloran for S. O’Connell; Evan Murphy for D Casey (inj); Conor Gilligan for C. Phelan
Referee: Eoghan O’Leary (Whitegate)
Magpies in control against old rivals
Clarecastle 2-24
Newmarket 2-10
Venue: Clooney
Clarecastle were angry when they weren’t included in the A competition and a fourteen point win over Newmarket on Saturday morning is sure to raise the argument again as to how teams were graded for this competition.
Eight players shared in their impressive tally with Paul O’Connell leading the way with 1-8.
Clare minor player Conor Ralph was the team’s other goalscorer as the Magpies comfortably progressed to the semi-final of the B championship. That said, at the beginning of the second half Newmarket-on-Fergus trailed by three points but their challenge soon evaporated.
They had a very strong start when after Adam Enright did well to save a penalty, Newmarket full-back Mark Delaney was dispossessed after retrieving the rebound and suddenly Enright was picking the sliotar out of the net.
Both sides racked up plenty of wides but Clarecastle were the much stronger side with runners and shooters in abundance. Their strong attack yielded a combined 2-18 compared to a return of 2-5 from Newmarket’s starting six forwards.
All photographs by Chris Copley
Clarecastle; Fionn Morgan; Niall Brigdale, Filip Wiechinski, Sam Browne; Conor Griffin, Aaron Hayes, Evan O’Connell; Conor Whelan (0-1), Oisin Whelan (0-5); Harry Doherty (0-3), Rory O’Connell (0-4), Evan Price (0-1); Paul O’Connell (1-8), Conor Ralph (1-1), Scott Brack (0-1);
Sub: Johnny Casey for Evan Price
Newmarket-on-Fergus: Adam Enright (0-2); Dylan Crowe, Mark Delaney, Ronan O’Rourke; Damian Lyne, Jamie Power, Cathal Cullinane; Darragh Jones, Sean Arthur (0-3); Sol Frost (0-1), John Hogan (0-1), Ryan Rooney; Josh Ryan (1-0), Seadhna Liddy (1-3), John Lynch;
Subs: Andrew Costello for Rl Rooney; Cathal Crimmins for J Ryan; Zach Treacy for J. Lynch; Jonah Liddy for J. Hogan; Luke Hayes for S Frost;
Referee: Gus Callaghan (Feakle)
Second half goals seal it for Kilmaley
Kilmaley 2-14
Ballyea 0-13
Venue: Clarecastle
Two second half goals from Darragh Culligan helped Kilmaley overturn a one point half time deficit to qualify for the under 21 B semi-final at the expense of neighbours Ballyea at Clarecastle on Saturday.
At the end of a well fought first half, Ballyea led by the minimum margin, 0-8 to 0-7.
Kilmaley stepped up a gear in the second half and the goals proved crucial as they recorded a merited win, helped by a six point haul from midfielder Cian Neylon.
Kilmaley; Josh Daniels; Aaron Clohessy, David Cahill, Evan Casey; Luke Reid, Brian McNamara (0-1), Joe Casey; Thomas Maguire, Cian Neylon (0-6, 4f); Colin Carmody (0-1), Colm Killeen (0-3), Darragh Culligan (2-1); Dylan Keane Hayes (0-2), Tomas Clancy, Evan Cahill;
Subs; Pa Clancy for E. Cahill; James Murphy for T. Clancy; Ben McMahon for L. Reed; Stephen Murphy for E. Casey; Luke Griffin for D Culligan;
Ballyea; Darragh O’Neill; Conor Hill, Evan Flynn, Evan Wall; Darragh Moylan, Cillian Gavin, Eoin Kennedy (0-9. 6 f); Niall Carigg, Daniel Costelloe (0-3); Kieran McDonnell, Enda Breen, Ciaran Connolly; Luke Minogue, Cian Kirby, Dylan Killoughery;
Subs: Colm Meaney for L Minogue; Darragh Coote for E. Breen
Referee: Paul Howard, Ruan;
Champions make a winning start
Broadford 3-17
Clonlara 2-16
Venue: Meelick
Under 21 B champions Broadford took a step towards retaining the title when they accounted for Clonlara at Meelick on Saturday.
Ahead by two points at half time, they also won the second half by two for an overall victory by four points.
Two Denis Fahy goals helped them to a 2-9 to 1-10 half time lead on a day when Niall O’Farrell top scored for the winners with 0-10 to his name.
Michael Collins was outstanding for Clonlara and he top scored for them with 1-7.
Broadford; Peter Farrell; Noah Corbett, Cathal O’Sullivan, T.J. Dillon; Mark Gunning, Conor O’Donnell, Sam Cooper; James Quinn-Tuite (0-1), Gearoid Vaughan; Niall O’Farrell (0-10, 9f, 1 ‘65), Eoin Gunning (0-3), John Moran; Michael Vaughan (0-2), Denis Fahy (2-0), Jack Slattery;
Subs; Aodan O’Driscoll for J. Moran; Aidan Flynn (1-1) for M. Gunning (inj); Paul McNamara for J. Slattery; Michael O’Donoghue for D. Fahy;
Clonlara; Seimi Gully; Cian Begley, Cillian Playon, Padraig Reddan; Dara Dillon, James McCormick, Ciaran Howard (0-2); Diarmuid Stritch (0-1), Conor Cahill; Dean O’Gorman (0-1) James Carmody, Jack Hickey (0-1); Michael Collins (1-7), Mark Walsh, Eoin Begley (1-4).
Subs; Gearoid O’Brien for P Reddan (inj.); Philip Cunningham for C. Cahill; Andrew Fitzgerald for J. Carmody
Referee: Johnnie Healy (Smith O’Briens)
Thirteen man Cratloe progress
Cratloe 1-20
Tulla 1-17
Venue: O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge
Despite finishing with thirteen players, Cratloe still managed to record a merited win over Tulla in this under 21 B quarter final played at Sixmilebridge on Saturday.
They were reduced to fourteen six minutes before half time when Jack Donnelly was dismissed and ten minutes from the end Eanna Collins picked up a second yellow which ended his involvement in the game.
After Tulla had opened the scoring, Cratloe struck for a Tadhg Lohan goal followed by a point from Eoin Carey and from here to the finish they led.
They held a five point advantage at half time when the score was 1-10 to 0-8 and they maintained the advantage throughout the second half. Tulla’s goal came in injury time when Ryan Hayes converted from the penalty spot.
Cratloe: Eoin Deegan; Eanna Collins, Jake Higgins, Oisin Collins; Cathal Lohan, Jamie Moylan (0-1), Riain McNamara; Sam Sheedy (0-1), Eoin Carey (0-2); John Flanagan (0-1), Jack Donnelly (0-1), Daire Neville; Keelan O’Donoghue, Jake Moylan (0-10), Tadhg Lohan (1-4)
Sub; John McAuliffe for K. O’Donoghue
Tulla: Tony Leyden (0-1); Dara Ryan, Mike Ryan (0-1), Fionn Ryan; Cathal Culloo, Ryan Hayes (1-0), Roy McMahon; Aaron Shanahan (0-1), Ben Kelleher; Emmett Mulcahy, Eanna Culloo, Lucas Donlon; Matthew Nolan (0-1), Jack McSweeney, Sean Withycombe (0-13).
Subs; Colm Hayes for L Donlon; Briain Torpey for McSweeney; Finn Boyce for B. Kelleher
Referee: Joe Mullins (Clonlara)
