Fitzgerald to the fore as Inagh/Kilnamona edge past Kilmaley

*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

A powerful third quarter when they outscored their opponents, 0-10 to 0-3 steered Inagh-Kilnamona to victory over Kilmaley in a lively and entertaining senior hurling championship first round game at Cusack Park this Saturday evening.

Inagh-Kilnamona 0-23
Kilmaley 0-21
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

Behind by three points at half time, 0-9 to 0-12, things didn’t look good for the eventual winners who had recorded fourteen wides in the opening half to their opponents five.

The game produced some great scores and four of these were provided by David Fitzgerald, the pick coming twelve minutes into the second half when he fielded the ball under his own crossbar, soloed out to the half back line and drilled the sliotar over the bar from 90 yards. It put his side three points clear and clearly gave a great lift to the team.

Clare defender Conor Cleary gave Kilmaley the lead when he pointed in the second minute but the winners responded with three in a row and led by two after six minutes. Kilmaley then hit six to a lone reply and led 0-7 to 0-4 at the first water break.

Each side scored five points in the second quarter leaving Kilmaley 0-12 to 0-9 in front at half time. The eventual winners will feel that they should have been closer if not ahead at this stage but their shooting let them down. That said, few could have predicted the turnabout that came in the third quarter while Inagh-Kilnamona dominated to go six ahead at the three quarter stage.

Kilmaley fought back and with the game in ‘injury time’ they had the margin down to one score when they were awarded a 20m free straight in front of the posts.

In fading light due to a heavy mist, Michael O’Malley’s rasper flew inches over Patrick Kelly’s crossbar and seconds later the final whistle sounded.

The winner’s defence did well throughout with David Fitzgerald, Jason McCarthy and Colin Shannon to the fore. Elsewhere Aidan McCarthy, Conner Hegarty and Kevin Hehir got through a lot of work

For Kilmaley, Tommy Barry, Aidan McGuane, Conor Cleary, Sean O’Loughlin and Michael O’Neill worked hard

Scorers Inagh-Kilnamona: Aidan McCarthy (0-8, 5f); David Fitzgerald (0-4) Conner Hegarty, Conor Tierney, David Mescall (0-2) each; Darren Cullinan, Seamus Foudy, Kevin Hehir, Keelan Guyler, Gerry Arthur (0-1) each

Scorers Kilmaley: Michael O’Malley (0-6, 3f) Cian Moloney (0-53f); Sean O’Loughlin (0-4), Michael O’Neill, Aidan McGuane (0-2) each; Tom O’Rlourke, Conor Cleary (0-1) each

Inagh-Kilnamona:
1: Patrick Kelly

25: Cathal McConigley
5: Keith White
2: Colin Shannon