A second successive victory tightened Inagh-Kilnamonaโ€™s grip on the dreaded โ€˜Group of Deathโ€™ after finally holding off Oโ€™Callaghanโ€™s Mills on Sunday afternoon.

Inagh-Kilnamona 0-23
Oโ€™Callaghanโ€™s Mills 1-16
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

Setting the pace throughout, Inagh-Kilnamona managed to clench the whip hand without ever pulling away as last yearโ€™s finalists kept on their heels.

Guided by Aidan McCarthyโ€™s frees, Inagh-Kilnamona saw an early five point cushion wiped out by the water break while a six point lead was reduced to two by the turn of the final quarter, only to remain defiant and hold on for the points.

David Fitzgerald showed great leadership, particularly in a nervy second period while taking his scoring total to seven in two matches from wing-back while Jason McCarthy and Cathal McConigley were others to show plenty of grit when needed most.

Equally for an obstinate Mills, full-back Conor Cooney was outstanding over the hour while Colin Crehan did his utmost to try and drag his side back into the match. Indeed, it was Crehanโ€™s 13th minute goal that finally sparked Oโ€™Callaghanโ€™s Mills into life to reel in Inagh-Kilnamonaโ€™s early advantage at 1-4 to 0-7.

However, being the Millsโ€™ fifth goal opportunity, it was the least they deserved as those earlier misses would eventually come back to haunt them as they desperately sought a goal to snatch something out of the game late on.

In typical seesaw fashion, Inagh-Kilnamona stormed into the second quarter with seven of the first eight points through Aidan McCarthy (3), David Mescall (2), Gerry Coote and David Fitzgerald on their way to a 0-16 to 1-08 half-time advantage. However, they failed to sustain that pace and would be chewing their nails somewhat when Colin Crehan (3) inspired another Mills fightback by the final water break at 0-19 to 1-14.

Without a goal, the closest of which was a last gasp Colin Crehan 20 metre free that was stopped by Jason McCarthy, Oโ€™Callaghanโ€™s Mills couldnโ€™t unlock a miserly Inagh-Kilnamona regard, despite reshuffling their attack pack throughout the second half.

So with only two points separating the sides by the hour mark, Aidan McCarthy and Conner Hegarty provided the clinching final two points to maintain Inagh-Kilnamonaโ€™s perfect start at the summit of Group 1.

Scorers for Inagh-Kilnamona: Aidan McCarthy (0-11, 9f); David Mescall, David Fitzgerald (0-3 each); Gerry Coote, Conner Hegarty (0-2 each); Conor Tierney, Tomรกs Barry (0-1 each)

Scorers for Oโ€™Callaghanโ€™s Mills: Colin Crehan (1-6, 5f); Jacob Loughnane (0-5, 3f); Bryan Donnellan, Sean Cotter, Gary Cooney, Aidan Oโ€™Gorman, Conor Elmhill Cooney (0-1 each)

Inagh-Kilnamona
1: Patrick Kelly

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

5: Seamus Foudy
6: Jason McCarthy
9: David Fitzgerald

8: Darren Cullinan
11: Conner Hegarty

10: Kevin Hehir
14: Aidan McCarthy
12: Gerry Coote

13: Conor Tierney
26: Eoghan Foudy
15: David Mescall

Subs:
27: Evan McNamara for E. Foudy (HT)
21: Tomรกs Barry for Coote (42)
17: Kealan Guyler for Tierney (49)
28: Shane McInerney for Mescall (58)

Oโ€™Callaghanโ€™s Mills
1: Killian Nugent

2: Michael Cotter
3: Conor Cooney
4: Sean Oโ€™Gorman

5: Patrick Donnellan
6: Aidan Oโ€™Gorman
7: Ciaran Cooney

8: Conor Henry
9: Sean Cotter

10: Jacob Loughnane
11: Bryan Donnellan
12: Aidan Fawl

13: Gary Cooney
15: Colin Crehan
14: Cormac Murphy

Subs:
20: Colm Cleary for Murphy (HT)
22: Conor โ€˜Elmhillโ€™ Cooney for Loughnane (41, inj)
19: Niall Donovan for S. Cotter (42)
24: Fionn Hickey for Henry (49)
21: Adrian Flaherty for B, Donnellan (54)

Referee: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)

Related News

john moran jennifer carroll macneill patrick o'donovan 1
Minister says option from HIQA review will be decided before Christmas
banner plaza 1
Planning system 'abused' as Uisce ร‰ireann pause works on Supermac's Plaza over judicial review
1 Cutting of Ribbon CI O'Flynn Bench-2
Stone benches unveiled in Eyre Square in memory of O'Gorman & O'Flynn
garda checkpoint ennis 10-04-20 3
Scariff checkpoint uncovers motorist's claim that his car is registered to six year old daughter
Latest News
o'callaghans mills vs ruan 04-10-25 colm cleary 1
Cleary swaps World Trade Center for Cusack Park in Mills bid for promotion
banner plaza 1
Planning system 'abused' as Uisce ร‰ireann pause works on Supermac's Plaza over judicial review
1 Cutting of Ribbon CI O'Flynn Bench-2
Stone benches unveiled in Eyre Square in memory of O'Gorman & O'Flynn
clarecastle v whitegate 04-10-25 colin brigdale 1
Stig hitting top gear as Magpies make final push for promotion
thurles cbs v st flannans college 01-02-25 harry doherty 4
St Flannan's & St Joseph's Tulla come from behind to force draws in Harty Cup first round
Premium
Horgan hopeful of more success with Truagh/Clonlara
'There was no getting past our defence' - Kilmihil brought different attitude says captain Currane
Scariff checkpoint uncovers motorist's claim that his car is registered to six year old daughter
'No better feeling that meeting the lads three times a week & going to the trenches' - Corofin captain Cahill
McNamara keeps ร‰ire ร“g trucking along to new heights

Advertisement

Subscribe for just โ‚ฌ3 per month

If youโ€™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 โ‚ฌ3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter โ‚ฌ8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.