Mills bridge 20 year gap qualifying for Clare Cup final

*Bryan Donnellan rolled back the years for the Mills. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

A twenty year gap was bridged at Dr. Daly Park in Tulla on Sunday afternoon when O’Callaghans Mills defeated Scariff to qualify for the FutureTicketing Clare Cup (senior hurling league) final.

O’Callaghans Mills 2-15
Scariff 1-13
Venue: Dr Daly Park, Tulla

In recording a five point win they reached the final for the first time since 2003 and on Sunday evening next (6pm) the final will take place in their home grounds as the club celebrates the 100th anniversary of Hamilton Park in Kilkishen.

Then they will be hoping to end a 28 year wait to their last success in this competition as they last won the title in 1995 when they defeated Sixmilebridge in a final that wasn’t played until October 1996.

At Tulla on Sunday, they were deserving winners over Scariff, confining their opponents to just a point in the final quarter.

Both teams lined out without some regulars, the Mills missing Pat Donnellan and Aidan Fawl while Scariff were short the services of county men Mark Rodgers and Patrick Crotty.

They were evenly matched in the opening quarter and they were level three times in the first twenty minutes. Scariff then pulled three ahead but the Mills responded and a Sean O’Gorman goal had them 1-7 to 0-7 in front at the break.

Indeed they could have had a second goal but Scariff goalie William Kavanagh made an excellent save from O’Gorman shortly before the only goal of the half came.

The Mills had a dream start to the second half with Colm Cleary’s low effort from a tight angle deceiving the Scariff defence to put two goals between the teams.

Scariff responded strongly with Paddy Ryan firing home their goal after he had made an excellent catch.

Points from Ryan and substitute Fergus Madden left the minimum between the sides with just six minutes of the half played.

Three points in as many minutes had Scariff back in front by the minimum at the three quarter stage but from here on the Mills had the better of matters.

With long serving Bryan Donnellan in sparkling form they hit seven unanswered points on their way to a five point victory.

Conor Cooney, Aidan and Sean O’Gorman, Colm Cleary and Bryan Donnellan were prominent for the winners while Mike Scanlan, Diarmaid Nash and Paddy Ryan did best for Scariff.

Scorers O’Callaghans Mills: C Cleary (1-6 2f), B Donnellan (0-4), S O’Gorman (1-1), K Nugent (0-2 2f), A O’Gorman (0-1), C Murphy (0-1), M McGrath (0-1)

Scorers Scariff: P Ryan (1-6 4f), S Kavanagh (0-3 2f), L Crotty (0-2), K Hartigan (0-1), F Madden (0-1)

O’Callaghans Mills:

1: Killian Nugent

2: Keith Donnellan
3: Conor Cooney
4: Gerry Cooney

5: Michael Cotter
6: Aidan O’Gorman
7: Eoin McInerney

8: Cormac Murphy
9: Fionn Hickey

10: Michael McGrath
11: Sean O’Gorman
12: Stevie Donnellan

13: Conor Henry
14: Bryan Donnellan
15: Colm Cleary

Subs:
Darragh Moroney for M Cotter;
Mikey McMahon for S. Donnellan;
Cathal McNamara for Hickey
Niall Donovan for McInerney;

Scariff:
1: William Kavanagh

2: Seamus McCaul
3: Mike Scanlan
4: Eoin Keehan

5: Jack Ryan
6: Diarmaid Nash
7: Shane Kavanagh

8: Scott Cairns
9: Conor Downes

10: Keelan Hartigan
11: Liam Crotty
12: Michael Barrrett

13: Paddy Ryan
14: Sean Minogue
15: Tadhg Minogue;

Subs:
Fergus Madden for S. Minogue
Martin Cunningham for Keehan
Rory Ryan for T Minogue
Ross Horan for Barrett;

Referee: Aaron Hoggm (Clonlara)