Momentum building after Inagh/Kilnamona kick on from Cratloe comeback to make last four

*Aidan McCarthy of Inagh/Kilnamona rises highest to win the sliotar ahead of Jamie Moylan. Photograph: Charlotte Cole.

INAGH/Kilnamona are back in the semi-finals of the Clare SHC after withstanding a Cratloe comeback.

Inagh/Kilnamona 1-23
Cratloe 1-17
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, Ennis

Returning to the last four for the first time since their penalty exit in 2024 to Sixmilebridge, Inagh/Kilnamona have secured their passage while maintaining an unbeaten run in this year’s championship.

Ahead by seven at half time and six point winners for a finish, it wasn’t all plain sailing for Inagh/Kilnamona as they found themselves level on forty seven minutes but found another gear to see out the game, firing six points without reply.

Winning in such fashion will stand to Inamona as they demonstrated a sense of composure and leadership, building some character along the way.

Cratloe’s second half comeback was to be lauded but after putting in such an effort to tie the game, they hit six wides in a row which drained the life out of their challenge. Their cause was weakened by the absence of the injured Podge Collins with Cathal McInerney making an impact when introduced at half time.

Wides on the big day appear to be an issue for Cratloe who fired seventeen wides in their last knockout tie in Cusack Park when losing to Feakle in the 2024 semi-final. Against the same opposition, they had twenty wides in round three but got over the line with a last-minute winner from Cathal Lohan.

With five minutes played, Inamona carved out a six point advantage, Conner Hegarty with a brace of points, Aidan McCarthy dispossessing a puckout to open his account and Keelan Guyler skillfully flicked the sliotar to the back of the net, Fred Hegarty providing the assist.

Jamie Moylan pointed from distance to open Cratloe’s account on five minutes but Inamona hit back with David Fitzgerald and David Mescall.

By the end of the first quarter, the gap was out to six, Hegarty and McCarthy extending the gap after Cratloe hit three points in a row via Daire Neville, Tadhg Lohan and Rian Considine.

Apart from Moylan and Marc O’Brien, Cratloe’s only contribution to the scoreboard in the second quarter were placed balls from Rian Considine and a chance for goal from Tadhg Lohan was kept out by Éamonn Foudy. Umpires at the other end were kept busy by David Fitzgerald, Seán Rynne and Aidan McCarthy with the scoreboard reading 1-14 0-10 by the interval.

Changes were made at half time by Alan Neville and his Cratloe management at the break, Sam Sheedy and Cathal McInerney entering the fray. They brought energy from the get-go, Sheedy tearing onto the sliotar from the throw-in.

In their next move, they had a chance for goal but the ball fell to the wrong man as John Flanagan hesitated for too long to allow Inagh/Kilnamona to turn over possession and clear the danger.

They did manage to score with their next attempt, Rian Considine splitting the posts, this was followed by a Cathal McInerney point after he linked up superbly with Conor McGrath, then another Considine free and a Daire Neville point narrowed the deficit to three.

It should have been down to two but Considine missed his next free and Foudy’s puckout launched the next move for Keelan Guyler to hit Inagh/Kilnamona’s first score of the half on thirty seven minutes.

Cratloe replied with the next two scores, Marc O’Brien and Daire Neville making it a two point game and at this stage Inagh/Kilnamona coach Mattie Shannon moved from his perch in the stand to the sideline, clearly showing that the pressure was mounting on the 2021 finalists.

Two McCarthy scores were cancelled out by a Marc O’Brien goal as he pickpocketed the sliotar from Keith White before finishing superbly beyond Foudy to come within a point on forty five minutes.

Conner Hegarty who had been a standout player for Inamona in the opening half was surprisingly whipped following this and he was unfortunate to get the curly finger.

Cratloe levelled matters for the first and only time when Diarmuid Ryan split the posts on forty seven minutes but remarkably it would be their last score of the contest.

David Collins denied Josh Guyler a major, he should have opted for a point but instead had a tame effort which Collins kept out.

Three McCarthy scores, two from placed balls, a Fred Hegarty brace including a sideline cut and a Gearoid Barry score saw Inamona land six points without reply to seal their spot in the semi-final.

Left to rue missed chances Cratloe will be left to wonder what might have been if they took such opportunities and if they turned up in the opening half. Looking at the bigger picture, they are continuing to blend young players into their side alongside the experienced men that steered the club to unprecedented success which leaves them in a healthy state, a difficult year with injuries has hindered the dent they could make in the championship. Among the players to impress were Marc O’Brien, Jamie Moylan and David Collins.

Unbeaten in four championship outings and one of the last four standing, Inagh/Kilnamona are rightly pleased with their run to date. The test received by Cratloe in the second half will stand to them. The ability to adapt and manoeuvre was another strength evident by Eugene Cullinan’s charges as their momentum grows. Best for them included Shane Woods, Darren Cullinan, James Hegarty, David Fitzgerald and in the opening half Conner Hegarty.

All photographs by Charlotte Cole.

Scorers Inagh/Kilnamona: A McCarthy (0-10 6f 1’65), K Guyler (1-1), F Hegarty (0-4 1SC), D Fitzgerald (0-3), C Hegarty (0-2), S Rynne (0-1), G Barry (0-1), D Mescall (0-1).

Scorers Cratloe: R Considine (0-7 5f 1’65), M O’Brien (1-2), D Neville (0-3), J Moylan (0-2), T Lohan (0-1), C McInerney (0-1), D Ryan (0-1).

Inagh/Kilnamona:
1: Éamonn Foudy

2: Keith White
3: Shane Woods
4: Conor Rynne

6: James Hegarty

5: Kevin Hehir
8: Darren Cullinan

19: Mark Callinan

11: Seán Rynne
21: Keelan Guyler

7: David Fitzgerald
9: Conner Hegarty
14: Aidan McCarthy

13: Fred Hegarty
12: David Mescall

Subs:
13: Josh Guyler for Mescall (41)
10: Gearoid Barry for Hegarty (46)
25: Niall Mullins for Callinan (49)

Cratloe:
1: Eoin Deegan

2: David Collins
3: Shane Gleeson