There were no medals handed out in Clarecastle (that was saved for Dromoland Castle) but it was still a worthy and lively derby contest between Clare and Galway in the ‘Ten Acres 4G.
Senior Hurling Challenge
Galway 1-30 Clare 1-24
With few of the same personnel expected to don starting jerseys for these neighbours in their National Hurling League rematch in Salthill in three weeks’ time, this was a valuable opportunity for these new-look sides to impress and it was the visitors who appeared slightly sharper throughout especially up front.
Indeed, Clare were only ahead once and that for less than a minute as Micheál Donoguhe’s side snatched the whip hand from the outset led by electric inside duo Colm Molloy (6) and Declan McLaughlin (3).
With Evan Niland unerring from placed balls and their misery defence proving obstinate, the All-Ireland champions found it difficult to keep pace with their fellow Westerners.
With only four survivors of the 23 that featured for Brian Lohan’s side in the All-Ireland decider, it wasn’t until the turn of the final quarter that any of the starters from last July made their appearance, with David McInerney, David Reidy, Aidan McCarthy, Eibhear Qulligan and Cathal Malone all finishing the tie.
Of the newcomers, Jack O’Neill was most impressive from wing-back with a two point first half cameo. Davie Conroy and Shane Meehan were best up front while Colm O’Meara impressed in the final quarter, even raiding for a superb solo goal in the 57th minute.
Goalkeeper Cian Broderick made two excellent stops and could do nothing about the goal which was freakish in nature as John Cooney’s shot was deflected to the roof of the net by John Conneally to put Galway eight clear at 1-24 to 0-19 by the three-quarters mark.
The visitors scored the first five points in as many minutes, with McLaughlin and Molloy sending out an early warning sign of their threat with a brace of points each.
Davie Conroy got Clare’s 2-25 account underway in the fifth minute and it was his scoring duel with Evan Niland that dominated the remainder of the opening period.
Clare’s more prolific period came midway through the opening half when raiding for six of seven points through O’Neill, Cian Galvin Shane Meehan, Conroy and a brace from Shanagher to inch the hosts in front for the first and only time at 0-10 to 0-09 by the 25th minute.
Galway duly responded with the next six points, four from the stick of Niland who also had a snap shot on goal from a 20 metre free that was alertly repelled by Broderick.
Galway led by 0-17 to 0-14 by the break but finally put clear daylight between the sides with a 1-2 burst of another Niland brace and that fortuitous Cooney goal.
Substitutes Cathal Malone and Colm O’Meara combined for the latter to race through and find the net in the 57th minute but it wasn’t enough to spark any late home revival as Donal O’Shea and the superb Colm Molloy kept the Banner at bay to hold out for victory.
Scorers for Galway: Evan Niland (0-12, 7f); Colm Molloy (0-6); Donal O’Shea (0-4, 2f); Oisin Lohan, Declan McLaughlin (0-3 each); John Cooney (1-0); TJ Brennan, Gavin Lee (0-1 each)
Scorers for Clare: Davie Conroy (0-10, 5f); Colm O’Meara (1-1); Patrick Crotty (0-3); Jack O’Neill, Aron Shanagher (1f), Shane Meehan (0-2 each); Paddy Donnellan, Cian Galvin, Aidan McCarthy (f), David Reidy (0-1 each)
Galway
1: Darach Fahy (Ardrahan)
2: Oisin Salmon (Clarinbridge)
3: Dan Loftus (Turloughmore)
4: Josh Ryan (Clarinbridge)
5: Cillian Whelan (Turloughmore)
6: Michael Garvey (Cappataggle)
7: TJ Brennan (Clarinbridge)
8: Donal O’Shea (Salthill-Knocknacarra)
9: Ronan Glennon (Mullagh)
10: Gavin Lee (Clarinbridge)
11: Evan Niland (Clarinbridge)
12: John Cooney (Sarsfields)
13: Declan McLaughlin (Portumna)
14: Greg Thomas (Castlegar)
15: Colm Molloy (Kilnadeema/Leitrim)
Subs
23: Oisin Lohan (Skehana-Moutbellew/Moylough) for Glennon (21, inj)
21: Oisin Flannery (St Thomas’) for Brennan (55)
20: Liam Collins (Cappataggle) for Lee (55)
19: Lewis Coughlan (Cappataggle) for Niland (55)
18: Diarmuid Hannify (Oranmore/Maree) for Cooney (55)\
17: Michael Walsh (Ardrahan) for Salmon (64)
Clare
1: Cian Broderick (Clarecastle)
2: Ian Macnamara (Killanena)
3: Darragh Lohan (Wolfe Tones)
4: John Conneally (Clooney-Quin
5: Jack O’Neill (Clooney-Quin)
6: Ross Hayes (Crusheen)
7: Cian Galvin (Clarecastle)
8: Paddy Donnellan (Broadford)
9: Sean Rynne (Inagh-Kilnamona)
10. Gearoid Sheedy (Ogonnelloe)
11. Davie Conroy (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
12. Jack Kirwan (Parteen-Meelick)
13: Shane Meehan (Banner)
14: Aron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones)
15: Rian Considine (Cratloe)
Subs
24: Patrick Crotty (Scariff) for Rynne (32)
20: Killian O’Connor (Corofin) for Lohan (HT)
25: Paraic O’Loughlin (Clonlara) for Donnellan (HT)
23: Colm O’Meara (Clonlara) for Shanagher (HT)
19: David McInerney (Tulla) for Macnamara (52)
27: David Reidy (Éire Óg) for Sheedy (52)
21: Ryan Taylor (Clooney-Quin) for Kirwan (52)
26: Aidan McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Meehan (53)
16: Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle) for Broderick (54)
22: Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge) for O’Neill (55)
Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway)
