On-form Éire Óg overcome county champions Clonlara

*Liam Corry surrounded by Ian Galvin and John Conlon. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

ÉIRE ÓG have edged closer to the Clare SHC quarter-finals after overcoming Clonlara in the second round of the championship.

Éire Óg 1-23
Clonlara 1-20
Venue: Dr Daly Park, Tulla

Elation for Éire Óg supporters, disappointment for Clonlara followers but one thing that all hurling supporters agree on is that the meeting of champions Clonlara and Éire Óg at Dr. Daly park in Tulla this Sunday afternoon was an outstanding game of hurling

There were many magnificent contributions but none more so that the display of Éire Óg’s Danny Russell whose 0-11 contribution was key to the Ennis club’s victory.

When Clonlara sit down to review this tie they will wonder if they could have done more to curb the Eire Og forward’s influence on the game.

Leading by two points ten minutes into the second half, things looked to be taking a bad turn for the Ennis side as they lost Shane O’Donnell to a hamstring injury.

It didn’t upset them, however and from here to the finish Russell was particularly effective. He scored three of his side’s final four points as they made it two wins from two outings and now sit at the top of the very competitive Group 1.

Points were exchanged twice in the opening three minutes before the winners opened a two point gap which they had stretched to three by the tenth minute.

In the next eight minutes Clonlara scored 0-7 to Éire Óg’s one and when Diarmuid Stritch struck for their goal in the twenty second minute, the title holders had opened a five point lead.

When the half time whistle sounded it was back to three, Russell landing the final two points of the half.

A blistering start to the second half which yielded 1-3 without reply in five minutes saw the Gerry O’Connor’s side open a three point lead. The goal came from Shane O’Donnell who drilled the ball low past Séimí Gully in the Clonlara goal.

By the midpoint of the half it was back to the minimum with Éire Óg leading 1-17 to 1-16.

Ten minutes from time Éire Óg had pushed three clear again but with Cathal O’Connell in sparkling form, it was back to the minimum as the game entered the final minute of normal time.

As the game moved into three minutes of added time, O’Connell’s effort from a 70m free drifted narrowly side. Sensing danger Éire Óg attacked and, in the space of a minute Russell landed two great scores from play to push his side three clear.

With the game in the third of the added minutes, Clonlara won a 20m free but Ian Galvin’s effort for goal flashed inches wide of the upright and with it went his side’s last chance of snatching a draw as the final whistle sounded on the puckout. Prior to this they had wides from a Tots O’Connell free and Aidan Moriarty from play.

Aaron Fitzgerald, Ciaran Russell, Liam Corry and Oran Cahill in the second half in particular did well for the winners while Darren O’Brien and particularly Danny Russell excelled up front.

Michael Clancy Paraic O’Loughlin, Colm Galvin, Colm O’Meara and particularly Cathal O’Connell did well for Clonlara

Scorers Éire Óg: Danny Russell (0-11, 6 frees) Darren O’Brien (0-4) Shane O’Donnell (1-1) James O’Dwyer, Oran Cahill, David Reidy (0-2) each Jarlath Collins (0-1)

Scorers Clonlara Micheal O’Loughlin (0-6, 3 frees, 1 ‘65,) Diarmuid Stritch (1-2); Cathal O’Connell (1 free), Ian Galvin (0-4) each; Colm O’Meara (0-2) Aidan Moriarty, John Conlon (0-1) each

Éire Óg:
1: Daragh Stack;

2: Liam Corry
3: Aaron Fitzgerald
4: Niall McMahon

7: Oran Cahill
6: Ciaran Russell,
5: Robert Loftus;

8: Jarlath Collins
9: David McNamara;

12: Darren O’Brien
11: Danny Russell
10: David Reidy

13: Conor Perrill
14: Shane O’Donnell
15: James O’Dwyer;

Subs:
17: Eoin O’Regan for S. O’Donnell (inj) (40)
19: Fionan Treacy for C. Perrill (49);
25: Luke Malice for J. O’Dwyer (53);

Clonlara;
1: Seimi Gully;

2: Logan Ryan
3: Dylan McMahon
4: Micheal Clancy;

5: Padraic O’Loughlin
6: Colm Galvin
7: David Fitzgerald;

8: Jathan McMahon
9: Aidan Moriarty;

10: Colm O’Mara
11: John Conlon
12: Diarmuid Stritch;