*David Reidy. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
WITH A near full squad at their disposal for the first time this season, Éire Óg proved too strong for Whitegate in this division 2 hurling league semi-final played at the Ennis club’s grounds on Tuesday evening.
Éire Óg 0-27
Whitegate 1-8
Venue: Éire Óg GAA Grounds, Ennis
The game saw inter county stars David Reidy and Shane O’Donnell line out for the club for the first time in 2025. Reidy was in the line up from the off and he played a key role in the victory, contributing 0-6 from play while O’Donnell was introduced in the second half.
The early exchanges were even with points exchanged three times in the opening ten minutes.
With Reidy directing operations, Éire Óg then hit seven unanswered scores to take a firm grip on proceedings and they went on to led by eleven at half time when the score was 0-16 to 0-5.
They could have been further ahead at this time as they failed to capitalise on a number of good opportunities but credit must also go to the Whitegate defence where Donal Burke, Dylan White and Kalum Fahy did well.
The East Clare outfit returned with Thomas Holland and Ciaran Keenan in their line up but the home side continued where they had left off and they landed six points to Whitegate’s one in the third quarter.
To their credit Whitegate continued to battle and Ian Fahy struck for the game’s only goal when he blasted a 20m free to the net five minutes from time.
Overall Éire Óg were deserving of their comfortable win and they now go on to face Ballyea in the final. When these sides met earlier in the competition, Ballyea were victorious.
Darren Moroney, Aaron Fitzgerald, David Reidy and Danny Russell were prominent throughout for the winners.
Dylan White, Kalum Fahy, Coor McDermott and Ian Fahy led the Whitegate charge but on the day, the Ennis outfit were the superior side and fully deserved their win.
Éire Óg; Philly Walsh; Darren Moroney (0-2), Ciaran Russell, Niall McMahon (0-1); Rian Mulcahy (0-1), Aaron Fitzgerald, Robert Loftus; Michael Moloney, Michael Henegan (0-2); David McNamara (0-1), David Reidy (0-6), Darren O’Brien (0-1); Eoin O’Regan (0-1), Danny Russell (0-10, 6f, 1’65), Marco Cleary;
Subs; Shane O’Donnell for M.Cleary; Oran Cahill (0-1) for R.Loftus; James O’Dwyer (0-1) for M. Heneghan; Jarlath Collins for D McNamara.
Whitegate: Andrew Fahey; Ciaran Quinn, Donal Burke, Dylan White; Liam Murray, Kalum Fahy (0-1, f) Ronan Hayes; Conor McDermott, Michael Bogenberger (0-1); Danny Hynes (0-1, f) Finn Madden, Harry Bogenberger (0-1); Paddy Burke (0-1), Ian Fahy (1-2, 1-1 f), Liam Heffernan;
Subs; Thomas Holland (0-1) for Heffernan; Ciaran Keenan for Hynes; Mark Bugler for R Hayes (inj.)
Referee: Aaron Hogg (Clonlara)
