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*Mark Rodgers in possession for Scariff and manages to get a shot off despite the efforts of Evan Maxted and Seán McNamara. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
SCARIFF have knocked last year’s finalists Clooney/Quin out of the Clare SHC, qualifying for the semi-finals for the first time since 2023.
Scariff 1-25
Clooney/Quin 0-27
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, Ennis
Ironically it was an extra time win three years ago at the quarter-final stage when Scariff prevailed over Clooney/Quin. Once again, it was a teak tough battle between the sides that set a high standard in the first of the last eight ties.
Taking the lead for the first time on forty seven minutes, Clooney/Quin appeared to be in the driving seat but Scariff would fire six points of the last eleven points to claim the spoils, producing a gritty display reflecting the fighting spirit shown by manager Donal Moloney on the sideline.
They may have been the walking wounded with Patrick Ryan and Liam Crotty among those ruled out before the throw-in, Keelan Hartigan tweaked his hamstring in the closing moments but they still found a way to win.
On top of this, Paul Rodgers was hobbling on one ankle from the second quarter onwards, such problems didn’t impact on the hands and wrists of the All-Ireland winning U20 hurler who played a key role despite the mobility struggles when he was moved from midfield to the inside line.
His older brother Mark went to midfield in the resulting switch, his ability to leap into the sky and catch the sliotar at height made him a valuable addition in the middle third, a feat made more impressive by his recovery from a broken hand.
Corner back Scott Cairns had two goal-saving hooks on Dannan Fox, one in either half while William Kavanagh had to be on alert, springing from his line to distract Peter Duggan enough on thirty five minutes when a long puckout from Keith Hogan had him about to pull the sliotar to the net.
It was the green flag from Mark Rodgers on twenty nine minutes which proved to be a vital score in the game. Matthew Crotty was bursting forward and was hooked but instead of losing possession, Scariff were fortunate that Rodgers was razor quick to scoop the break then run over forty yards before firing to the net.
It was an excellent finish from Rodgers who continued to lead the way for his club as he has done since 2019 when steering them back to the senior ranks. They deserved to be ahead at the interval and his strike was followed by a Rory Ryan, he was quick to react to a break from a throw-in on the 21m line before firing them 1-15 0-14 ahead.
At the beginning, Scariff raced into a 0-2 0-0 lead, defenders Shane Kavanagh and Daniel Treacy shooting them in front. Peter Duggan opened Clooney/Quin’s account with a free on three minutes but Scariff hit back with an unanswered three points, two from Mark Rodgers and one from Paul, one of these a placed ball won by the experienced Michael Scanlan who was operating at wing forward, having been moved from his traditional full-back role earlier in the campaign.
With Scariff on top, Clooney/Quin were forced to move Peter Duggan to wing forward and a lot of responsibility was put on the two-time All-Ireland winner who proved to be one of his side’s most influential men, yet again.
Former Clare U20 teammates Jack O’Neill and Keelan Hartigan traded efforts, Duggan then adding three frees with Patrick Crotty and Shane Kavanagh splitting the posts. Duggan was fortunate to receive one of these frees after knocking Scariff captain Conor Downes to the ground when he was awarded the placed ball. The duo received a yellow card each for a subsequent altercation in the opening half.
Workrate was upped in the Clooney/Quin ranks, the consequence seeing them bridge the gap to a single point by the fifteenth minute with three successive scores, county men Duggan, O’Neill and Ryan Taylor on target.
One point was as close Clooney/Quin were able to get until the twenty seventh minute when Jack O’Neill levelled matters for the first time. Crucially Scariff replied to this with 1-1 on the bounce to head into the dressing rooms leading.
On the restart, Rory Ryan and Peter Duggan traded scores as did Darragh McNamara and Mark Rodgers.
Clooney/Quin then fired four of the next five scores to bring the deficit back to a point and they equalised via Darragh McNamara on fofrty three minutes when he once again was calm on the ball, scooping the slitoar into his hand after Shane Kavanagh flicked the ball from Jerry O’Connor’s reach.
O’Connor was the guy to give them the lead for the first time on forty seven minutes, they added to it with Jack O’Neill adding to his impressive tally.
A first Scariff score in eleven minutes arrived via the stick of Mark Rodgers from a free but Clooney/Quin replied through Dannan Fox, the assist from Sam Scanlan who brought energy to the fold when introduced from the bench.
Sideline cuts have been a skill honed by Peter Duggan for decades, he exhibited his talent in this department when converting one on fifty three minutes extending their lead to three points with fifty three minutes on the clock. This was the first score following Hartigan’s injury and the momentum seemed to be with Clooney/Quin.
Stemming the tide were three Scariff scores in succession, Mark Rodgers pointing a free won by his brother Paul then Conor Downes split the posts when he was picked out by a Diarmaid Nash pass and it was Paul Rodgers that landed the levelling score on fifty seven minutes.
O’Neill and Taylor stepped up to hit scores putting Clooney/Quin in front on fifty eight minutes but three Rodgers frees on the bounce saw Scariff prevail by the smallest of margins, a Duggan free from a considerable distance tailing wide before his county teammate hit the winner.
Conceding three scoreable frees in the four minutes of injury time will be among the moments of the game to cause considerable frustration for Fergal Lynch and all involved with Clooney/Quin. Such a hard lesson will stand to the youthful backline.
Bowing out in the quarter-final will hurt last year’s finalists but the competitiveness of the Clare SHC is unforgiving, fine margins like their three missed goal chances can have a big bearing on any result. Jack O’Neill hit an impressive six points over the hour producing a very consistent display with Jimmy Corry, Darragh McNamara and Ryan Taylor also standing out.
Driven on by the manner of their third round win where Scariff had to win by ten and fired 1-9 without reply in the final quarter to beat Crusheen which sealed their spot in the knockout stages, the fighting spirit was once again evident from the East Clare side.
On top of the spirit they have serious quality, creating a potent mix as they prepare for the last four but their cause will be aided by getting the strongest panel at their disposal. For Donal Moloney’s men, Mark Rodgers, Scott Cairns, Shane Kavanagh, Rory Ryan, Paul Rodgers, Patrick Crotty and Conor Downes impressed.
All photographs by Gerard O’Neill.
Scorers Scariff: M Rodgers (1-9 8f), S Kavanagh (0-5 2’65 1f), R Ryan (0-4), K Hartigan (0-2), P Rodgers (0-2), D Treacy (0-1), P Crotty (0-1), C Downes (0-1).
Scorers Clooney/Quin: P Duggan (0-10 7f 1’65 1SC), J O’Neill (0-6), R Taylor (0-3), D McNamara (0-3), J O’Connor (0-2), J Corry (0-1), D Fox (0-1), D Keogh (0-1).
Scariff:
1: William Kavanagh
17: Seamus McCaul
4: Daniel Treacy
2: Scott Cairns
5: Conor Downes
6: Matthew Crotty
7: Shane Kavanagh
25: Seán Collins
12: Paul Rodgers
11: Patrick Crotty
9: Keelan Hartigan
3: Michael Scanlan
13: Rory Ryan
14: Mark Rodgers
10: Patrick Nugent
Subs:
15: Diarmaid Nash for Scanlan (39)
28: Ben Sweeney for Nugent (47)
19: Michael Vaughan for Collins (49)
22: Éanna O’Brien for Hartigan (51) (inj)
Clooney/Quin:
1: Keith Hogan
4: Evan Maxted
3: John Conneally
5: John Cahill
6: Darragh Keogh
7: Conor Grogan
2: Seán McNamara
17: Jimmy Corry
9: Ryan Taylor
12: Callum Hassett
15: Jerry O’Connor
11: Jack O’Neill
13: Dannan Fox
10: Peter Duggan
14: Darragh McNamara
Subs:
20: Sam Scanlon for Hassett (39)
26: Martin Duggan for D McNamara (60) (inj)
18: Patrick Finnernan for Fox (63)
Referee: Fergal O’Brien (Broadford)
