*Patrick Kelly catches the sliotar above Gearoid O’Connell. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
SCORING DIFFERNENCE is going to play a key role in influencing the make-up of the participants in the knockout stages and relegation play-offs of the Clare SHC, Clarecastle’s senior hurling manager has said.
Currently without a win following three outings in the Clare SHC, Clarecastle who were relegated last season but managed to retain their status on a technicality, look set to be battling with Broadford and O’Callaghans Mills to avoid being the side from Group 2 ending up in the relegation battle.
Magpies boss, Brian Russell felt the margin of their four point loss to county champions Ballyea on Sunday could yet be vital. “If you told me this morning when I was having my breakfast that we would be within four points of the county champions, I would have been happy. Considering the score difference, it could be vital but then when I think back I’d say our wides were up to double figures so I would be disappointed with that. You don’t put the county champions to the pin of their collars every time you go out and we didn’t take our chances today. I am disappointed but happy with the players efforts”.
Ballyea were nonplussed with the margin of their win, manager Robbie Hogan outlined. “We came here for one thing and that was to win. The margin didn’t bother us, once we won. that’s another two points on the board so we are happy enough. We are in a good position now. The last thing you want is to be depending on others to do us a favour. It’s in our own hands now”.
He was of the view that Cratloe and themselves were likely to be the clubs emerging from the group. “It will probably come down to ourselves and Cratloe. They were very impressive last evening. We are disappointed to have conceded the goal late on today. We are happy with the win. To be fair we were down five of our team from the county final last year and that is a third of our team. James (Murphy) was sick and Tony (Kelly) was sick all week. Credit to the boys who came in, they stood up”.
Meanwhile, with two wins from as many outings, Wolfe Tones find themselves in a healthy position, a win over Inagh/Kilnamona in their final group game would seal their quarter-final place and also top spot in the group.
Reflecting on their one point win over Crusheen, manager Ray Diviney stated, “It was a very close game and, in fairness, we all knew it would be. We got the win in the end. The subs who came on made a mark. We dug it out in the end. We knew it was going to be a physical, tough game and we just dug it out in the end. It was scrappy in parts but we just dug in”.
He added, “Compared to last year, we are in a good position going into the next match. There were a lot of mistakes made and we will have to improve and if we don’t we could struggle against Inagh/Kilnamona. What was important today is that we worked hard and we got the win”.
Kevin Sheehan pointed to misplaced passes as a reason for Wolfe Tones getting their scores in their encounter. “The game could have gone either way. It was nip and tuck all the way. I am happy enough that our boys left it all out there but a bit disappointed that a lot of the scores they got came from silly passes by us and you are punished in senior hurling for that”.
His Crusheen charges face Smith O’Briens in a vital final round clash. “We will be trying to stay alive in our next game and we have seen how difficult that can be. Our destiny is well out of our hands now. We have to make sure we take it up another few percent the next day and see if we can get the win because handing over points like that in senior hurling is not where we need to be”.
