*Scariff/Ogonnelloe celebrate. Photograph: Ruth Griffin
SCARIFF/OGONNELLOE are Clare U21A hurling champions for the second time after overcoming favourites Feakle/Killanena.
Scariff/Ogonnelloe 3-10
Feakle/Killanena 0-11
Venue: Dr Daly Park, Tulla
Hunger is the best sauce the saying goes and Scariff-Ogonnelloe’s greater hunger in this afternoon’s under 21 A hurling championship final steered them to a merited victory over the title holders Feakle/Killanena.
Played before a big attendance at a very well appointed Dr. Daly Park in Tulla, this tie really only sparked to life in the second half.
At the end of a very disappointing opening half which produced just one score from play, the holders led by the minimum margin, 0-4 to 0-3.
Two points from play inside the opening minute of the new half from their captain Keith Smyth suggested that the holders would justify favouritism and retain the title.
Their neighbours, however, had other ideas and three goals in a seven minute spell sent them on their way to a merited victory, a win that didn’t seem likely at the halfway point as they were guilty of twelve first half wides, double the tally of the holders.
Feakle/Killanena failed to reproduce the form they had displayed on their way to the final and a number of their players looked tired after a season in which Feakle were crowned senior champions while Killanena reached the intermediate semi-final.
It would be wrong, however, to say that the reason for their defeat was tiredness. Instead credit must go to a Scariff/Ogonnelloe side which converted opportunities created in the second half, something they had failed to do in the opening period.
Feakle/Killanea led by three points seven minutes into the new half when joint Scariff/Ogonnelloe captain Patrick Crotty took a pass from Mici Sheedy and blasted the ball to the net to level the tie.
A minute later the 2022 champions were in front thanks to a Ben Sweeney goal.
Points from Ronan O’Connor and Owen McGann for Feakle/Killanena had the margin down to one as the third quarter drew to a close but, right on the midpoint of the second half, the champions struck a decisive blow, Mici Sheedy finding the net. It was a blow from which Feakle/Killanena never recovered.
Keith Smyth kept the holders in touch with a point but Scariff/Ogonnelloe then rattled off five unanswered points on their way to a merited win.
Scott Cairns, Shane Kavanagh, Keelan Hartigan, Patrick Crotty and Mici Sheedy were prominent throughout for the winners while Oisin Clune, Ronan O’Connor, Owen McGann and Keith Smyth did best for Feakle/Killanena.
After the game Clare’s newly elected Munster Council delegate, John Callinan from competition sponsors Berwick Callian Murphy Solicitors presented the cup to the joint winning captains, Patrick Crotty and Gearoid Sheedy.
Scorers; Scariff/Ogonnelloe; Ben Sweeney (1-4, 0-3 f); Patrick Crotty (1-3); Mici Sheedy (1-2); Gearoid Sheedy (0-1, f);
Scorers Feakle/Killanena; Keith Smyth (0-6, 3f); Ronan O’Connor (0-2); Owen McGann, Seal Walsh, Oisin O’Connor (0-1) each
Scariff-Ogonnelloe; (all Scariff unless otherwise stated);
1: Matthew Crotty
2: Aaron Collis,Scottt
3: Scott Cairns,
4: Cathal McCaul;
5: Jack Ryan,
6: Shane Kavanagh,
7: Liam Crotty;
8: Tadhg Minogue,
9: Keelan Hartigan;
10: Rossa Keehan,
11: Patrick Crotty,
12: Sean Collins;
13: Ben Sweeney,
14: Gearoid Sheedy (Ogonnelloe),
15: Mici Sheedy (Ogonnelloe)
Subs; 22; Rory Ryan for B Sweeney (50); 21; Donnacha McNulty (Ogonnelloe) for Keehan (51); 19; Paul McGee (Ogonnelloe) for T. Minogue (52); 18; Ben Tuohy for M. Sheedy )57); 17; Colin O’Grady for S. Collins (57)
Feakle/Killanena;
1: Seamus O’Donnell (Killanena);
2: Darren McMahon (Killanena),
3: Eoghan Daly (Feakle),
4: Ryan Keane (Killanena);
5: Oisin Clune (Feakle)
6: Adam Hogan Feakle),
18: Ronan Keane (Killanena);
8: Ronan O’Connor (Feakle)
9: Ian Macnmara (Killanena)
10: Ronan Keane (Killanena)
11: Eoghan McGann (Feakle)
12: Patrick Daly (Feakle)
13: Aaron Moloney (Killanena)
14: Keith Smyth (Killanena)
15: Oisin O’Connor (Feakle);
Subs:
17: Ronan Bowes (Killannea) for S. Walsh (43)
20: Conor McGann (Feakle) for D. McMahon (53)
19: Tommy Walsh (Feakle) for A. Moloney (56)
Referee: John Bugler (Whitegate)
