*Clarecastle’s Rory O’Connell under pressure from Oran Cahill of Éire Óg. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
SIX CLUBS remain unbeaten after two rounds in this season’s willwego.com Clare cup senior hurling league.
Clarecastle, Scariff, Feakle, St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield, O’Callaghans Mills and Kilmaley all recorded second round wins at the weekend.
Six clubs remain pointless as Corofin, Clonlara, Éire Óg, Ballyea, Sixmilebridge and Crusheen all suffered their second successive losses
Meanwhile first round winners Clooney/Quin and Inagh/Kilnamona suffered defeats at the weekend while Newmarket-on-Fergus and Broadford got their first points when recording victories in round two.
The Clare cup takes a break this weekend before round three takes place over the weekend of April 10/11/12 when the pairings will be, Clonlara vs Broadford; Clooney/Quin vs Corofin; Newmarket-on-Fergus vs Inagh/Kilnamona, St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield v Scariff; Clarecastle vs Ballyea; Feakle v O’Callaghans Mills, Kilmaley vs Crusheen and Sixmilebridge vs Éire Óg.
Moloney points the way for Broadford
Broadford 0-22
Clooney/Quin 1-18
Venue: Glenomra Park, Broadford
Having suffered a heavy defeat in their opening round a week earlier, Broadford bounced back and recorded a one point win over a fancied Clooney/Quin side on Saturday.
The availability of some players who had missed the opening round due to injury, helped achieve this hard earned victory.
The sides were evenly matched throughout and were level on many occasions including at the half time break when the score was 0-11 each
Diarmuid Moloney’s contribution of 0-15, 0-13 from placed balls, proved vital.
Overall this was a solid team performance from the home side with goalkeeper Cian O’Brien and defender Padraic Taylor others to impress along with top scorer Moloney.
They finished the game with fourteen players after full back Eoin Donnellan picked up a second yellow card in the closing minutes.
Broadford; Cian O’Brien; Darragh Whelan, Eoin Donnellan (0-1), Damian Keniry; Cathal Chaplin, Paddy Donnellan, Padraic Taylor; Cian Mulqueen, Michael Vaughan; Cormac Gunning, Shane Taylor (0-1), Oisin Kavanagh (0-2); Donie Whelan (0-1), Craig Chaplin (0-1), Diarmuid Moloney (0-15, 13 f).
Subs: Aodán O’Driscoll for Craig Chaplin (inj.); Conor O’Donnell for C. Mulqueen (inj.) Sam Cooper (0-1) for C. Gunning.
Clooney/Quin: Keith Hogan; Enda O’Halloran, Evan Maxted, David Considine; P.J. McCarthy, Darragh Keogh (0-4), Sean McNamara (0-1); Matthew Corbett (0-5), Callum Hassett (0-4); Shane Harrison (0-1), Sam Scanlan, Trevor Lee; Ulick O’Sullivan (1-2), Martin Duggan, Patrick Finneran.
Subs; Donnacha O’Donovan for E. O’Halloran; Dannan Fox (0-1) for T Lee.
Referee: Gus Callaghan (Feakle)
All photographs by Gerard O’Neill.
Another impressive tally from Scariff
Scariff 4-18
Inagh/Kilnamona 3-14
Venue: Scariff
Scariff ran up another impressive tally as they recorded their second win in a week, this time overcoming Inagh/Kilnamona at Scariff on Saturday.
Nine players shared in this week’s tally as they dominated for much of the game.
They were five points clear as the half time whistle approached but a Gearoid Barry goal helped the visitors close the gap and when the half time whistle sounded just two points separated the sides, the winners leading on a 1-9 to 1-7 scoreline.
Scariff struck for an early second half goal and while the visitors did battle back to level at 2-9 to 1-12, the home side had the better of matters in the final third and emerged as deserving winners.
On the day Keelan Hartigan and Patrick Ryan caused some problems for the visitor’s defence.
Scariff: Willliam Kavanagh; Cathal McCaul, Michael Scanlon, Eoin Keehan; Sean Collins, Matthew Crotty, Kian Myles; Conor Downes (0-1), Jack Ryan; Rossa Keehan (0-1), Keelan Hartigan (0-3), Michael Vaughan (0-3); Eanna O’Brien (0-6, 4f), Paddy Ryan (2-1), Patrick Nugent (2-1).
Subs; Diarmaid Nash (0-1) for M. Vaughan (inj); Scott Cairns for K. Myes; Luke Madden (0-1) for J. Ryan; Seamus McCaul for C. McCaul; Sean Hartigan for M. Crotty (inj)
Inagh/Kilnamona: Jack O’Connor; Podge Devitt, James Cullinan, Colin Shannon; Neil Hegarty, Keith White, Brian Foudy; Darren Cullinan, Mark Callinan; David Mescall, Jason McCarthy (0-4, 1f), Cathal Ryan; Gearoid Barry (2-1), Keelan Guyler (0-7, 6f), Niall Mullins (0-1).
Subs: Josh Guyler (0-1) for C. Ryan; Jamie Wynne for M. Callinan; Tom Barry (1-0) for D. Mescall, Cathal McConigley for N. Hegarty;
Referee: Kieran Liddane (Sixmilebridge)
Power hits the net five times
Newmarket-on-Fergus 5-12
Clonlara 0-17
Venue; Clonlara
Clare U20 panellist Michael Power struck for five goals to put his hand up for increased game-time with Terence Fahy’s side in the Munster championship.
Between Michael and older brother Peter, they accounted for 5-12 of Newmarket-on-Fergus’ tally. They were joined in the full-forward line by the eldest of the Power clan, James. Michael was the man of the hour as he notched up 5-3 from play.
His opening goal helped the visitors to a two point advantage at half time when the score was 1-8 to 0-9.
On a day when the home side’s Micheál O’Loughlin was their top scorer with 0-11, all from placed balls, the goals from Power were decisive and helped his side to a merited win.
While the Blues were deserving winners, they will be concerned that apart from the Power brothers only three other players got on the scoresheet, each with a point.
Reigning league champions Clonlara now without a win in two games fielded a largely inexperienced outfit and still have a lot of quality to return to their ranks.
Newmarket-on-Fergus Adam Enright; Damien Lyne,, Jack Enright, Paudie McMahon; Evan Crimmins, Éanna Crimmins, Mark Delaney; John Feehily (0-1), Liam O’Connor; Mikey McInerney (0-1), Eoin Guilfoyle (0-1), Shane Lynch; James Power, Peter Power (0-6, 5f), Michael Power (5-3);
Subs; Conor McCarthy for L. O’Connor; James Liddy for J. Power; John Hogan for M. Delaney; Eoghan McInerney for M. McInerney.
Clonlara; Alan Murnane; Kieran Howard, Oisin O’Brien, Michael Clancy; Jamie O’Connell, Aidan Moriarty, Tom Power (0-1); Jathan McMahon, Colm Galvin; Sam Barrett (0-1), Micheal O’Loughlin (0-11 11f), Daniel Moloney (0-1); Conor Bourke (0-2), Eoin Begley (0-1), Cathal O’Connell.
Subs; Sean Begley for M. Clancy (inj); Jamie McMahon for K. Howard; Mark Hogan for E. Begley; Gearoid O’Brien for C. Galvin; Sean Power for J. O’Connell
Referee: John Bugler (Whitegate)
Gallery of photographs by Gerard O’Neill
Another big tally from Doora/Barefield
St, Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 4-19
Corofin 2-13
Venue: Páirc Finne, Corofin
For the second week in a row teenager Thomas O’Connor top scored as St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield recorded a comfortable win over Corofin at Pairc Finne on Saturday evening.
They got off to a great start hitting the opening four points of the game, three coming from David Conroy.
Leading by four points at the end of the opening quarter, they stretched their lead when Senan Crosbie struck for their opening goal.
Corofin hit back with a Kevin Keane goal but the visitors finished the half strongly with two goals and they went to the break leading 3-7 to 1-7.
They continued to hold the upperhand in the second half and ran out comfortable winners.
O’Connor finished with 2-4 with the other goals coming from Graham Ball and Senan Crosbie.
Kevin Keane hit 1-5, all from play, for Corofin whose other goalscorer was Cian Doolin.
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Leon Talty; Ciarán O’Driscoll, Paddy Nagle, Conor Daly (0-1); Cian Breslin, Eoghan McMahon, Dara Nagle (0-1); Adam Mungovan, David Conroy (0-9, 5f); Senan Crosbie (1-0), Eoin Burke, Darragh Ball (0-1); Mark O’Connor, Thomas O’Connor (2-4), Graham Ball (1-2).
Subs: Darragh O’Shea for Breslin; Brian Guilfoyle for M. O’Connor; Joe Mannion for E. Burke; Ogie Fanning for Crosbie; Cathal McMahon (0-1) for T. O’Connor.
Corofin: Liam Corbett; Cian O’Loughlin, Cillian McGroary, Marc O’Loughlin; Michael Cahill, Damien O’Loughlin (0-1), Gearóid Hanrahan; Caoimhín O’Donovan, Gearóid Kelly (0-4, f); Kevin Keane (1-5), Diarmuid Cahill (0-1), James Organ (0-2); Cian Doolin (1-0), Cathal Flanagan, Eoin Clancy
Subs: Evan Doolin for Cathal Flanagan; Micheál Duffy for James Organ; David Corbett for Cian Doolin; Adam O’Loughlin for Caoimhín O’Donovan.
Referee: Pat Healy (Kilmaley)
Sharper Clarecastle in control
Clarecastle 2-21
Éire Óg 1-9
Venue: Clarecastle
A sharper and hungrier Clarecastle proved too strong for Éire Óg in this Division 1B Clare Cup tie played under lights at Clarecastle on Thursday night.
The foundation for the win was laid in the opening half when the home side raced 1-9 to 0-1 clear in the opening quarter and by half time they had extended this lead to fourteen points leaving the visitors with a mountain to climb in the second period.
Five points in the opening six minutes saw the Magpies put down a marker with those scores coming from Paul (2) and Rory O’Connell, Conor Ralph and Conor Whelan.
The game was in the ninth minute before Conor Perrill opened the visitors account when he converted a 40m free but Clarecastle continued to dominate and points from Conor Halpin (2), Jack Murphy and Rory O’Connell followed before Halpin rounded off a sweeping move when finding the net.
Within a minute Éire Óg struck back and Eoin O’Regan found the net after Oran Cahill had created the opening with a fine run through the middle.
The home side’s response was strong and they landed six unanswered points on their way to a 1-16 to 1-2 interval lead.
Eire Og returned from the half time break with Danny Russel, Luke Vaughan and Niall Doyle in their line up in place of James O’Dwyer, Conor Perrill and Eoin O’Regan.
An Oran Cahill point in the first minute suggested s fight back but Clarecastle had other ideas and they replied with a Paul O’Connell goal followed by a Lee Brack point to stretch their advantage to seventeen points five minutes into the new half.
In the next fifteen minutes Éire Óg outscored their opponents, 0-6 to 0-2 but Clarecastle had the final two points of the game to seal a merited win, their second inside a week.
David Tuohy, Filip Wiechinski, Rory and Paul O’Connel, Conor Halpin and Conor Ralph were prominent for the winners while Rian Mulcahy, Oran Cahill, David Loftus and substitute Niall Doyle got through some good work for the visitors.
Clarecastle: Cian Broderick; Aaron Hayes, Darragh Healy, Filip Wiechinski; David Tuohy, Stephen O’Halloran (0-1), Eoghan Wallace; Rory O’Connell (0-3), Evan Price (0-1); Conor Ralph (0-3), Conor Halpin (1-2), Conor Whelan (0-1); Paul O’Connell (1-6, 0-4f), Jack Murphy (0-1), Oisin Whelan (0-1);
Subs: Lee Brack (0-2) for Murphy (inj.); Conor Griffin for A. Hayes (inj); Niall Galvin for O. Whelan; Patrick Kelly for P. O’Connell; Rory Ralph for E. Price.
Éire Óg; Darragh Stack; Fionán Treacy, Ciarán Russell, Cillian Moroney; Liam Corry, Rian Mulcahy, Darren O’Brien (0-1); Oran Cahill (0-2, 1f), Michael Heneghan; Tom Kavanagh (0-1), Conor Perrill (0-1, f), David McNamara (0-1); Eoin O’Regan (1-0), David Loftus (0-1), James O’Dwyer;
Subs: Danny Russell \(0-2, f) for O’Dwyer; Luke Vaughan for Perrill; Niall Doyle for O’Regan; Niall McMahon for Moroney; Eoin Guilfoyle for Corry; Bruce Piggott for Heneghan
Referee: Kieran Liddane (Sixmiebridge)
All photographs by Gerard O’Neill
Another brace of league points for Feakle
Feakle 3-20
Sixmilebridge 1-15
Venue: O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge
Two goals in quick succession shortly before the half time whistle turned this Clare Cup division 1 B game in Feakle’s favour and they dominated from here on.
In a game played at O’Garney Park in Sixmilebridge on Friday night, the teams had been evenly matched in the opening quarter.
The goals from Steven Conway and a Shane McGrath penalty helped the visitors to lead at the break on a score of 2-8 to 0-9.
Owen McGann’s goal in the second period extended the winner’s lead and from here on they always looked likely winners.
Brian Corry excelled for the home side and he was their top scorer with 0-7 to his name, two coming from frees.
Shane McGrath was, again, Feakle’s top scorer with 1-9, 0-5 coming from play. With Evan McMahon at full back and Eoin Tuohy at centre back, Feakle’s defence was strong.
Feakle: Liam O’Connor; Conor Tuohy, Evan McMahon, Justin Nelson; Enda Noonan, Eoin Tuohy (0-1), Oisin Clune (0-1); Ronan O’Connor (0-2), Patrick Daly (0-1); Oisin Donnellan (0-1), Shane McGrath (1-9), Diarmuid Bane; Steven Conway (1-3), Gary Guilfoyle (0-1), Oisin McGann (1-0)
Subs: Eoghan Daly for Clune; Martin Daly for McGann; Oisin O’Connor (0-1) for Noonan; Raymond Bane for Guilfoyle; Austin McMahon for R. O’Connor
Sixmilebridge; Derek Fahy; Mark Mullins, Noel Purcell, Oisin Breen; Shane Golden, Jack O’Halloran, Pa Mulready; Conor Deasy, Jamie Shanahan (0-2, f); Stephen Gavin (1-1). Lorcan Fitzpatrick, Dylan Keogh; Brian Corry (0-7, 2f), Sean McNamara (0-3), Zak Phelan (0-1).
Subs: Paidi Fitzpatrick for Golden; Alan Mulready for Keogh; Dara Kennedy (0-1) for Deasy; Luke O’Halloran for J. O’Halloran
Referee: Joe Mullins (Clonlara)
All photographs by Gerard O’Neill
Kilmaley on top against injury hit Ballyea
Kilmaley 2-15
Ballyea 1-11
Venue: Ballyea
Kilmaley recorded their second win in this season’s willwego.com Clare cup, senior hurling league, when overcoming Ballyea on Saturday afternoon.
While the win was merited, it was a closer contest than the final scoreline suggests. Ten minutes into the second half the minimum margin separated the sides with the score at 0-10 to 0-9.
Kilmaley responded with three unanswered points and they followed this with a goal from Joe Carmody who drilled the ball to the net after good work by Tom O’Rourke.
With time almost up Cian Neylon scored the winner’s second goal but Ballyea weren’t finished and they responded to that score with a goal from Eoghan Gavin.
It wasn’t enough to deny Kilmaley victory on a day when Colin McGuane, Daire Keane, Michael O’Malley, Sean O’Loughlin until injured and substitute Joe Carmody did well.
An area of concern for the winners is the number of wides they recorded which ran to fourteen.
Ballyea lost a number of key players to injury on the day including two of their most experienced defenders. Jack Browne who was to play at centre back, pulled up in the warm up while full back Paul Flanagan didn’t come out for the second half. Eoin Kennedy, Kieran McDonnell Niall Carigg and Mossy Gavin did well for them.
Kilmaley: Bryan O’Loughlin; Martin O’Connor, Colin McGuane, Colin Carmody; Aidan McGuane (0-1), Michael O’Malley, Daire Keane; Tommy Barry, Thomas McGuire; Tom O’Rourke (0-6, f)
Michael O’Neill, Cian Neylon (1-0); Jason Keane-Hayes (0-1), Sean O’Loughlin (0-4, 2f), Éanna McMahon (0-1);
Subs; Joe Carmody (1-1) for S. O’Loughlin (inj.); Colm Killeen (0-1) for J Keane-Hayes; James Fitzpatrick for T McGuire; Odie Murphy for T. Barry; Leo Switzer for T. O’Rourke.
Ballyea; Barry Coote; Niall Carigg, Paul Flanagan, Thomas Kelly (0-1); Paddy Sweeney, Eoin Kennedy, Dylan Killoughery; Pearse Lillis, Kieran McDonnell; Mossy Gavin (0-8, 5f, 2 ‘65’s), Martin O’Leary, Daniel Kelly (0-1); Eoin O’Connor (0-1), Eoghan Gavin (1-0), Cian O’Callaghan.
Subs; Oisin Griffin for B. Coote; Brian Longe for P. Flanagan; David Meaney for C. O’Callaghan; Evan Wall for P. Sweeney; Darragh O’Neill for T. Kelly;
Referee: Aaron Hogg (Clonlara)
Mills take control in second half
O’Callaghans Mills 1-24
Crusheen 1-16
Venue: Crusheen
After an evenly fought first half at the end of which the sides were level at 0-8 each O’Callaghans Mills edged ahead in the second half and went on to record a merited win over Crusheen.
The home side’s chances of winning weren’t helped by the loss of two experienced forwards early in the opening half, Conor O’Donnell and Fergus Kennedy both being forced out of the tie.
The winners went into this tie without their top scorer from the opening round, Gary Cooney who was ruled out due to injury.
They produced a strong team performance with eight players sharing in their impressive final tally, Jacob Loughnane leading the way with 0-8.
Corner forward Liam Murphy was their goalscorer while the home side’s goal came from Diarmuid Mullins.
O’Callaghans Mills: Killian Nugent (0-2); Keith Donnellan, Conor Cooney, Cathal McNamara; Sean O’Gorman (0-2), Aidan O’Gorman, Rory McNamara; Fionn Hickey (0-1), Cormac Murphy (0-2); Stephen Donnellan (0-1), Darragh Moroney, Jacob Loughnane (0-8); Colm Cleary (0-4), Mark Pewter, Liam Murphy (1-2);
Subs; Aidan Fawl for R. McNamara; Niall Melody for C. Cooney; Conor Henry (0-2) for M. Pewter;
Crusheen; Donal Tuohy; Ciaran O’Doherty, Gavin O’Brien, James O’Sullivan; Diarmuid Mullins (1-0), Cian Dillon (0-1), Kyle Scanlan; Eanna McMahon (0-2), Jamie Fitzgibbon (0-1); Conor O’Donnell, Oisin O’Donnell (0-5), Glen O’Sullivan, Sean Hanrahan, Fergus Kennedy, Luke Ketalaar (0-4);
Subs: John O’Sullivan (0-2) for C. O’Donnell (inj.); Ross Hayes (0-2) for K.Scanlan; Niall Kearney for F. Kennedy; Cian Fogarty for C. O’Doherty; John Brigdale for S. Hanrahan.
Referee: Ger Hoey (Killanena)
