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Brian Corry was among the goal scorers for The Bridge. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Sixmilebridge emerged from Group 1 of the Clare SHC unbeaten as their quest to win a county title in Sean Stack’s first season in charge remains well and truly alive.
Sixmilebridge 3-18
Clonlara 0-19
Venue: Wolfe Tones GAA Grounds, Shannon
A first half that lacked the usual intensity of Championship battles which was to be expected considering the positions both find themselves in but did not lack for entertainment as patrons witnessed seventeen white and one green flag in the opening thirty minutes.
The game was only twenty five seconds old when Cathal Lynch pointed for the Bridge, quickly followed by a superb Brian Corry touchline score. Dylan McMahon then landed a monster Clonlara point from inside his own half giving us three points in ninety seconds.
This lightning fast start continued and after eleven minutes Clonlara led by the minimum 0-5 to 0-4. We then had to wait for ten minutes for the games next score but we did have two huge moments when firstly Paraic O’Loughlin fielded a huge delivery before rifling past Derek Fahy only to see referee Jarlath Donnellan, after consultation with his umpires disallow it for a square ball infringement.
Only seconds later Cian Moriarty bore down on the Bridge goal firing a rocket which was incredibly saved by Fahy at point blank range. The teams then traded scores in mini scoring blitz’s as Sixmilebridge landed four in succession before Clonlara hit three including a lovely Cian Moriarty point.
Just before the interval a moment of magic occurred when star forward David Kennedy played an exquisite reverse handpass freeing up Shane Golden who buried the sliotar past the helpless Gully giving the Bridge an interval lead of two on a 1-8 to 0-9 scoreline.
The second half began with two rapid fire Clonlara scores to level the contest but two goals in a three minute spell ended it as a Shane Golden free from thirty yards deceived keeper Semi Gully and flew into the top corner before Cathal Lynch found Brian Corry with a delightful pass with Corry making no mistake blasting home.
Credit to Clonlara though who having nothing but pride to play for battled on bravely to the end but an eight minute spell in the second half showed why the Bridge have the favourites tag for the Canon Hamilton when they scored seven points without reply.
Clonlara introduced Cormac O’Donovan in the 46th minute and for no apparent reason substituted him again in the 48th minute with Donovan none too happy exchanging verbals with management as he left the field.
Overall though the Bridge maintain their 100% record and go into Monday nights draw as the side nobody will want.
SCORERS FOR SIXMILEBRIDGE: Shane Golden 2-7(1-2f),Brian Corry 1-3,Cathal Lynch 0-2,Caimin Morey 0-2(f,65),Seadna Morey,David Kennedy,Conor Deasy,Paidi Fitzpatrick 0-1 each
SCORERS FOR CLONLARA: Cathal O’Connell 0-10(7f,1 65),Ian Galvin 0-2,Padraig 0’Loughlin,Cian Moriarty,Aidan Moriarty,John Conlon,Daniel Moloney,Dylan McMahon,Michael O’Loughlin 0-1 each
SIXMILEBRIDGE;
1 Derek Fahy
2 Noel Purcell
3 Barry Fitzpatrick
18 Christy Carey
5 Conor Deasy
6 Caimin Morey
7 Paidi Fitzpatrick
8 Brian Carey
9 Seadna Morey
25 David Kennedy
19 Evan McInerney
12 Shane Golden
13 Brian Corry
14 Lorcan Fitzpatrick
15 Cathal Lynch
Subs:
Pa Mulready for Barry Fitzpatrick(34 mins),
CLONLARA;
1 Seimi Gully
2 Michael Clancy
3 Colm O’Meara
4 Tommy Walsh
5 Aidan Moriarty
7 Dylan McMahon
11 Ger Powell
8 Cathal O’Connell
9 Jathan McMahon
10 Daniel Moloney
6 John Conlon
13 Mícheál O’Loughlin
12 Cian Moriarty
14 Ian Galvin
19 Paraic O’Loughlin
Subs
David Fitzgerald for Moloney(45mins)
Cormac O’Donovan for M O’Loughlin (46mins)
Conor Burke for P O’Loughlin(47mins),
Michael Stritch for O’Donovan (48mins),
Gareth Kennedy for Michael Clancy(58mins)
Referee: Jarlath Donnellan (Wolfe Tones)
