*Inagh/Kilnamona’s Jack Mescall is tackled by Clooney/Quin defender Evan Maxted. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
CRATLOE, Éire Óg, Inagh/Kilnamona and Sixmilebridge all commenced the U21A hurling championship with wins to bolster their chances of making the knockout stages.
The race for the Berwick Callinan Murphy solicitors under 21 hurling championships got underway over the October Bank holiday weekend when mixed weather conditions were the order of the day.
Cratloe Éire Óg, Inagh/Kilnamona and Sixmilebidge all recorded victories in the A competition putting themselves in strong contention to make it through to the semi-finals.
Weather conditions deteriorated on Sunday and Monday when rain and wind greeted the teams.
First round losers must win the next day out and even then, they may be dependent on other results to see them through to the semi-finals.
Round 2 in all groups is scheduled for the weekend of November 7th/8th/9th.
Moylan leads the way for Cratloe
Cratloe 1-16
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 1-12
Venue: Gurteen
The race for the U21 A hurling championship got underway at Gurteen on Friday night when Cratloe overcame the home side in a lively contest.
Missed chances were the order of the day with St. Josephs the guiltier on the night hitting sixteen wides, three more than their opponents.
The hosts got off to a dream start with Michael Nash racing past a number of defenders and drilling the ball to the roof of the net.
However they failed to build on that score and the teams were level two minutes into the second quarter at 1-2 to 0-5.
As the game progressed the Cratloe defence in which Jake Higgins and, in particular, Jamie Moylan at centre back excelled, stamped their authority on proceedings.
Five minutes from the half time whistle Marc O’Brien struck for his side’s goal and they went to the break leading on a score of 1-8 to 1-5.
The winners landed the opening four points of the new half to go seven clear with twenty five minutes remaining.
Doora/Barefield responded with three in a row before Cratloe landed a brace and they led 1-14 to 1-8 at the three quarter stage.
St Joseph’s then hit another three in a row to leave one score between the sides with five minutes remaining.
The Doora-Barefield outfit then failed to hit the target from two frees before a Michael Nash score reduced the martin to two.
Cratloe however, closed out the contest with points from substitute Sam Mulholland and midfielder Evan Crowe.
Jake Higgins Jamie Moylan, Marc O’Brien, Daire Neville and the diminutive Keelan O’Donoghue excelled for the winners while Darragh Ball, Michael Nash, Ciaran O’Driscoll, Mark and Thomas O’Connor tried hard for the home side.
In round two, Cratloe will have home advantage against their neighbours Sixmilebridge while St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield will make the short journey to face Clarecastle.
Cratloe; Eoin Deegan; Riain McNamara, Jake Higgins, Denis Mundy; Cathal Lohan, Jamie Moylan, Cian O’Gorman; Evan Crowe (0-1), Sam Sheedy (0-1); Mark O’Brien (1-2), Daire Neville (0-7, f), Eanna Collins; Tadhg Lohan (0-1), Jake Moylan (0-1), Keelan O’Donoghue (0-2).
Subs: Sam Mulholland (0-1) for S. Sheedy; Matthew Danagher for C. O’Gorman
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Evan Creavan; Senan Crosbie, Ciaran O’Driscoll, Ian Williams; Francis Meaney, Darragh Ball (0-1), Paddy Nagle; Mark O’Connor, Joe Mannion; Graham Ball (0-2), Odhran O’Connell, Shane Mescall (0-1); Michael Nash (1-5, 0-4f), Padraic O’Donovan (0-2, f) Thomas O’Connor (0-1);
Subs: Eoin Lahiffe for O’Donovan; Charlie Hannan for F. Meaney; Eoin Talty for O. O’Connell
Referee: John Bugler (Whitegate)
All so easy for Éire Óg
Éire Óg 4-21
Ballyea 0-8
Venue: Ballyea
It was one-way traffic at Ballyea on Saturday morning as Éire Óg easily accounted for the home side in this first round game
The visitors were in control from the off and they led 2-3 to 0-1 after just seven minutes, the goals coming from Marco Cleary and Darren Moroney.
With Robert Loftus directing operations from centre back, the Ennis side controlled matters and when the half time whistle sounded they were 2-10 to 0-2 ahead.
The winners would not have been flattered with a greater lead at this point such was their dominance.
Any hope of a Ballyea rally was killed off in the opening minutes of the second half as Marco Cleary with a goal and James O’Dwyer and Darren Moroney had points to stretched their lead to a whopping nineteen points with twenty five minutes still top play.
Ballyea responded with two points but the Éire Óg men stretched their lead further with five unanswered scores to lead 3-17 to 0-4 at the three quarter stage.
Ballyea hit back with three in a row but there was no stopping Éire Óg who responded with 1-4, the goal coming from Tom Kavanagh, to seal a comfortable win.
Robert Loftus, Fionán Treacy, Darren Moroney, Conor Perrill and Marco Cleary led the charge for a dominant Éire Óg team.
Darragh Moylan, Eoin Kennedy, Cian Kirby and Luke Minogue worked hard for Ballyea.
Éire Óg will enjoy home advantage in round 2 when they will face Inagh/Kilnamona while Clooney/Quin will also have home advantage against Ballyea.
All photographs by Gerard O’Neill.
Éire Óg: Cian Howard; Cillian Moroney, Fionán Treacy, Luke Pyne; Jack Lynch, Robert Loftus (0-1), Rian Mulcahy; Darren Moroney (1-2), Niall Doyle (0-1); David Loftus (0-1). Conor Perrill (0-7, 4f), Tom Kavanagh (1-1); Marco Cleary (2-4), James O’Dwyer (0-3), Andrew McElwee;
Subs; Rian McDermott for C Moroney (inj); Luke Malice for L. Pyne; Rian Clohessy for A. McElwee; Bernard Keating (0-1) for N. Doyle;
Ballyea: Sean O’Malley; Dara O’Neill, Niall Carigg, Conor Hill; Sam Garry (0-4, f), Daragh Moylan, Eoin Kennedy; Kieran McDonnell, Cian O’Callaghan (0-1, f); Dylan Killoughery, Kieran Connolly, Luke Minogue (0-1); Cian Kirby (0-1), Dara Kennedy, Eoin O’Connor;
Subs: Dara Quinn for K. Connolly; Cian Murphy for K. McDonnell; Colm Meaney for E. O’Connor; Eoin Coote (0-1) for D. Kennedy (inj)
Referee: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)
Early goals prove decisive for Inagh/Kilnamona
Inagh/Kilnamona 2-8
Clooney/Quin 0-8
Venue: Kilnamona
Goals from Gearoid Barry and Fred Hegarty in the opening quarter separated the sides at the end of this under 21 A championship game at Kilnamona on Sunday morning.
In very difficult weather conditions the sides had to cope with driving rain and a strong cross-field breeze which made ball handling particularly difficult.
With many of the county’s brightest young hurling stars on view, there was a good attendance despite the inclement weather.
On the day the home side managed the conditions better and they emerged as deserving winners despite playing the last ten minutes with fourteen after Seán Rynne picked up a second yellow card.
Their defence was strong and confined the visitors forward line to just three points
The game had just entered the second minute when centre forward Gearoid Barry raced through and blasted to the net to give the home side a lead they would hold throughout.
The visitors opened their account in the sixth minute when Matthew Corbett converted a ‘65.
At the midpoint of the half Fred Hegarty found the net for Inagh/Kilnamona and he quickly followed with a point.
Three in a row for the visitors gave them a boost but the home side finished the half strongly with points from Rynne and Cathal Ryan to go to the break 2-3 to 0-4 in front.
Early second half points from Fred Hegarty and Rynne stretched the winner’s lead to seven points.
Clooney/Quin battled hard but they just couldn’t break down the home side’s defence despite scoring the last three points of the game.
Shortly before the full time whistle Dannan Fox looked to be through to goal but Frank Roughan in the winners goal did well to deflect the ball out for a ‘65.
Shane Woods, James Hegarty, Mark Callinan, and Fred Hegarty led the way for the winners while Sean McNamara, Matthew Corbett, John Cahill and Jack O’Neill fought hard throughout for the visitors.
All photographs by Gerard O’Neill.
Inagh/Kilnamona; Frank Roughan; James Cullinan, Shane Woods, Conor Rynne; Neil Hegarty, James Hegarty, Ricky Wynne; Jamie Wynne, Mark Callinan; Cathal Ryan (0-1), Gearoid Barry (1-0), Jack Mescall; Jack Callinan, Sean Rynne (0-2), Fred Hegarty (1-4, 0-3 f)
Subs: John Barry (0-1) for J. Cullinan; Mark Cotter for J. Mescall; Alex Leyden for J. Callinan
Clooney/Quin; Darren Frain; Fionn O’Gara, Sean McNamara, Evan Maxted; Matthew Corbett (0-5, 3f, 2 ‘65’s), John Cahill, P.J. McCarthy; Jack O’Neill, David Considine; Patrick Finneran, Callum Hassett (0-2), Dara White; Sam Scanlan, Dara McNamara, Dannan Fox (0-1);
Subs: David Cahill for D. White; Cillian O’Gara for D. Considine; Dara Mahon for D. McNamara;
Referee: Kieran Liddane (Sixmilebridge)
A bridge too far for Clarecastle again
Sixmilebridge 1-14
Clarecastle 0-12
Venue: O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge
For the second time in twenty four hours teams from Sixmilebridge and Clarecastle were in opposition and, again, the bragging rights went to the ‘Bridge.
Victorious in the minor A final on Saturday, Sixmilebridge again came out on top when the under 21 hurlers from both clubs clashed at O’Garney Park on Sunday afternoon bringing to an end a disappointing week for the Magpies who suffered defeat in the premier intermediate final seven days earlier.
Centre forward Seamus O’Connell led the way for the winners contributing 1-8 of their tally
The home side made the better start and they raced 1-3 to 0-0 ahead before Oisin Whelan opened the visitors account.
The game’s only goal came from the top scorer, Seamus O’Connell whose free evaded the Clarecastle defence and ended up in the net.
The goal separated the sides at half time when the score was 1-4 o 0-4. In a game played in difficult weather conditions, the home side continued to hold the edge throughout the second half to deservingly take the spoils and put themselves strongly in contention for a place in the semi-finals.
Sixmilebridge: Mark Sheedy; Mark Mullins, Oisin Breen, Gary O’Callaghan; Dara Fitzgerald, Matthew O’Halloran, John Deasy; Fiachra Ó Broin (0-2), Jack O’Halloran; Conor Gilligan, Seamus O’Connell (1-8, 1-6f), Callum Phelan (0-1); Cillian Murphy(0-1), Conor Murphy(0-1), Darragh Whyte
Subs; Neil Forde for Cillian Murphy; Daniel Chaplin (0-1) for Conor Murphy; Danny Dunne for C. Gillligan; Fionn Hayes for D. White; Dylan Keogh for J. Deasy;
Clarecastle; Fionn Morgan; Mark Griffin, Conor Griffin, Niall Brigdale; Cian O’Dell, Aaron Hayes, Niall Óg Tuohy; Evan O’Connell, Oisin Whelan (0-2, 1f); Scott Brack, Paul O’Connell (0-3), Evan Price (0-2); James Doherty, Jack O’Donoghue, Johnny Casey (0-5, f);
Subs: Hugh McDonnell for O’Donoghue; Daragh Hickey for S. Brack;
Referee; Gus Callaghan (Feakle)
U-21 B
Last year’s A finalists, Scariff/Ogonnelloe and Feakle/Killanena are competing in the B competition this year and they both got their campaigns off to a winning start.
Scariff/Ogonnelloe beat their East Clare neighbours Tulla by three points, 1-13 to 1-10 while Feakle/Killanena accounted for the Corofin/Ruan combination on a scoreline of 1-18 o 0-16
Kilmaley were 1-20 to 3-12 winners over Newmarket-on-Fergus on Bank holiday Monday with their goal coming from Evan Cahill in the opening minutes.
On Monday afternoon Broadford got their campaign off to a winning start with a two point win over their neighbours, Clonlara, 0-21 to 1-16.
In the C competition there were first round wins for Crusheen, Whitegate, Parteen-Meelick, Banner and Tubber while Ennistymon and Ruan shared the spoils.
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield and Clooney/Quin were first round winners in the D division with victories over Éire Óg and Clarecastle respectively.
