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Conor Whelan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Feakle’s chances of making the knockout stages failed to materialise with Shane McGrath rescuing a draw in their hard-fought tie with Whitegate.
Feakle 1-23
Whitegate 1-23
Venue: Dr Daly Park, Tulla
An East Clare derby that had everything one would want to see when neighbours and rivals go to battle. Terrific scores, full blooded challenges, great goals and plenty of off the ball challenges kept spectators entertained for a full sixty plus minutes in Tulla.
A Danny Hynes free inside 90 seconds began proceedings before three Feakle scores in quick succession courtesy of two Shane McGrath points and an Oisin Donnellan peach gave Feakle an early lead.
A Conor Whelan converted line ball from forty yards seemed to ignite the North-East Clare club into action as they would outscore their opponents 0-6 to 0-1 in a ten minute spell to lead 0-9 to 0-6 after twenty minutes of entertaining action.
PJ Kelleher’s troops responded though with a fantastic Raymond Bane goal in the 23rd minute when a Stephen Conway handpass found him at the edge of the square before he turned onto his favoured right side, unleashing a rocket past the helpless Andrew Fahey. At the interval Feakle led 1-12 to 0-13.
On the resumption though Terence Fahy’s men roared into the contest hitting five of the first six scores, all scores of the highest quality one must add. After forty minutes the teams were deadlocked at 1-14 to 0-17.
The teams then traded scores,three apiece courtesy of free takers Shane McGrath and Danny Hynes respectively before Feakle took over as Whitegate bodies tired. Shane McGrath landed an audacious point as did Eoin Tuohy and with literally only two minutes to play Feakle led by two 1-21 to 0-22.
Incredibly though Whitegate who had only pride to play for goaled when Paul Burke produced a fantastic finish rifling to the top corner to put his side a point up. Moments later Ronan Hayes was clean through on goal but opted to tap over rather than go for the jugular.
This gave Feakle a lifeline as referee Jim Hickey signalled for four additional minutes. Fiachra Donnellan landed a monster before the always impressive ever Shane McGrath converted a last ditch free to level matters with the final whistle coming just afterwards.
SCORERS FOR FEAKLE:Shane McGrath 0-15(9f),Raymomd Bane 1-0,Stephen Conway 0-2,Oisin Donnellan 0-2,Oisin Clune,Fiachra Donnellan,Conn Smith,Eoin Tuohy 0-1 each
SCORERS FOR WHITEGATE; Paul Burke 1-2,Conor McDermott 0-4,Danny Hynes 0-4(2f),Conor Whelan 0-3(f),Ciaran Keenan 0-2,Ronan Hayes 0-2,Tomàs Quirke 0-2,Paddy Burke 0-2,Ian Fahy,Andrew Fahy 0-1 apiece
FEAKLE;
1 Eibhear Quilligan
24 Enda Madden
3 Martin Daly
4 Evan McMahon
23 Ger Hanrahan
7 Eoin Tuohy
9 Ronan O’Connor
15 Shane McGrath
5 Oisin Clune
20 Gary Guilfoyle
14 Stephen Conway
11 Oisin Donnellan
13 Raymond Bane
18 Oisin O’Connor
2 Adam Hogan
Subs:
Fiachra Donnellan for Gary Guilfoyle(39mins),
James Noonan for Martin Daly (40mins),
Conn Smith for Evan McMahon (45mins)
Justin Nelson for Ger Hanrahan(53mins)
WHITEGATE;
1 Andrew Fahy
19 Eoin Patterson
2 Reuben Noyes
4 Dylan White
5 Brendan Bugler
3 Eoin Quirke
7 Ian Fahy
8 Tomàs Quirke
9 Conor Whelan
10 Danny Hynes
11 Conor McDermott
12 Ciaran Keenan
13 Paddy Burke
14 Paul Burke
15 Ronan Hayes
Subs;Ciaran Quinn for Noyes inj(17mins),
REFEREE; Jim Hickey(Cratloe)
