*Aron Shanagher leaves Jack Kirwan in his path. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
HOT FAVOURITES for an immediate return to the senior grade, Wolfe Tones have qualified for the semi-finals of the Clare IHC but they had to pull out all the stops to overcome Parteen/Meelick.
Wolfe Tones 0-16
Parteen/Meelick 0-15
Venue: Pairc Michael Ui hEithir, Cratloe
For much of the contest, Parteen/Meelick led and they had reason to bemoan the outcome as they had chances in the closing minutes to have at least forced the tie to extra time.
In the end their lack of experience proved costly and the Shannon side claimed the victory with the winning point coming from a Cian O’Rourke free from midfield in the first minute of ‘added time’.
Inter county panellist Jack Kirwan opened the scoring when he converted a ‘65 in the first minute after the underdogs had come close to finding the net.
Three unanswered points had the eventual winners 0-3 to 0-1 in front by the tenth minute but, five minutes later, the teams were level. Jack Kirwan’s free to bring the score to 0-4 each sparked off a good spell for Parteen/Meelick who hit five in a row to go thee clear with five minutes remaining in the half.
As the game went into ‘injury time’ at the end of the half, Wolfe Tones struck for points from Aron Shanagher and Cian O’Rourke but Jack Kirwan made it 0-8 to 0-6 in Parteen/Meelick’s favour when he converted a 70m free in the last play of the opening half.
They scored first when play resumed, Rory McDermott hitting the target but Aaron Cunningham, Cian O’Rourke (free) and a Darragh Lohan (free) had the teams level nine minutes into the second half.
They were still level after Daniel Cooney and Aron Shanagher exchanged points before points from Tom Collins and Joe O’Connor pushed the Parteen/Meelick men two clear midway through the second half.
Four unanswered scores in as many minutes had the Shannon men two clear inside the last ten minutes but Parteen/Meelick refused to go away and a brace from Dara Nolan had the teams level at 0-14 each with three minutes to play.
Another Shanagher point pushed the Shannon men one ahead but in the final minute of normal time Daniel Cooney tied up the game for the seventh and final time in an entertaining contest.
At the end of the first of three additional minutes Cian O’Rourke sent over what proved to be the winning score before Alan Murnane produced an outstanding save from Aron Shanagher, keeping Parteen/Meelick hopes of getting something from this game alive.
It wasn’t to be and a relieved Wolfe Tones held on for victory on a day when Darragh and Daithi Lohan, John Guilfoyle, Dean Devanney, Cian O’Rourke and Aron Shanagher got through some good work.
Alan Murnane, Sean Connelly, Shane Fox, Joe O’Connor, Daniel Cooney and Jack Kirwan were prominent for Parteen/Meelick
Scorers Wolfe Tones: Cian O’Rourke (frees), Aron Shanagher (0-4) each; Darragh Lohan (both frees), Rory Hayes, Dean Devanney, Aaron Cunningham (0-2) each
Scorers Parteen/Meelick: Jack Kirwan (0-5, 3 frees, 1 ‘65), Dara Nolan (0-3) Tom Collins, Joe O’Connor, Daniel Cooney (0-2) each; rory McDermott (0-1)
Wolfe Tones:
1; Oisin O’Rourke
2: Mikey Hayes
3: Daithi Lohan
4: Liam Murphy
6: John Guilfoyle,
5: Rory Hayes
7: Sam Meaney
8: Darragh Lohan
13: Dean Devanney
10: Stephen Donnellan
11: Evan O’Gorman
20: Colin Riordan;
9: Cian O’Rourke,
14: Aaron Cunningham,
15: Aron Shanagher;
Subs:
17: Dylan Frawley for E. O’Gorman (40);
12: Sean Costello for C. Riordan (48);
19: Conor Ferns for M. Hayes (51);
Parteen/Meelick:
1: Alan Murnane
18: Evan Higgins
3: Damian Moloney
4: Sean Connelly
5: Noel Bridgeman
6: Darragh McDermott
7: Shane Fox;
11: Daniel Cooney,
9: Nathan Fox;
10: Joe O’Connor,
8: Tom Collins,
12: Dara Nolan
13: Rory McDermott,
14: Jack Kirwan,
15: Oisin Hickey;
Referee: Johnnie Healy (Smith O’Briens)
