CLARECASTLE..................1-18 KILLANENA........................2-15 By Michael O Connor.
Clarecastle are indeed
attaining great value in this years division three league as preparation
for round 2 of the Intermediate championship. Having played seven
league games they faced two games to overcome
Crusheen to set up a meeting with Killanena in Tulla on Saturday.
For their part
Killanena reached the final with comparative ease as they overcame
Clonlara by 14 points in the semi final to gain promotion and a league
final. Killanena were without the services of three of
their panel entering this tie as Clarecastle were slight favourites to
lift their cup.
Mark Flaherty opened
the scoring from play after four minutes as the former Clare panellist
once more was the key scorer for the East Clare side. David Greene
lining out at midfield for Clarecastle who were without
Garrett Barry responded with Clarecastle's first score. Exchanges were
equal in the first quarter with Killanena ahead (0-5) to (0-3) after 13
minutes. Fintan McNamara, Jason Keehan and Mark Flaherty (2) were on
target for Killanena as Mark Foley, Conor O
Gorman who was impressive throughout responded for the magpies. A strong
breeze was favouring Killanena in the first half but it did not appear
to be having an undue influence on proceedings in Tulla before a small
attendance.
Clare quickly levelled
matters by the 16th minute as Adam Cassidy and Pa Casey were on target
before corner forward Niall Quinn and Mark Foley with his second point
put Martin Sheedy's men two clear on (0-7)
to (0-5) as this four in a row from Clarecastle appeared to stifle
Killanena a little.
Perhaps it was the
warning that Killanena required as they had a golden spell fromthe 22nd
minute to the 28th minute hitting six of the intervening eight scores.
Todd Kelsey, 17 year old Toby O Meara, Mark Flaherty
(3) and county minor Cathal Noonan lifted Killanena's challenge to a new
level as Clarecastle depended on the roaming Pa Casey to respond with
two frees to stay in touch.
At the interval
Clarecastle were (0-11) to (0-9) in arrears but with a stiff breeze to
their backs for the second half allied to perhaps a stronger showing
from their better players they appeared in a better
place than Killanena who depended a lot on frees to score. Pa Casey
continued at the start of the second half as he ended the first half
with a converted free to narrow the Killanena lead to the minimum. Todd
Kelsey was denied a goal in the 33rd minute following
a brave body block by Jonathan Reidy. The ball was sent upfield and Pa
Casey from play levelled matters before Casey(free) and Flaherty
exchanged scores to leave the sides sharing 24 points after 37 minutes.
Clarecastle appeared to
take control and have one hand on the trophy as they hit (1-2) between
the 38th and 45th minutes. Conor O Gorman, Niall Quinn hit points before
O Gorman struck for the game's first goal
and now Clarecastle were (1-14) to (0-12) clear at the end of the third
quarter of a game that was increasing in quality with 14 different
scorers throughout the hour. Mark Flaherty hit back with a free but two
scores in a minute from Darragh Moloney gave Clarecastle
a six point lead for the first time in the game as they led (1-16) to
(0-13). The surprise substitution of Alan McNamara and then reappearance
at corner forward appeared to unsettle Killanena in the back as they
let in (1-4) in the intervening seven minutes
after his withdrawl.
The game was now
Clarecastle's to win and Killanena's to save. The Killanena rescue
mission commenced in the 50th minute when a huge clearance from
Killanena deceived the Clarecastle backs and Mark Flaherty who
read the flight of the ball well moved accordingly and he finished with
ease past the helpless Jonathan Griffey to narrow the scoreline to
(1-16) to (1-13) with ten minutes to play.
Both sides began to
bring on replacements as Conor O Gorman with another score put four
points between the sides with 52 minutes played. When Pa Casey with
another excellent free left five points between the
side one could have suggested that Clarecastle has rescued their
challenge and would hold on for a narrow win. Killanena, however had
other ideas and David Greene had to be alert to clear off the
Clarecastle line in the 55th minute. A decisive score that breathed
new life into Killanena was a Mikey Noone 65 that appeared to go
untouched all the way to the Clarecastle net in the 57th minute.
Clarecastle were now under extreme pressure and unable to get the ball
past their own 65 yard line. Mikey Noone narrowed the deficit
to the minimum with a smart effort from play and a draw looked on the
cards when Killanena won a free 50 metres out in the 60th minute and
Mark Flaherty made no mistake to set up a second day out to decide the
destination of the division three hurling title.
Best for Killanena
included Mikey Noone, Mark Flaherty, Todd Kelsey, Alan McNamara early
on, Andrew Flaherty, Barry Noone, Jason Keehan, Darragh McNamara and
Fintan McNamara. Clarecastle were feel aggrieved that
they surrendered a prominent winning position despite the sold efforts
from Conor Clancy, Jon Reidy, Pa Casey, Darragh Moloney, Conor O Gorman,
Adam Cassidy, Cathal Lynch and Mark Foley in the first half.
CLARECASTLE: Jonathan
Griffey, Ciaran Touhy, Conor Clancy, Cathal Lynch, John McInerney,
Eamonn Concannon, Jon Reidy, Stephen Malone, David Greene (0-1), Mark
Foley (0-2), Conor O Gorman (1-3), Adam Cassidy
(0-1), Niall Quinn (0-2), Pa Casey (0-7), Darragh Moloney (0-2). Subs:
Josh Kelly for Cassidy, Stephen Barry for Touhy, Shane Galvin for Quinn,
Darragh Holland for Moloney.
KILLANENA: David Noone,
Andrew Flaherty, Pa Noone, Barry Noone, John O Meara, Alan McNamara,
Jason Keehan (0-1), Darragh McNamara, Mikey Noone (1-1), Mark
Flaherty(1-9), Fintan McNamara (0-1), Cathal Noonan(0-1),
Evan McNamara, Todd Kelsey (0-1), Toby O Meara (0-1). Subs: Colin
McNamara for Alan McNamara, Alan McNamara for E McNamara
Referee: Niall O Brien (O C Mills).
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