*Colm Cleary set the way for O’Callaghans Mills. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
O’Callaghan’s Mills snatched a dramatic victory at the death to deny Sixmilebridge a place in the quarter-finals of the Clare SHC.
O’Callaghan’s Mills 3-17
Sixmilebridge 1-21
Venue: Clarecastle
Requiring a five point win to cement their safety, a never-say-die Mills were epitomised by chief marksman Colm Cleary who raided for two late first half goals and then a 63rd minute last gasp winner to sink the ‘Bridge.
Sean Stack’s crestfallen side exit the race for the Canon Hamilton following back-to-back defeats. Sixmilebridge were far from flawless but arguably should have won this game twice, only to be overtaken each time by Cleary’s goal-hungry form.
Indeed, there was a real danger than this tie was over before it even started as from the throw-in Seadna Morey raced through to find the right corner of the net while his county senior team-mate Cathal Malone added three of the next four points to soar 1-4 to 0-0 clear after only eight minutes.
The Mills did finally get off the mark through Cormac Murphy in the tenth minute but their come-back efforts would be continually thwarted, mainly by Malone who had raided for six points from play by the 20th minute at 1-8 to 0-5.
There would be an unforeseen sea-change in proceeding though as wind-assisted O’Callaghan’s Mills were sparked into life in the 27th minute when a defensive mix-up presented Colm Cleary with a goal chance that he snatched with both hands to level the tie at 1-8 to 1-8.
The ‘Bridge looked to have bounced back off the ropes with points from Seadna Morey and Shane Golden only to be floored by a second Cleary goal, this time a superb solo effort as he cut in from the right corner to unleash to the net as the sides went in level at half-time at 2-8 to 1-11.
The sides would be level on three more occasions on the restart before the Mills made their break for the line with a Killian Nugent free and Cormac Murphy’s third point at 2-13 to 1-14.
Sixmilebridge had to dig deep but used all of their experience to incrementally turn the tide as frees from Alex Morey and goalkeeper Derek Fahy regained full parity entering the final quarter before adding an additional four points through Seadna Morey (2), Brian Carey and Alex Morey to power into a four point cushion by the 56th minute.
Game over one thought for a team of such winning know-how but nothing could be further from the truth as the Mills admirably persevered and never panicked as the chipped away at the def-icit with points to slash the arrears to just the minimum before striking for glory.
While a point would have cemented a share of the spoils, a buoyant O’Callaghan’s Mills went for the jugular as Gary Cooney and Stephen Donnellan combined to tee up Cleary to finish to the net at the back post and win the day.
Despite that victory, the Mills are still destined for the relegation final play-off while the ‘Bridge find themselves in the Senior B competition.
Scorers for O’Callaghan’s Mills: Colm Cleary 3-6 (5f), Cormac Murphy 0-4, Gary Cooney 0-1, Aidan Fawl 0-1, Conor Henry 0-1, Sean O’Gorman 0-1, Sean Cotter 0-1, Killian Nugent 0-1 (f) Aidan O’Gorman 0-1
Scorers for Sixmilebridge: Alex Morey 0-6 (6f), Cathal Malone 0-6, Seadna Morey 1-3, Shane Golden 0-1, Conor Deasy 0-1, Lorcan Fitzpatrick 0-1, Derek Fahy 0-1 (f), Brian Carey 0-1, Barry Fitzpatrick 0-1
O’Callaghans Mills
1: Killian Nugent
2. Mike Cotter
9: Conor Cooney
4: Keith Donnellan
3: Paddy Donnellan
6: Aidan O’Gorman
7: Aidan Fawl
5: Cormac Murphy
11: Sean O’Gorman
17: Mikey McMahon
15: Conor Henry
12: Stephen Donnellan
13: Colm Cleary
14: Mark Pewter
10: Gary Cooney
Subs
20: Sean Cotter for McMahon (29)
8: Darragh Moroney for Pewter (44)
23: Eoin McInerney for P. Donnellan (53)
19: Gerry Cooney for Cotter (53, inj)
18: Mike McGrath
Sixmilebridge
1: Derek Fahy
18: Leon Kelly
3: Barry Fitzpatrick
4: Brian Carey
2: Noel Purcell
6: Caimin Morey
7: Paidi Fitzpatrick
5: Seadna Morey
21: Fiacha Ó Braoin
8: Cathal Malone
12: Conor Deasy
14: Alex Morey
15: David Kennedy
11: Lorcan Fitzpatrick
10: Shane Golden
Subs
25: Paul Corry for Kennedy (41)
19: Jordan Downes for L. Fitzpatrick (55)
Referee: John Bugler (Whitegate)
