CONOR DEASY’s late equaliser secured Sixmilebridge’s place in the Clare SHC quarter-finals and dumped rivals Newmarket-on-Fergus out of the championship.
Sixmilebridge 1-19
Newmarket-on-Fergie 1-19
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
The old adage that ‘every score matters’ could have been written with this group in mind as a dramatic seesaw crescendo finally ended in a draw that ultimately only suited Sixmilebridge in Cusack Park.
Remarkably, the margins between these neighbours along with Crusheen were so tight that at stages of the second half, all three were potentially facing a championship exit.
Such wafer-thin separators told in terms of anxiety and uncharacteristic errors as every puck, pass and shot was magnified in a
heightened final quarter.
Ultimately, it didn’t matter how much Crusheen won by in Ruan as the result in Cusack Park dictated who prevailed to the quarter-finals.
Indeed, as the tie entered its final minute of injury-time, Peter Power’s free appeared to have edged Newmarket over the line by the minimum, a result that would have put themselves and the ‘Bridge through at the expense of Crusheen on score difference.
However, the ‘Bridge weren’t about to let slip their unbeaten start as substitute Alan Murleady gathered a Derek Fahy puck-out before passing back to Conor Deasy to arrow over from 60 metres at 1-19 apiece.
Newmarket did carve out one final chance but replacement James Power’s snatched shot drifted agonisingly wide as the Blues exited the championship in flooring circumstances.
After all, thanks to Eoin Guilfoyle’s eleventh minute goal, they dictated mattered for the next half hour and even brushed off the seemingly major set-back of a Jamie Shanahan penalty to edge back in front twice in the final minutes.
Add in 13 wides and two missed goal chances over the hour and considering they only missed out on qualification to the knock-out stages by a single point, the Blues’ introspective autumn/winter will undoubtedly be tinged with regret, especially after winning the Clare Cup.
The ‘Bridge are far from the finished article either but crucially their never-say-die attitude and unrivalled experience have been huge assets over an unbeaten group campaign.
With a perfect record entering the tie, they just need to remain composed, something they had to cling to after falling behind to Guilfoyle’s clincal finish after good work from Seanie Arthur.
Up to that point, Tommy Liddy and Stiofan Fitzpatrick’s side were in the ascendency thanks to Brian Corry (2), Alex Morey, Jamie Shanahan and Shane Golden, only for the Blues’ major to nudge their side in front at 1-4 to 0-5.
Seadna Morey hit the side-netting, Alex Morey just missed the top right corner of the Newmarket net while Lorcan Fitzpatrick had a penalty shout waved away for a frustrated ‘Bridge. However, Newmarket were also guilty of not taking their chances at the other end, hitting seven first half wides.
Colin Guilfoyle’s monster deliveries and constant threat allied to Peter Power’s accuracy from placed balls did ensure a 1-10 to 0-11 interval advantage for the Blues that if maintained would have put Crusheen out.
The pendulum of momentum swung both ways in an equally nervy slugfest on the resumption before the narrative altered decisively in the 37th minute when Alex Morey and Lorcan Fitzpatrick combined to tee up Seadna Morey for a trademark drive towards goal that was unceremoniously stopped for a penalty.
Up stepped Jamie Shanahan to fire off the ground and expertly into the bottom right corner of Paudie Guilfoyle’s net to inch the ‘Bridge back in front for the first time in 26 minutes at 1-15 to 1-13.
Superb duo Colin Guilfoyle and Sean Arthur stepped up to reel in their neighbours who were now beginning to flater in front of the posts themselves. Peter Power levelled the tie entering the final quarter before another Colin Guilfoyle boomer from his own half put the Blues back in front by the 55th minute at 1-18 to 1-17.
Brian Corry regained full parity from the right wing only for Peter Power to convert his eighth point in the next passage of play after Jack Enright was fouled on the left wing.
However, with the finish line in sight, the experienced Conor Deasy popped up from wing-back with a last gasp equaliser.
It deservedly split the spoils much to the relief of tabletoppers Sixmilebridge while Crusheen edged out the Blues for the second successive season.
Scorers for Sixmilebridge: Alex Morey 0-7 (6f), Jamie Shanahan 1-2 (1-0 Pen), Brian Corry 0-3, Lorcan Fitzpatrick 0-2, David Kennedy 0-2, Shane Golden 0-1, Brian Carey 0-1, Conor Deasy 0-1
Scorers for Newmarket-on-Fergus: Peter Power 0-8 (4f), Colin Guilfoyle 0-4 (3f), Eoin Guilfoyle 1-1, Sean Arthur 0-3, Jack Enright 0-1, Mikey McInerney 0-1, Noel Frawley 0-1
Sixmilebridge
1: Derek Fahy
17: Colm Flynn
3: Barry Fitzpatrick
4: Fiachra Ó Braoin
5: Conor Deasy
20: Paidi Fitzpatrick
6: Leon Kelly
7: Seadna Morey
9: Brian Carey
8: Jason Loughnane
10: Jamie Shanahan
12: Shane Golden
13: Brian Corry
14: Lorcan Fitzpatrick
15: Alex Morey
Subs
21: David Kennedy for Golden (29-31, BS)
21: Kennedy for Carey (40)
25: Matthew O’Halloran for Ó Braoin (45)
11: Caimin Morey for Golden (53, inj)
23: Alan Mulready for L. Fitzpatrick (57)
Newmarket-on-Fergus
1: Paudie Guilfoyle
4: Conor McCarthy
3: Colin Guilfoyle
2: Sean O’Connor
5: Jack Enright
21: Liam O’Connor
7: Niall O’Connor
8: Shane Lynch
14: Mikey McInerney
15: Eanna Crimmins
22: Paudie McMahon
10: Noel Frawley
13: Peter Power
12: Eoin Guilfoyle
18: Sean Arthur
Subs
17: Colin Ryan for McMahon (45)
25: Seadhna Liddy for Frawley (54)
19: Mark Delaney for Crimmins (59)
20: James Power for McInerney (62)
Referee: John Bugler (Whitegate)
