*Rory O’Connell takes on Piaras Ó Sé. Photograph: Chris Copley
SURPRISES and near-misses cropped up in the opening round of the Clare intermediate hurling championship.
Wolfe Tones issued a statement when walloping Broadford’s second string by thirty eight points, Clarecastle showed their nerve to hold off an impressive Ruan while Parteen/Meelick came out on a top in a tight tussle with Tulla.
Upsets saw the second sides from both Inagh/Kilnamona and Newmarket-on-Fergus prevail over Whitegate and Ogonnelloe respectively while although Sixmilebridge reached last year’s final their four point win against Tubber will still raise eyebrows.
Group 1
Clarecastle come out on top in Ruan battle
Clarecastle 2-16
Ruan 1-15
Venue: Clooney
An evenly matched encounter saw Clarecastle and Ruan do battle in a packed Clooney on Friday evening in a game that certainly brought the feel of championship.
Minus the services of captain Colin Brigdale, ex Clare minor Lee Brack and former Clare senior hurlers Stephen O’Halloran and Patrick Kelly, Clarecastle were certainly tested and no doubt Ruan aware of the absentees within the ranks of their opponents sensed an opportunity to cause a major upset.
Ruan brought an intensity that was matched by Clarecastle early doors. Last year’s intermediate semi-finalists led 0-4 0-2 by the tenth minute until Clarecastle hit back with a goal from corner forward Jack Hayes.
A strong response followed by Ruan who were back on level terms by the twentieth minute. Ryan Power’s goal soon after helped them mount a five point advantage but points from Oisin Casey and Conor Halpin reduced the deficit to three points at the sounding of the half-time whistle.
Clarecastle had a glorious start to the second half when ex Clare minor hurling captain, Darragh Healy operating at centre forward ran through for goal. A free from Casey helped nudged the Magpies back in front before Ruan hit back with scores from Aidan Lynch.
For the final twelve minutes, Clarecastle kept Ruan to a single score and added points of their own via Cian Galvin, Oisin Casey, David Tuohy, Killian McDermott and Oisin Whelan to seal a valuable win.
Coming out on the wrong side of a four point loss will be a source of disappointment for Ruan but they can take plenty of solace knowing they are able to match the top teams in the competition and are certainly well able of replicating their run to the semi-finals if they show improvement and an ability to bounce back.
Starting with a win was very important for the Colin Lynch managed Clarecastle. The last time the club’s top team won a first round championship game was in May 2016 when they had two points to spare over Tulla in the opening round of the Clare SHC so the significance of commencing a campaign with a victory cannot be underestimated for the Magpies who also finished with fourteen men after James Doherty was given a straight red card.
Scorers Clarecastle: Oisin Casey (0-6 5f), Killian McDermott (0-4), Jack Hayes (1-0), Darragh Healy (1-0), Conor Halpin (0-1), James Doherty (0-1), Rory O’Connell (0-1), Cian Galvin (0-1), David Tuohy (0-1), Oisin Whelan (0-1).
Scorers Ruan: Aidan Lynch 0-10 (8 frees), Ryan Power 1-1, Robin Mounsey 0-2, Frankie Lyons 0-1, Conor Wynne 0-1
Clarecastle: Cian Broderick, Ronan Donnelly, Eoghan Wallace, Niall Brigdale; David Tuohy, Cian Galvin, Conor Griffin; Conor Halpin, Killian McDermott; Rory O’Connell, Darragh Healy, Conor Whelan; Oisin Casey, James Doherty, Jack Hayes.
Subs: Evan O’Connell for Brigdale, Oisin Whelan for Hayes, Evan Price for Donnelly.
Ruan: Keelan Mounsey; Patrick O’Gorman, Tom O’Halloran, Jason Power; Killian Ryan, Shane Punch, Conor Wynne; Colm Rice, Piaras O’Sé; Ashley Brohan, Ryan Power, Patrick O’Halloran; Robin Mounsey, Aidan Lynch, Frankie Lyons.
Subs: Darragh McInerney for O’Halloran, Christian Cummins for O’Sé, Jack McDonagh for Brohan.
Referee: Ger Hoey (Killanena)
Smith O’Briens see off Doora/Barefield
Smith O’Briens 1-24
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 1-19
Venue: Páirc Michael Ui Heithir, Cratloe
By Adam Moloney
Smith O’Brien’s claimed their first competitive win of 2024 at the expense of St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield’s second string in a sun splashed Cratloe on Saturday evening.
Dermot Daly’s Doora/Barefield side started on the front foot, where full-forward Eoin Burke earned a penalty in the opening minutes as he snatched a long delivery from the middle of the field into the square, forcing Stephen Geraghty to commit. Doora’s star-man of the evening Pádraic O’Donovan converted the penalty past debutant James Power with the Parish leading 1-6 to 0-6 after fifteen minutes.
The East Clare outfit trailed for the majority of the first-half, but found themselves level at the half-time whistle after good second quarter-displays from the experienced players of the Smith O’Briens side, such as the two Gough’s, and the half-forward line influencing the sides to be level at the break. 1-12 to 0-15.
![](https://www.clareecho.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/mikey-gough-smith-obriens.jpg)
Matters were back and forth throughout the third quarter, with Smith O’Brien’s producing an extra gear for the final fifteen following a goal from Eddie Bourke allowing the intermediate champions of 2022 into a break away and eventually earning a five point victory of St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield.
Seán McMahon, Mikey Gough, Eoin Heffron, Mícheál Ryan and Marc O’Halloran were prominent for the Killaloe side, whilst Charlie Hannan, Seán O’Connell and Pádraic O’Donovan hurled best for the Parish.
Scorers Smith O’ Briens: Jason Monaghan (0-9), Eddie Bourke (1-0), Michael Gough (0-4), David O’ Shea (0-3), Eoin Heffron, Mark O’ Halloran, Micheal Ryan (0-2 each), David Gough, Stephen Geraghty (0-1 each)
Scorers St Joseph’s Doora Barefield: Padraic O’ Donovan (1-10), Eoin Burke (0-3), Padraic Geraghty, Conor Daly (0-2 each), Barry Millane, Tom Curran (0-1)
Smith O’Briens: James Power; Darragh Nolan, Stephen Geraghty, Colin Balfe; Dwane Sheedy, David Gough, Seán McMahon; Mikey Gough, Eoin Heffron; Mícheál Ryan, Marc O’Halloran, Jason Monaghan; David O’Shea, Mark McInerney, Eddie Bourke.
Subs: Shane Geraghty for M.McInerney; Adam Maloney for M.Ryan; Diarmuid Coleman for E.Heffron;
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Conor Nash; Charlie Hannan, Darragh O’Callaghan, Peter Collins; Fionn Mulqueen, Kevin Dilleen, Ciarán O’Driscoll; Seán O’Connell, Conor Daly; Eoghan Talty, Pádraic Geraghty, Senan Crosbie; Pádraic O’Donovan, Eoin Burke, Niall Talty.
Subs: Emmet Whelan for Curran, Cian Moloney for Dilleen, Conor Murphy for N Talty, Barry Millane for O’ Connell.
Referee: Andy McMahon (Cratloe)
Group 2:
Super six sees Newmarket-on-Fergus shock Ogonnelloe
Newmarket-on-Fergus 6-13
Ogonnelloe 1-25
Venue: Glenomra Park, Broadford
Newmarket-on-Fergus caused a shock in the opening round of the Clare IHC when accounting for Ogonnelloe with three points to spare on Sunday afternoon.
Not so much is the surprise Newmarket’s ability to overcome the first side of another club but rather when you consider that the margin was twelve points in favour of Ogonnelloe when the clubs met in the Clare IHC last season when at the same setting of Broadford the final score was 3-22 3-10.
Key to the result was the Blues’ ability to take their chances whereas at the other end Adam Enright made vital saves to deny Ogonnelloe from collecting plenty of majors.
By the half time whistle, Ogonnelloe led 1-15 2-8, at one stage they held an eight point advantage but the Blues managed by Neil Ryan produced their best performance of the year with plenty of grit thrown into the mix to emerge victorious.
![](https://www.clareecho.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ogonnelloe-v-newmarket-on-fergus-10-09-23-eoghan-heffernan-seadna-liddy-1.jpg)
Corner forward Seadhna Liddy, a name frequently mentioned on the Twitter/X account of Newmarket-on-Fergus GAA club was in goal hungry form and struck for four goals while also assisting Malachy Noonan for his major while Cathal Hayes and James Liddy were among those offering the assists for Liddy’s green flags.
James McInerney delivered a commanding performance in defence for the winners. The availability of the former Clare senior hurler would have come as a surprise to the intermediate management, considering the poor performance delivered by the club’s senior hurlers a day before he may well have seen action against Crusheen. Instead, he was to the fore in Broadford, landing 0-4 from wing-back and keeping current Clare senior panellist Gearoid Sheedy to a point from play.
Reflecting on the game, Ogonnelloe will rue their basic errors and their return of one goal from seven chances over the course of sixty minutes. They now face Tubber in the second round who also suffered a first round loss.
Scorers Newmarket-on-Fergus: Seadhna Liddy (4-4 1-4f), Malachy Noonan (1-2), James McInerney (0-4 3f), Cian Foley (1-1), Aaron Moroney (0-1), Darragh Jones (0-1).
Scorers Ogonnelloe: Rory Skelly (0-11 8f), Mici Sheedy (0-5), Cian Fitzgerald Bradley (0-4), Dan Cunnane (1-1), Henry Vaughan (0-2), Gearoid Sheedy (0-1).
Newmarket-on-Fergus: Adam Enright; Dylan Crowe, Liam Harkin, John Hogan; James McInerney Aaron Moroney, David Frost; Sol Frost, Darragh Jones, Malachy Noonan, Cathal Hayes, Cian Foley; Seadhna Liddy, James Liddy, Cathal Cullinan.
Subs: Alan O’Flanagan for D Frost (HT), Ronan O’Rourke for Hogan (HT), Alan McInerney for S Frost (42), Jamie Power for Crowe (51),
Ogonnelloe: Rob Dreelan; Colm Quinn, Brian O’Mara, Paul McGee; Aaron Fitzgerald Bradley, Barry Kiely, Noah Sheedy; Adam Cunnane, Dan Cunnane; Rory Skelly, Mark Walsh, Cian Fitzgerald Bradley; Henry Vaughan, Gearoid Sheedy, Mici Sheedy.
Subs: Fergal Collins, Adam Sheedy, Stephen Grady, Thomas Condon
Referee: Fearghal Gray (Feakle)
Sixmilebridge start win a win over Tubber
Sixmilebridge 0-22
Tubber 1-15
Venue: Páirc Finne, Corofin
Sixty minutes away from claiming the Paddy Browne Cup in 2023, Sixmilebridge started their 2024 bid for honours with an impressive four point victory over Tubber.
Their win was deserved as for all but the second quarter, they were the dominant side in this contest.
By the end of the first quarter, Sixmilebridge managed by Pat Keane had an 0-8 0-4 advantage, Luke O’Halloran providing the majority of their scores with other efforts from Alan Mulready, Darragh Casey, Seán Lynch and Luke Keogh.
![](https://www.clareecho.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/sixmilebridge-v-bodyke-23-09-23-luke-ohalloran-1.jpg)
Keeping the Tubber account at this juncture were the Dunford brothers and Domhnall McMahon but it was a slow start from the North Clare side.
They grew into life in the second quarter where they hit 1-8. The only goal of the game was finished to the net by Osgar Dunford, he also added another point in this spell with four from Lorcan O’Grady, two from Senan Dunford and one from Ronan Monahan. This resurgence helped Pat Taaffe’s men to a 1-12 0-13 lead as the half time whistle sounded in Corofin.
Tubber’s inroads came undone at the start of the second half with Sixmilebridge shooting the first four scores to allow them go back in front. The Bridge would stay in front for the remainder of the game and crucially limited Tubber to just three points for the entire second half in a very dominant defensive display but one that was filled with very accurate forward play.
With plenty of youth in their ranks, Sixmilebridge can also call on the experience of Aidan Quilligan, Alan Mulready, Cillian Custy, Christy Griffin and Seán Lynch. They blooded two of last year’s All-Ireland winning minor side, Mark Sheedy and Matthew O’Halloran for their intermediate championship debuts.
While it is only round one, Sixmilebridge are on course to top Group 2, all is not lost for Tubber but they need to respond in their remaining group ties against Ogonnelloe and Newmarket-on-Fergus, having spent close to forty years in the top tier prior to their relegation in 2015, Tubber are now approaching a decade back in the intermediate ranks.
Scorers Sixmilebridge: Luke O’ Halloran, Sean Lynch (0-7 each), Alan Mulready (0-3), Dylan Downes, Luke Keogh (0-2 each), Dara Casey (0-1)
Scorers Tubber: Senan Dunford (0-5), Osgar Dunford (1-2), Lorcan O’ Grady (0-5), Pat O’ Connor, Ronan Monahan, Domhnall McMahon (0-1 each).
Sixmilebridge: Mark Sheedy, Adam Breen, Aidan Quilligan, Cillian Custy, Seamus O’Connell, Christy Carey, Matthew O’Halloran, Dara Fitzgerald, Dylan Downes, Luke O’Halloran, Luke Keogh, Christy Griffin, Alan Mulready, Sean Lynch, Dara Casey.
Subs: Adam Murray for Griffin, Fionn Hayes for Custy.
Tubber: Ronan Taaffe, Joe Droney, Fergal O’ Grady, Emmet Quinn; Domhnall McMahon, Ronan Monahan, James Howard; Cahal Droney, Pappy Taaffe; Lorcan O’ Grady, Mark Earley, Osgar Dunford; Senan Dunford, Patrick O’ Connor, Blaine Earley.
Subs: Joe Clancy for M Earley, Clive Earley for B Earley.
Referee: Pat Healy (Kilmaley)
Group 3:
Wolfe Tones wallop Broadford
Wolfe Tones 8-22
Broadford 0-8
Venue: Meelick
Call it a Meelick massacre or a Broadford battering but whatever tag fits the bill, it is a certainly a statement of intent by Wolfe Tones as they dished out a near forty point beating on Saturday.
Broadford were not overly optimistic heading into the contest, last year’s Junior A champions lost two of their starting fifteen, Conor O’Donnell and Donie Whelan to the club’s senior team as the duo started in their round one win over O’Callaghans Mills.
So having lost two of their most influential players before a ball was pucked as they prepared to face one of the leading contenders for honours in the Clare IHC, Broadford were certainly on the backfoot.
That is how they remained as they never shifted to the front foot nor were they let as Wolfe Tones completely outclassed them. Between them Aaron Cunningham and Aron Shanagher hit 7-4.
Barry Keane’s side possess a strong attack with the twin threats plus the physicality of Evan O’Gorman and stick work of Cian O’Rourke. They’re not weak in defence either with Daithí Lohan manning operations at full-back with Rory Hayes on the wing. The return of Dylan Frawley from Australia has also added to their cause.
![](https://www.clareecho.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/evan-ogorman-1.jpg)
Starting with a win was the objective for Wolfe Tones, they’ve done that and more but the Shannon side will be fully aware the first round for them is only a warm-up of what’s to come.
Scorers Wolfe Tones: Aaron Cunningham (4-2 1f), Aron Shanagher (3-2), Cian O’Rourke (0-6 3f), Sean Costelloe (1-1), Dean Devanney (0-2), Evan O’Gorman (0-2), Dylan Frawley (0-2), Rory Hayes (0-1), Stephen Donnellan (0-1), Daithi Lohan (0-1), Darragh Lohan (0-1)
Scorers: Padraig Hickey (0-3 3f), Sam Cooper (0-2), Shane Tuite (0-1), Denis Fahy (0-1), Diarmuid Whelan (0-1).
Wolfe Tones: Oisin O’Rourke; Liam Murphy, Daithí Lohan, Mikey Hayes; Sam Meaney, John Guilfoyle, Rory Hayes; Dean Devanney, Dylan Frawley; Stephen Donnellan, Aron Shanagher, Evan O’Gorman; Cian O’Rourke, Aaron Cunningham, Sean Costelloe.
Subs: Darragh Lohan for Donnellan, Conor Ferns for Daithi Lohan, Conor Carrig for R Hayes, Shane Nihil for M Hayes .
Broadford: JC McMahon, Michael Hogan, Cathal O’Sullivan, TJ Dillon; Sam Cooper, James Gunning, Mark Gunning; Noah Corbett, Jack O’Brien; Denis Fahy, Padraig Hickey, Alan O’Brien; Diarmuid Whelan, Jack Dillon, Shane Tuite.
Subs: Gearoid Vaughan for S Tuite (HT), Paul Moloney for Hogan (48).
Referee: Johnny Healy (Smith O’Briens)
Killanena come out on top in East Clare derby
Killanena 3-17
Bodyke 1-13
Venue: Scariff
Having ended up in the relegation series over recent seasons, Killanena started this year’s intermediate championship with intent. Their opening round ten point win over Bodyke is a clear sign that they are determined to take a quarter-final spot, one which was occupied by Bodyke last season.
They were not short of motivation having lost to Bodyke in their last two meetings. Admittedly the Bodyke camp has been beset with injuries, Cian Minogue, Paddy Fitzgerald and Thomas Minogue were all ruled out while both Ian Murray and Fionn Slattery were introduced but were carrying knocks.
That is not taking away from Killanena who certainly have the talent at their disposal to be a team competing in the knockout stages rather than the relegation dog fight.
![](https://www.clareecho.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ian-mcnamara-killanena.jpg)
Leading the way for them was Clare panellist, Keith Smyth who finished with 1-9 over the hour, he had three of these points inside the opening five minutes. The first score for Bodyke arrived ten minutes into the game, courtesy of Seanie Doyle. Smyth raided for his goal before half-time which left them leading 1-10 0-7 by the interval.
Championship debutant Cormac Doyle at seventeen years young stood tall between the posts for Bodyke. He produced many saves to prevent them slumping to an even greater loss in Scariff.
He was unable to stop efforts from Tobias O’Mara and Darren Keehan in the final ten minutes while Seanie Doyle chipped in with a goal to take a very slight gloss off the scoreline.
Entering the fray for the first time in the Clare IHC was Ronan Keane at wing back for Killanena who hit 0-3. The full-back on last year’s Munster and All-Ireland winning minor side formed part of a solid half-back line which was spearheaded by Ian Macnamara. Smyth led the way up front in an attack which also included the experienced Mark Flaherty.
Bodyke are back to the drawing board and face an uphill battle if they are to emerge from the group stages.
Scorers Killanena: Keith Smyth (1-9 4f), Tobias O’Mara (1-3), Darren Keehan (1-1), Ronan Keane (0-3), Gearoid Keane (0-1).
Scorers Bodyke: (Seanie Doyle (1-8 3f), Thomas Wiley (0-3), William Fitzgerald (0-1), Cathal McKenna (0-1)
Killanena: Colm Moloney, Ryan Keane, Cathal Noonan, Darren McMahon, Donal Moloney, Ian McNamara, Ronan Keane, Michael Smyth, Shane Broderick, Seamie O’Donnell, Mark Flaherty, Tobias O’Mara, Gearoid Keane, Keith Smyth, Darren Keehan
Subs: Padraig O’Callaghan for S Broderick (50), James Greene for S O’Donnell (55)
Bodyke: Cormac Doyle, Kevin Drost, Eanna Doyle, Cormac Treacy, Tiernan Slattery, Sean Wiley, Tadgh Kilkenny, Thomas Wiley, Cathal McKenna, Peter Flower, Keith Moloney, Michael O’Brien, Seanie Doyle, William Fitzgerald, Jamie Howard
Subs: Edan Buckley for E Doyle inj (12), Patrick Fitzgerald for K Moloney (HT), Fionn Slattery for M O’Brien (HT), Ian Murray for P Flower (45)
Referee: Paul Howard (Ruan)
Group 4:
Parteen/Meelick prevail over Tulla
Parteen/Meelick 1-24
Tulla 1-21
Venue: Clonlara
Having topped their group for the past two seasons, Parteen/Meelick once again started on the right note when recording a five point win over Tulla.
Level ten times over the hour, the final margin of three points would even have come as a surprise to some of the spectators in Clonlara.
Led by centre back Darragh McDermott and chief marksman Jack Kirwan, the South Clare side once again had the edge on Tulla to take the first points on offer in what could well be the tightest of the games in Group 4.
Certainly one of the ties of the round, the return of 47 scores over the hour illustrates the quality on offer within both sides.
Éanna Culloo opened the scoring for Tulla while Oisin Hickey did likewise for the winners before the sides swapped scores on two further occasions inside the first five minutes.
Three points in succession via Darragh McDermott and two from Kirwan saw Parteen/Meelick create a two point lead with eight minutes played. Frees from Seán Withycombe were crucial for Tulla in the opening half and they enjoyed their finest spell in the second quarter with five unanswered points, one of which came from All-Ireland winner David McInerney.
This five point rally gave Tulla their biggest lead of the evening as they held a three point gap with twenty four minutes played. However Parteen/Meelick limited them to a single Withycombe free for the remainder of the half and tapped on four points of their own, two from Kirwan with one each from Tom Collins and Joe O’Connor to ensure they were level at the break.
Midfielder Ronan Molloy and Withycombe converted on the restart to put Tulla back in a strong spot before Kirwan popped up with a goal at the other end on thirty three minutes. There was an admirable response from Brian Quinn’s charges who immediately cancelled out the major with three points on the bounce to regain the lead.
However they conceded three points without reply to fall behind again with Dara Nolan, McDermott and Kirwan the scorers. Following points from Tom Collins and Kirwan, their lead stood at two points with six minutes remaining.
Then Tulla received a big lift when a Niall Bolton penalty was dispatched to the net on fifty five minutes. Instead of building on or protecting this lead, Tulla only added a single score from here on, Andrew Conheady adding his name to the scorers while at the other end they conceded five points, including the last four of the game to come out on the wrong side of an exciting encounter.
Strengthened by the return of Mark Lynch and Colin Corbett from overseas, Tulla’s attack has gained in experience but it has also been aided by the addition of fresh legs such as Éanna Culloo and Emmet Mulcahy who was sprung from the bench. It’s an initial setback for the East Clare side but they are more than capable of having a big say in this year’s championship.
Parteen/Meelick are a proven team when it comes to getting results in the group stages, this was the latest example. They are a youthful side but have plenty of talent across the board, the next step for them is round two but the overall aim remains getting to the last four of the championship.
Scorers Parteen/Meelick: Jack Kirwan (1-10 6f), Joe O’Connor (0-3), Rory McDermott (0-2), Darragh McDermott (0-2), Oisin Hickey (0-2), Tom Collins (0-2), Dara Nolan (0-2), Michael McEvoy (0-1)
Scorers Tulla: Seán Withycombe (0-11 9f), Ronan Molloy (0-4 1f), Niall Bolton (1-00 1’Pen), Mark Lynch (0-2), David McInerney (0-1), Éanna Culloo (0-1), Daragh Corry (0-1), Andrew Conheady (0-1).
Parteen/Meelick: Alan Murnane; Donal Kenny, Damien Moloney, Sean Connolly; Noel Bridgeman, Darragh McDermott, Shane Fox; Tom Collins, Nathan Fox; Joe O’Connor, Dara Nolan, Eoin Phelan; Rory McDermott, Jack Kirwan, Oisin Hickey.
Subs: Michael McEvoy for Phelan, Gavin Rackard for R McDermott.
Tulla: Dan Vaughan; Dara Ryan, Feargal Kearney, Padraic Mulconroy; Jimmy O’Gorman, David McInerney, Fionn Ryan; Ronan Molloy, Michael Ryan; Mark Lynch, Éanna Culloo, Colin Corbett; Daragh Corry, Niall Bolton, Seán Withycombe.
Subs: Dan Withycombe for D Corry, William Halpin for Corbett, Andrew Conheady for Culloo, Emmet Mulcahy for M Ryan.
Referee: Gus Callaghan (Feakle)
Inamona overturn Whitegate in East Clare
Inagh/Kilnamona 0-22
Whitegate 0-14
Venue: Scariff
Heading to the heart of East Clare to take on Whitegate in the opening round of the TUS Clare IHC, Inagh/Kilnamona were in for a battle and they came with the right approach to ensure that once they headed back out the Tulla Rd they were the ones on a high.
They achieved just that with an eight point win in the bag, an impressive feat for the only team in Group 4 that is a club’s second team and is situated in arguably the toughest group of the lot.
![](https://www.clareecho.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/newmarket-on-fergus-v-inagh-kilnamona-05-07-24-pa-kelly-1.jpg)
Neither side hit a goal but that is not surprising considering that Pa Kelly and Andrew Fahey, both former Clare senior goalkeepers were standing between the posts for either side.
Inamona were in a strong position when they led by five points at half-time. The Barrys, Tom and Keith were their chief scorers from placed balls, that they hit eight pointed frees over the hour shows discipline and the concession of scoreable frees one of the many things Whitegate have to work on.
Both the Barrys were efficient but so too were Cathal Ryan and Paul O’Looney, who hit a combined 0-8. Ricky Wynne was very prominent at centre back for the winners who face Parteen/Meelick in round two.
Emigration has hit plenty of clubs across Co Clare in the past two seasons and Whitegate has been hit hard since they have returned to the intermediate following their relegation from the senior ranks in 2022. They will need to produce something much better to avoid ending up in a relegation battle in this grade with tough tests against Tulla and Parteen/Meelick to follow.
Scorers Inagh/Kilnamona: Tom Barry (0-6 3f), Keith Barry (0-5 5f), Cathal Ryan (0-5 each), Paul O’ Looney (0-3), Jack Cullinan (0-1), Jamie Wynne (0-1), Jack Cullinan (0-1).
Scorers Whitegate: Conor Whelan (0-8), Finn Madden (0-2), Ciaran Quinn, Michael Heffernan, Colm Madden, Conor McDermott (0-1 each).
Inagh/Kilnamona: Pa Kelly, Padraig Devitt, James Cullinan, Jamie Wynne; Neil Hegarty, Ricky Wynne, Shane McInerney; Mark Barry, Marc Callinan, Gerry Coote, Keith Barry, Paul O’Looney; Jack Cullinan, Thomas Barry, Cathal Ryan.
Subs: Darragh Power for Callinan.
Whitegate: Andrew Fahey; Ciaran Quinn, Finn Madden, Dylan White; Brendan Bugler, Conor McDermott, Ian Fahy; Conor Whelan, Michael Bogenberger; Danny Hynes, Daniel Touhy, Michael Heffernan; Paddy Burke, Ronan Hayes, Liam Murray.
Sub: Colm Madden for Tuohy
Referee: Kevin Corry (Sixmilebridge)