*Henry Vaughan tries to bring Fergal O’Grady to ground. Photograph: Ruth Griffin.
CLARECASTLE, Sixmilebridge, Wolfe Tones and Parteen/Meelick are on the way to the play-off stage of the intermediate hurling championship having recorded their second successive victories at the weekend.
Round three is the final round of games and is scheduled for two weeks time.
St/Joseph’s Doora/Barefield, Ogonnelloe, Broadford and Tulla are pointless after two rounds and will need to win next day out to have any chance of getting through.
Strong first half from Ruan
Ruan 1-21
Smith O’Briens 1-17
Venue: Cratloe
Ruan bounced right back into contention for a place in the knock out stage of the Clare intermediate hurling championship when they recorded a four point win over Smith O’Briens at Cratloe on Friday evening.
Having suffered defeat by a similar margin from Claerecastle in the opening round they needed a win against first round winners Smith O’Briens.
A strong first half showing saw them lay the foundation for this win and their attention now turns to the final round against neighbours Doora/Barefield.
A strong first half performance from Clare All-Ireland winner Robin Mounsey helped Ruan to build a nine point interval lead when the score was 1-13 to 0-7.
Mounsey hit 1-4 for the winners while Aidan Lynch contributed 0-4. For the second half the Killaloe outfit moved Mike Gough to centre forward and this helped them to storm into the game.
Mark O’Halloran goaled soon after the resumption of play and they piled on the pressure and managed to rally to within a point of the winners.
To their credit Ruan regained the upperhand and they finished strongly for a merited win on the evening.
Ruan: Keelan Mounsey; Patrick O’Gorman, Tom O’Halloran Jason Power; Killian Ryan, Shane Punch (0-2), Conor Wynne; Colm Rice Piaras O’Shea (0-2);Ashley Brohan (0-1), Ryan Power (0-2), Patrick O’Halloran; Robin Mounsey (1-5), Aidan Lynch (0-8), Frankie Lyons (0-1)
Subs: Dara McInerney for P. O’Gorman; Christian Cummins for C, Wynne; Jack McDonagh for P, O’Halloran
Smith O’Briens: James Power; Dara Nolan, Stephen Geraghty Colin Balf; Dwayne Sheedy (0-1), David Gough (0-4), Sean McMahon; Mikey Gough (0-2), Sean Heffron (0-1); Micheál Ryan (0-4), Mark O’Halloran (1-0), Jason Monahan (0-4); David O’Shea (0-1) Mark McInerney, Eddie Bourke;
Subs: Shane Geraghty for M. McInerney; Adam Maloney for J. Monahan
Referee: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)
Magpies flying high
Clarecastle 2-28
St. Josephs 1-11
Venue: Fr Murphy Memorial Park, Newmarket-on-Fergus
Clarecastle continued their drive to return to senior ranks when they had a big win over St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield’s second string.
They were well on the way to a second win in the campaign when they led by ten points at the interval with the score at 0-16 to 0-6.
Second half goals from Killian McDermott and Jack Hayes saw them strengthen their position and when they final whistle sounded they were deserving winners.
Oisin Casey top scored for the magpies with 0-13 to his credit ten from placed balls.
Substitute Jack Dillon pulled a goal back for the Doora/Barefield outfit but, overall, the Magpies were the better balanced side and now sit at the top of the group table with Smith O’Briens to play in their final group game.
Clarecastle; Cian Broderick; Ronan Donnelly, Eoghan Wallace, Conor Griffin; Aaron Hayes, Cian Galvin (0-1), Evan O’Connell; Killian McDermott (1-2), Conor Whelan (0-2); Oisin Whelan (0-3), Rory O’Connell (0-6), Conor Halpin; Darragh Healy (0-1), Oisin Casey (0-13, 10 frees), Jack Hayes (1-0);
Subs: Stephen O’Halloran for A. Hayes; Filip Wiechinski for C. Griffin; Niall Brigdale for D. Healy;
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield Conor Nash; Peter Collins, Darragh O’Callaghan, Ciaran O’Driscoll; Paddy Nagle, Kevin Dilleen, Conor Hassett; Conor Daly (0-2) Sean O’Connell; Pauric Geraghty, Eoin Burke (0-5), Conor Murphy (0-2); Charlie Hannan, Emmet Whelan, Niall Talty (0-1)
Subs: Tom Curran for Hassett; Barry Millane (0-1) for Talty; Fionn Mulqueen for O’Connell; Cian Moloney for Whelan; Jack Dillon (1-0) for Geraghty
Referee: Kieran Liddane (Sixmilebridge)
Tubber’s first half display paves the way for victory
Tubber 1-21
Ogonelloe 0-14
Venue: Feakle
A determined Tubber put their first round loss to Sixmilebridge behind them as they bounced back into contention for a quarter final spot with this win over Ogonnelloe at Feakle on Saturday.
The foundation for the victory was laid in the opening half when the North Clare outfit opened an eleven point lead.
They went to the dressing room with a 1-13 to 0-5 advantage and while the sides were evenly matched in the second half, it was always going to be a big task for Ogonnelloe to close the gap.
Tubber made a number of positional switches from their opening round clash with Sixmilebridge and these paid off.
Fergal O’Grady, James Howard and Domhnall McMahon did well in defence while, up front, Ronan Monahan was prominent.
Ogonnelloe’s cause wasn’t helped by the loss of midfielder Adam Cunnane who was sent off five minutes before the break leaving the East Clare outfit a man short for thirty five minutes.
Tubber: Ronan Taaffe (0-1); Pappy Taaffe, Fergal O’Grady, Joey Droey; Domhnall McMahon (0-1), Pat O’Connor, James Howard (0-2); Cathal Droney (0-3), Liam Clancy; Ronan Monahan (0-4), Senan Dunford (0-1), Osgar Dunford; Blaine Earley (1-3), Lorcan O’Grady (0-4), Clive Earley (0-2);
Subs; Dara O’Connor for L. Clancy; Oisin McNamara for O. Dunford; Emmet Quinn for J. Howard; Joe Clancy for L. O’Grady
Ogonnelloe; Rob Dreelin; Colm Quinn, Barry Kiely, Adam Sheedy, Bryan O’Mara, Gearoid Sheedy (0-3), Adam Cunnane; Paul McGee, Dan Cunnane (0-1); Rory Skelly (0-5), Mici Sheedy (0-2), Aaron Bradley (0-2); Henry Vaughan (0-1), Cian Fitzgerald-Bradley, Noah Sheedy;
Subs: Mark Walsh for N. Sheedy; Fergal Collins for M. Sheedy
Referee: Ger Hoey (Killanena)
Sixmilebridge see off Newmarket-on-Fergus with ease
Sixmilebridge 2-27
Newmarket-on-Fergus 1-9
Venue: Dr Hamilton Park, Kilkishen
By Páraic McMahon
Sixmilebridge stormed past the challenge of neighbours Newmarket-on-Fergus in Kilkishen on Friday evening to head up Group 2 of the Clare IHC.
Indeed there’s the famous story of the digging of graves at the same venue for a 1960s meeting between the two rivals for the Clare Cup final but this was no such battle akin to clashes of old between the neighbours but completely one-way traffic as Sixmilebridge eased to a 21 point victory.
Last year’s beaten finalists looked like they could hit the thirty point mark but time came against them.
Sharper from the off, The Bridge took the lead via Dylan Downes but his effort was cancelled out by Malachy Noonan on two minutes. Successive converted frees from Sean Lynch saw the lead return to Sixmilebridge’s favour and they were up by three points when Luke Keogh pointed after Newmarket-on-Fergus were turned over in attack when a Seadhna Liddy free dropped into the danger zone.
Darragh Casey goaled for The Bridge on eight minutes, reacting quickest after Adam Enright did well to save. They struck for a second goal on their next attack via Alan Mulready and although a Cian Foley point was sandwiched in between, the jig was already up for The Blues with ten minutes on the clock.
Newmarket-on-Fergus pulled a goal back before the half time whistle, Malachy Noonan powered through and popped to Seadhna Liddy to make it 2-12 1-7 by the interval.
Firing off seven points without reply on the restart saw Sixmilebridge coast to an even more dominant position and their netminder Mark Sheedy made a tremendous save from a Liddy penalty. Both custodians were solid throughout the hour with excellent distribution and were both panellists for the Clare U20 hurlers this season.
Even the introduction of former senior hurlers Enda Barrett and Ronan Good from the bench couldn’t lift the Newmarket cause as their optimistic first round win over Ogonnelloe was put into the abyss by a much more Sixmilebridge side.
Anything other than a semi-final appearance will be a disappointment for this very strong Sixmilebridge team who were best served in round two by Alan Mulready, Dara Fitzgerald, Seamus O’Connell, Darragh Casey and Luke Keogh.
Scorers Sixmilebridge: S Lynch (0-10 9f), A Mulready (1-2), L O’Halloran (0-5 4f), L Keogh (0-4), D Casey (1-1), D Downes (0-2), C Agnew (0-2), A Murray (0-1).
Scorers Newmarket-on-Fergus: S Liddy (1-3 2f 1SC), A Moroney (0-2), D Frost (0-2 1f), M Noonan (0-1), C Foley (0-1).
Sixmilebridge: Mark Sheedy; Adam Breen, Aidan Quilligan, Seamus O’Connell; Cathaoir Agnew, Christy Carey, Matthew O’Halloran; Dylan Downes, Dara Fitzgerald; Luke O’Halloran, Luke Keogh, Jack Corry; Alan Mulready, Sean Lynch, Darragh Casey.
Subs: Cillian Custy for Quilligan (10) (inj), Fionn Hayes for M O’Halloran (41), Adam Murray for L O’Halloran (44), Christy Griffin for Corry (50).
Newmarket-on-Fergus: Adam Enright; Ronan O’Rourke, Liam Harkin, Alan O’Flanagan; John Hogan, Aaron Moroney, David Frost; Cathal Cullinan, Sol Frost; Jamie Power, Darragh Jones, James Liddy; Seadhna Liddy, Malachy Noonan, Cian Foley.
Subs: Eoghan McInerney for Hogan (HT), Enda Barrett for Foley (40), Ronan Good for S Frost (40), Dylan Crowe for Power (45), Feidhlim Barry for Noonan (53).
Referee: Jarlath Donnellan (Wolfe Tones)
Bodyke lay foundation in opening half
Bodyke 1-18
Broadford 0-13
Venue: Clonlara
Contributions of 1-6, all from play from Paddy Fitzgerald and 0-8 from Seanie Doyle steered Bodyke to a merited win over Broadford in round 2 of the intermediate championship at Clonlara on Friday evening
Both had lost their opening games to Wolfe Tones and Killanena respectively, so a win was important to get back into contention for a place in the play offs.
Bodyke took a grip on proceedings from the off and when the half time whistle sounded they had opened a nine point lead, 1-12 to 0-6.
The second half was an evenly fought affair but try as they did Broadford were unable to close the gap.
Jack Dillon top scored for Broadford, contributing 0-8 to their tally while the experienced Padraig Hickey chipped in with two.
Overall, however, Bodyke were more evenly balanced on the evening. Bodyke face group favourites Wolfe Tones in their final group game while Broadford will be up against Killanena and the outcome of these ties will determine who will go on to play in the quarter finals.
Bodyke: Cormac Doyle; Tadhg Kilkenny, Tiernan Slattery, Eden Buckley; Michael O’Brien, Sean Wiley, Kevin Drost; Tommy Wiley (0-1), Cathal McKenna; Seanie Doyle (0-8) Keith Moloney, Jamie O’Donnell (0-2); Willie Fitzgerald (0-1), Paddy Fitzgerald (1-6), Jamie Howard.
Subs: Peter Flower for J. Howard; Ian Muray for K. Moloney
Broadford: JC McMahon; Mark Gunning, Cathal O’Sullivan, T.J. Dillon (0-1); Noah Corbett, James Gunning, Sam Cooper; Jack O’Brien, James Quinn-Tuite; Jack Ward-Murphy, Paul Moloney (0-1), Denis Fahy; Jack Dillon (0-8), Padraic Hickey (0-2) Diarmuid Whelan (0-1);
Subs: Gearoid Vaughan for D. Fahy, Alan O’Brien for D. Whelan; Shane Quinn-Tuite for P Moloney; Michael Hogan for Hickey
Referee: Ger Hoey (Killanena)
Tones step up a gear in second half
Wolfe Tones 2-24
Killanena 1-13
Venue: Glenomra Park, Broadford
Entering this tie as hot favourites, Wolfe Tones needed a strong second half showing to get over a gritty Killanena side at Broadford on Saturday.
In fact Killanena enjoyed the better of the opening half exchanges when they had the assistance of a fresh wind.
Just the minimum separated the sides at the interval when the winners were 1-10 to 1-9 in front.
Shortly before the half time whistle Killanena were dealt a huge blow when they lost the vastly experienced Mark Flaherty to injury.
Cian O’Rourke continued his impressive form and finished the tie as the game’s top scorer with 0-14 to his credit.
Sean Costello and Colin Riordan were the goalscorers for the winners.
Inter county man Keith Smyth led the charge for Killanena and he contributed 1-7 of their final tally.
In the end it was the Shannon club’s greater experience which saw them take control in the second half.
The win leaves them on the verge on a quarter final place as they continue their charge to return to the top division.
Wolfe Tones: Oisin O’Rourke; Mikey Hayes, Daithi Lohan, Liam Murphy; Rory Hayes (0-1), John Guilfoyle, Sam Meaney; Darragh Lohan (0-1) Dean Devanney (0-1); Stephen Donnellan (0-1), Evan O’Gorman (0-1), Sean Costelloe (1-0); Cian O’Rourke (0-14), Aron Shanagher (0-3), Aaron Cunningham (0-1;
Subs; Dylan Frawley (0-1) for R. Hayes; Jack Cunni gham for . Costelloe; Conor Ferns for M. Hayes; Colin Riorday (1-0) for A. Cunningham
Killanena; Colm Moloney; Ryan Keane, Cathal Noonan, Darren McMahon; Donal Moloney, Ian Macnamara (0-2), Ronan Keane; Michael Smyth, Shane Broderick; Seamie O’Donnell, Mark Flaherty (0-2), Tobias O’Mara (0-2); Gearoid Keane, Keith Smyth (1-7, Darren Keehan;
Subs; Padraig O’Callaghan for Flaherty (inj.) Jason Keehan for R. Keane; James Greene for G. Keane; Aidan McMahon for D. McMahon
Referee: Andy McMahon (Cratloe)
Parteen/Meelick edge closer to play-offs
Parteen/Meelick 2-17
Inagh/Kilnamona 1-18
Venue: Fr Murphy Memorial Park, Newmarket-on-Fergus
Parteen/Meelick turned a three point half time deficit around to win by two and move to the top of the table in Group 4 of the intermediate hurling championship.
At Newmarket on Friday evening they made it two wins from two outings when proving too strong for Inagh-Kilnamona eho were 0-13 to 0-10 in front at the halfway point.
Six players shared in their impressive final tally with the goals coming from Clare senior panellist Jack Kirwan and Oisin Hickey.
Hickey had the team’s first goal, his effort on goal deceiving the Inagh-Kilnamona defene and ending up in the net.
Kirwan’s goal came ten minutes from time when he burst through and shot low to the corner of the net. Rory McDermott at corner forward and full back Damian Moloney were prominent on the evening.
Tom Barry was inagh-Kilnamona’s goalscorer and he top scored for them with 1-4.
Parteen/Meelick; Alan Murnane; Donal Kenny (0-1), Damian Moloney, Sesn Connolly; Noel Bridgeman, Darragh McDermott, Shane Fox; Tom Collins, Nathan Fox; Joe O’Connor (0-4), Eoin Phelan, Dara Nolan (0-1); Rory McDermott (0-4), Jack Kirwan (1-4), Oisin Hickey (1-3);
Subs; Daniel Cooney for E. Phelan; Michael McEvoy for T. Collins; Peter Small for Rory McDermott; Gavin Rackard for J. O’Connor
Inagh/Kilnamona: Patrick Kelly; Padraig Devtt, James Cullinan, Jamie Wynne; Shane McInerney, Ricky Wynne, Neil Hegrty; Mark Barry Mark Callinan; Grry Coote (0-3), Keith Barry (0-4), Paul O’Looney; Jack Cullinan (0-3), Thomas Barry (1-5), Cathal Ryan (0-3)
Subs: Dara Power for O. O’Looney; Colm Kearney for J. Cullinan
Referee: Niall Malone (Éire Óg)
Whitegate storm back into contention
Whitegate 1-22
Tulla 0-21
Venue: Scariff
Whitegate stormed back into contention for a place in the play offs in the intermediate championship with this victory over Tulla at Scariff on Friday evening.
It was a result that didn’t appear likely after the opening ten minutes when Tulla led 0-6 to 0-0.
Slowly but surely Whitegate got a grip on proceedings and at the mid point of the opening half the score was 0-8 to 0-4 in Tulla’s favour. Helped by a Conor Whelan goal, they continued to fight their way back and they were on level terms at the break when the score was 1-10 to 0-13.
At the three quarter stage the margin between them was just a point, 1-16 to 0-18.
The winners finished strongly and pulled four points cclear by the final whistle.
The results leaves Tulla pointless with just one game to go in the group stage and if they are to qualify they will have to beat Inagh/Kilnamona and hope that other results go their way.
Whitegate; Andrew Fahey; Ciaran Quinn, Brendan Bugler. Dylan White; Liam Murray, Conor McDermott (0-1) Ian Fahy (0-1); Conor Whelan (1-9, 7 frees), Mikey Bogenberger (0-1); Danny Hynes (0-4), Michael Heffernan, Colm Madden; Paddy Burke (0-3), Finn Madden (0-2), Ronan Hayes (0-1);
Sub: Conor McDermott for Heffernan;
Tulla; Daniel Vaughan; Dara Ryan, Fearghal Kearney, Padraic Mulconroy; Jimmy O’Gorman (0-1), David McInerney (0-1), William Halpin; Ronan Molloy (0-4), Michael Ryan; Sean Withycombe (0-7, all frees), Colin Corbett (0-1), Niall Bolton; Mark Lynch (0-1), Darragh Corry (0-2), Eanna Culloo (0-2);
Subs: Dan Withycombe (0-1) for M. Ryan; Andrew Conheady (0-1) for M. Lynchl, Paul Lynch for D. Ryan; Fionn Ryan for W.Halpin; Emmet Mulcahy for Conheady
Referee: Johnny Healy (Smith O’Briens)
