John Conlon strikes as Con Smyth tries to get a block. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLONLARA PRODUCED a commanding display to seal their return to the Clare SHC final for the first time since 2016.
Clonlara 0-23
Feakle 0-15
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
A repeat of the third round tie between Clonlara and Crusheen awaits in the county final. Their first meeting and rather the aftermath proved to be one of the biggest talking points of the championship with Crusheen officials on alert to point out that despite the nine point loss, a new ruling on scoring difference saved their championship and thus eliminated Sixmilebridge.
No doubt it will be referenced over the coming fortnight as anticipation builds for a novel county final pairing.
Aided by their greater class across the board, Clonlara recorded an eight point victory on this occasion, their middle third dominated while members of their full-back line stood tall to ensure only one meaningful goal chance was afforded to their opponents.
Matters were tight early on with the sides level on four occasions inside the first eleven minutes.
Serving as a defining spell in both halves was the midpoint for Clonlara, they hit five points on the trot in the opening half in the space of six minutes while in the second half they hit three points without reply, both eras in the contest solidifying their grasp on proceedings.
Any hope of Feakle clawing their way back into proceedings began to evaporate on the restart with Clonlara outscoring them 3-1 inside the first seven minutes of the second half, Aidan Moriarty and a double from Micheál O’Loughlin seeing them negate Shane McGrath’s placed ball at the other end.
On the day, Clonlara matched everything Feakle threw at them and gave it back in spades. Colm O’Meara fielded the world of ball and also chipped in with three points, Aidan Moriarty had a remarkable five point haul from midfield while the Galvin brothers Colm and Ian were to the fore along with Michael Clancy and Ger Powell in defence.
Feakle lacked energy and fire, something not typically absent from their outings. Their first semi-final appearance since 2016 was a disappointment even though Con Smyth and Adam Hogan did well to curtail the influence of John Conlon and Ian Galvin. Shane McGrath aside they lacked a killer scoring threat and apart from his effort on forty nine minutes, they never looked like striking for a green flag, something which they badly craved as they chased the game.
Scorers Clonlara: M O’Loughlin (0-8 7f), A Moriarty (0-5), C O’Meara (0-3), C Galvin (0-3), I Galvin (0-3), C Moriarty (0-1)
Scorers Feakle: S McGrath (0-7 4f), O Donnellan (0-2), R Bane (0-2), E Tuohy (0-2 1f), S Conway (0-2).
Clonlara
1: Séimí Gully
2: Michael Clancy
3: Ger Powell
4: Logan Ryan
7: Paraic O’Loughlin
6: Dylan McMahon
5: David Fitzgerald
9: Jathan McMahon
8: Aidan Moriarty
12: Colm Galvin
11: John Conlon
10: Colm O’Meara
15: Micheál O’Loughlin
14: Ian Galvin
13: Diarmuid Stritch
Subs:
18: Cian Moriarty for Stritch (49)
22: Michael Stritch for C Galvin (56)
27: Conor Bourke for O’Meara (59)
26: Tommy Walsh for P O’Loughlin (64)
Feakle:
1: Eibhear Quilligan
7: Ronan O’Connor
5: Adam Hogan
2: Killian Bane
3: Evan McMahon
9: Eoin Tuohy
6: Con Smyth
4: Oisin Clune
10: Oisin Donnellan
11: Enda Noonan
12: Martin Daly
8: Shane McGrath
13: Steven Conway
14: Raymond Bane
15: Oisin O’Connor
Subs:
17: Gary Guilfoyle for O O’Connor (23)
22: Enda Madden for Noonan (53)
20: Fiachra Donnellan for R Bane (56)
19: Eoin McGuinness for K Bane (60)
24: Justin Nelson for Daly (62)
Referee: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)
