Clonlara edge out Mills in exciting encounter

*Clonlara’s Colm O’Meara. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

CLONLARA showed no shortage of spirit as they got their senior championship campaign off to a winning start when accounting for Clare Cup winners O’Callaghans Mills in a most entertaining contest on Saturday evening.

Clonlara 2-15
O’Callaghans Mills 1-17
Venue: O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge

The game ended in a welter of excitement as the Mills chased an equalising score and their followers will wonder why Gary Cooney wasn’t awarded a free as it appeared that he was pushed. The incident sparked off a flurry of excitement on the sideline with some mentors getting involved before order was restored.

With just a goal between the sides and just three minutes of normal time remaining Conor Cooney saw his piledriver rebound off the crossbar.

Points from Mark Pewter and Adrian Donovan left the minimum between the sides with two of five minutes of added time played. John Conlon who, along with Ian Galvin, was outstanding for the winners, had his side’s final score before Colm Cleary again left the minimum between the sides when pointing for the Mills.

Try as they did the just could not get through for an equaliser and Clonlara held on for victory, a result they just about deserved.

The first half of this tie saw a combined total of twenty two points with Clonlara, who played with the aid of the breeze, shooting twelve.

Clonlara had the opening score of the game when Ian Galvin pointed in the first minute but the Mills hit the front in the third minute when Fionn Hickey shot low to the Clonlara net.

This drew a strong response from Clonlara who hit 1-4 without reply in the next seven minutes with John Conlon in sparkling form at centre forward. Their lead could and should have been much greater than five points at the end of the first quarter when the score read 1-6 to 1-1.

The Clare Cup winners came more into the game in the second quarter but they were also guilty of some poor finishing including failing to capitalise on a great goal opportunity when centre forward Sean O’Gorman delayed his shot and Logan Ryan intercepted.

The winner’s defence was strong throughout and gave little room to the Mills forwards. Dylan McMahon, until injured, Michael Clancy and Paraic O’Loughlin got through a lot of work but there is no denying that inter county men John Conlon and Ian Galvin excelled.

Aidan Fawl, Aidan O’Gorman, Conor Cooney and substitutes Mikey McMahon, and Mark Pewter made valuable contributions for the Mills.

Scorers Clonlara; John Conlon (1-8); Ian Galvin (0-4); Cian Moriarty (1-1)Aidan Moriarty (0-2)

Scorers O’Callaghans Mills; Fionn HIckey (1-1); Killian Nugent (0-3, frees); Colm Cleary (0-3, f) Aidan O’Gorman (1 ‘65, 1 f), Mark Pewter (0-2 each);Sean O’Gorman, Mikey Mc\Mahon, Daragh Moroney, Conor Henry, Adrian Donovan, Gary Cooney (0-1) each

Clonlara;
1: Seimi Gully

2: Michael Clancy
3: Ger Powell
4: Logan Ryan

7: Paraic O’Loughlin
6: Dylan McMahon
5: David Fitzgerald

8: Colm O’Meara
9: Jathan McMahon Captain

12: Daniel Moloney
11: John Conlon
10: Aidan Moriarty

13: Micheal Stritch
14: Ian Galvin
15: Cian Moriarty

Subs:
18: Colm Galvin for Moloney (35)
24: Diarmuid Stritch for M. Stritch (42)
21: Brian McLeish for D. McMahon (inj., 62)

O’Callaghans Mills
1: Killian Nugent

2: Mike Cotter
5: Pat Donnellan
3: Keith Donnellan

9: Cormac Murphy
6: Aidan O’Gorman
7: Aidan Fawl

8: Fionn Hickey
10: Mike McGrath

3: Conor Cooney
11: Sean O’Gorman
12: Stephen Donnellan