Cooney lands the winner to keep Éire Óg in the hunt for the Canon

Gavin Cooney. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

A ONE point win has kept Éire Óg in the championship and tees up an exciting final round in Group 4 of the Clare SHC.A ONE point win has kept Éire Óg in the championship and tees up an exciting final round in Group 4 of the Clare SHC.

Éire Óg 1-17
Broadford 2-13
Venue: Dr Daly Park, Tulla

Éire Óg are still in the race for the 2023 TUS Clare senior hurling championship but only just. At Dr Daly Park in Tulla on Sunday evening they struggled to a one point win over Broadford on a day when David Reidy contributed 1-12, all but a point of which came from placed balls. Broadford also had their sharpshooter in Oisin Kavanagh who landed 0-9 of their tally, all from placed balls, seven frees and two ‘65’s.

An early goal from Stiofán McMahon gave Broadford an edge in the opening half but sharpshooter Reidy converted from the penalty spot four minutes from the break to give the Ennis men a three point interval lead.

They had the better of the third quarter exchanges and stretched their lead to six points and at this stage they looked to be heading for a comfortable victory.

Broadford had other ideas, however and a second Stiofan McMahon goal, ten minutes from the end, brought them right back into the contest. Oisin Kavanagh followed with two pointed frees and the East Clare outfit had levelled the tie for the sixth time.

Points were exchanged again before the Ennis club’s football captain, Gavin Cooney, landed what proved to be the winning score a minute into injury time.

Played before a big attendance, this clash produced plenty of excitement and its share of talking points.

Broadford supporters will feel that Éire Óg were fortunate to have been awarded the penalty from which David Reidy goaled shortly before half time as they will argue that the foul occurred outside the square.

Éire Óg will question the awarding of a ‘65 from which Brodford levelled for the sixth time shortly before the final whistle, believing instead that Éire Óg goalie Philly Walsh should have been awarded a free out.

That the contest provided entertainment is without question and the result means that there is plenty to play for in the final round when Éire Óg take on their neighbours Clarecastle and Feakle face Broadford.

Inter county star and current All star Shane O’Donnell may not have got on the scoresheet but he did create a number of the opportunities which led to his side’s scores.
The switch of inter county footballer Ciaran Russell to full back midwaay through the opening half played a big part in helping the winner’s defence to curb the early threat posed by the Broadford forwards.

Oran Cahill, Gavin Cooney and, of course David Reidy, were others who had a big part to play in the town side’s victory.

Eoin and Paddy Donnellan, Mark Moloney, Diarmuid O’Brien, the Chaplins and Stiofan McMahon were prominent for Broadford

Scorers Éire Óg: David Reidy(1-12, 1-11 frees); Gavin Cooney, Drren O’Brien (0-2) each, Dara Walsh (0-1)

Scorers Broadford; Oisin Kavanagh (0-9, 7f and 2 ‘65’s); Stiofan McMahon (2-1); Craigh Chaplin, Padraig Taylor, Darren Chaplin (0-1) each

Éire Óg
1: Philly Walsh

4: Fionnan Treacy
3: Aaron Fitzgerald
18: Niall McMahon

5: Oran Cahill
6: Liam Corry
7: Ciaran Russell

2: Jarlath Collins
21: Liam Kavanagh

8: Darren O’Brien
14: David Reidy
12: Mikey Maloney

29: Dara Walsh
11: Shane O’Donnell
13: Gavin Cooney

Subs:
13: Danny Russell for Kavanagh (50)
22: Michael Heneghan for Walsh (55)

Broadford;
1: Cian O’Brien