*Shane Neville puts Gearoid O’Grady under pressure. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
The value of experience at championship time was highlighted once again at Cusack Park this Saturday evening as Cratloe recorded their second win of the campaign when they accounted for Kilmihil.
Cratloe 1-13
Kilmihil 1-08
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
Having lost their opening round game to Lissycasey, the Kilmihil men needed a win here and when they took a one point lead to the break this looked to be on the cards. They started the second half with a point from Clare senior panellist Ciaran Downes to go two clear and this strengthened the belief amongst their supporters that they could win this one.
With bundles of experience in their squad, Cratloe responded strongly and they landed the next three points to go one clear as the end of the third quarter approached.
One point still separated the sides as the game entered the final ten minutes when, in the space of just under two minutes, Cratloe sealed victory with 1-2, the goal coming from Cathal McInerney who applied the finish after good work by Conal O’Hanlon and Podge Collins
When Cratloe missed a great scoring opportunity in the eighth minute, Kilmihil immediately launched a counter attack which ended with a goal, a score which helped Kilmihil to led by the minimum margin at half time.
The sides were level at 0-1 each when a Cratloe attack presented Diarmuid Ryan with a scoring opportunity but he missed and Kilmihil quickly moved the ball down field where team captain Sean Crowley was at the end of a sweeping move to finish to the net.
Cratloe, with Podge Collins prominent, hit back with three unanswered points to level the tie at the end of the opening quarter but back came Kilmihil with points from Cathal Murray and Ciaran Downes on their way to the break when the score was 1-4 to 0-6 in the West Clare side’s favour.
This result leaves Cratloe in a strong position to justify favouritism and top the group while Kilmihil will need something from their final group game against St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield if they are to have a chance of avoiding the relegation play off.
Scorers Cratloe: Cathal McInerney (1-4, 0-2 frees); Conal O’Hanlon (0-4, frees); Podge Collins (0-3) Shane Gleeson, Shane Neville (0-1) each
Scorers Kilmihil: Ciaran Downes (0-5, 3 frees, 1 ‘45); Sean Crowley 1-0); Cathal Murray, Martin O’Leary (free), David Egan (0-1|) each
Cratloe:
1: Padraigh Chaplin
2: David Collins
3: Kevin Harnett
7: Liam Markham
5: Sean Collins
6: Mike Brennan
17: Shane Neville
8: Diarmuid Ryan
9: Shane Gleeson
10: Rian Considine
11: Cathal McInerney
12: Tommy Rooney
13: Podge Collins
14: Conal O’Hanlon
15: Jack McInerney
Subs:
4: Oige Murphy for Rooney (42)
29: Michael Hawes for O’Hanlon (56) (Inj)
Kilmihil
1: Sean Scott Cafferkey
4: Mikey Keating
3: John Finnucane
28: Fionn Febbraro
5: David Coughlan
6: Shane Downes
7: Gavin Downes
8: Conor Finnucane
10: Sean Crowley
9: Niall Pender
11: Ciaran Downes
12: Gearoid O’Grady
13: Martin O’Leary
14: Cathal Murray
2: Niall Reidy
Subs
21: David Egan for C. Finnucane (half time)
15: Shane Egan for ‘Grady (inj. half time)
17: Alan Normoyle for Reidy (43)
19: Mark Normoyle for S Downes (51)
18: Jack Keating for Crowley (60)
Referee: Niall Quinn (St Joseph’s Miltown)
