Cratloe show their class with 16 point win over Corofin

*Rian Considine takes on Damien O’Loughlin. Photograph: Ruth Griffin.

CRATLOE got their Clare SHC campaign back on track with minimal fuss against a Corofin side still finding their feet in Clare’s top tier.

Cratloe 4-23
Corofin 0-19
Venue: Cusack Park

Corofin have now conceded ten goals in the first two games of their Group 2 campaign but Joe Cahill can see improvements since the step up from intermediate. His hope will be that they’ll be able to put those learnings to good effect when the time comes to save their senior status.

Some reconstructive work was required to the forward lines prior to throw-in. Michael Duffy and Cian Doolin came in for Killian O’Connor and James Organ while Diarmuid Cahill switched to centre forward. At the rear, Adrian Shannon tucked in at corner back in place of the injured Marc O’Loughlin.

Corofin started with a game plan into a stiff breeze and they stuck to it, particularly in how they looked to play the ball out of defence. They got the first score on the board inside the first minute through Shane O’Brien. Gearoid Kelly hit five frees from five attempts in the first half and his second minute effort had Corofin two points up.

For Cratloe, Dáire Neville retained his spot in the forwards having come on as a first half replacement for the injured Podge Collins in Cratloe’s round one defeat to Feakle. Hitting 1-7 without reply between the fifth and the fifteenth minute changed the shape of this game.

Sean O’Brien and Rian Considine battle for possession. Photograph: Ruth Griffin.

Cratloe’s dominance in the middle of the field gave them to platform to control the scoreboard. Corofin were struggling on their own puckout, Conor Ryan, Sean Gallagher and Diarmuid Ryan took it in turns to apply the pressure and turn Corofin over. They picked off a couple of short puck outs too. Rian Considine’s accuracy made every free look scoreable and the class of Cathal McInerney and Conor McGrath made every ball inside a threat.

Cratloe’s first goal came from an Eoin Deegan long-range free that broke kindly to give Conor McGrath more time than he needed. Rian Considine followed up with back to back points from play.

Corofin only had five shots in open play in the first half but they did rally. They were trying to thread the needle at times in attack but Conor Leen was doing his utmost to give his side control of the sliotar. Diarmuid Cahill was under pressure in possession almost every time, but found some room to run on 19 minutes and popped one off to Kevin Keane to sweep over.

Seven different players scored for Cratloe in the first half and their big scores came at the right times, particularly the 28th minute goal from Conor McGrath – striking early with accuracy to plant one in the bottom left corner of Liam Corbett’s net.

Cratloe’s ten point lead made the second half largely academic and a 35th flick to the net by Kevin Danaher killed the game altogether. Corbett pulled off a flying save just a minute later with Diarmuid Ryan bearing down on goal.

You could sense Cratloe’s thoughts turning to their next outing as the game headed for the final quarter. Jack McInerney came off to bench on 45 minutes and got three points for himself. They were finding more room at the back to pick their angle of attack. Full-back David Collins was at the half way line when he lofted it inside and it was easy for Cathal McInerney to hit his side’s fourth goal of the day.

Still Corofin earned every score they got and finished with 0-19 on the board. They are winless but not hopeless with a game against Feakle still to come. Cratloe still have some work to do and Kilmaley will make them sweat for every point on offer.

Scorers Cratloe: C McGrath (2-2), R Considine (1-8 5f), E Boyce (0-1), D Ryan (0-2), C McInerney (0-3 1f) D Collins (0-1), S Gallagher (0-3) K Danaher (1-0), J McInerney (0-3)

Scorers Corofin: G Kelly (0-10 9f), D Cahill (0-3), S O’Brien (0-2), K Keane (0-2), G Cahill (0-1), C Doolin (0-1)

Cratloe:
1. Eoin Deegan

2: Riain McNamara
3: David Collins
4: Seán Collins

5: Jamie Moylan
6: Diarmuid Ryan
7: Enda Boyce

8: Daithí Collins
9: Conor Ryan

10: Sean Gallagher
18: Dáire Neville
12: Kevin Danaher

13: Conor McGrath
14: Cathal McInerney (c)
15: Rian Considine

Subs:
19: Eoin Carey for E Boyce (45’)
30: Jack McInerney for D Neville (45’)
17: Oisin Collins for S Collins (59’)

Corofin:
1: Liam Corbett

18: Adrian Shannon
3: Damien O’Loughlin (c)
4: Colin Fitzgerald

5: Eoin Davoren
6: Conor Leen
7: Sean O’Brien

8: Gearoid Cahill
9: Gearoid Kelly