*Feakle’s Ronan O’Connor keeps the sliotar from Kevin Danaher. Photograph: Ruth Griffin
FEAKLE have moved a step closer to bridging a thirty six year gap as they qualified for the Clare senior hurling championship final with a hard earned two points win over Cratloe at Cusack Park this Saturday evening.
Feakle 1-17
Cratloe 1-15
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
Champions back in 1988, they were made fight all the way by a Cratloe side that will rue a tally of twelve second half wides when they reflect on this tie.
In the last of three minutes of ‘additional time’ Cratloe won a 20m free just right of centre but Dirmuid Ryan’s effort for goal was stopped and the final whistle sounded within seconds leading to celebrations amongst the Feakle players and mentors.
Before a ball was hit in this contest, Cratloe were dealt a massive blow as brothers Sean and Podge Collins were ruled out due to injury. Sean Gallagher who was listed to play at wing forward was also ruled out. Into the team came Oisin Collins, Cathal Lohan and Shane Neville.
After two hours of heavy rain, the weather relented just before the throw in but a slippery surface made things difficult for the players throughout.
As the midpoint of the first half approached, Feakle lost their full back Evan McMahon to injury and he was replaced by Eoghan Daly.
Cratloe opened the scoring in the opening minute, Rian Considine converting a 20m free after he had been fouled.
Feakle’s response was strong and they hit 1-2 without reply in the next six minutes, the goal coming from Martin Daly.
Five minutes after the loss of Feakle full back Evan McMahon, Cratloe struck for their opening goal, Cathal McInerney with the strike from close range and this score levelled the tie for the second time.
Points were exchanged twice in the next few minutes before Feakle landed three in a row, two from Shane McGrath and one from Eoin Tuohy but Cratloe had the final score of the half, Rian Considine, converting his fourth to leave the half time score at 1-9 to 1-7 in Feakle’s favour.
Feakle landed the opening two points of the second half through Shane McGrath but Cratloe responded with a brace and this proved to be the story of the second half with scores being exchanged regularly.
Cratloe got to within a point of the winners with three minutes remaining but try as they did they just could not get back on terms and substitute Fiachra Donnellan landed the final score of the tie two minutes from time.
Once again Shane McGrath top scored for Feakle, finishing the tie with 0-11 to his name. Conn Smyth, Adam Hogan, Eoin Tuohy, Oisin Donnellan and Martin Daly were prominent for the winners while Diarmuid Ryan, David Collins, Conor McGrath nd Cathal McInerney did well for a Cratloe side for whom Rian Considine top scored with 0-8 ,
Scorers Feakle: Shane McGrath (0-11, 6f); Martin Daly (1-0); Ronan O’Connor, Eoin Tuohy, Oisin Donnellan, Oisin O’Connor, Eoghan Daly, Fiachra Donnellan (0-1) each
Scorers Cratloe: Rian Considine (0-8, 7f); Cathal McInerney (1-2); Conor McGrath (0-3), Enda Boyce (0-2).
Feakle:
1: Eibhear Quilligan;
3: Evan McMahon
4: Oisin Clune
5: Adam Hogan;
2: Killian Bane
6: Conn Smyth
9: Eoin Tuohy
7: Ronan O’Connor
11: Enda Noonan
10: Oisin Donnellan
8: Shane McGrath
14: Raymond Bane;
13: Patrick Daly
12: Martin Daly
15: Oisin O’Connor
Subs:
17: Eoghan Daly for McMahon (12)
23: Steven Conway for K Bane (HT)
21: Owen McGann for R Bane (43)
20: Fiachra Donnellan for P Daly (53)
18: Enda Madden for Noonan (56)
Cratloe:
1: Eoin Deegan;
2: Riain McNamara
3: David Collins
17: Oisin Collins
9: Conor Ryan
6: Diarmuid Ryan
5: Jamie Moylan
7: Enda Boyce
8: Daithí Collins
21: Shane Neville
13: Conor McGrath
19: Cathal Lohan;
14: Cathal McInerney
15: Rian Considine
12: Kevin Danaher
Subs:
11: Podge Collins for Danaher (41)
18: Daire Neville for S Neville (48)
22: Jack McInerney for McNamara (60)
Referee: John Bugler (Whitegate)
