Inagh/Kilnamona’s dreams of winning a first ever Clare SHC title are edging closer to becoming a reality after they sealed their place in the county final with a three point win over Éire Óg.
Inagh/Kilnamona 1-17
Éire Óg 0-17
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
It is a breakthrough 13 years in the making after Inagh/Kilnamona edged this blow-for-blow slugfest with Éire Òg, their reward is a place in the Clare SHC final for the first time.
Passing their ultimate test of resolve that included losing four players to injury including talisman Aidan McCarthy and the concession of a last gasp penalty, Inagh-Kilnamona kept their composure to fire the last two points through the inspirational Conner Hegarty and Jason McCarthy to prevail.
The magnitude of the occasion was patently clear for the majority as both sides were uncharacteristically riddled with errors and nerves were commonplace. However, it didn’t take from a compelling contest that was level on eleven occasions by the three-quarter mark before teenager Conner Hegarty proved the difference coming down the final straight.
With Éire Óg by three points by the 63rd minute, there would be one final game-changing moment when David McNamara’s delivery was caught by Shane O’Donnell who was brought for a penalty. Up stepped Danny Russell but goalkeeper Pa Kelly was equal to the effort as a relieved Inagh-Kilnamona held on for a historic win.
Level five times by the 13th minute, Danny Russell’s third free was met by the game’s major score when Shane McInerney spectacularly volleyed a David Fitzgerald long delivery to the net just before the water break at 1-5 to 0-7.
Further points on the resumption from Aidan McCarthy and Conner Hegarty established Inagh-Kilnamona’s biggest lead at 1-7 to 0-7, only for the Townies to hit four on the bounce through Oran cahill, Nathan Murray, Danny Russell and the incisive Darren O’Brien as the side had tomb satisfied with a 1-9 to 0-12 half-time stalemate.
That seesaw pattern was maintained in the new half as the sides were locked together three more times before Conner Hegarty fired a superb point from his own ’65 to inch 1-13 to 0-15 clear by the turn of the final quarter.
It was an advantage that Inagh-Kilnamona would never relinquish despite the best efforts of Shane O’Donnell. While they lost Aidan McCarthy to a hamstring injury, Inagh-Kilnamona got a better boost from their bench and subsequently All-Ireland winning goalkeeper Kelly to deny Éire Óg a dual football and hurling final appearance.
Inagh-Kilnamona had a lot of walking wounded at the final whistle but have a fortnight to patch up their side as they now await the winners of Ballyea and Newmarket-on-Fergus in a novel decider for this year’s Canon Hamilton Cup.
Scorers for Inagh-Kilnamona: Aidan McCarthy (5f), Conner Hegarty (1f) (0-5 each); Shane McInerney (1-0); Seamus Foudy, Darren Cullinan, Josh Guyler, Kevin Hehir, Cian McInerney, Evan McNamara, Jason McCarthy (0-1 each)
Scorers for Éire Óg: Danny Russell (0-6f); Darren O’Brien, Shane O’Donnell (0-3 each); Oran Cahill (0-2); Dara Walsh, Nathan Murray, David McNamara (0-1 each)
Inagh/Kilnamona:
1: Pa Kelly
3: Cathal McConigley
4: Keith White
2: Colin Shannon
10: Kevin Hehir
6: Jason McCarthy
9: David Fitzgerald
11: Conner Hegarty
8: Darren Cullinan
5: Séamus Foudy
12: Niall Mullins
14: Aidan McCarthy
27: Shane McInerney
15: David Mescall
13: Josh Guyler
Subs:
7: Cian McInerney for Mullins (31) (inj)
17: Conor Tierney for S McInerney (39)
20: Evan McNamara for Mescall (45)
22: Gerry Coote for A McCarthy (47) (Inj)
23: Eoin Fitzgerald for McConigley (56) (Inj)
19: Austin Kerin for Shannon (60)
Éire Óg:
1: Philip Walsh
2: Jarlath Collins
3: Ciaran Russell
4: Aidan McGrath
5: Nathan Murray
6: Aaron Fitzgerald
7: Liam Corry
11: David Reidy
24: Dara Walsh
10: David McNamara
15: Shane O’Donnell
13: Kevin Brennan
12: Oran Cahill
14: Danny Russell
9: Darren O’Brien
Subs:
19: Kieran Malone for Brennan (21)
20: Marc O’Donnell for O’Brien (45) (Inj)
17: Niall McMahon for Malone (58)
Referee: Wayne King (St Josephs Doora/Barefield)
