Cian Moriarty takes on Noel Purcell. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Clonlara powered to the local bragging rights after a determined performance brushed aside the challenge of Sixmilebridge in Cusack Park.
Clonlara 0-24
Sixmilebridge 1-16
Venue: O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge
With both sides winning their opening bout, it was Clonlara who displayed the greater belly for battle after leading their neighbours for the final 50 minutes of a surprisingly open contest.
Led by the unparalleled John Conlon who dominated proceedings throughout and an equally out-standing defensive display from Paraic O’Loughlin, Clon fully merited their five point victory over a uncharacteristically subdued ‘Bridge.
There was no doubt about Clonlara’s motivation from the outset as they took the game to their neighbours from the outset albeit that they were sucker-punched by a fortunate ninth minute goal for Alex Morey who gladly accepted a rebound off the upright to fire to the net at 1-3 to 0-5.
John Conlon orchestrated the recovery with the next two points and from there, Clonlara firmly gripped the lead as a six point unanswered start to the second quarter through five different scorers (John Conlon (2), Cian Moriarty, Aidan Moriarty, Diarmuid Stritch and Ian Galvin) carved out a six point cushion by the 30 minute mark.
The ‘Bridge did fire the last two points of the half through Conor Deasy at 0-14 to 1-7 and with the wind to come, put themselves back into contention when returning with the first three points of the new half including two from Alex Morey frees to cut the deficit to just one by the 36th mi-nute.
With Clonlara’s character tested, their oldest and youngest members stood tallest as Conlon (4) and Diarmuid Stritch came to their side’s rescue to re-establish a four point advantage by the turn of the final quarter at 0-19 to 1-12.
The same pair would actually stretch the gap to six by the 56th minute which was pivotal to soak up an inevitable fightback as successive points from Alex Morey, Seadna Morey and Shane Golden halved the arrears to three with two additional minutes of injury-time to come.
Diarmuid Stritch and substitute Micheál Stritch finally clinched victory though with the last two points albeit that Clonlara’s perfect start still doesn’t guarantee them anything as their final round match against Crusheen is essentially be a winner-takes-all encounter.
Sixmilebridge’s season is equally on a knife-edge as their final round showdown could well see the loser contest the relegation play-offs and the winner vying for a quarter-final spot.
Scorers for Clonlara: John Conlon 0-10 (6f), Diarmuid Stritch 0-4, Ian Galvin 0-3, Colm Galvin 0-2, Micheál Stritch 0-2, Colm O’Meara 0-1, Cian Moriarty 0-1, Aidan Moriarty 0-1
Scorers for Sixmilebridge: Alex Morey 1-6 (4f), Conor Deasy 0-2, Cathal Malone 0-2, Sean Mac-namara 0-1, Brian Corry 0-1, Lorcan Fitzpatrick 0-1, Caimin Morey 0-1, Seadna Morey 0-1, Shane Golden 0-1
Clonlara
1: Seimi Gully
2: Micheál Clancy
3; Ger Powell
4: Logan Ryan
5: David Fitzgerald
6: Dylan McMahon
7: Paraic O’Loughlin
8: Colm O’Meara
9: Nathan McMahon
10: Aidan Moriarty
18: Colm Galvin
11: John Conlon
24: Diarmuid Stritch
14: Ian Galvin
15: Cian Moriarty
Subs
12: Daniel Moloney for O’Meara (45)
13: Michéal Stritch for C. Moriarty (50)
21: Bryan McLeish for C. Galvin (55)
Sixmilebridge
1: Derek Fahy
4: Brian Carey
3: Barry Fitzpatrick
2: Noel Purcell
6: Caimin Morey
5: Seadna Morey
7: Paidi Fitzpatrick
8: Cathal Malone
9: Sean Macnamara
10: Shane Golden
11: Lorcan Fitzpatrick
12: Conor Deasy
13: Brian Corry
14: Alex Morey
15: David Kennedy
Sub
18: Leon Kelly for Macnamara (53, inj)
19: Jordan Downes for Deasy (58)
Referee: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)
