Scariff-Ogonnelloe 2-17
Corofin-Ruan 1-12
Christmas celebrations have started early in the parishes of Scariff and Ogonnelloe, thanks to the U21 hurlers who were crowned Clare A champions at Clarecastle this Friday afternoon.
A strong finish which yielded ten unanswered points in the closing twenty minutes sealed a merited win for the East Clare outfit over the defending champions Corofin-Ruan whose busy schedule of recent weeks caught up with them.
That said, full credit must go to the winners who enjoyed the upperhand for much of the tie.
“This started three years ago for us as a management team when we set out to bring an under 21 A championship to East Clare and today we have achieved that. It’s been a long slog but I don’t think anyone will deny us this success”, commented Scariff-Ogonnelloe manager Conor McNamara moments after the final whistle.
“We felt a few things didn’t go our way last year and we tried to make sure everything was in order for today. Corofn-Ruan are a good team and there is no denying that”, added McNamara when praising his team’s workrate in the first half in particular when they played against the breeze.
Accepting that his charges have had a very busy schedule, Corofin-Ruan mentor Joe Cahill wasn’t using that as a reason for his side’s defeat. “The schedule didn’t help but I will not take anything away from Scariff-Ogonnelloe. They were by far the better and sharper team today. They showed a great willingness to work. Corofin-Ruan were also excellent today, they worked awful hard but the energy wasn’t there today”.
The defending champions started well with points from Shane Punch and Jack O’Dnoghue in the opening two minutes. Two Mark Rodgers efforts had the sides level by the fifth minute before Patrick Ryan put the winners ahead but this was shortlived as Robin Mounsey levelled from a sideline cut.
Two goals in as many minutes from Mark Rodgers and Patrick Ryan and a point from Patrick Crotty had the winners seven clear early in the second quarter but Corofin-Ruan showed that they were not going to give up the title easily as they hit back with four unanswered points.
On the stroke of half time Shane Punch drilled a 20m free low to the winner’s net to leave just two points between the teams at the break 2-7 to 1-8 in Scariff-Ogonnelloe’s favour.
Corofin-Ruan dominated the early exchanges of the second half hitting four points without reply to go two clear eight minutes after the resumption of play.
They weren’t to score again however as, slowly, Scariff-Ogonnelloe took control in the vital areas.
Points from Ryan and Rodgers had the teams level at the three quarter stage before Keelan Hartigan gave the East Clare outfit a lead they would hold to the finish. In the remaining time Rodgers landed five points for the winners while Conor Downes and Patrick Ryan also hit the target to seal victory which sees the under 21 A cup return to Scariff for the first time since 1987, a year after Ogonnelloe had claimed success in under 21 C..
Gearoid Sheedy, Tadhg Kavanagh, Keelan Hartigan, Patrick Crotty, Patrick Ryan and team captain Mark Rodgers stood out for the new champions.
Playing his first game in this campaign, Conor Leen was forced to retire due to a recurring injury with ten minutes remaining. Shane Punch, Cillian McGroarty, Robin Mounsey and Diarmuid Cahill worked hard for the beaten finalists
Scorers; Scariff-Ogonnelloe; Mark Rodgers (1-8, 0-6 f) Patrick Ryan (1-3), Patrick Crotty (0-3), Keelan Hartigan, Eanna O’Brien, Conor Downes (0-1)each
Corofin-Ruan; Shane Punch (1-6, 0-1 f); Robin Mounsey (0-3, 2 line balls) Diarmuid Cahill (0-2), Jack McDonagh (0-1)
Scariff-Ogonnelloe; 1-Sean Treacy; 2-Seamus McCaul, 3-Tadhg Kavanagh, 4-Eoghan Keehan; 5-Scott Cairns, 23-Gearoid Sheedy, 7-Shane Kavanagh; 8-Conor Downes, 9-Sean Collins; 10-Liam Crotty, 11-Keelan Hartigan, 12-Patrick Crotty;15- Patrick Ryan, 14-Mark Rodgers (captain), 13-Eanna O’Brien;
Subs; 22-Liam Harte for O’Brien (45); 17-Adam Cunnane for Collins (49), 25-Donnacda McNulty for Downes (55); 10-Paul McGee for L. Crotty (61); 24-Eoghan Heffernan for Hartigan (61)
Corofin-Ruan; Keelan Mounsey; Jason Power, Ashley Brohan (Joint captain), Gearoid Hanrahan; Tom O’Halloran, Cillian McGroarty, Eoin Fitzgerald; Shane Punch, Patrick O’Halloran; Ryan Power, Diarmuid Cahill, Killian O’Connor; Jack McDonagh, Kevin Keane (joint captain), Robin Mounsey;
Subs; 17-Darragh McInerney for T. O’Halloran (inj. 17); 27-Conor Leen for G. Hanrahan (17);; 18-James Organ for R. Power (44); 19–Frankie Lyons for Leen (inj., 54)
Referee; Joe Mullins, Clonlara;
