*Colm Cleary. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
HEADING INTO the final round of games in the FutureTicketing Clare Cup this Sunday, there is still a lot to play for with three semi-final spots still to be filled.
Clooney/Quin have topped Division 1B and they are through to the semis and promoted to division 1 A for next season.
O’Callaghans Mills currently top 1A with eleven points, one ahead of Crusheen and Newmarket-on-Fergus with Kilmaley and Feakle both a further point back on nine points. Two from that quintet will make it through to the semi-finals.
Challenging for the second semi-final spot from 1B are Whitegate who are currently on eleven points, Scariff and St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield who are both on ten points while Cratloe and Clarecastle who are both on nine points still have a chance.
Broadford and Ballyea will make the drop to Division 1B while two from Wolfe Tones, Smith O’Briens and Parteen/Meelick will drop from 1 B to division 2.
Strong finish by Feakle
Clonlara 1-23
Feakle 1-23
Venue: Clonlara
Trailing by three points with the game in the final minute, Feakle put in a strong finish to earn a share of the spoils in this round 8 Clare Cup game at Clonlara on Friday evening.
Shane McGrath was the hero again, hitting the last three points, the equaliser coming from a ‘65 with the last play of the game.
The result keeps their hopes of reaching the play offs alive but other results will have to go their way in the final round next week.
A Martin Daly goal helped Feakle to a 1-13 to 0-13 lead at half time. Clonlara hit back early in the second half when full forward Daniel Moloney got in for their goal and they hit the front a few minutes later.
Leading with time almost up, Clonlara looked set for victory but a strong finish from Feakle saw them draw level.
Twelve players shared in the home side’s final tally while eight players contributed to Feakle’s tally on the evening.
In the final round next week Feakle will be away to Crusheen while Clonlara will have home advantage against Kilmaley.
Clonlara; Seimi Gully; Michael Clancy, Ger Powell, Logan Ryan; David Fitzgerald, Colm O’Meara, Padraic O’Loughlin; Jathan McMahon, Dylan McMahon; Nicky O’Connell, Cian Moriarty, James McCormack; Micheál O’Loughlin, Daniel Moloney, Micheál Stritch;
Subs; Diarmuid Stritch for McCormack; Tom Power for O’Connell
Feakle: Liam O’Connor; Cillian Bane, Evan McMahon, Oisin Clune; Eoghan Daly, Con Smyth, Gary Guilfoyle; Enda Noonan, Ronan O’Connor; Oisin Donnellan, Shane McGrath, Stevie Conway; Martin Daly, Eoin O’Connor, Eoin McGuinness;
Sub: Justin Nelson for McGuinness
Referee: Niall Malone (Éire Óg)
Mills still in contention for semi-final spot
O’Callaghans Mills 1-15
Broadford 0-17
Venue: Glenomra Park, Broadford
A Colm Cleary goal just before the half time whistle proved a key score as O’Callaghans Mills pipped their neighbours and great rivals Broadford on Saturday afternoon.
The result keeps the Mills in contention for a place in the semi-final but it has sealed Broadford’s fate and they will drop down to Division 1B for next season as a result of this loss.
Points were exchanged regularly throughout the first half at the end of which they retired on level terns, 1-7 to 0-10.
Points were swapped in the early minutes of the second half before the Mills hit three in a row to lead 1-11 to 0-11 at the three quarter stage.
Points were exchanged again before the home side landed four in a row to lead by the minimum with five minutes remaining.
Two Colm Cleary points had the visitors back in front but veteran Padraig Hickey levelled for the home side and a draw looked the likely outcome. The Mills, however, had the final say and Cormac Murphy’s point saw them claim victory which keeps them in contention for the semi-finals.
O’Callaghans Mills: Killian Nugent; Michael Cotter (0-1), Keith Donnellan, Gerry Cooney; Pat Donnellan, Aidan O’Gorman (0-1), Aidan Fawl; Eoin McInerney, Sean O’Gorman (0-2); Conor Henry, Cormac Murphy (0-1), Michael McGrath; Sean Cotter (0-4), Fionn Hickey (0-1), Colm Cleary (1-5);
Subs; Bryan Donnellan for S. Cotter (inj); Mikey McMahon for Henry; Stevie Donnellan for McInerney;
Broadford: Cian O’Brien; Davy Boland, Cathal Chaplin (0-1), Damian Keniry; Eoin Donnellan, Paddy Donnellan (0-1), Cian Mulqueen; Darren Chaplin, James Vaughan; Oisin Kavanagh (0-9), Jack Ward Murphy, Jack O’Brien; Jack Dillon (0-3), Denis Fahy, Mark Moloney (0-2);
Subs; Padraig Hickey (0-1) for Fahy; Eoin O’Brien for Vaughan;
Referee: Johnnie Healy (Smith O’Briens)
Inagh/Kilnamona dent Newmarket’s title hopes
Inagh/Kilnamona 1-18
Newmarket 1-15
Venue: Inagh
Inagh/Kilnamona turned in a strong performance to overcome Newmarket in this tie played at Inagh on Saturday evening.
The Blues travelled to Inagh sharing top spot with Crusheen and while they can still make the play-offs, they will need to beat their neighbours Sixmilebridge and hope that other results will fall into place.
They led in the opening stages of this outing but the home side got a grip on proceedings and a goal from David Mescall helped them to lead 1-10 to 0-8 at the halfway point.
Despite their best efforts and a goal from Eoin Guilfoyle, Newmarket never managed to regain the lead and the Louis Mulqueen managed side held on for a merited victory, indeed three points was not a fair reflection as the gap appeared to be much bigger between the sides.
Inagh-Kilnamona; Pat Kelly; Cathal McConigley, Keith White, Colin Shannon; Seamus Foudy, Jason McCarthy, Shane Woods; Niall Mullins, Darren Cullinan; Gerry Coote, Sean Rynne, Shane Vaughan; Josh Guyler, Conner Hegarty, David Mescall.
Subs; Evan McNamara for Guyler; Damian Lafferty for White; Eoghan Foudy for McNamara (inj), Shane McInerney for Coote; Niall Glynn for McConigley;
Newmarket-on-Fergus Padraic Guilfoyle; Conor McCarthy, Colin Guilfoyle, Paudie McMahon; Jack Enright, Enda Barrett, Sean O’Connor; Mark Delaney, Shane Lynch; Liam Clancy, Eoin Guilfoyle, Seadhna Liddy; James Power, Mike McInerney, James McInerney;
Subs; David Frost for C. McCarthy; Cathal Finucane for Power; Kieran McMahon for Lynch; Feidhlim Barry for Liddy.
Referee: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)
McInerney’s hat trick steers Cratloe to victory
Cratloe 4-20
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 2-14
Venue: Páirc Uí hEithir, Cratloe.
A hat trick of goals from Cathal McInerney helped Cratloe to a comfortable win over St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield at Cratloe on Saturday evening.
The home side took a grip on proceedings in the opening half and they had opened a ten point led by the end of the half when the score was 1-14 to 0-7.
They continued to hold the advantage after the break and while substitute Podge Geraghty fired home two goals for the visitors, they couldn’t stop the home side from dominating in key positions.
Kyle Neylon struck for his side’s fourth goal as the home side scored a merited win which keeps their hopes of making the play offs alive.
Cratloe: Gearoid Ryan; David Collins, Liam Markham, Caimin Deegan; Shane Neville, Damian Browne, Aaron Costigan; Enda Boyce, Sam Sheehy; Sean Gallagher, Cathal McInerney, Luke Healy; Conor McGrath, Kyle Neylon, Daithi Collins;
Subs: Jack Manley for David Collins (inj); Sean Ryan for Boyce; Rian McNamara for Costigan; Jack Danaher for Healy; Cathal Lohan for Sheehy
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Paul Madden; Cian Lahiffe, Brian Clancy, Darragh McMahon; Adam Mungovan, Francie Meaney, Eoghan McMahon; Darragh O’Shea, Jack Hannan; Brian Guilfoyle, David Conroy, Donal O’Halloran; Cathal Ruane, Alan O’Neill, Eoin Lahiffe
Subs; Matthew Power for Ruane; Darragh Nagle for O’Neill; Ian Williams for C. Lahiffe; Podge Geraghty for O’Shea
Referee: Kevin Corry (Sixmilebridge)
Clooney/Quin seal promotion and semi-final spot
Clooney/Quin 2-22
Parteen/Meelick 1-22
Venue: Parteen
Clooney/Quin continued their impressive form when accounting for Parteen-Meelick at Parteen on Saturday afternoon. The result seals their promotion to division 1 B and qualifies them for the competition semi-final.
They were made fight all the way for this victory by a South Clare outfit battling to avoid relegation to division 2.
Inter county panellist Jack Kirwan lined out with the home side and he top scored with 0-10 while Oisin Hickey contributed 1-3.
Dylan Cunningham and Michael Corry were the goalscorers for the winners.
Clooney/Quin; Cathal Hannon; Shane McNamara, Conor Grogan, Enda O’Halloran; Donagh Keogh, John Conneally, Michael McNamara; Eoin Guilfoyle, Jimmy Corry; Trevor Lee, Dylan Cunningham, Cillian Duggan; Eoghan O’Brien, Dannan Fox, Michael Corry;
Subs: Sam Scanlan for Duggan (inj); Jack O’Neill for Guilfoyle
Parteen/Meelick; Alan Murnane; Donal Kenny, Phil Lavin, David O’Sullivan; Damian Moloney, Nathan Fox, Adam Sherlock; Daniel Cooney, Darragh McDermott; Jack Kirwan, Greg Daly, Ruairi McDermott; Oisin Hickey, Geroid Reddy, Joe Sherlock;
Subs: Darragh Mc Gleenon for Lavin; Eoin Phelan for R. McDermott, Joe O’Connor for J. Sherlock
Oisin Casey’s last minute strike ties up the contest
Clarecastle 1-19
Scariff 2-16
Venue: Clarecastle
A share of the spoils resulted when Scariff and Clarecastle clashed at Clarecastle on Saturday evening and the result keeps both in the hunt for a place in the semi-finals.
Scariff will be more disappointed with the outcome as they led by three points with the game in the final minute.
Oisin Casey was the home side’s hero as he blasted a 20m free to the net in the final minute to seal a share of the spoils on an evening when he top scored with 1-12 to his credit while Clare sub goalkeeper Cian Broderick lined out in their attack.
Paddy Ryan scored both goals for Scariff who must beat Tubber in their final game and hope that other results go in their favour if they are to win promotion, The East Clare side led by six points at half time when the score was 1-10 to 0-7.
Clarecatle: Fionn Morgan; Gearoid Ryan, Cian Donnelly, Conor Griffin; Aaron Hayes, Colin Brigdale, Tommy Howard; Niall Brigdale, Niall Galvin; Noel Copley, Eoghan Wallace, Cian Broderick; Adam Healy, Oisin Casey, Jack Hayes
Subs; Lee Brack for Broderick; Niall Og Tuohy for Copley; Broderick for A. Healy; Jonathan Griffey for N. Galvin
Scariff: William Kavanagh; Eoghan Keehan, Michael Scanlan, Seamus Mc Caul; Jack Ryan, Seamus Kavanagh, Diarmuid Nash; Conor Downes, Martin Cunningham; Liam Crotty, Keelan Hartigan, Michael Barrett; Paddy Ryan, Sean Minogue, Tadhg Minogue;
Subs: Rory Ryan for T Minogue (inj); Sean Collins for Cunningham; Sean Hartigan for Downes; Shane Carey for S. Minogue; Cathal Madden for Keehan;
Referee: Gus Callaghan (Feakle)
Whitegate one step away from semi-final
Whitegate 3-18
Wolfe Tones 0-20
Venue: Shannon
With just one point to their name after the opening three rounds, Whitegate have fought back strongly and now find themselves in second place going into the final round of games.
At Shannon on Saturday evening they accounted for the home side in impressive fashion and this weekend they will entertain already qualified Clooney/Quin in a top of the table clash.
Both sides were short regulars on Saturday when the eventual winners led by five at half time when the score was 2-9 to 0-10.
They continued to hold the upperhand in the second half on their way to a merited win. Goalscorers for Whitegate in this one were Paddy Burke, Cian McDermott and Danny Hynes.
Whitegate: Andrew Fahey; Ciaran Quinn, Finn Madden, Dylan White; Ian Fahy, Eoin Patterson, Cian McDermott; Liam Sugrue, Conor Whelan; Danny Hynes, Ronan Hayes, Cian McDermott; Paddy Burke, Mark Bugler, Ciaran Keenan;
Subs: Liam Murray and James Carey
Wolfe Tones: Daithi O’Connell; Shane Nihill, Sam Meaney, Brian Murphy; Luke Merrigan, Daithi Lohan, Sam Costelloe; Dean Devanney, John Guilfoyle; Cian O’Rourke, Aaron Cunningham, Kevin McCafferty; Liam O’Dwyer, Billy Connors, Peter McEvoy;
Subs: David Ryan for McEvoy; Conor Carigg for Lohan;
Referee: Kieran Liddane (Sixmilebridge)
