*Photograph: Chris Copley
A Frankie Lyons hat-trick helped Ruan outplay Sixmilebridge and nail their place in the penultimate round of the intermediate hurling championship.
Ruan 5-15
Sixmilebridge 1-13
Venue: Gurteen
Aidan Lynch’s bullish start set them on their way and Robin Mounsey’s late goal helped to gloss the scoreline in an entertaining game in Gurteen where they eliminated last year’s finalists.
Ruan were pumped right from throw-in. It was most apparent on Aidan Lynch, who looked akin to an Aussie rules player with the sleeves of his jersey rolled up. Physique and determination aside, he showed deft touches to score the opening point and flick to the net in the second minute.
Cathaoir Agnew was the Bridge man assigned to Robin Mounsey. It looked a good match up as Agnew forced the Clare panellist into some difficult options and made one intercept that set up Sean Lynch for his score from play.
For Ruan, up stepped Frankie Lyons. He showed real torque to get clear and bounce his first goal under Mark Sheedy’s hurley after ten minutes. Christopher Carey was quick to get the hook in for another goal effort but there was no stopping Ruan’s third goal on 22 minutes. Mounsey might have thrown a pot-shot over his shoulder, but instead hooked one inside for Lyons who accelerated again on the outside to tap his second goal home.
Sixmilebridge were winning scorable frees and Sean Lynch took over the placed balls to give his side more of a foothold in the game. Ruan had the last two scores of the half as Piaras Ó Sé showed remarkable footwork and Shane Punch planted a long-range free.
Ruan captain Killian Ryan was unable to recover from a back injury in-time for this knockout encounter, but Leon Quirke’s side didn’t lack for leadership across the field. Sixmilebridge were without the injured Dylan Downes while Alan Mulready and Matthew O’Halloran were ineligible having featured for the seniors two weeks ago.
Trailing by nine-points at the break, Sixmilebridge manager Pat Keane brought on Seamus O’Connell and Oisín Breen. Ruan didn’t make any changes, but did need a knock on the door from referee Jim Hickey to get them back out.
Shane Punch was outstanding under the high ball early in the second half and forced the ‘Bridge to go longer on the puck out, where Ruan looked comfortable.
The Bridge had little choice but to go for goal from close-range frees and had two efforts well stopped. They had all five subs on the pitch and a pulled effort from Christy Griffin was well closed down.
Jack Corry had nothing but goal on his mind when he roared for the sliotar after forty seven minutes. The pass came and his drilled effort from 20 metres was followed up with a point by Callum Phelan to leave the deficit at six points with fifteen minutes left.
Ruan weren’t rattled. Piaras Ó Sé responded and Ashey Brohan got his point for the day to add to some excellent work around the middle of the field.
Robin Mounsey got his goal in added time. It was the head dummy and the step left that gave him the space for the simple finish.
The last score of the game was Frankie Lyons’ completion of his hat-trick. Mark Sheedy stood up well but couldn’t prevent it. It left 14 points between the sides at the final whistle.
Some of Ruan’s drive comes from the disappointment of defeat to neighbours Corofin in the 2023 IHC semi-finals. They are back in the final four and it will take a very good team in Monday night’s draw to beat them.
Ruan Scorers: Frankie Lyons (3-2); Aidan Lynch; (1-4 inc. 3f); Robin Mounsey (1-2); Patrick O’Halloran (0-3); Piaras O’Sé (0-2); Shane Punch (0-1 inc. 1f); Ashley Brohan (0-1).
Sixmilebridge Scorers: Sean Lynch; (0-7, 4f 2 65s); Jack Corry (1-0); Luke O’Halloran (0-2); Dara Casey (0-2); Luke Keogh (0-1); Callum Phelan (0-1).
Ruan:
1: Keelan Mounsey
2: Patrick O’Gorman
3: Tom O’Halloran
4: Jason Power
17: Darragh McInerney
6: Shane Punch
7: Conor Wynne
8: Colm Rice
9: Ashley Brohan
10: Piaras O’Sé
11: Ryan Power
12: Patrick O’Halloran
13: Robin Mounsey
14: Aidan Lynch
15: Frankie Lyons
Substitutes:
18: Jack McDonagh for Ryan Power (53’)
19: Alan Woodford for Patrick O’Halloran (57’)
20: Christian Cummins for Darragh McInerney (62’)
Sixmilebridge:
1: Mark Sheedy
2: Adam Breen
3: Aidan Quilligan
4: Cillian Custy ©
5: Dara Fitzgerald
6: Christopher Carey
18: Fionn Hayes
8: Cathaoir Agnew
21: Ronan Touhy
10: Luke O’Halloran
11: Luke Keogh
12: Adam Murray
13: Jack Corry
14: Sean Lynch
15: Dara Casey
Substitutes:
9: Oisin Breen for Cillian Custy (HT)
7: Seamus O’Connell for Adam Murray (HT)
17: Christy Griffin for Luke Keogh (39’)
20: Callum Phelan for Cathaoir Agnew (43’ Temp)
20: Callum Phelan for Fionn Hayes (45’)
22: Michael Carey for Luke O’Halloran (51’)
Referee: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)
