*Scariff celebrated Division 2 glory in Cusack Park.
Scariff National School’s first Division 2 Hurling title in 35 years was the highlight of the opening day of the Cumann na mBunscol an Chláir Camogie and Hurling Finals in Cusack Park on Wednesday afternoon.
Led by outstanding duo Charlie Collins and Gearoid Madden, an injury-time equalising goal through Daniel Madden ensured a 1-3 to 1-3 stalemate with Knockanean by half-time before upping the ante with a further brace of decisive third quarter majors.
A second Madden goal was immediately followed by one for talisman Collins as Scariff soared 3-3 to 1-4 clear, with that clinical edge in front of the posts magnified by a superb goalkeeping display by goalkeeper Rory O’Brien to keep a Cathal Ryan-inspired Knockanean at bay with three first half stops.
He did make the breakthrough in the 20th minute but it was cancelled out by Scariff before the break, with the East Clare side kicking on in the second period to finally garner a 3-6 to 1-5 victory.
It was a case of Division 3 Hurling Final redemption for Ruan/Toonagh who led by a remarkable scoring display from Max Sheehan bounced back from last year’s decider defeat to see off Crusheen by 2-7 to 0-2.
Accounting for all of his side’s tally, Sheehan was clearly the dominant force, aided greatly by a brilliant goalkeeping performance from Liam Clancy who repeatedly frustrated Oisin Collins’ Crusheen while captain Tomás Barry and Danny Griffin were others to shine for the winners.
In the camogie equivalent, Barefield National School began the day in impressive fashion when leading from start to finish to prevail over Clonmoney National School by 4-9 to 2-2.
The attacking triumvirate of Laoise Moore, Sarah Brodie and Aoibhin Daly provided too much firepower for Clonmoney who despite a brace of goals of their own for Caoilinn Earley and an eye-catching display from Emma Jones simply couldn’t make up the ground.
A Brodie goal just before the break provided a 1-7 to 0-1 interval lead before a second half hat-trick of Laoise Moore goals put paid to any potential backlash.
All was not lost for Clonmoney though whose persistence paid full dividends when making amends for last year’s Division 4 Hurling Final reverse with a commanding 4-12 to 1-5 victory over Bodyke/Tuamgraney.
First half goals from the excellent Jones’, captain Rory and Gavin along with one through Matthew Murphy secured a 3-5 to 0-2 interval cushion. Brian Minogue did rifle a free to the net on the restart to provide a glimmer of hope to the East Clare side.
However, there would be no let up for a determined Clonmoney as Rory Jones’ influence allied to a fourth goal from Rian O’Connor cemented their first Division 4 triumph.
An injury-time strike from the inspirational Grace Cusack finally clinched a historic first Division 4 Camogie success for Killlaloe following an epic final encounter with Lakyle/Iniscealtra.
With the side’s deadlocked for the third time by the final water break, Cusack, who had excelled at the back throughout, was catapulted into the forward line for the final quarter. And it would prove a masterstroke as she raided for 1-2 including that late, late winning goal to inch over the line by 3-4 to 2-3.
Goalkeeper Teegan Muldoon, Mya Leyden and Lucy Ryan were others to star for the winners while despite a superb display of resilience from Zara McDermott and goals through Millie `Considine and Clara Gibbons, Lakyle/Iniscealtra would just come up agonisingly short.
The best was saved for last on Wednesday though as a nine goal thriller between Feakle and St Senan’s Shannon finally went the former’s way to edge matters by 5-8 to 4-1.
Lucy Watson’s four goal haul was amazingly surpassed by Feakle captain Sinead O’Grady who grabbed 3-6 of her side’s total to get them over the line. Eve Moloney (1-2), Eve McMahon (1-0) and the defensive work of Orla Cusack also stood out for the East Clare side while captain Ciara Heffernan and Abbie Keane excelled for St Senan’s.
