*Patrick Crotty strikes to put Scariff in front. Photograph: Ruth Griffin
SCARIFF sealed their place in the quarter finals of the TUS Clare senior hurling championship but not before they were given a stern test by neighbours O’Callaghans Mills who were already consigned to the relegation battle before this tie.
Scariff 1-19
O’Callaghans Mills 1-17
Venue: Dr Daly Park, Tulla
The Mills made the running and dictated matters for much of this tie and it took two goal line clearances from Scariff in the closing stages to deny their neighbours a goal.
Both sides were forced into late changes with Scariff losing their captain Mark Rodgers to injury while amongst the absentees for the Mills was Colm Cleary who is currently overseas due to his college studies.
Points were exchanged three times in the opening seven minutes before the Mills struck for a goal from Cormac Murphy after great work by the very impressive Sean Boyce.
They followed with three unanswered points, two from Boyce and one from goalkeeper Killian Nugent on their way to a half time lead of 1-11 to 0-8 having played with the aid of the breeze in the opening half.
Ten minutes into the second half the Mills had extended their lead to seven points having added 0-4 to their half time tally.
Scariff then hit 0-3 without reply and entering the final quarter the margin was down to five points. Three in a row from Scariff left two between the sides as the game entered the final ten minutes.
Patrick Crotty had come more into the game at this stage and he struck for his side’s goal to give them the lead for the first time.
The Mills piled on the pressure and it took a great save by William Kavanagh from Boyce along with a goal line save by Daniel Treacy from Fionn Hickey to deny the Mills a goal in the closing minutes.
Michael Scanlan, Diarmaid Nash, Keelan Hartigan, Eanna O’Brien and Patrick Crotty in the final quarter in particular, made valuable contributions for the winners.
Conor Cooney, Parick Donnellan, Aidan Fawl, Aidan O’Gorman and the outstanding Sean Boyce were to the fore for O’Callaghans Mills.
Scorers Scariff: Eanna O’Brien (0-10, 8f), Patrick Crorty (1-3); Keelan Hartigan (0-3); Shane Kavanagh (0-2, 1f), Patrick Ryan (0-1).
Scorers O’Callaghans Mills: Seanie Boyce (0-7, 6f); Cormac Murphy (1-1); Sean O’Gorman (0-3), Darragh Moroney (0-2); Killian Nugent (free), Aidan O’Gorman, Fionn Hickey Aidan Fawl (0-1) each
Scariff:
1: William Kavanagh
2: Seamus McCaul
3: Michael Scanlan
4: Scott Cairns;
5: Daniel Treacy
6: Diarmaid Nash
7: Shane Kavanagh
8: Keelan Hartigan
9: Conor Downes
10: Liam Crotty
11: Patrick Crotty
12: Michael Barrett
13: Patrick Ryan
20: Ben Sweeney
15: Eanna O’Brien
Subs:
21: Tomas McNamara for Sweeney (45)
17: Jack Ryan for Downes (60)
O’Callaghans Mills;
1: Killian Nugent
2: Gerry Cooney
4: Keith Donnellan
19: Michael Cotter;
21: Michael McGrath
3: Conor Cooney
7: Pat Donnellan;
6: Aidan O’Gorman
9: Stephen Donnellan;
14: Sean Cotter
11: Aidan Fawl
12: Darragh Moroney
8: Cormac Murphy
18: Sean O’Gorman
15: Seanie Boyce
Subs:
23: Mark Pewter for S. O’Gorman (42)
10: Fionn Hickey for S. Donnellan (44)
5: Eoin McInerney for M McGrath (57)
20: Mikey McMahon for S. Cotter (57) (inj)
Referee: Gus Callaghan (Feakle)
