Tubber claim Division 2 honours

*Tubber’s Ronan Monahan. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography

Tubber’s intermediate hurlers ended a ten year spell without silverware when they defeated Parteen in a high scoring division 2 hurling league final at Clarecastle on Tuesday evening.

Tubber 1-21
Parteen 4-10
Venue: Clarecastle

Inspired by a ten point haul from play from Ronan Monahan, the North Clare side deservingly took the honours, managed by a man who played all of his hurling with the opposition.

Ivan Conway was a star performer with Parteen for many years before the now Tubber resident took on the role of manager with Tubber this season.

Acknowledging that it was a difficult position to be in he said, “we are both promoted to Division 1B for next season which can only help both clubs and we can bxoth now look forward to the upcoming championship”.

The winners led for the majority of this tie but Parteen were never far behind and when they struck for their fourth goal in the seventh of nine added minutes, it levelled the tie and Tubber followers were clearly concerned. Evan Fitzgerald drilled a 20m free to the net to level the game and extra time looked certain.

Incidentally Fitzgerald and Joe O’Connor with two each were the goalscorers for the South Clare side on the evening.

However points from Clive and Blaine Earley saw them finish strongly to claim the title on an evening when Clive Earley was their goalscorer.

After the game Clare GAA chairman Kieran Keating presented the trophy to the winning captain Joey Droney.

All in all it was a great evening for the winners whose under 5, under 7 and under 9 boys and girls played Parteen in a mini game at half time.

Tubber will be hoping it is the first of their successes this year as a keenly contested Clare IHC is expected with the competition expected to become more difficult next year once the relegation from the senior grade is determined.

Tubber; Ronan Taaffe; Joey Droney, James Howard, Mark Earley; Pappy Taaffe, Fergal O’Grady, James Taaffe; Jonah Culligan, Cathal Droney; Ronan Monahan, Aidan McNamara, Lorcan O’Grady; Senan Dunford, Clive Earley, Blain Earley;

Subs; Domhnall McMahon for McNamara; Liam Clancy for Culligan; Aidan Forde for L.O’Grady..

Parteen; James Fox; David O’Sullivan, Phil Lavin, Evan Higgins; Kevin McGleenon, Nathan Fox, Damian Moloney; Darragh McDermott, Jack Kirwan; Shane Fox, Evan Fitzgerald, Joe O’Connor; Eoin Phelan, Gearoid Reddy, Daniel Cooney;

Subs: Martin Moroney for Phelan; Tom Collins for O’Sullivan; Sean Connolly for Reddy; Gavin Rackard for S. Fox

Referee: Kevin Corry (Sixmilebridge)