*David McInerney shrugs off the challenge of Mark Barry. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
TULLA’s absence from the quarter-finals of the Clare IHC is the major surprise following the third round of action played this weekend.
Losses to Parteen/Meelick and Whitegate in their opening two games meant that they had to beat Inagh/Kilnamona on Saturday in Clarecastle to have any chance of getting through.
They duly beat the Mid Clare outfit but Whitegate’s victory over Parteen/Meelick meant that their race was run as far as championship success this year goes.
Their focus now switches to a play-off which they must win if they are to be in the new premier intermediate championship next season.
It’s a similar situation for their opponents Smith O’Briens whose followers had hoped to see the Killaloe side get through to the championship quarter final. They finished in third spot and, like Tulla, now face a play off in search of a premier grade place for next season.
#ClareIHC quarter-finals: @ClarecastleGAA v @TubberGaa @wtnsgaa v @GAAParteen @whitegategaa v @killanenagaa @SMBGAA v @RuanGaa #GAA
— Páraic McMahon (@thepmanofficial) September 9, 2024
Otherwise the group stage in this championship has gone as expected and competition favourites Wolfe Tones, Sixmilebridge and Clarecastle have topped their respective groups
Magpies march on but will need to improve
Clarecastle 1-20
Smith O’Briens 0-18
Venue: Cratloe
Clarecastle have justified favouritism and gone through their group unbeaten but they will have to show a big improvement on the form they displayed in beating Smith O’Briens at Cratloe on Saturday if they are to go on to the latter stages of the competition.
A contribution of 0-10 from full forward Oisin Casey played a big part in their latest victory. They led by six at half time when the score was 0-13 to 0-7.
With a quarter final place in their sights Smith O’Briens battled strongly throughout the second half and the closed the gap but a goal from substitute Josh Brack helped the magpies to go on and seal victory and top spot in the group.
On the credit side for the winners, ten players shared in their final tally on a day when Oisin Casey, Killian McDermott and Cian Galvin did well while goalkeeper Cian Broderick caused a lot of problems for Smith O’Briens with his long puckouts.
Stephen Geraghty, David and Mike Gough, Mark O’Halloran and substitute Jason Monaghan who contributed 0-6 did well for the Killaloe side.
Clarecastle: Cian Broderick; Ronan Donnelly, Eoghan Wallace, Filip Wiechinski; Aaron Hayes, Cian Galvin (0-2), Stephen O’Halloran (0-1); Oisin Whelan (0-1) Killian McDermott (0-1); Conor Halpin (0-1), Rory O’Connell, Darragh Healy (0-1); Oisin Whelan (0-1), Oisin Casey (0-10), Jack Hayes (0-2);
Subs; Colin Brigdale for O Whelan; David Tuohy for C. Whelan; Josh Back (1-0) for R. O’Connell
Smith O’Briens; James Power; Dara Nolan, Stephen Geraghty, Colin Balfe; Dwayne Sheedy (0-1), David Gough (0-2), Sean McMahon (0-1); Mikey Gough (0-4), Eoin Heffron; Micheal Ryan (0-1), Marc O’Halloran (0-1), Diarmuid Coleman; David O’Shea (0-1), Shane Geraghty, Eddie Burke (0-1);
Subs: Jason Monahan (0-6) for D. Nolan; Nolan for Balfe;
Referee: Andy McMahon (Cratloe)
Comfortable win for Ruan
Ruan 6-17
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 0-12
Venue: Crusheen
Inter county man Robin Mounsey contributed 3-5 as Ruan sealed their place in the quarter finals of the TUS intermediate hurling championship with this comfortable win over neighbours St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield at Crusheen on Saturday
The winners had built up a nine point led by half time when the score was 2-8 to 0-5.
They dominated the second half and they had the points secured long before the final whistle. On a day when nine payers shared in their impressive final tally.
In contrast St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield had just two scorers on the day, corner forward Barry Millane leading the way with all but a point of their final tally to his credit.
Having finished bottom of the group, St. Josephs will compete in the regular intermediate grade next season while Ruan can now look forward to a quarter final clash against Sixmilebridge.
Ruan: Keelan Mounsey; Patrick O’Gorman (0-1), Tom O’Halloran, Jason Power; Darragh McInerney, Shane Punch (0-1), Conor Wynne; Colm Rice, Ashley Brohan; Piaras O’Shea (0-1), Ryan Power (1-2), Patrick O’Halloran; Robin Mounsey (3-5), Aidan Lynch (0-5), Fankie Lyons (2-1)
Subs: Christian Cummins for C.Wynne (inj); Jack Mc Donagh (0-1) for A. Lynch; Alan Woodford for O’Sé; O’Sé for Punch
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Conor Nash; Charlie Hannan, Darragh O’Callaghan, Peter Collins; Paddy Nagle, Kevin Dilleen, Fionn Mulqueen; Padraic Geraghty (0-1), Sean O’Connell; Conor Murphy, Jack Dillon, Eoin Talty; Cian Moloney, Eoin Burke, Barry Millane (0-11)
Subs: Niall Talty for Dilleen; Cormac Maher for Murphy; Emmett Whelan for Burke; Conor Hassett for Collins; Matthew Power for Mulqueen
Referee: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)
Tubber come up trumps against The Blues
Tubber 1-20
Newmarket-on-Fergus 0-17
Venue: Páirc Finne, Corofin
By Páraic McMahon
Tubber secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Clare IHC after eventually shaking off the challenge of Newmarket-on-Fergus on Saturday afternoon.
Fresh from the disappointment of watching the club’s first team exit the senior championship, Newmarket-on-Fergus’ intermediates delivered a strong start but it was one which they couldn’t sustain and was ultimately derailed when Tubber struck for goal to undo the early positive work from the Blues.
Indeed Tubber could have raised more than one green flag over the hour had it not been for Adam Enright between the posts for Newmarket-on-Fergus, he made four excellent saves over the hour to deny certain goals for the winners.
A bright start from the Blues saw them register five points within the first eight minutes. This was fuelling a sense of panic among the Tubber charges but they slowly settled, aided by hitting 1-2 over a three minute spell. Osgar Dunford struck for the major to give them the lead for the first time.
Sol Frost and James Howard swapped points before two long range frees from James McInerney and an effort from closer range by James Liddy saw the lead return to the Blues. Tubber struck for two points in succession via Ronan Monahan and Dunford before Liddy closed out the scoring in the half to keep the sides on level terms, two saves from Enright in the closing moments serving as a relief for Newmarket.
Although it was Malachy Noonan who converted the first score of the half to see Newmarket go back in front by the minimum, once they lost the advantage in the third quarter they failed to regain it.
Crucially Tubber kicked on with five points on the bounce to take a four point lead by the thirty seventh minute. From here on in, four was as close as the challengers could get to the fancied Tubber outfit who went on to record a six point win as tiring bodies became more prevalent within the Blues ranks.
All the Earleys, Blaine, Clive and Mark caused problems while Pappy Taaffe was solid at full-back with Osgar Dunford racking up a tally of 1-3. A considerable improvement will be needed if Tubber are to challenge Clarecastle in the quarter-finals.
Focus now switches to a play-off versus Bodyke for The Blues, a win is within their reach and would see them compete in the Premier Intermediate championship next season which is where the club should be striving to have their second team. For Neil Ryan’s charges, Adam Enright pulled off vital saves and was sharp with his distribution while the availability of James McInerney was a surprise seeing as he received no championship minutes for the seniors but once again did well in defence as did Cathal Cullinan at midfield.
Scorers Tubber: O Dunford (1-3), B Earley (0-6 4f 1’65), M Earley (0-4), J Clancy (0-2), D McMahon (0-1), J Howard (0-1), R Monahan (0-1), C Earley (0-1), D O’Connor (0-1),
Scorers Newmarket-on-Fergus: M Noonan (0-5 2’65 1f), J McInerney (0-4 3f), J Liddy (0-3), C Foley (0-2), A Moroney (0-1), S Frost (0-1), C Cullinan (0-1)
Tubber: Ronan Taaffe; Darragh O’Connor, Pappy Taaffe, Emmet Quinn; Domhnall McMahon, Pat O’Connor, James Howard; Ronan Monahan, Liam Clancy; Cathal Droney, Lorcan O’Grady, Osgar Dunford; Blaine Earley, Mark Earley, Clive Earley.
Subs: Joe Clancy for L Clancy (28).
Newmarket-on-Fergus: Adam Enright; Dylan Crowe, Alan O’Flanagan, Ronan O’Rourke; Eoghan McInerney, David Frost, James McInerney; Cathal Cullinan, Sol Frost; Cian Foley, Darragh Jones, Aaron Moroney; Malachy Noonan, Cathal Hayes, James Liddy.
Subs: Jamie Power for S Frost (38), Feidhlim Barry for Hayes (43), Alan McInerney for Moroney (47), John Hogan for Jones (51).
Referee: Niall Malone (Éire Óg)
Last year’s finalists Bridge march on
Sixmilebridge 2-21
Ogonnelloe 4-13
Venue: Glenomra Park, Broadford
Beaten finalists last year, Sixmilebridge have completed their group games with a 100% record but they had to pull out all the stops to emerge with their latest victory.
This was a ‘dead rubber’ in that both sides knew their fate ahead of the game. The ‘Bridge already had secured top spot while Ogonnelloe knew they were bottom of the group but that didn’t prevent them from turning in, arguably, their best display of the campaign and they would not have been flattered had they got something from this tie.
Sixmilebridge were forced to make some late changes to their line up as both Matthew O’Halloran and Alan Mulready had been promoted to the club’s senior side on the previous evening which meant they no longer are available for this grade.
In addition they lost midfielder Dylan Downes during this game with a serious leg injury and early reports are that he will be out of hurling for the remainder of the year.
Goals from Sean Lynch and Jack Corry had the winners 2-13 to 2-8 in front at half time.
The East Clare side continued to close the gap in the second period and they had the margin down to the minimum in the losing stages. They had a chance to level but the free wasn’t converted. Rory Skelly top scored for Ogonnelloe with 3-3
Sixmilebridge; Mark Sheedy; Seamie O’Connell, Adam Breen, Fionn Hayes (0-2); Dara Fitzgerald, Christopher Carey, Christy Griffin; Cathaoir Agnew (0-1), Dylan Downes (0-2); Luke O’Halloran (0-3), Luke Keogh (0-1), Adam Murray (0-2); Jack Corry (1-1) Sean Lynch (1-8, 0–5f), Darragh Casey (0-1);
Sub: Oisin Breen for Downes (inj)
Ogonnelloe: Rob Dreelan; Adam Sheedy, Barry Kiely, Thomas Condon; Brian O’Mara, Gearoid Sheedy (0-3), Adam Cunnane; Aaron Fitzgerald-Bradley, Paul McGee; Donnacha McNulty (1-0), Rory Skelly (3-3), Fergal Collins; Henry Vaughan (0-3), Cian Fitzgerald Bradley (0-3), Mici Sheedy;
Subs: Dan Cunnane for F. Collins; Colin Hart (0-1) for Condon; Noah Sheedy for A. Cunnane
Referee: Fearghal Gray (Feakle)
O’Rourke leads the way again
Wolfe Tones 5-21
Bodyke 1-7
Venue: Hamilton Park, Kilkishen
A strong start which saw them open a ten point lead by the end of the first quarter laid the foundation for Wolfe Tones as they progressed to the quarter final of the intermediate championship when overcoming Bodyke.
The victory, their third in as many outings, sees them go through to the last eight as group winners. They will face Parteen/Meelick in the last eight tie.
Cian O’Rourke continued his impressive form when top scoring with 3-6 to his name in this tie on an evening when the Shannon outfit were well on their way to victory by the halfway stage when they led 4-10 to 1-4.
In fairness to Bodyke they were forced to line out without some players who would normally be in the team due to injury. Their cause was further weakened early in the second half when centre back Sean Wiley saw red.
With O’Rourke, Aaron Cunningham and Aron Shanagher impressing up front the winners continued to dominate and ran out comfortable and deserving winners.
Wolfe Tones; Oisin O’Rourke; Conor Ferns, Daithi Lohan, Liam Murphy; Rory Hayes, John Guilfoyle, Dylan Frawley; Darragh Lohan (0-1), Dean Devanney (0-2); Sean Costello (0-1), Evan O’Gorman, Colin Riordan (0-2); Cian O’Rourke (3-8), Aaron Cunningham (1-2), Aron Shanagher (1-1);
Subs: Mikey Hayes for C.Ferns; Conor Carigg for A Cunninghm; Shane Nihill for L. Murphy; Sam Meaney for R. Hayes; Jack Cunningham (0-4) for O’Gorman
Bodyke: Cormac Doyle; Tadhg Kilkenny, Tiernan Slattery, Eanna Doyle; Michael O’Brien, Sean Wiley, Peter Flower; Thomas Wiley, Jamie O’Donnell; Keith Moloney, Seanie Doyle (0-5), Cathal McKenna; Tomas Minogue, Paddy Fitzgerald (0-1), Jamie Howard (1-1)
Sub: Ian Murray (0-1) for J. O’Donnell (inj)
Referee; Kieran Liddane, Sixmilebridge
Killanena seal quarter-final spot
Killanena 5-23
Broadford 2-11
Venue: Whitegate
A comfortable win over Broadford at Whitegate on Friday evening has earned Killanena a place in the quarter finals of the intermediate hurling championship.
Having being involved in the relegation battle for the past couple of seasons, progressing to the knock out stage is a big step forward for Killanena whose victory on Friday has guaranteed the club premier intermediate status for the coming season.
They took control from the outset and early goals gave them a lead they held throughout. They were ten points in front at half time when the score was 4-10 to 2-6 and they continued to hold the upperhand throughout the second half.
Killanena went into this game without the injured Mark Flaherty who suffered an injury in their game against Wolfe Tones in round 2.
Two goals each from Keith Smyth and Gearoid Keane and one from Tobias O’Mara kept the winners in front throughout. Lining out at full forward, Smyth caused a lot of problems for Broadford while others to impress were Ronan Keane, Ian Macnamara and Cathal Noonan.
Broadford were short a number of regulars due to injury. Jack Dillon and James Tuite were their goal scorers on an evening when they had to give best to their opponents
Killanena: Colm Moloney (0-1); Ryan Keane, Cathal Noonan, Jason Keehan; Donal Moloney, Ian Macnamara (0-1), Ronan Keane (0-4); Micheal Smyth, Padraig O’Callaghan; Seamie O’Donnell (0-2), Shane Broderick, Tobias O’Mara (1-5); Gearoid Keane (1-2), Keith Smyth (2-7, 0-4f), Darren Keehan (1-1).
Subs: James Green for M. Smyth; Aidan McMahon for O’Callaghan; Seamus Keane for G. Keane; Jamie Canny for Ryan Keane
Broadford: Roy Duffy; TJ Dillon, Mark Gunning, Cathal O’Sullivan; Noah Corbett, James Gunning, Sam Cooper; James Tuite (1-0), Jack O’Brien (0-1); Paul Moloney, Jack Ward Murphy (0-2); Denis Fahy; Padraig Hickey (0-1), Jack Dillon (1-5), Diarmuid Whelan (0-2)
Subs: Michael Hogan for O’Sullivan’ Gearoid Vaughan for D. Fahy; Fahy for P.Moloney (inj)
Referee: Joe Mullins (Clonlara)
Tulla’s win not enough to keep them in the race
Tulla 2-19
Inagh/Kilnamona 1-14
Venue: Clarecastle
Tulla went into this game at Clarecastle knowing that a win was a must but they would also need Parteen/Meelick to beat Whitegate.
A strong opening to the second half helped Tulla to their first win of the campaign but Whitegate’s victory over Parteen/Meelick means that Tulla did not make it to the quarter finals. Instead they find themselves in a play-off which they must win if they’re to be in the premier intermediate championship next season.
The first half was a somewhat tame affair which ended on level terms, Tulla with 1-7 to Inagh-Kilnamona’s 0-10. Darragh Corry applied the finish for his side’s first half goal.
Strong words must have been uttered in the Tulla dressing room at the interval as they returned with much more urgency. An early second half goal from Andrew Conheady and a string of points from play and frees from Sean Withycombe saw them open a lead they held to the finish.
Inagh/Kilnamona battled to the end but their goal, finished by Ricky Wynne, came too late to prevent Tulla from, winning.
Tulla: Dan Vaughan; Feargal Kearney, Paul Lynch, Fionn Ryan; Padraic Mulconroy; David McInerney, Jimmy O’Gorman; Ronan Molloy (0-2) Eanna Culloo; Mark Lynch, Dan Withycombe, Colin Corbett; Andrew Conheady (1-2), Darragh Corry (1-1), Sean Withycombe (0-10, 7f);
Subs; William Halpin (0-1) for Corbett; Niall Bolton (0-2) for D. Withycombe; Emmett Mulcahy for M. Lynch; Colm McInerney for Conheady; Michael Ryan for S Withycombe;
Inagh/Kilnamona; Patrick Kelly; Padraig Devitt, James Cullinan, Jamie Wynne; Shane McInerney (0-1), Ricky Wynne (1-0), Neil Hegarty; Mark Barry, Keith Barry (0-4 4f) Gerry Coote, Mark Callinan (0-1), Paul O’Looney (0-1); Cathal Ryan (0-1), Thomas Barry (0-6, 5f), Jack Cullinan.
Sub: Liam Hehir for J. Wynne; Darren Lynch for M. Barry; Darragh Power for M. Callinan; Colm Kearney for T. Barry
Referee: Pat Healy (Kilmaley)
Whitegate win pushes them into quarter-finals
Whitegate 1-21
Parteen/Meelick 1-16
Venue: The Evicted, Bodyke
Having suffered defeat in their opening game, Whitegate have bounced back strongly and their win over Parteen/Meelick on Saturday has earned them top place in the group and a quarter final spot in the title race.
The East Clare side laid down a marker from the outset in this tie and they held a six point advantage at half time when the score was 1-10 to 0-7, their goal coming from Ronan Hayes
While their South Clare opponents, favourites to win this tie in the view of many people, closed the gap, helped by a goal from Rory McDermott, they failed to draw level and Whitegate finished strongly to deservingly record the victory.
Conor Whelan op scored for the East Clare men with 0-8 to his credit, 0-5 coming from placed balls.
Eight players shared in the team’s tally of 1-21 while seven players shared in the Parteen-Meelick final tally.
Whitegate; Andrew Fahey; Ciaran Quinn, Brendan Bugler, Dylan White; Colm Madden (0-1), Mikey Bogenberger, Ian Fahy; Conor Whelan (0-8), Conor McDermott (0-1); Liam Murray, Finn Madden (0-2), Michael Heffernan (0-1); Paddy Burke (0-3), Ronan Hayes (1-1), Danny Hynes (0-4);
Sub: Cian McDermott for C. Madden
Parteen/Meelick: Alan Murnane; Donal Kenny Damian Moloney, Sean Connolly; Evan Higgins, Darragh McDermott (0-2), Shane Fox; Tom Collins, Nathan Fox; Joe O’Connor (0-5), Daniel Cooney (0-2), Dara Nolan (0-1); Rory McDermott (1-0), Jack Kirwan (0-5), Oisin Hickey (0-1).
Subs; Michael McEvoy for Collins; Peter Small for O Hickey
Referee: Ger Hoey (Killanena)
