*Seán O’Loughlin takes on Oisin Clune. Photograph: Ruth Griffin
TWO WINS from as many outings have moved Kilmaley to top spot in Group 2 of the Clare SHC.
Kilmaley 0-22
Feakle 0-21
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
Kilmaley are the only unbeaten side in Group 2 of the TUS Senior Hurling Championships after an entertaining battle with Feakle at Cusack Park.
Feakle manager Ger Conway knew after the game that the neutrals had witnessed a cracker, but no manager every chose an entertainment over points on the board.
Conor Cleary was a late addition to the starting line-up and settled himself in the full-forward spot for the second game in a row. Conn Smyth was assigned to Clare’s All-Ireland winning full-back and marshalled him well. The assignment also freed up Feakle’s number three Evan McMahon to get on more ball and he was credited with two assists in the first half as well as making some key interventions with his defensive duties.
Both sides had goal chances in the first ten minutes. Eibhear Quilligan had to deflect a shot over Feakle’s bar when James McGuire tested him from distance. At the other end Eoin Touhy played in Oisin O’Connor who zipped the pass across goal but Raymond Bane couldn’t pull on it and the chance was gone.
It was Kilmaley wing-back Colin McGuane who caught the eye in the early exchanges however, popping up as the extra man on two occasions to give his side their first lead.
Both freetakers had big days out. Feakle started as per programme and the whole team took great confidence with how well Shane McGrath settled into the game. Michael O’Malley hit some early wides but soon got his eye in and finished Kilmaley’s top scorer with nine points.
The sides were level on eight occasions during the first half but Kilmaley pulled clear with back to back points from Michael O’Malley. One of them was a 65 after Sean O’Loughlin looked to have outpaced Feakle’s Oisín Clune for a shot on goal. The corner back got the hook in at the right time and despite Feakle going 10 minutes a score, Shane McGrath got the last point of the half to leave them trailing 0-11 to 0-10.
Shane McGrath continued his form into the second half and Feakle were three points clear within ten minutes of the restart. Feakle had the wind advantage too and Eibhear Quilligan was landing ball into the full-forward line. But it wasn’t working. It hadn’t worked for Kilmaley either with Conor Cleary in the first half and they looked comfortable defending it.
The introduction of Colm Killeen saw Kilmaley draw level on forty five minutes and it was fitting that Michael O’Malley put his side in front with the next score. He was brimming with confidence.
On the other hand, the chances were drying up for Feakle. They only scored twice from play in the second half. Conor Cleary thought he’d touched one to the net and the ensuing dispute saw things get fired up for the last ten minutes.
Killeen pointed again to put two points between the sides as the announcement for three minutes of added time came over the public address. It was time for Feakle to create a goal opportunity and it came on sixty one minutes. Oisin O’Connor fed Owen McGann to pull the trigger only for Kilmaley keeper Bryan O’Loughlin’s speed and bravery off the line to save a certain goal.
Shane McGrath knocked over the 65 and there was one chance left to level it. Ronan O’Connor had a pass option to his right but took on the responsibility to take it himself. Had it gone over, you’d have said a draw was a fair result. When it went wide, it felt like Kilmaley had done enough to shade it.
Feakle’s final outing in Group 2 is against Corofin. Kilmaley will face Cratloe with four points on the board.
Kilmaley Scorers: M O’Malley (0-11 7f 1 65), J McGuire (0-3), C McGuane (0-2), C Killeen (0-2), T O’Rourke (0-1), S O’Loughlin (0-1), S Kennedy (0-1), C Cleary (0-1).
Feakle Scorers: S McGrath (0-15 8f 2 65) O’Connor (0-1) O Donnelan (0-1), P Daly (0-1), R O’Connor (0-2) M Daly (0-1)
Kilmaley:
1: Bryan O’Loughlin
2: Martin O’Connor
3: Aaron Moloney
4: Joe Casey
5: Aidan McGuane
6: Daire Keane (c)
7: Colin McGuane
8: Tommy Barry
9: Sean Kennedy
23: Brian McNamara
11: Michael O’Malley
12: Tom O’Rourke
13: Sean O’Loughlin
17: Conor Cleary
14: James McGuire
Subs:
10: Colm Killeen for T O’Rourke (41’)
19: Brian Cahill for M O’Connor (47’)
15: Joe Carmody for J McGuire (53’)
18: Cian Neylon for S Kennedy (57’)
27: Daniel Walsh for C McGuane (63’)
Feakle:
1: Éibhear Quilligan
2: Killian Bane
3: Evan McMahon
4: Oisín Clune
5: Adam Hogan
6: Conn Smyth
7: Ronan O’Connor
8: Shane McGrath
9: Eoin Touhy
10: Oisín Donnellan
11: Enda Noonan
12: Martin Daly
13: Patrick Daly
14: Raymond Bane
15: Oisín O’Connor
Subs:
17: Eoghan Daly for E Noonan (41’)
20: Fiachra Donnellan for R Bane (53’)
21: Owen McGann for P Daly (53’)
Referee: Fergal O’Brien (Broadford)
