*Whitegate’s Ian Fahy. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
WHITEGATE and Corofin handed out 28 and 24 point respective beatings in the opening round of the Clare IHC which also saw Inagh/Kilnamona, Smith O’Briens and Sixmilebridge record victories.
The race for the intermediate hurling championship title got underway on Friday evening and continued throughout Saturday and Sunday with some lively contests.
Tulla put in a strong second half showing to earn a share of the spoils with Tubber, levelling the game with a point in the final minute.
Another team to put in a strong second half showing was Sixmilebridge who found themselves five points behind at the interval in their clash with neighbours Newmarket-on-Fergus.
There were big wins for Whitegte and Corofin on Sunday when they accounted for St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield and O’Callaghans Mills respectively while Inagh/Kilnamona turned in a strong seco nd half showing to get past Ogonnelloe.
Substitute Keith strikes for vital goal
Smith O’Briens 1-16
Killanena 1-12
Venue: Glenomra Park, Broadford
Smith O’Briens took the first step in what they hope will lead them back to senior ranks when they accounted for Killanena in a well contested intermediate hurling championship first round tie at Broadford on Friday evening.
The victory was achieved despite the fact that they played most of the game with fourteen men after Eoin Power saw red after just five minutes
There was little between the sides throughout with the Killaloe side holding a two point advantage at the interval when the score was 0-7 to 0-5.
Killanena fought back strongly in the third quarter and levelled he tie at 0-10 each before edging into two point lead.
Smith O’Briens hit a purple patch during which impressive substitute Keith Stritch struck for their goal.
David Gough’s accuracy from frees played a key part in Smith O’Briens’ victory as he converted ten on the evening
Clare senior panellist, Keith Smyth top scored for Killanena finishing with 1-6 to his credit, the goal coming late in the game.
For the winners who were without Cian Moloney due to an injury he suffered in training earlier in the week, the Gough cousins, Marc O’Halloran, Cian Nolan and substitute Keith Stritch did well.
Smith O’Briens; Mark McInerney; Dwayne Sheedy, Cian Nolan, Ben Murnane; Marc O’Halloran, Cathal Stritch, Sean McMahon; Eddie Bourke, Mike Gough; David Gough, Jason Monaghan, John Cusack; Eoin Heffron, Shane Geraghty, Eoin Power;
Subs: Keith Stritch for Geraghty; Patrick Aherne for Monahan
Killanena: Todd Kelsey; Jamie Canny, Cathal Noonan, Aidan McMahon; Jason Keehan, Donal Moloney Dara McNamara; Darren Keehan, Micheál Smyth; Ian Macnamara, Keith Smyth, Tobias O’Mara; Stevie O’Brien, Shane Broderick Seamie O’Donnell.
Sub: Gearoid Keane for O’Brien
Referee; Kevin Corry (Sixmilebridge)
Tulla finish strong to earn a share of the spoils
Tubber 2-14
Tulla 1-17
Venue: Gurteen
When Tubber led by eight points at half time in this tie at Gurteen, they looked to be heading for victory over Tulla but Jim McInerney’s outfit fought back strongly and levelled when Ronan Molloy converted a free in the final minute.
First half goals from the Earley brothers, Blaine and Clive had Tubber in a strong position at half time when the score was 2-9 to 0-7.
Tulla needed a strong response and four points in as many minutes after play resumed signalled their determination.
Management made a number of changes at the break and these all brought about an improvement and helped Tulla get the upperhand.
A Daragh Corry goal closed the gap further on a day when Tony Leyden at centre back, Fergal Kearney when he moved to full back, David McInerney, Willie Halpin in the second half and Corry made valuable contributions.
Tubber; Ronan Taaffe; Emmet Quinn, Pappy Taaffe, Joey Droney; Mark Earley, Pat O’Connor, Cathal Droney; James Howard, John Fawle; Aidan MxNamara, Blain Earley, Lorcan O’Grady; Domhnaill McMahon, Ronan , Clive Earley;
Subs; Fergal O’Grady for Fawle ; Jonah Culligan for McNamara
Tulla; Daniel Vaughan; Kevin Conlon, Paul Lynch, Dara Ryan; Fergal Kearney, Tony Leyden, Padraig Mulconroy; David Meehan, Ronan Molloy; Willie Halpin, David McInerney, Jimmy Gorman; Sean Withycombe, Darragh Corry, Dan Withycombe;
Subs: Fionn Ryan for Lynch; Conor Murphy for Conlon; Michael Ryan for D. Ryan; Andrew Conhedy for Gorman;
Referee: Aaron Hogg (Clonlara)
Strong second half showing from Sixmilebridge
Sixmilebridge 0-18
Newmarket-on-Fergus 2-9
Venue: Páirc Michael Ui hEithir, Cratloe
Helped by first half goals from Ronan Good and Seadhna Liddy, Newmarket-on-Fergus looked to be on their way to a first round win in the intermediate championship when they went to the half time break with an eight point advantage over Sixmilebidge on Saturday evening.
Sixmilebridge stepped up considerably in the second half when they denied their neighbours any score from play as they picked off some impressive points, ten in all in this period.
Sean Lynch top scored for the winners for whom Dylan Downes, Luke Keogh, Paul Corry, Colin Kelly and Evan McInerney also landed points.
Sixmilebridge: Colm Fitzgrald; Dylan Downes, Oisin Breen, Cillian Custy; Adam Breen, Kevin Lynch, Colm Flynn; Evan McInerney, Fiachra O’Braoin; Luke O’Halloran, Luke Keogh, Colin Kelly; Alan Mulready, Sean Lynch, Paul Corry;
Subs: Ronan Tuohy for O’Halloran; Jack Corry for Kelly; Adam Murray for Keogh;
Newmarket-on-Fergus: Adam Enright; Eoghan McInerney, Darragh Burke, Darragh Jones; Liam Harkin, David Frost, Conor McCarthy; James Freeman, James Liddy; Sol Frost, Cian Foley, Ronan Good; Seadhna Liddy, James Power, Feidhlim Barry
Subs; Cathal Finnucane for Barry; Alan McInerney for S. Frost; Niall Woods for J. Liddy; Jamie Power for Foley;
Referee: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)
Arthur points the way for Inagh/Kilnamona
Inagh/Kilnamona 2-13
Ogonnelloe 0-10
Venue: Shannon
Former senior player, Gerry Arthur, currently at home on holiday from the middle east, turned in a big performance to help Inagh/Kilnamona to this victory over Ogonnelloe at Shannon on Sunday.
The sides were level at half time when the score was 1-4 to 0-7, the winners goal coming from a penalty by goalkeeper Pa Kelly.
They were well in control in the second half when Jamesy McConigley struck for their second goal.
Ogonnelloe will be disappointed not to have been ahead at the mid point in the game but their finishing was poor and they were guilty of a ten wides in that first half.
The winners will be concerned about an injury suffered by centre back Cian McInerney and they will be keeping their fingers crossed that he will make a speedy recovery.
Centre back Gearoid Sheedy top scored for Ogonnelloe with 0-4 to his credit
Inagh-Kilnamona; Pa Kelly; Niall Glynn, Brian Foudy, James Cullinan; Liam Hehir, Cian McInerney, Ricky Wynne; Mark Barry, Dean Lynch; Paul O’Looney, Keith Barry, Gerry Coote; Gerry Arthur, Jamesy McConigley. Cathal Ryan;
Subs; John Keane for McInerney (inj); Darragh Power for K. Barry; Colm Kearney for D. Lynch;
Ogonnelloe; Rob Dreelan; Eoghan Heffernan, Brian O’Mara, Thomas Condon; Adam Sheedy, Gearoid Sheedy, Fergal Collins; Colm Quinn, Paul McGee; Mici Sheedy, Henry Vaughan, Barry Kiely; Rory Skelly, Cian Fitzgerald Bradley; Aaron Fitzgerald Bradley;
Sub; Adam Cunnane for Skelly; Donnacda McNulty for C. Fitzgerald Bradley; Mark Walsh for A. Fitzgerald Bradley;
Referee: Andy McMahon (Cratloe)
All so easy for Corofin
Corofin 3-22
O’Callaghans Mills 0-7
Venue: Clarecastle
O’Callaghans Mills were no match for one of the fancied teams for the intermediate title, Corofin when the sides clashed at Clarecastle on Sunday.
In fairness to the Mills it must be pointed out at this juncture that they lost a number of players named for duty because they were promoted to the senior side on the previous day and these included Mark Pewter, Mikey McMahon and Stephen Donnellan.
The writing was on the way at half time in this tie as the winners led 1-13 to 0-1, the goal having come from Shane O’Brien.
A Micheál Duffy goal early in the second half stretched the winners lead and their third goal came from Gearoid Cahill while the point scorers included Jamie Malone, Gearoid Cahill, Gearoid Kelly, Fionn Clancy and Shane O’Brien.
Corofin; James Organ; Shay Malone, Damian O’Loughlin, Marc O’Loughlin; Damian Ryan, Killian O’Connor, Sean O’Brien; Fionn Clancy, Conor Leen; Gearoid Kelly, Jamie Malone, Gearoid Cahill; Michael Kelly, Micheál Duffy, Shane O’Brien;
Subs: Eoin Davoran for G. Kelly; Fergus Killeen for J. Malone; Kevin Keane for G. Cahill; Cillian McGroary for F. Clancy; Cahill for Leen
O’Callaghans Mills; James McNamara;Cathal McNamara, Rory McNamara, Liam McNamara; Liam Boyce, Niall Donovan, Niall McNamara; Eoin McInerney, Henry McGrath; Billy Scanlan, Kevin O’Callaghan, Conor Cooney (Ermhill); Alan O’Dea, Jamie Keane, John Cooney;
Subs: Adrian Flaherty for L, McNamara (inj.) Ian Donnellan for Scanlan (inj.)
Referee: Ger Hoey, Killanena;
Whitegate in control
Whitegate 4-25
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 0-9
Venue: The Evicted Field, Bodyke
Relegated from senior ranks at the end of last season, Whitegate served notice that they are determined to return to the top division when easily accounting for St. Josephs at Bodyke on Sunday.
Lining out without injured goalie Andrew Fahy, the East Clare outfit dominated from the start and they were eighteen points ahead at half time when the score was 2-16 to 0-4, the first half goals having come from Luke Sugrue and Ciaran Keenan.
Goals followed in the second half from Sugrue and Paddy Burke on a day when nine players shared in the scoring.
St. Josephs failed to match the experience of their opponents and this proved costly. They lost experienced Kevin Dilleen to their senior side on the previous day
Whitegate: George Waterstone; Dylan Whyte, Finn Madden, Ciaran Quinn; Brendan Bugler, Conor McDermott, Ian Fahy; Eoin Patterson, Conor Whelan; Danny Hynes, Thomas Holland, Ciaran Keenan; Paddy Burke, Ronan Hayes, Luke Sugrie;
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield; Mikey Roseingrave; Darragh Whelan, Mark Hallinan, Eoghan Perrill; Ian Williams, Darragh O’Callaghan, Peter Collins; Luke Carmody, Arthur Rogers; Padraic Geraghty, Eoghan Talty, Conor Hassett; Barry Millane, Conor Kearns, Eoin Burke;
Subs; Ciaran O’Driscoll for Hallinan; Fionn Mulqueen for Rogers; Brian Hoey for Millane
Referee: Aaron Hogg (Clonlara)
