This article is from page 48 of the 2008-09-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 48 JPG
THIS only confirmed what most peo- ple already knew. That Cratloe are a real emerging force in Clare hurling and now that they have finally made the breakthrough, they won’t want to stop at just a quarter-final place.
Due to the restructuring of the championship last year, their 2006 senior B win was somewhat devalued but they thrived in the senior cham- pionship to come within a whisker of the quarter-finals at the first attempt.
Ultimately a final round defeat to Kilmaley halted their quarter-final hopes but after an encouraging Clare Cup campaign this year, only acham- pionship quarter-final place would be sufficient for their young side.
And so it came down to this game, a meeting of last year’s surprise pack- age against the heirs to their throne with nothing but a win sufficient for the north Clare side to remain in the championship.
With their lives on the line, Corofin finally produced the type of battling spirit that propelled them into last year’s quarter-final but although they troubled Cratloe for long periods, it wasn’t enough to knock the east Clare side off their focus.
As ever, Corofin’s backs and mid- field were solid, led by county senior Dara Clancy who had an outstand- ing hour at centre-back but too few of their forwards excelled and that, added to Cratloe’s all-round better balance was the reason the east Clare side emerged with the two valuable points.
Damian Browne, and a star turn from county minors Conor McGrath did the majority of the damage on the scoreboard, with a combined total of 1-10 from Cratloe’s 1-16 but they also had impressive displays from full-back Barry Duggan, who held Corofin’s main threat Kevin Heag- ney scoreless, and Michael Hawes at centre-back who swept up con- tinually around the back-line to keep Sei eloeme i onuemenmse-le.e
Cratloe couldn’t have had a better start either, as they sprinted into a O- 5 to 0-0 lead by the 13th minute with Damian Browne (3), Aidan Browne and Barry Gleeson all pointing for the Blues and at this stage, it ap- peared as if it would be a rout.
However, Corofin shuffled the pack and bringing Dara Clancy to centre- back in a switch with Gerry Quinn, the north Clare side finally settled. Five unanswered points followed, SIPUMSDITSMMALNO Moye: eom PKOeemPODELeCornAr-DI midfielder Dara Shannon which was added to by Killian Neylon (2) and Ollie O’Loughlin.
Now level, it was Cratloe’s turn to shake up their line-up as they pushed Damian Browne to centre-forward,
Martin “Ogie’ Murphy to the wing and Aidan Browne to midfield. It had the desired effect as Aidan Browne and Sean Collins both pointed in in- jury-time to give their side a 0-7 to Q-5 half-time advantage.
The second period started in see- saw fashion as the sides traded points four times in the first fifteen minutes. At this stage, Jonathan Reidy was as- signed to curb Clancy’s influence
but still, they couldn’t halt his domi- nance and finally, they introduced James Enright to do the job. If noth- ing else, Enright’s robust style did have an effect and from that, Cratloe gained a foothold on the game. Two Damian Browne points and one from Sean Collins pushed the leaders 0-14 to 0-9 in front by the 53rd minute and it seemed as if they would see out the win from here.
Still, Corofin are nothing if not bat- tlers and two minutes later, Kevin Heagney was held and Corofin were awarded a 21 yard free which Clancy smashed to the net to give Corofin re- newed hope at 0-14 to 1-9.
It set up a nervous finish but Cratloe were spared their late jitters by their two minors Cathal McInerney and Conor McGrath who stood up to the plate in the final moments. First, sub-
stitute McInerney picked off a superb point from an acute angle in the right corner and only a minute later, Mc- Grath weaved his way through the Corofin defence to place the ball past goalkeeper John Williams to restore Cratloe’s six point advantage.
This was still some fight left in Corofin though and when a hurley was thrown at Gerry Quinn — now operating in the forward line — as he was about to shoot, Ger Hoey award- ed Corofin another 21 yard free.
Clancy again stepped up to take it but although this effort was just as powerful, goalkeeper Sean Hawes produced an outstanding full-length save to deny him.
There was still time for another point apiece but there was no deny- ing Cratloe this result and they held out for the crucial win. And they got an added bonus too as news filtered through of Tubber’s surprise defeat of St Joseph’s, a result that leaves both Doora/Barefield and Craltoe level at the top of the group, with only a toss of a coin to decide who tops the group.