This article is from page 61 of the 2008-09-30 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 61 JPG
HURLING 1s alive and well and be- ing played in the sprawling parish that takes in Barefield, Roslevan and Doora.
That was the defiant message deliv- ered by St Joseph’s manager Kevin Kennedy after his side rolled back the years to when they were the most feared club in Ireland and brought an abrupt halt to Inagh/Kilnamona’s fairytale debut season.
St Joseph’s, who won the last of their five county titles in 2001, served notice to all remaining contenders to Tulla’s throne that they really mean business in 2008.
“Lately the club has done well in another code,” said Kennedy in a nod to the historic success of the footballers in bringing a first ever Under 21 ‘A’ title to the club. “We’ll support the other code. People were saying that hurling was finished in the parish. Hurling will never die in Barefield.”
Not on this display as they gave Inagh/Kilnamona a five-point start before dismantling them with their best knockout display since beating Sixmulebridge in the 2001 final.
“They were favourites coming in and are a good side. We’ve made fair progress over the past two years – it’s been a two year job. We won the Clare Cup last year and are in the semi-final of the champion- ship so that’s progress again,” said Kennedy.
Progress seems too soft a word to explain away Clonlara progress in
2008 – fresh from the intermediate ranks they are now on the cusp of a first county final appearance since 1919 thanks to their 1-13 to 2-9 win over a Colin Lynch-less Kilmaley.
“It’s huge for us,” said manager Jim Gully. “There’ll be only four teams in the semi-final and we’re one of them. We don’t have a wish or pref- erence for any team. We only wish the match was next week. We have a good team and winning the Under 21 A title after the intermediate last year has been a huge impetus for us. It’s great to be where we are.”
Newmarket-on-Fergus are also there after their nail-biting late late show against Cratloe. They came from four points adrift early in the second half to win by the minimum margin.
‘“Workrate and a good panel of players – that’s what did it for us in the end,’ said manager Diarmuid O’Leary. “The goal in the first half gave us areal lift. Cratloe are a good team and nobody gives them the credit that they deserve. They a good side and it took us everything to get over them.”
The final quarter-final will be played this coming weekend between Clarecastle and Crusheen. The Mag- pies ended Clooney-Quin’s hopes for 2008 when winning their play-off game in Shannon on Sunday evening by 1-17 to 1-14.