This article is from page 118 of the 2009-05-26 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 118 JPG
THE precarious nature of this year’s Garry Cup meant that every final round game had implications at both ends of the table. This one was no different, albeit that Clondegad’s win over St Senan’s on Tuesday evening ensured their place in the knock- out stages. However, with four other sides on six points and O’Curry’s lagging just one point behind, a win for the home side would have at least ensured their Division two status for another year.
As it turned out, Clondegad’s strong finish to the tie earned them
top spot in the division and relegated O’Curry’s in the process but it was the individual performances of Pad- dy O’Connell and Cormac Murphy that essentially lifted Clondegad to victory.
Murphy was immense throughout in the centre of the field, a fact that was magnified even more by the loss of Ger Quinlan who had got injured that day playing for the county in a challenge while O’Connell proved a rock at full-back, curbing the in- flunce of Michael Carmody who ap- peared to be running the show early on.
The home side were O-5 to O-2
ahead by the turn of the first quar- ter, with Eoin Troy scoring a brace of frees either side of Michael Carmo- dy’s point for O’Curry’s while Clon- degad could only reply with a Paudge McMahon free and a Rory Clohessy point in that period.
O’Connell’s. switch was crucial though and it helped Clondegad grab a foothold in the match when Kieran Browne pointed in the 18th minute followed soon afterwards by a superb Gary Brennan point from almost on the endline. Eoin Troy and Kieran Browne traded scores ap- proaching the finish of the half but it was O’Curry’s who would have the
last say when Carmody pointed right on the stroke of half-time to give the home side a two point advantage at ORT rone ay
Needing the points more, O’Curry’s continued where they left off on the restart with another brace from Eoin Troy pushing them O-9 to O-6 in front. However, it was to prove their final score of the game as Clonde- gad started to turn the screw around the centre and O’Curry’s ran out of steam.
The score that proved the catalyst for Clondegad’s revival came at the turn of the final quarter when a swift passing move involving Kenneth Kelly and Paudge McMahon ended up with Francie Neylon who goaled from close range. Bouyed by that score, Clondegad upped it another gear and only ten minutes from time, Eoin Griffin gave them the lead for the first time in the match.
However, the decisive score that came only minutes later was worthy of winning any game when Paudge McMahon raided down the flank and fended off several challenges be- fore rifling the ball to the net from an acute angle. That score sucked the life out of O’Curry’s and it al- lowed Clondegad, and McMahon in particular to pile more misery on the home side, as he kicked the final two points of the game. A win that gives Clondegad pole position for the semi-finals while subjecting a luck- less O’Curry’s to their second suc- cessive relegation.