This article is from page 105 of the 2009-06-09 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 105 JPG
WHILE election fever swept through the county on Saturday, this crunch tie had a fever of it’s own, namely the fight to avoid the drop from the top division.
The polls weren’t favourable for e1- ther candidate entering this game. St Joseph’s had only one win from their four outings while Inagh/Kilnamona were turned away from every door, not having tasted a competitive vic- tory in nine months but with only half the Clare Cup campaign com- pleted, there was still ample time to canvas for points.
Like a bloody battle for the final Seat, it was aclose run affair and even ended in controversy as St Joseph’s had a last minute goal ruled out for a square ball, a score that would have handed them both crucial points.
Both sides were without key mem- bers of their squad, with the home side shy of seven of the team that started against Clonlara in the cham- pionship the previous weekend along with county senior Tony Carmody who didn’t play that game while St
Joseph’s were missing eight from their win over Sixmilebridge. As a result, the quality suffered in what was a scrappy seesaw affair before Inagh/Kilnamona eventually edged the contest with a superior finale to top the poll.
At 0-2 to 0-2 after eleven minutes, contrasting finishing finally sparked the game into life, with St Joseph’s goalkeeper Paul Madden produc- ing a excellent diving save to deny Shane Griffin while down the other end only three minutes later, full-for- ward Seanie McMahon was more ef- ficient, latching on to a Colm Mullen pass to pull past the onrushing Ea- mon Scanlon to give his side an early advantage.
Inagh/Kilnamona_ didn’t panic however, and even though a plethora of wides followed for the remain- ing 18 minutes of the half, the home side still managed to come within a point of St Joseph’s by the break with points from David Hegarty and Shane Griffin.
Inagh/Kilnamona built on that re- newed confidence on the resumption, grabbing a crucial goal after only two
minutes when Joe Griffin shrugged off two challenges before slamming the ball to the net from close range.
However, within ten minutes, that advantage had been overturned, this time with Mullen the finisher, gather- ing a Paul Morrissey ball inside to hit to the net from close range, putting his side 2-4 to 1-5 ahead.
It should have inspired St Joseph’s but similar to the first half, they were not to score for the final 18 minutes of the half and while they tallied up the wides, Inagh/Kilnamona slowly chipped away at their two point lead. They cancelled it out by the turn of the final quarter through substitute Sean Arthur and Joe Griffin be- fore taking up the ascendency with a Gannon Free in the 50th minute and an Eugene Cullinan point only a minute short of the hour.
It looked to have secured Inagh/Ki- namona the seat but like any good election battle, there was almost a twist in the tale when St Joseph’s produced one final attack up the right, going from Mullen, through Mike Cullian to Damien Kennedy in the corner and when he flashed
his shot across the square, substitute Shane O’Grady dived in at the back post to flick it over the line. However, the celebrations were short lived as the presiding officer Tom Stackpool deemed it to be a square ball. St Joseph’s appealed for a recount, how- ever, the returning officer’s decision was final as Inagh/Kilnamona were deemed elected on the final count.