This article is from page 85 of the 2009-10-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 85 JPG
HARDLY a display that will send shivers down the spines of Newmar- ket folk ahead of their semi-final clash but in what was a strange quar- ter-final tie, Clonlara didn’t need to be at top gear to fend off Clooney/ Quin’s challenge. Defending cham- pions Clonlara were perhaps a little ring-rusty, not having played a com- petitve game in five weeks and as a result found it very difficult to shake off Clooney/Quin over the entire telune
In saying that, Clonlara were always going to win this one as Clooney/
Quin tended to shoot themselves in the foot too often to push the cham- pions all the way. It was the goals and more significantly the target of Fergal Lynch that kept Clooney/Quin in this game but when they did hurt Clon- lara, the holders always appeared to be able to lift their game sufficiently to drive on once more.
In truth, the difference between the sides was that added bit of class from the likes of John Conlon, Nicky O’Connell and Donal Madden and with Fergal Lynch the only Clooney/ Quin player seemingly of a similar ilk, once they curtailed that threat by switching Tomas O’Donovan to
full-back, Clooney/Quin simply ran out of ideas.
Clooney/Quin only scored twice in the opening quarter as Madden, Conlon and Darach Honan got into their stride with a brace each but crucially for the challengers, both were goals that provided a huge lift for the side. Inevitably Fergal Lynch was heavily involved in both, earn- ing a fifth minute penalty for Derek Ryan to convert before getting on the scoresheet himself in the 17th minute by using his strength to fend off three defenders before billowing the net from close range.
A minute later, they were level
when Martin Duggan finished off a flowing move and it seemed as if it might just be their day when Donal Madden’s penalty was excellently stopped by Cathal Egan soon af- terwards. They brought out Paudie Ward as a third midfielder to forage for possession but then never used him from their own puck-outs and as a result, that tactic had little effect as Clonlara finished the half strongly with John Conlon leading the way with two points along with a Nicky O’Connell free to lead by 0-13 to 2- 04 at the break.
Clooney/Quin were more purpose- ful on the restart though and with
Lynch proving a constant irritant, they got to within one after only three minutes. It forced Clonlara to bring back Tomas O’ Donovan to curb Lynch in what was to prove a match winning alteration. With the leak plugged at the back, Clonlara sim- ply pulled away again, hitting three unanswered points through Nicky O’Connell (2) and Donal Madden.
Derek Ryan had a goal chance blocked by O’Donovan and Lynch was lucky to stay on the field after a wild pull on the same player before Clonlara finally put the result beyond doubt when Cormac O’ Donovan and Darach Honan combined to set up Cillian Fennessy for their only goal of the game in the 59th to push them nine clear at 1-22 to 2-10.
Clooney/Quin kept up the fight until the end though, with Mike Mc- Namara grabbing a late goal while Lynch had a 20 metre free stopped but it was all too little too late as Clonlara held on to set up a mouth- watering heavyweight clash against Newmarket. Only their best will do if they are to reach their second suc- Ao TUIEDE