This article is from page 63 of the 2011-04-26 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 63 JPG
Crusheen 1-17 Wolfe Tones 2-13 at Shannon
IT WAS the sort of performance befitting county champions. The innate ability to dig out a result while not firing on all cylinders and while it was cruel on a luckless Wolfe Tones who were determined to bounce back from their sizeable defeat to Sixmilebridge last time out, a late rally ensured that Crusheen maintained their perfect start to the competitive season.
Four points down with only ten minutes remaining, the visitors had to use all of their experience to claw out the victory with Gerry O’Grady grabbing the decisive goal to inspire further scores from Paddy and Joe Meaney.
All this after Wolfe Tones had led for the majority, with a Garret McPhillips goal spurring them to a 19 to 0-8 half-time advantage. A second goal from Paul Walsh appeared to have the Shannon side on the road to their first victory of the campaign and with just over ten minutes left, they led by 2-11 to 0-13.
O’Grady’s goal sparked the Crusheen recovery however, Paddy Meaney followed up with the equalising score and gathering momentum, Joe Meaney put Crusheen ahead with only minutes remaining. Daithi O’Connell attempted to stop the rot with a levelling point but by now, Crusheen had the bit between their teeth and two frees from Joe Meaney set up the win, with a late Barry Loughnane point merely a consolation as the 2009 finalists remain on course for a semi-final spot.
Crusheen
Donal Tuohy, John Brigdale, Cronan
Dillon,Alan Brigdale, Ciaran O’Doherty, Cian Dillon, Cathal Dillon,Tony Meaney (0-2), Pat Vaughan (0-7), Jamie Fitzgibbon (0-1), Joe Meaney (0-4), Gerry O’Grady (1-0), Fergus Kennedy, Shaun Dillon, Gearoid O’Donnell (0-1)
Subs
Paddy Meaney for Kennedy,AlanTuohy for Dillon (inj), Conor O’Donnell for A. Brigdale
Wolfe Tones
Paul Hogan, John Coen, Joe Mc Gauley, Niall Murphy, Shane Chambers, Bobby McPhillips (0-2f), Barry Loughnane (0-1), Stephen McInerney, Daithi O’Connell (0-2), Brendan Hughes, Declan O’Rourke (0-2), Kevin McCafferty, Alan Hehir (0-1), Garret Mc Phillips (1-5), Paul Walsh (1-0)
Subs
Richie Lillis for McCafferty, Daniel Gallery for Walsh
Referee
JimHickey (Cratloe)