This article is from page 66 of the 2011-05-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 66 JPG
Sixmilebridge 5-14 – Whitegate 0-10 at Whitegate
IT WAS back to business for Sixmilebridge who brushed off their first defeat of the season and put their Under 21 silverware away in the cabinet on their way to a straightforward victory over Whitegate on Friday evening. The defending champions started and finished with a goal and largely controlled the tie with a fluid team display that saw Niall Gilligan return in commanding fashion allied to scoring flourishes for Declan Morey and debutant Jamie Shanahan.
Whitegate, without their most influential player, Brendan Bugler, failed to capitalise on their chances particularly in the first half and therefore, there was a certain inevitability about the result once Niall Gilligan snuck in for the opening goal inside two minutes. Whitegate rallied and through George Waterstone (2), Michael O’Brien and Ian Fahy, they only trailed by the minimum by the tenth minute at 1-2 to 0-4.
Sixmilebridge’s superior movement and eye for goal would separate the sides however, epitomised by Rory Shanahan’s 17th minute strike when teed up by namesake Jamie and Gilligan. The third goal duly arrived two minutes later when Declan Morey picked out Jamie Shanahan with an inch perfect crossfield pass for the county minor to knock past goalkeeper Andrew Fahey for his first senior goal on their way to a 3-7 to 0-6 interval advantage.
Any murmurings of a recovery were soon quashed only minutes after the restart when Shane Golden soloed through the centre of the Whitegate defence before laying off for Declan Morey to rattle the net. And the ‘Bridge punished further with a flurry of points from Gilligan (2), David O’Connor (2), John Fennessy, Pa Sheehan and the tireless Shane Golden to open up a 19 point advantage by the turn of the final quarter before easing off the gas.
Credit Whitegate for not throwing in the towel and they hit back with three successive points while Stephen Malone also had a flick saved by goalkeeper Fahy. However, the gulf between the sides on the night was emphasised by Sixmilebridge’s ability to go up the other end of the field and cancel out that fightback in one fell swoop with a Declan Morey goal that completed the rout and gave the ‘Bridge a sizeable boost ahead of the championship, even without the services of Caimin and Danny Morey, and Páidi Fitzpatrick.
Sixmilebridge
Derek Fahy,Tadgh Keogh,Aidan Quilligan,Trevor Purcell, Barry O’Connor, John Fennessy (0-1), Paul Fitzpatrick, Shane Golden (02), Pa Sheehan (0-1), David O’Connor (0-2), Rory Shanahan (1-0), Seadna Morey, Jamie Shanahan (1-2), Niall Gilligan (1-5 1f), Declan Morey (2-1)
Subs
Anthony Liddane for R. Shanahan (34 mins), Brian Culbert for J. Shanahan (38 mins),Tommy Morey for S. Morey (40 mins)
Whitegate
AndrewFahey, Cathal Mulvihill, John Bugler,Trevor Kelly, Patrick Minogue, Jason Malone, Christy Jones,Tomás MacNamara, John Minogue (0-1), Michael O’Brien (0-1), Ian Fahy (0-1), George Waterstone (0-5f), Eoin Quirke, Shane O’Rourke, Stephen Malone (0-2)
Sub
John O’Brien for Jones (48 mins)
Man of the Match
Niall Gilligan (Sixmilebridge) Referee Ger Hoey (Killanena)