This article is from page 67 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 67 JPG
Clare 6-24 – Kerry 1-08 at Austin Stacks, Tralee
THE CLARE Minor hurlers stormed into a Munster semi-final after a more than convincing win over Kerry as they defended their Munster crown in this opening round tie at Tralee last Wednesday evening.
In a competitive first half the sides exchanged points in the opening ten minutes before Clare took the lead through Aaron Cunningham and Colm Galvin. A goal from Kerry dual star Padraig Boyle meant they actually led the Munster champions in the 13th minute 1-2 to 0-4.
However, Clare pulled clear with a brace of scores from Cunningham, team captain Tony Kelly and Cathal O’Connell before a great Oisin Hickey goal 23 minutes in which meant Clare went in at the break seven points clear, 1-12 to 1-5.
The second half was a dominant Clare display as they pulled away significantly and put the result beyond doubt early on. Two more goals in as many minutes as the half got under- way saw the completion of a hat-trick for Oisin Hickey while Cunningham also added to his tally causing major problems for the Kerry defence.
Clare were able to make use of all five substitutes in this encounter and Alan Mulready added two more goals with another coming from Eire Og’s Shane O’Donnell as Clare made sure there was no hope for the Kingdom.
Clare ran out eventual winners by a 31 point margin, 6-24 to 1-8. They will now look ahead to a Munster semi-final at the end of June where they will play the winners of the losers group involving Cork, Kerry and Tipperary.
Clare
Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle); Jack Browne (Ballyea), Niall O’Connor (Newmarket), Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge); Martin Moroney (Parteen), Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge), Gearoid O’Connell (0-1) (Ballyea); ColmGalvin (0-3) (Clonlara),Tony Kelly (0-3) (Ballyea);Alan Mulready (2-2) (Sixmilebridge), Cathal O’Connell (0-6, 4f)
(Clonlara), Frank Melody (Newmarket);Aaron Cunningham(0-6) (WolfeTones), Oisin Hickey (31) (Meelick), Shane O’Donnell (1-1) (Eire Og).
Subs
Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin) for Melody, Jarlath Colleran (0-1) (Doora-Barefield) for Moroney, Shane McGrath (Feakle) for Cunningham, Damien Moloney (Meelick) for Morey, Dave Barry (Clooney-Quin) for O’Connell.
Kerry
Kieran Fitzgibbon;Tadgh Moore, Dougie Fitzell, Mikey O’Halloran; Daniel Collins,Tommy Barrett, Kevin O’Sullivan; Eric O’Connor, Muris Delaney; Ricky Heffernan, Pa Joe Connelly, Luke Fitzell; David Goulding, Padraig Bolye, Shane Dunne.
Subs
TomMcElligott for O’Halloran, Paul McGrath for Goulding, Darren Leahy for Fitzell.
Referee
John O’Brien,Tipperary.