This article is from page 63 of the 2011-06-07 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 63 JPG
Sixmilebridge 0-14 – Inagh/Kilnamona 1-07 at Inagh
REIGNING CLARE Cup champions Sixmilebridge bounced back from last Wednesday’s loss to Crusheen with a four-point victory over Inagh/ Kilnamona on Monday afternoon.
In a closely contested first half, the ‘Bridge were ahead 0-7 to 0-6 at the interval. Early points from Jamie Shanahan and Niall Gilligan saw them two clear after five minutes before Tomás Kelly got Inagh/Kilnamona off the mark two minutes later with a fine effort.
Former Clare senior Gilligan fired over a good score in the tenth minute before two Ger Arthur placed balls levelled matters after the first quarter. The home side were dealt a blow by this stage with full-back Brian Glynn forced to retire due to injury.
Sixmilebridge hit a purple patch sending over the games next three scores courtesy of Tommy Morey and Niall Gilligan (2) to extend their lead to three after 25 minutes as Robert Conlon entered the action for the injured Barry O’Connor.
Entering the final five minutes of the half, Ger Arthur and David O’Connor traded scores before two more Arthur efforts in first half added time narrowed the gap to one at the break.
On the resumption, Sixmilebridge did exactly what they did in the first half, by sending over the first two scores. These scores arrived thanks to David O’Connor and a long range John Fennessy free as they stretched the lead to three.
In a second half that was marred by persistent rain, it took the home team until the end of the first quarter to register a score with Arthur again the marksman. Indeed, up to this point both sides were guilty of failing to covert a few scoreable chances.
The games next score fell to Niall Gilligan who fired over a free in the 45th minute before moments later the hard working Tommy Morey increased the ‘Bridge lead to four.
Just as it appeared that the visitors were going to kick on from here and collect the two points, the combination were given a lifeline when they goaled to put just the minimum between the sides. This goal came about after Cathal Lafferty fielded a long clearance from David Hegarty on the fourteen-yard line and had only one thing on his mind as he turned and headed straight for goal before kicking the sliotar to the net.
With only a solitary point separating the sides the next score was going to be crucial in deciding this tie and unfortunately for the home team it fell to the ‘Bridge as Danny Morey fired over in the 57th minute. Sixmilebridge motored on from here with Gilligan and Morey closing out the games scoring as Inagh-Kilnamona tried in vain for another goal in injury time.
Sixmilebridge
Derek Fahy;Tagdh Keogh,Aidan Quilligan, Paul Fitzpatrick; Barry O’Connor, John Fennessy (0-1f), Paidí Fitzpatrick; Pa Sheehan, Anthony Liddane; Brian Culbert,Tommy Morey (0-2), David O’Connor (0-2); Jamie Shanahan (0-1), Niall Gilligan (0-6 3f), Danny Morey (0-2)
Subs
Robert Conlon for B. O’Connor (22 mins, inj), Kevin Lynch for Culbert (HT), SamO’Sullivan for Sheehan (46 mins)
Inagh/ Kilnamona
Patrick Kelly; Milo Keane, Brian Glynn, Dermot Lynch; Ronan O’Looney, Gary Lafferty, David Hegarty; ColmPilkington,Tomás Kelly (0-1); Damien Lafferty, Cathal Lafferty (1-0), Dermot Gannon; Ger Arthur (0-6; 3fs, 1‘65), Conor Tierney, Cathal Griffin
Subs
Brian Foudy for Glynn (14 mins, inj), StephenToomey for Griffin (44 mins), Shane Griffin for Pilkington (52 mins)
Man of the Match
Niall Gilligan (Sixmilebridge) Referee Ambrose Heagney (Corofin)