This article is from page 63 of the 2011-08-09 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 63 JPG
Inagh/Kilnamona 1-16 – Scariff 0-12 at O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge
INAGH/KILNAMONA made it two wins out of two in the 2011 senior hurling championship after accounting for a relatively limited Scariff side. The winning margin of seven points could have been far more excessive only for Inagh/Kilnamona’s gradual dip in performance in the second half, where some poor shooting cost them a more flattering victory. Nonetheless their 100% record remains intact as progression to the knock-out stages this season now appears far more realistic, even though two greater challenges still await the Combo in the shape of Cratloe and Tubber.
Back to this encounter, the eventual winners achieved the perfect start when Niall Arthur found his range immediately from placed balls when his first effort of the day split the posts to open the game’s scoring. Scariff’s corner forward Mark Mulvihill however quickly responded with a fine effort off his left side to tie the game again. This pattern of exchanging points and drawing level continued with both teams finding another two scores each in a lightening quick first five minutes of hurling in Sixmilebridge last Saturday afternoon. Scariff soon stole the first two point advantage of the clash with efforts from Padraig Brody and Diarmuid Nash but Inagh/Kilnamona were never going to let them out off their sight for too long and this brief blip inspired them into their albeit brief purple patch of some excellent hurling. The Arthur brothers shared the free-taking duties and scores as they quickly retook pole position from their east Clare rivals. Eoin Vaughan and Conor Tier- ney also added their names to the scoreboard while the dominant presence that is Cathal Lafferty finished off an almost Barcelona passage of play and passing to increase the lead to five with five minutes of the half remaining. Scariff needed the half time whistle but unfortunately for them Niall Arthur was still hungry for success in front of goal. Vaughan combined well with the talented full forward before he blasted the sliotar to the roof of the Scariff net to in many ways seal the result before the interval arrived. A Barry Murphy response left it 1-11 to 0-7 with the last puck of the half.
With the second half came a significant decrease in the overall standard of hurling as both teams only managed another five points each. As mentioned a lack of accuracy proved to be Inagh/Kilnamona’s Achilles heel but Scariff just could not handle or breech the winners outstanding defence. The half back line was incredibly solid but the full back line was even better. Dermot Lynch continued his spectacular form in his role of captain but his younger colleague Brian Glynn at number three was the real star of this brilliant defensive display.
The final moments of this encounter ended in a sour note with the deserved straight red card of Conor MacNamara after a terrible striking offence which encapsulated an awful day for Scariff overall. With two defeats the future does not appear too bright for Mike Mac’s charges with the threat of possible relegation everincreasing. Inagh/Kilnamona may have left Sixmilebridge delighted with the result but if their hopes for a truly successful season exist, a shift into a fifth gear of performance will have to materialise sooner or later.