This article is from page 83 of the 2011-09-27 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 83 JPG
Clooney/Quin 2-14 – Scariff 1-11 at Dr Daly Memorial Park, Tulla
ANYONE who doubted the enthusiasm for the senior B championship was silenced in this fiercely competitive last eight tie. Granted, there was a sizeable drop in standard from the last of the group games, both from the players and main official, but the will to win was beyond question as this full-blooded encounter demonstrated.
In the end, a brace of Mike Daffy goals was enough to separate the sides in the second period after an evenly matched first half. The lively corner-forward eased his side to a ten point lead as the game entered its finale and while there were question marks surrounding the build up to both goals that could have on another day resulted in frees the other way, there was no doubt about the clinical finishes that put Clooney/Quin into the last four.
Credit Scariff for never throwing in the towel and admirably slashing the deficit in a hectic final few minutes but time simply wasn’t on their side as Clooney/Quin held on.
All so different in an inch-tight first half that saw the sides level on four occasions before Clooney/Quin edged a 0-6 to 0-5 interval advantage thanks to a late Padraig Ward free. Ward’s three placed balls allied by Fergal Lynch’s clever running to pick off a brace made up the bulk of their scores while Scariff had a greater spread of scorers that included Ross Horan, Padraig Brody, Alan Corbett, Diarmuid Nash and Kenny McNamara. However, there could easily have been goals as well for either side with Daffy sending off a warning shot as early as the first minute when picking up a break around the square only to see his shot expertly tipped away for a ’65 by goalkeeper Shane Mulvihill. Four minutes later, it was Scariff’s turn as Ross Horan soloed through to attract the last line before offloading to Barry Murphy who volleyed first time just past the far post, shipping a hefty tackle in the process from goalkeeper Damien O’Halloran that could have easily earned a penalty.
The pair would eventually have to succumb to injuries sustained in that incident but it wasn’t to be the last of the goal chances. Scariff reemerged in the second half and had an early opportunity when Michael Moroney broke the ball for Alphie Rodgers but he struck wide. The east Clare side would rue that chance as Martin Duggan hit back with a point followed by the opening goal of the game in the 37th minute when substitute Derek Ryan appeared to pick the ball off the ground before offloading to the overlapping Daffy to finish with aplomb.
Scariff were incensed but used that motivation to reply with points from Alan Corbett and Ross Horan before wasting another glorious goal chance, this time through Kenny McNamara who did the hard work by soloing to the endline but his shot hit the side netting.
Again they would be punished to the full as Daffy and Lynch capitalised further. Both registered a point apiece before combining for the second goal in the 49th minute and when Cillian Duggan eventually converted a free from halfway after a farcical three minute stoppage, Clooney/Quin found themselves ten points clear.
Scariff’s charge came late but did make for a compelling climax as they picked off 1-4 including two Conor McNamara 20 metre frees that yielded 1-1. Daffy and Lynch again replied deep into injury-time to restore a six point advantage while the final chance fell to Conor McNamara who again stood over a 20 metre free in the 65th minute. However this time, he was distracted in his run-up and failed to lift the ball as Clooney/Quin marched on to the semi-final against Clarecastle.
Clooney/ Quin
Damien O’Halloran, Joe O’Loughlin, Conor Harrison, Shane McNamara, Donncha Murphy, Cillian Duggan (0-1f), Enda Harrison, Mike McNamara, John Earls, Martin Duggan (0-3), Cathal Egan, Seamus Conroy, Padraig Ward (0-4 3f 1’65), Fergal Lynch (0-4), Mike Daffy (2-2)
Subs
Patrick Cunninghamfor O’Halloran (25 mins, inj), Derek Ryan for Conroy (HT), Sean Conheady for Ward (47 mins),Tony McMahon for Murphy (62 mins)
Scariff
Shane Mulvihill, Barry McNamara, Darragh Kelly, JimMinogue, Padraig Brody (0-1), Conor McNamara (1-1f), Patrick Minogue, Diarmuid Nash (0-1 1’65), Shane Corry, Ross Horan (0-2), Kenny McNamara (0-2),Alphie Rodgers (0-1), Barry Murphy, Michael Moroney (0-1),Alan Corbett (0-2)
Subs
MatthewHoran for Murphy (HT, inj), Brian Corry for Corbett (55 mins)
Man of the Match
Mike Daffy (Clooney/ Quin) Referee Ger Lyons (Ruan)