This article is from page 64 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 64 JPG
Ruan 0-14 – Sixmilebridge 0-12 at Clareabbey
IT WAS almost a year to the very day since these sides last clashed at the same stage of the intermediate championship, in a game that ultimately mattered far less due to the advancement of three teams from the group of five.
On Tuesday, the consequences of defeat were far greater as now only two places are up for grabs in a group of six teams. In that meeting, an Earol Tuohy goal was enough to give the ‘Bridge a two point victory, this time Ruan got over the line by the same margin when late points from Brendan Lyons and the ever-reliable John Punch put daylight between the sides.
In truth, while Sixmilebridge needed victory more after losing their opening tie against Parteen and indeed will be kicking themselves that they didn’t avail of the chance to close out this game after doing so much hard graft to level up the game by the 58th minute, Ruan deserved to prevail.
In similar circumstances last year, they let slip a three point advantage in the closing minutes but fortunate- ly for Ruan, this time they held their nerve to see out the win. In all, 16 wides made it a far less comfortable ride to collect the points, especially in the opening half when they dominated but still only found themselves ahead by the minimum at the break, with John Punch securing the first four of that total at 0-8 to 0-7.
The ‘Bridge’s best opportunities came from frees as they would only score three points from play over the hour but it was only in the final five minutes that they would really threaten Ruan’s hold on the game. Trailing by 0-12 to 0-09, two Sam O’Sullivan frees and a point from substitute Paul Corbett gained parity by the 58th minute as memories of last year’s late turnaround came flooding back.
However, whether last year’s final experience has steeled Ruan or not, they didn’t panic with Lyons and Punch pointing to maintain their perfect start to the championship and more or less ending the ‘Bridge’s hopes in the process.
Ruan
Pakie Roughan, Gary Bell, Niall O’Connor,
Leon Quirke, Killian Ryan, Jonathan Clohessy, Dara Roughan,Tadgh Hanrahan, Caimin Howard,Aidan Lynch (0-2), Eoin Hanrahan, MikeyVaughan, John Punch (0-10 7f, 1’65),Alan Bell, Brendan Lyons (01)
Subs
Sean Cullinan (0-1) for A. Bell (35 mins), Colin O’Donoghue for T. Hanrahan (54 mins)
Sixmilebridge
Sean Chaplin,Wayne Kennedy, Eoin Quinn, Cathal Walsh, Jonathan Downes, Stiofan Fitzpatrick, Christy Griffin, SamO’Sullivan (0-6f),Adrian Chaplin, Mark Culbert, Ronan Hayes (0-1), Sean Stack, Earol Tuohy (0-1), Rory Liddane, Tommy Liddy (0-3f)
Subs
David O’Meara for Stack (43 mins), Michael O’Halloran for Liddy (46 mins), Paul Corbett (0-1) for Griffin (54 mins)
Man of the Match
Eoin Hanrahan (Ruan) Referee Michael Fitzgerald (Ballyea)