This article is from page 57 of the 2011-07-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 57 JPG
Cratloe 0-8 – Clondegad 1-3 at Gurteen
CRATLOE MADE heavy work of seeing off a stubborn Clondegad side but yet in what was a truly bizarre game, the south east Clare side might have been out of sight by the final whistle. Such was the reality of this unique quarter-final tie that saw Cratloe produced 31 scoring chances, including six clear goal opportunities, strike the woodwork seven times and only score eight points. Still Clondegad will legitimately feel that they could have snatched victory, led by County Under 21 captain Podge McMahon who almost snatched a dramatic late goal that would have earned at least a draw.
Clondegad will also point to the fact that they were without the services of county minor hurlers Tony Kelly and Gearoid O’Connell for this knock-out tie, as outside of Eoghan Donnellan, McMahon had to take on the majority of the attacking repsonsibilities himself.
Cratloe, on the other hand, were boosted by the addition of their county senior hurlers, Conor McGrath, Cathal McInerney and Liam Markham, and unquestionably Cratloe were the team on the ascendency for the majority of this tie, without ever making the game safe for themselves.
It took 11 minutes for the game’s opening score through Dean Deloughery and it should have opened the door for a flurry of scores. However, Joseph O’Connor hit the crossbar with a close range effort, Cathal McInerney kicked five wides including another goal chance before Conor McGrath scored only their second point in the 23rd minute to cancel out Podge McMahon’s superb equaliser.
By now, Cratloe were playing a two man full-forward line of McGrath and McInerney but through some stern defending, Clondegad only conceded two points for the remainder of the half, both from the foot of McInerney to hold a 0-4 to 0-1 interval lead.
The second half saw the introduction of Pa Sheehan for Cratloe but his luck in front of the posts fared no better as twice his goalbound shots were denied by goalkeeper Declan O’Loughlin. In fact, while Cratloe kicked four wides and another six efforts into the arms of O’Loughlin, Clondegad realised that the game was there for the taking if they could get their act together up front.
So when Podge McMahon kicked a 50 metre point in the 38th minute and followed up Cathal McInerney’s reply with a 43rd minute goal after a flowing move involving Eoghan Donnellan and Liam Meaney, suddenly the sides were level.
Cratloe needed leadership and they got it through Padraic Collins who took Liam Markham’s crossfield pass and bobbed and weaved himself into a scoring position. He followed up by starting the move for Joseph O’Connor’s 48th minute point while seven minutes later Cathal McInerney restored their three point advantage.
There was still a doubt about the result up until the final whistle as Podge McMahon created a great scoring chance but blasted his shot just over the crossbar and Cratloe breathed a huge sigh of relief as they stumbled into a semi-final meeting with last year’s finalists Lissycasey.
Cratloe
Jamie Joyce, Gerry Cooney, Sean Hynan, Wesley Deloughery, Patrick Carey, LiamMarkham, Enda Boyce, Conor Ryan, Shane Golden, Kane O’Shea, Padraic Collins (0-1), Dean Deloughery (0-1), Cathal McInerney (0-4 2f), Joseph O’Connor (0-1), Conor McGrath (0-1)
Subs
Pa Sheehan for DDeloughery (HT), Dean Deloughery for O’Shea (51 mins)
Clondegad
Declan O’Loughlin, Conor Gavin, Brian Murphy, Cormac Ryan, Joe Neylon, Declan Keane, Paul Flanagan, James Murphy, David Sheehan, Stephen Enright, Padraig McMahon (1-3), Shane Harkin, Padraig Glynn, Eoghan Donnellan, LiamMeaney
Subs
Eoin Glynn for P Glynn (16 mins), Kieran McCarthy for Sheehan (33 mins, inj)
Man of the Match
Padraic Collins (Cratloe) Referee Michael Rock (Ennistymon)