This article is from page 68 of the 2011-09-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 68 JPG
Cratloe 1-10 – St Joseph’s Miltown 0-06 at Cusack Park, Ennis
A PERFORMANCE of two halves for Cratloe on Saturday who after initially struggling to break free of St Joseph’s Miltown Malbay finally found their groove to confirm a place in the knock-out stages.
For that opening 30 minutes, last season’s quarter-finalists got mired in gridlock and appeared to have trouble finding a route to navigate through.
Miltown contested well around the middle, denied Conor McGrath and Cathal McInerney the kind of space they normally thrive in and picked of a few decent points. Cratloe weren’t without their faults, particularly in their ponderous build up play.
At half time with the scores 0-3 03 apiece, the game was anybody’s. That all changed after the break once Cratloe quickened their distribution, a policy that brought the best out of Conor McGrath. After twice skinning Miltown’s full back line for two points, the full forward rocketed a shot to the net in the 42nd minute to send Cratloe six points clear. That was more or less that.
Miltown toiled away but their industry was rarely accompanied by inspiration. Even the return from America of Gordon Kelly failed to provide the spark that was sorely lacking from Miltown’s performance.
Dessie Molohan was having one of those days when it looked like he might shoot the lights out yet Miltown could not establish a regular and accurate supply chain to their talismanic full forward. Unlike Cratloe whose high standard of kick passing, as exemplified by Martin Ogie Murphy and the Collins brothers, Sean and Padraic, was one of the key differences between the sides.
Molohan did provide the opening point, shooting over from distance after neat approach work in the 1st minute.
A Cathal McInerney free leveled matters before Sean Collins powered through for a point in the 14th minute.
Overall the quality of shooting was fairly poor in the first half though there were some genuine moments of quality.
Gary Egan grabbed Miltown’s second point before Molohan caught, swiveled and curled over a sweet point in the 18th minute. A point from Sean Collins in the 28th minute ensured the sides entered the break all square.
It didn’t take long for Cratloe’s greater urgency to manifest itself on the scoreboard when action resumed.
McGrath was involved as Padraic Collins blasted over from close range as Cratloe went for the kill.
The full forward then pointed before a McInerney free and a point from substitute Padraig Chaplin pushed Cratloe 0-7 0-4 ahead.
The goal arrived seconds later and embodied the best of Cratloe’s play in the second half. Murphy’s precise pass afforded McGrath time to turn and speed past Sean Meade. Despite the Miltown man’s close attentions, McGrath kept his balance and roofed his shot from a tight angle.
Points from Michael Malone and Molohan steadied Miltown but it still looked grim for the west Clare side who were now relying on results from elsewhere and on the vagaries of score difference.
Jamie Joyce produced a firm save to deny Darragh McDonagh in the 52nd minute as points from Liam Markham and McInereney copperfastened Cratloe’s seven point victory.