This article is from page 77 of the 2011-09-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 77 JPG
Inagh/Kilnamona 0-22 – Tubber 1-12 at Cusack Park, Ennis
SAME old, same old for Tubber as they failed to reach the quarter-final stages yet again, but for Inagh/Kilnamona it’s a case of being back in the business end once more as they showed there’s life after Tony Carmody when cruising to this sevenpoint success.
They did so on the back of their deadly accurate full-forward line of Messrs Arthur and Conor Tierney, who accounted for all but one of their points in a command performance that re-affirmed their status as real darkhorses for this championship.
Re-affirmed, because the poverty of their previous display when they were edged out 0-7 to 0-6 by Cratloe in a thoroughly forgettable affair had seen them slip down the pecking order.
Against that backdrop this was the perfect riposte by the Combo in a free-scoring performance that was up there with the best seen this term, as the free-taking prowess of Niall Arthur combined with some exquisite points from play by older brother Ger and All-Ireland under 21 winner Tierney provided the mortal blows against a brave Tubber side.
Tubber’s chance looked to be gone at half-time when they trailed by 09 to 0-5 after playing with the wind. Leaving aside their inability to cope with Tierney and Ger Arthur and coughing up frees that Niall Arthur punished, it was Tubber’s wide count that crippled them.
Seven over a half hour in which they showed very well was the story of the half, because with each shot that went astray Inagh/Kilnamona seemed more determined to punish their profligate opponents.
And so they did when turning on the gas in the closing ten minutes of the half as a couple of Niall Arthur frees to bring his tally for the half to 0-4, Tierney’s third of the half and two more Ger Arthur efforts moved them four clear at the break.
This was a very poor reflection for Tubber, for whom Blaine Earley (2), David O’Donohgue (2) and Patrick O’Connor were on the mark. However, the combination of raw spirit and a huge second half display by Patrick O’Connor ensured that this game was in the melting pot with ten minutes remaining.
Tubber posted their intentions early with a David O’Donoghue point, but it was a hat-trick of O’Connor points from distance by the 40th minute in reply to two more Niall Arthur frees and another from Tierney that teed up the prospect of a rousing final 20 minutes.
The game was delicately poised at 0-12 to 0-9 in Inagh/Kilnamona’s favour. They did move five clear thanks to Niall Arthur, with his sideline cut over the bar in the 46th minute be- ing the score of the day, but Tubber were back with a bang when Shane O’Connor drove through the middle and crashed to the net a minute later.
Patrick O’Connor’s fifth point from play in the 50th minute after Niall Arthur’s ninth seemed to herald a titanic finish. A dramatic comeback win looked possible for Tubber, but this very threat was Inagh/Kilnamona’s cue to turn on the style once more with five points in the final five minutes to finally snuff out the challenge of the Burren boys.
Of course, it was the Arthurs and Tierney show once more – the only exception coming when sub Dermot Gannon pointed in the 59th to ensure there was no clean sweep of scoring for the rampant full-forward line.