This article is from page 76 of the 2011-10-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 76 JPG
Inagh/Kilnamona 1-17 – Clonlara 3-09 at Clarecastle
INAGH/KILNAMONA’S lack of a clinical edge again proved costly on Sunday afternoon after a late Clonlara charge earned them another bite of the cherry. Five points clear with seven minutes remaining, Inagh/Kilnamona failed to close out the game and they were to be punished as a lacklustre Clonlara suddenly found a spark to almost snatch the game.
Frustratingly, Inagh/Kilnamona, for all their undoubted progress this year, still have not learned the lessons of previous campaigns when the lack of a killer instinct cost them dearly. Even in previous big games this year, against Crusheen in the drawn game of their play-off in this competition as well as the championship quarterfinal against now finalists Sixmilebridge, they failed to take the chances that they worked so hard to create.
Fortunately, an injury-time free from Ger Arthur saved their blushes on this occasion and means that they still have the chance to rectify those misgivings the next day and on the evidence of the majority of this display, they certainly are more than capable of achieving a historic final place.
They were the brighter team for the bulk of the hour even if some ambitious shooting as well as a tendency to leak goals hampered their progress. They blazed into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead by the 14th minute with corner-forwards Ger Arthur (2) and Conor Tierney causing an understrength Clonlara concern.
What would have been more concerning for Pat Conlon and his team however was the hangover from their championship exit to Kilmaley that meant they were slow to settle. But settle they did and who better than John Conlon to get them going when fielding a high delivery from Tomás O’Donovan to strike to the net from close range in the 14th minute. The county senior followed that up with a point soon afterwards and suddenly the 2009 champions found themselves 1-3 to 0-6 clear.
Inagh/Kilnamona eventually recovered from that blow to hit three unanswered points through Eamon Glynn, Tierney and the lively Ger Arthur but it was their injury-time goal that really restored their confidence. A slick move close to goal involving Ger Arthur and Eamon Glynn released the unmarked Conor Tierney at the back post to strike to the net and hand his side a 1-9 to 1-5 half-time lead.
The fact that they fully recovered from a second hammer blow midway through the second half should have spurred them on to a comfortable victory but it wasn’t as easy as that. Colm Galvin cut in from the right corner to cut Inagh/Kilnamona’s advantage to the bare minimum with a 42nd minute goal but the Combo’s reponse was admirable as they hit five out of the next six points, mainly through Ger and Niall Arthur to once again regain a five point lead by the 51st minute.
It seemed only a matter of running down the clock but out of nowhere Clonlara sprung to life, aided greatly by Tomás O’Donovan, now at fullforward, who grabbed a goal and a point in a late 1-3 purple patch. His 56th minute kicked goal was the catalyst and he also got the leading point on the hour mark to put them on the cusp of a memorable victory.
However, Inagh/Kilnamona did have enough time to stop the rot and launch one more attack and when Paul O’Looney was fouled 35 metres from goal, it was inevitably Ger Arthur who took the responsibility to give his side a second chance.
And for their continued development, it’s a chance that they simply must take.
Inagh/ Kilnamona
Patrick Kelly (7) (0-2f), Milo Keane (7), Brian Glynn (7), Dermot Lynch (7), Ronan O’Looney (7), David Hegarty (7), ColmPilkington (7), HaulieVaughan (7), Paul O’Looney (6), EoinVaughan (7), Eamon Glynn (7) (0-1), Niall Arthur (7) (0-3 2f), Ger Arthur (8) (0-8 3f, 1’65), Dermot Gannon (7) (01), Conor Tierney (7) (1-2)
Clonlara
Ger O’Connell (7), Senan Nihill (6), John Moloney (7), Shane O’Brien (6), Nicky O’Connell (7) (0-2 1f, 1’65), Paul Nihill (7), Cillian Fennessy (7), Cormac O’Donovan (7),WilliamSlattery (6), Pat O’Hare (6),Tomás O’Donovan (8) (1-1), Cathal O’Connell (7) (0-3), ColmGalvin (7) (1-0), John Conlon (8) (1-5 3f), James Hastings (6)
Subs
Jason Murphy (6) for O’Hare (HT), Oisin O’Brien (6) for Hastings (HT), Barry Moloney for S. Nihill (51 mins), Donal Madden for Galvin (58 mins)
Man of the Match
Ger Arthur (Inagh/ Kilnamona) Referee KevinWalsh (WolfeTones)