This article is from page 83 of the 2009-02-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 83 JPG
THIS was a Premier v Third Divi- sion clash, one that always seemed- destined to go the favourites’ way. That’s how it turned out, but not be- fore Hermitage gave their vaunted Opponents plenty to think about in deCom baci OTD Em
In the end Burren cut loose and bagged three first half goals to kill the tie, but before that Hermitage were very much in this contest as they threw caution to the wind and
endeavoured to play good open foot- or nOR
This tactic worked in the first 20 minutes, especially down the left flank where youngsters Shane Talty and Jason Morris really caught the eye and posed numerous problems for the Burren United rearguard.
For Burren, who were playing Noe UOTSL MO SLoMUYAD ECMO DMN OSCoMN DD acim Orb N mmmIE was a case Of weathering the storm and then asserting their superiority as the game wore on. They did this on the back of some sterling defen-
sive work, particularly from Greg O’Leary, while up front the twin- strike-force of John McDonagh and Ghat Marine eventually caught fire and killed the game before half- time.
The breakthrough goal came in the 20th minute when Evan Talty’s inswinging corner from the left was met by a crashing header from Bur- ren’s Romanian striker Chat Marine. Five minutes Burren doubled their advantage when Hermitage’s keeper Brian Henegian failed to hold Evan
Talty’s shot and John McDonagh fol- lowed up to drive the rebound to the net from close range.
Burren had two penalty claims in the half — both when Evan Talty went down in the area — waved away by referee Frankie Coote, but they made it three ten minutes before the break when Ghat Marine got in behind the ‘Tage defence and fired home from 12 yards.
The second half was a matter of seeing out the game for Burren — they played with the strong breeze but apart from extending their lead to four five minutes in when Ghat Marine’s cross was headed home by John McDonagh they didn’t add to their total. The only blemish in Bur- ren’s performance came when substi- tute Liam Keane was sent off before the end.
The win tees Burren up for an all Premier Division clash against Rine- anna Rovers — their cup clash will be the fourth meeting between the sides this season. Burren edge things in league fare with a home win and an away draw from their two meetings, but Burren were the winners in their Munster Junior Cup meeting.