Category: Sport

Clondegad 1-10 – Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-09 at Cooraclare

THE DREAMS of generations of Clondegad followers were finally realised on Sunday as the intermediate side’s long held tussle for the Talty Cup was surmounted. The victory bridged a 67-year gap to the last Clondegad side led by Flan McCarthy to secure the crown but really it is only in recent seasons that their love-hate relationship with the trophy really ignited. Final defeats in 2004, ’06 and last year’s loss to St Breckan’s left them wondering if they would ever reached the promised land of senior football but through sheer persistence and determination, they eventually got over the line.

And that’s essentially what was needed on a day when the pressure piled upon their shoulders certainly had an effect as they led from start to finish without ever putting away their opponents. However, getting over the line by whatever means possible was Clondegad’s only concern and in that regard, Tony Kelly’s 46th minute goal must go down as one of the most important in the club’s history.

Of course, Kilmurry Ibrickane being the ferocious competitiors they are pushed them all the way and never made it a comfortable journey for the champions elect. And if Tony Kelly hadn’t finally converted that goal, one wonders how this game would have actually turned out. Kilmurry Ibrickane knew that if the game was still in the melting pot in the final quarter, they had the experience to cause an upset and they certainly lived up to that reputation as Kelly’s goal was sandwiched by five Kilmurry points that left supporters chewing their nails right up to the final whistle.

Clondegad deserved their victory however as they were by far the more creative side over the hour, even if they were hampered in their progress by 12 wides and three missed goal opportunities.

Kilmurry Ibrickane were fully aware of the scoring prowess of Gary Brennan, Padraig McMahon, Brian Carrigg and Tony Kelly and so counteracted that by playing Thomas Lernihan as a sweeper, just as they had done to great effect in the second half of the semi-final against O’Curry’s when facing into a gale.

The gale was all on the playing side in the opening ten minutes as Clondegad hit the ground running with all four aforementioned attacking protagonists heavily involved. Tony Kelly picked out Gary Brennan for the opening score inside the first minute, the county senior doubled that advantage a minute later following a foul on McMahon while further scores for McMahon, Carrigg and Kelly opened up a 0-5 to 0-1 lead by the tenth minute.

The game appeared to be getting away from Kilmurry Ibrickane but they duly packed the defence and with chief marksmen Odran O’Dwyer and Adrian Murrihy often the only forwards in the Clondegad half, they finally got a footing in the game. Points from O’Dwyer and Murrihy closed the gap to two by the turn of the opening quarter while frustrating Clondegad at the other end when pressuring them into five successive wides.

Clondegad did finally emerge from that malaise to pick off scores from McMahon and Gary Brennan but by half’s end, another Murrihy score left only a goal between the sides at 0-7 to 0-4.

Again Clondegad flew out of the blocks on the restart, led by the inspirational Kieran Browne, without ever wrestling clear of a stubborn Kilmurry side. Gary Brennan did knock over a free in the 33rd minute but two further wides along with three missed chances in front of goal ensured that they would not ease clear. Shane Brennan put Padraig McMahon through on goal only to be smothered by the brave goalkeeping of David Talty who had to succumb to a head injury and be replaced by Darren Sexton.

If Clondegad thought that the replacement goalkeeper would weaken Kilmurry’s resolve, they were to be sorely mistaken as Sexton produced an even better stop to somehow deny Tony Kelly, only three minutes after his introduction. So when Shane Brennan’s goalbound shot was blocked by Thomas Greene in the 40th minute, Clondegad must have wondered what they had to do to get a goal.

They did finally break their nine minute scoring deadlock with another Gary Brennan free but Kilmurry Ibrickane took inspiration from their dogged defending and brought the lead back to three through the unerring accuracy of Odran O’Dwyer who rattled off two points within a minute by the turn of the final quarter.

Kilmurry began to believe once more which made Tony Kelly’s goal a minute later all the more significant after good work from Gearoid

Bride Rovers 1-13 – Shannon Gaels 4-02 at Sean Tracey Park, Tipperary Town

SHANNON Gaels’ Munster club campaign was brought to an end on Saturday when they went down by two points to a fine Bride Rovers side in a keenly contested Intermediate semi-final at Tipperary Town. While the east Cork side registered fourteen scores to Shannon Gaels six and were the better team overall, much credit has also to be given to Shannon Gaels who played with great passion and were right in this contest up to the final whistle courtesy of their four goals.

The Clare Intermediate champions couldn’t have asked for a better start. Colette Corry won the throw-in and found Sarah Bohannon who in turn shot towards Bride Rovers goal. Her effort came back out off the crossbar and in raced Edel Dillon to boot it to the net all inside 30 seconds.

The impressive Sinead Walsh got the Cork side off the mark while in the eighth minute, Sarah Bohannon scored a second Shannon Gaels goal when her free went all the way to the top right after Michelle Madigan had been fouled on the 30 me- tre line at the end of a fine Shannon Gaels move. Elaine Dee replied with a point for Bride Rovers before a foul by Adrienne Nugent gave away a penalty which Sinead Walsh made no mistake with. The Cork side dominated the next 15 minutes in terms of scores adding three points while they also kicked seven wides to the Gaels’ two in the opening half. Grace Lynch was introduced for Ger Corry in the 18th minute and despite carrying an injury, she made a telling contribution. Four minutes from half-time, she rattled the net when expertly finishing a move that put the Gaels back in the lead and Sarah Bohannon pointed to see the Clare side lead 31 to 1-5 at the interval, much to the delight of their large following.

A feature of Shannon Gaels game was their workrate with Maryruth Neylon, Helena Flanagan, Susan Neylon and Adrienne Nugent particularly impressive in defence while Colette Corry and Sarah Bohannon really worked hard with the latter covering a lot of ground. Michelle Madigan and Carmel Bohannon all played their part but needed a better supply up front. The win against Clashmore of Waterford in the quarter-final definitely boosted their confidence and they battled hard for every ball.

The second half started very like the first for Shannon Gaels and Grace Lynch scored her second goal when she perfectly connected in flight to palm home her team’s fourth goal. Five points ahead, it was a pity that Shannon Gaels could not capitalise on this lead. Bride Rovers didn’t panic however and gradually, by kicking point after point they kicked seven unanswered scores, one from Colette Hogan, three from the impressive Grace Kearney, an All Ireland medal winner with Cork six days earlier, and three frees from Sinead Walsh to lead by two.

With three minutes of normal time remaining, Lynch pointed a Gaels free but Grace Kearney had the final say with her fifth point from play as her side held on for a deserved two point win despite playing the last ten minutes with fourteen players due to the sin-binning of wing-back Caroline Broderick for a high tackle on Colette Corry.

The season is now over for Shan- non Gaels and while they will be disappointed not to have reached the Munster Intermediate Final, they will look back on the year with satisfaction as they finally captured the county title and will look forward to playing senior championship football next year. Incidentally, Bride Rovers will play St. Ailbee’s of Limerick in the final on October 16.

Shannon Gaels
Serana Carmody, Eilis Moran, Maryruth Neylon, Imelda Kennedy, Helena Flanagan, Susan Neylon, Adrienne Nugent, Colette Corry, Kate O’Brien, Croidhe Glynn, Sarah Bohannon (1-1f), Michelle Madigan, Edel Dillon (1-0), Carmel Bohannon (Capt.), Ger. Corry

Subs
Grace Lynch (2-1 1f) for G. Corry (18 mins), Carla Beehan for Glynn (HT), G. Corry for Dillon

Bride Rovers
CatrionaVaughan, Emma O’Keeffe (capt.),Arlene O’Callaghan, Bridget Forde, Niamh Barry,Annette Raher, Caroline Broderick, Michelle McAteer, Jennifer Barry (0-1), Grace Kearney (0-5), Elanor Ahern, Colette Hogan (0-1), Jennifer Cahill, Elaine Dee (0-1), SineadWalsh (1-5 3f, 1-0 pen)

Subs
Sinead O’Driscoll for Cahill, Mary Hazelwood for O’Keeffe

Referee
Sean Joy (Kerry)

CLONDEGAD captain Gary Brennan summed it up best in his speech by stating that he had to take a second look at the cup to make sure it wasn’t all a dream. It wasn’t a dream, it was finally reality for Clondegad after the nightmare of recent finals and for Brennan, it was difficult to put his feelings into words.

“It’s hard to to be honest because it hasn’t really sunk in yet. I’m just absolutely delighted. We’ve put a lot of work into it and I suppose it’s relief more than anything because we really felt we had a chance and if we had been beaten today, I suppose it would have been really hard to come back again. So I suppose we are relieved but also absolutely delighted.”

Relief because they never really put Kilmurry Ibrickane away at any stage despite holding the larger share of possession and chances.

“I wouldn’t say we were nervous coming into the game. We felt quite calm and confident, and not over confident at the same time, but look games go that way. Kilmurry are a fantastic club with a great pedigree and a lot of those players have won county championships and Munster championships so they don’t give up easy and were never going to give in.

“We were coming under severe pressure but the goal just pushed us ahead again and made it that bit harder for them to come back.”

And with Brennan leading a very young squad into top flight action next year, did he feel that this maturing crop could blossom at senior level?

“We won’t worry about blossoming yet,” he says with a smile, “we will worry about surviving to start with and we’ll see where we go from there. But look, there is great work going on in the club, a lot of good young players coming through and hopefully we can start building ourselves as a senior club but it will be all about survival to start with.”

CLUB commitments and championship structures are a barrier between Clare and success at senior intercounty hurling, outgoing manger Ger ‘Sparrow’ O’Loughlin told club delegates when giving a detailed report on his two-year as county senior manager.

In his wide-ranging comments on the state of Clare senior hurling as he hands over the management reins to fellow All-Ireland winner Davy Fitzgerald, O’Loughlin urged clubs to “look at the bigger picture” to help the flagship hurling team in the county prepare properly for the Munster championship and All-Ireland.

This, said O’Loughlin, demands a more streamlined and smaller county senior championship, while he also hammered home the need for the county senior manager to be given a two-month lead-in to the Munster championship, which would be free of county championship fixtures.

The two-time All-Ireland winner said that progress could can only be achieved as senior inter-county level “if we continue to work hard at all levels and the co-operation of clubs will have a significant bearing on this.

“I cannot stress loud enough that the incoming management must be given the most important months of May and June to prepare the team for what is their most important time at championship,” said O’Loughlin.

“We cannot have a situation that I faced this year when two rounds of the senior hurling championship was played in mid-May, which ultimately brought the Clare preparation to a halt and out of these two games we got four injuries, whereby we lost two players for the rest of the season and the other two could hardly train up to the week before the Tipperary game,” he added.

And, O’Loughlin said that a restructuring of the county championship by way culling eight clubs from the senior grade – a figure that represents 40 per cent of senior clubs – and re-grading them intermediate was his radical blueprint to benefit club and county hurling.

“I firmly believe we need to reduce the number of senior teams in Clare from 20 down to 12 and start playing mid-week championship matches over a shorter period of time,” he said.

“There is no doubt that we have not got 20 senior teams capable of playing to a decent senior level and we would be best served with a more competitive senior championship. We need to look at the bigger picture for once and for all to see what’s best going forward for Clare hurling,” he added.

THE old ‘if you enlist, you must drill’ quote sprang to mind on Sunday as Clondegad manager Dermot Coughlan was placed in the unenviable position of having to face his native side in the intermediate final. On any other day, he would have been roaring on Kilmurry Ibrickane but after four years in charge of Clondegad that had seen the club come so close, no more so than last year’s final defeat to St Breckan’s, Coughlan had to prioritise head over heart to get his side over the line.

“To be honest we are delighted. There were a lot of near misses down through the years and I suppose you wonder is your day ever going to come. I knew playing Kilmurry Ibrickane, my own club, that they had experience and they knew how to win. I knew it would go down to the wire and I said during the week that whoever got the breaks on the day would take it and I suppose we got the breaks today and maybe that was the difference in the end.

“The thing about is that we were creating. Against St Breckan’s last year, we didn’t create and I felt that today we were creating enough chances but never putting them away. But you always feel that some of those chances would eventually go your way and it duly did when Tony Kelly got onto the end of the move to stick it in the back of the net and give the breathing space to bring us home.”

They needed all that breathing space against an obstinate Kilmurry Ibrickane second string that never said die over the hour and who better than Coughlan to sum up the spirit of his own club.

“You don’t win two Munster clubs, six Under 21’s, four minor and five county senior championships in the last nine or ten years by giving in and they brought that philosophy onto the field today. You could see the five or six very experienced players they had. But look it, a two point lead or a 12 point lead for us made no difference because they [Kilmurry Ibrickane] were always going to fight it out to the finish.”

However, Coughlan’s highly emotional week was not just confided to football matters.

“I have to say on a personal note, it was a tough week. I lost a fatherin-law, a good friend of mine, Tom Mc [Namara] so I was delighted we could do it today down in his home club. It was an emotional week I suppose and I’m just delighted it worked out for us in the finish.”

So after making the breakthrough, what will senior football hold for Clondegad according to their manager.

“I always said it is harder to come up out of intermediate than it is to survive at senior. Any team that has gone down have never gone straight back up. Some have taken seven or eight years so if it was that easy, why aren’t the senior teams going straight back up?

“It’s a dogfight down there and you probably have a bit more breathing space and play with a bit more freedom in your football at senior.”

With the shackles of intermediate football finally broken off, Clondegad and Coughlan will relish the prospect of pitting their wits against the very best in Clare for 2012.

HEATED exchanges erupted at Tuesday’s monthly meeting of the county’s Gaels with chairman Michael O’Neill accused by one delegate of getting “personal” when issuing a trenchant challenge to anyone who questioned his commitment to confronting the football crisis within the county.

The fires of controversy were stoked by Doonbeg delegate Michael Neenan, who called on Michael O’Neill – who admitted that Clare football was “at rock bottom” – to lead the way by giving a commitment to institute a Director of Football post within Clare.

“You have to front it Mr Chairman,” said Neenan. “What has happened over the last ten years is not working. I think we should be putting in place a Director of Football and starting at the ground level up and doing proper coaching,” blasted the outspoken delegate. “We should take lead from the Tipperarys in football and the Dublins in hurling and look at it from that point. We have to take it seriously. A Director of Football should be immediately set up to look at the standard of football. We have too look at it more deeply. “We need proper coaching at ground level up and full backing from the county board. We have to over the next four to five years put a plan in place and working with a plan and everybody working together and people who are genuine about bringing Clare football to the top again. “Chairman, are you going to look into and put in place a Director of Football, putting proper structures in place at ground level, proper coaching done. It’s going to cost money and the clubs will have to raise money for that.

“Unless we do that we are fooling ourselves. We will be here next year talking about the same thing. If this is not addressed we are going to go further down the ladder. I am proposing that,” added Neenan.

“I honestly believe because of the financial implications it’s not a proposal we can take,” the county chairman responded.

“If you’re not serious about if Mr Chairman, we are not going to get off the ground,” responded Neenan. “Will you put a Director of Football in place? he added.

“No. I will work towards it. I’m not giving a commitment here tonight that I would put a Director of Football in place,” said O’Neill.

“Will you outline to the meeting here tonight how you’re going to go about it?” said Neenan hitting back.

“No. I won’t outline it,” responded O’Neill before saying “I want to tease it out to see what we can do”.

“But Mr Chairman we’re at rock bottom,” said Neenan.

“I couldn’t agree with you more,” said O’Neill, “but have I all the answers tonight? I don’t think so”.

“What are you afraid of about putting a Director of Football in place,” said Neenan.

“I’m not one bit afraid of anything, until we have the groundwork done and to make sure it’s the way to go and that we have the funding in place to pay that person. You can’t come in here blandly and say that we put a Director of Football in place. End of story. Michael O’Neill as chairman cannot do that.”

“This is where it can be put in place,” retorted Neenan.

“It can be discussed here tonight and can work towards it over the next couple of months. If we can come up with the finance and if it’s the right thing to do, it is part of the way forward,” admitted O’Neill.

“There is a better structure in place for the hurling,” said Neenan , “and it annoys me and it sickens me to think, why are we afraid to go down that road for the football. You have to take it seriously,” he added.

“I take exception to you saying I’m not taking it seriously,” said a visibly angry O’Neill. “If I’m not taking it seriously get me to hell out of here at the December meeting and come up to this table yourself, but you’ll have a job to get up here. I can assure you that.”

“There’s no need to get personal about it,” said Neenan, before the chairman claimed that the work is being done with football in the county. “We have worked very hard,” he said. “A lot of work has gone on on the ground. It won’t reap rewards for some years to come. There is an awful lot of good working going on in the county with football.

“Maybe a Director of Football is the way to go. I don’t disagree with you on that, but I’m not going to say blandly here that we are going down that route until we tease it our properly. What ever will be changed will be changed here by the clubs. It won’t be changed by me,” the chairman concluded.

MICHÉAL McDermott is prepared to walk away from Clare football if county board delegates feel that he’s not the man to lead the county senior team into the 2012 season.

McDermott first became involved with Clare teams in 1996 under John O’Keeffe’s senior management reign and has now put it up to delegates to decide if he’s still the right man for the senior job.

“Is it time for change?,” he asked delegates. “That’s for people in the room here tonight. If you feel there’s change needed, so be it. If I’m not the man to bring forward Clare football for one more year, so be it.

“I will walk away with my hand held high and say that I’ve given it everything and I couldn’t have given it anymore. The long and short of it is that it’s up to you guys to decide. Is Michéal McDermott the man to bring Clare forward? If I am, I would be proud to do it and would give 100 per cent.

“If it’s decided that Michéal McDermott isn’t the man to bring Clare forward, I have no problem in walking away and saying fine, so be it. I’ll say I gave it my best shot. I’ll say I thought I did what was right and I’m never going to fall out with anybody over football.

“I’m living in Clare for 15 years. I have given time for Clare juniors, to Clare under 21s and seniors. What I do is I love football. Without football I don’t know what I’d be doing.

“For my two years with the Clare football team, I’ve done everything in my power to try and bring success, not for Michéal McDermott, not for these men at the top table, but for the players,” McDermott added in his impassioned appeal to win the backing of county board delegates.

And, in making his case for a third year in charge, McDermott has forecast that success is around the corner for Clare – citing the DNA of current Clare players, their commitment to the cause and the ageing profile of the Kerry team as rays of hope for the future.

“People will say league was a disaster for Clare this year,” said McDermott, “but if anything I think we played better football this year in the league than we did the previous year but we didn’t get results.

“What ever people say about Clare football, it’s not as bad, if the breaks would only come our way. If we had every player out there of the quality that’s out there, willing to give everything to Clare, it would be brilliant.

“Most of all you want to have 25 or 26 players who have the DNA to give everything for Clare football. That’s what it’s all about. It’s about the players, to have a bit of pride.

“There is no given right to come out of Division 4. Every game is like an All-Ireland final. It’s a rat-race to get out. They are so close to coming out of Division 4, if a couple of breaks go our way. That’s what we need. We are not far off the mark.

“At the present moment Cork and Kerry are strong but things could level out. Look at the Kerry team this year – five of their six backs are over 30 years of age.

“There is not the same conveyor belt of talent coming through in Kerry. They could be coming down to a level.”

MONALEEN! To be or not to be? That is the question.

To be manager of the Limerick City club in 2011 as they chase down their fourth county senior football title since 2002?

Or not to be manager of the Limerick City club in 2011 in tandem with being manager of the Clare football team?

This elephant in a room full of county board delegates was broached towards the end of last Tuesday’s September monthly meeting of Clare GAA by Kilrush Shamrocks representative Colm Browne.

“Do you think it is appropriate that the manager of the Clare team should be managing a club team in a neighbouring county,” asked Browne of outgoing manager Michéal McDermott.

“I take your point on board,” responded McDermott, “but number one I was never manager of Monaleen. When I was appointed manager of Clare back in October 2009 and was ratified by the delegates in this room, at that time I was manager of Kilmurry Ibrickane and it wasn’t an issue then.

“As regards as where my commit- ments lie. Kilmurry Ibrickane had an All-Ireland final on March 17 (2010), the first in their history. On that Wednesday we played in an All-Ireland final, the previous weekend we played in a Division 4 match against London in Ruislip.

“When I was manager of Kilmurry Ibrickane it wasn’t an issue. During the year when I was manager of Clare I was asked to help out Monaleen, because they had lost their manager. I said I would because a good friend of mine was involved. I ended up doing a favour for a fella and I don’t have it in my heart to say no. That’s me. I enjoy football six, seven nights a week. Should that be taken away from me?, he asked.

However, Browne responded by saying “it’s different, you were actually the incumbent (with Clare) when you were appointed to Monaleen.”

“My commitment never waned when I was involved in Monaleen,” retorted McDermott. “When I was appointed day one I was with Kilmurry Ibrickane and it never affected my performance with Clare.

“Anthony Cunningham managed Galway under 21 hurlers to an AllIreland final and won. On Sunday he’s manager of Garrycastle in the Westmeath senior football championship. Pat Flanagan is manager of Westmeath football team, he is also manager of Clara who are in the Offaly football final.

“If I had felt my responsibility with Clare and not given 100 per cent I would be the first to put my hands up. My involvement with Monaleen did not detract whatsoever from my commitment to Clare.

“I was never manager and despite being quoted in media circles I am not manager – I’m there helping out, but I never missed a training session with Clare, I never missed a gym session with Clare. I give 100 per cent to Clare. It wasn’t an issue when I was appointed day one.”

Shannon Olympic 0 – Castleisland 3 at Olympic Park, Shannon

SHANNON Olympic suffered a defeat at the hands of a strong Castleisland side, in the 1st round of the FAI Junior Cup at the weekend.

Played on Saturday afternoon, at the request of the visitors, Castleisland started the better and were ahead after 18 minutes when midfielder, James Hanafin, swivelled on a dropping ball in the Olympic box to volley a lovely goal into the bottom right hand corner of the goal.

The home side played a little better after conceding and were unlucky not to equalise in the 43rd minute when Ray Quigley shot over from 25yds.

Castleisland doubled their lead just 2 minutes into the second half when John McGaley had his free kick come off the upright to allow Aidan Callaghan to tap home from 5yds. It was a bitter goal to swallow as the tall front man seemed to be several yards offside when the free was taken.

Olympic bravely fought to get back into the game and on 57 minutes they managed to cut the margin when the ever impressive midfielder Ray Quigley saw his shot from 16yds find the goal off a Castleisland defender.

The home side continued to attack but were unable to find the equaliser, despite Castleislands influential midfielder Denis Collins being shown a straight red for a dangerous tackle on Olympic’s Sean O’Connor.

In the 88th minute all of Olympic’s hopes were dashed when a lovely free from Castleisland’s Sean Óg Kirwan curled in from the right wing and bounced teasingly in the Olympic 6 yard box for Vinny Murphy to tap home.

So it’s the Kerry side that advance to the next round, meeting Rathkeale of the Desmond league.

Shannon Olympic
Gary McGettrick, David Collins, Pa Fahy, Karl Fogarty, Ian Hogan, Ciaran Keane, Donncadh Kelly, Ray Quigley, John Ryan, Deaglan McDonald, Jason Regan.

Subs
Sean O’Connor, Kieran Lake, Eamonn O’Neill, Richie Hanly, John Keogh.

Castleisland
Kevin Moran, Donnacha Ryan, John McGaley, Shane Loughlin, Mike McCarthy, Paul Carmody, Sean Óg Kirwan, Mike Hanfin,Aidan Callaghan, Denis Collins, ColmMurphy.

Sixmilebridge 0-17 – Inagh/Kilnamona 0-15 at Cusack Park, Ennis

THERE were some very ugly scenes with hurleys flying and men going to ground before and after the final whistle when Cathal Lafferty saw red for Inagh/Kilnamona, but clichéd as it may read, it wasn’t really that kind of game.

Yeah it was tough, edgy even as a pumped up Combo thundered into the ‘Bridge as if there were 15 Tony Carmodys in saffron and blue, but Christy Chaplin’s emerging side didn’t flinch, gave as good as they got and came out the other end of a pulsating encounter by two points to edge closer to a first county final appearance in nine years.

It’s too simplistic to say that it went the ‘Bridge’s way because of a missed Inagh/Kilnamona goal chance at a crucial stage – but certainly a goal could have made all the difference to the Combo in the second half in their valiant efforts to reel a ‘Bridge side that always kept their noses in front.

In a game of few goal chances, the one that presented itself to Conor Tierney in the 39th minute was a potential turning point. Inagh/Kilnamona were trailing by 0-12 to 0-10 at the time, but opportunity knocked when Cathal Lafferty put Tierney through, and with Derek Fahy advancing he snatched his shot into the side netting with a goal at his mercy.

There were still 20 minutes left, but a goal would have really thrown down the gauntlet to the ‘Bridge, but as it was Inagh/Kilnamona who were always chasing the game in the sec- ond half once points inside the first minute of the second half from Seadna Morey and Shane Golden fired the championship favourites into a 0-10 to 0-8 lead.

Inagh/Kilnamona had their chances in the first half too when playing with the breeze. An even opening saw the sides level on four occasions inside the first 15 minutes before points by Ger Arthur and Conor Tierney edged Inagh/Kilnamona 0-6 to 0-4 clear by the 18th minute.

By this stage Tony Carmody had been shunted from centre-forward to full-forward and back again, but each time he was met with fire as Inagh/ Kilnamona relished his presence on the field and were playing the better hurling as a result.

However, when failing to press home this advantage on the scoreboard the ‘Bridge played the masterstroke of substituting the injured Carmody in the 24th minute and for a few minutes, at least, the passion ebbed from Inagh/Kilnamona’s play and allowed the ‘Bridge pounce for three points.

Two came from the livewire Danny Morey who hit four points in the half and another via a Niall Gilligan free as the ‘Bridge moved 0-7 to 0-6 clear. Niall Arthur stopped the rot with a 65 before Seadna Morey and Cathal Lafferty swapped points in the final minute to leave matters delicately poised at 0-8 apiece at the break.

What followed was essentially a game of cat and mouse – the ‘Bridge buttressed themselves with those early points from Seadna Morey and Shane Golden; Inagh/Kilnamona plugged away thanks to Niall Arthur who hit four points in the first ten minutes of the half, but all the while it was just to keep in touch.

For each of Arthur’s strikes there was a ‘Bridge riposte with Caimin Morey, Niall Gilligan and Rory Shanahan on the mark as they maintained their two-point advantage with 20 minutes remaining.

A scoreline of 0-13 to 0-11 in the ‘Bridge’s favour became 0-15 to 013 after the Arthurs swapped points with John Fennessy and Jamie Shanahan by the 50th minute. A brilliant point by Fennessy in the 53rd minute looked to be decisive but back came Niall Arthur with two more by the 58th minute, while Ger Arthur missed a great chance to level matters in the 59th.

A let-off for the ‘Bridge, with their escape confirmed when Danny Morey hit his fifth from play in the 61st minute.

All that was left was the agro. And plenty of it, with county secretary Pat Fitzgerald and PRO Syl O’Connor intervening to try and broker peace between the warring factions on the field.

Sixmilebridge
Derek Fahy (6),Tadhg Keogh (7),Aidan Quilligan (7), Paul Fitzpatrick (7), Barry O’Connor (7), Padraig Fitzpatrick (7), Robert Conlon (7), Shane Golden (7) (0-1), John Fennessy (8) (0-2), Seadna Morey (7) (0-2),Tony Carmody (6), Caimin Morey (7) (0-1), Jamie Shanahan (7) (0-2), Niall Gilligan (7) (0-3f), Danny Morey (9) (0-5).

Subs
Rory Shanahan (7) (0-1) for Carmody [24 Mins], Stephen Fleming (7) for Fahy [43 Mins],Trevor Purcell (6) for Paul Fitzpatrick [50 Mins].