This article is from page 88 of the 2009-06-30 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 88 JPG
ST JOSEPH’S Doora Barefield took an important step towards retain- ing their Division One status for next year with a narrow victory over Sixmulebridge on Saturday.
The result leaves the Bridge bat- tling for survival at the foot of the table while St Joseph’s must beat Clarecastle in their final league game to aid their safety.
The Bridge could easily have won but it wasn’t too much of a surprise
that St Joseph’s eventually did.
It was that kind of topsy-turvy en- counter where both teams enjoyed periods of superiority. Both teams also stumbled and surrendered in1- tiative and momentum. After an excellent start, the home side led by three points at half time but the introduction of Cyril Crowe revital- ized the Bridge. He bagged 1-1 inside the first seven minutes of the second half as Sixmilebridge established a three point lead. St Joseph’s sent on Paul Dullaghan and Michael McNa-
mara and both made an impact. Mc- Namara scored the goal that saw St Jospeh’s reclaim the lead. Dullaghan grabbed a point and played a role in his side’s crucial fourth goal.
All this after the start time in Gur- teen was delayed by 49 minutes as both clubs awaited the arrival of the referee. When there was no sign of the appointed match referee, John Healy, both clubs were informed after a series of phonecalls that the Smith O’Briens official was away on holidays. Ruan referee Ger Lyons
eventually came to the rescue. Un- derstandably, both teams were left frustrated by the long delay.
When the shotar was finally thrown in, it was St Joseph’s who made the better start.
Conor Hassett pointed in the sev- enth minute before Declan Malone found the net after a swift exchange of handpasses between Fergal O’Sullivan and Sean McMahon.
Sixmilebridge’s first point arrived from David O’Connor in the fourth minute. The visitors were back in
contention moments later courtesy of a St Joseph’s own goal. A point from Colm Mullen and two excel- lent strikes from David Hoey kept Joseph’s ahead. Sixmilebridge stayed in touch with points from John Fen- nessy and Jonathon Downes. McMa- hon scored his second point of the day to leave St Joseph’s leading 1-7 to 1-4 at half time.
Points from Eoin Quinn and Crowe pulled the Bridge to within a point, before Crowe turned Brian Collins and buried his shot to put his side 2- 6 to 1-7 ahead.
It was all square by the 44th minute before McNamara smashed home a rebound to push Joseph’s two points clear. St Joseph’s fourth goal arrived in the 57th minute. McMahon guided the sliotar around two Bridge de- fenders before teeing up Malone for an easy tap in.,
Back came the Bridge with points from Quinn (2) and Patrick Sheehan. It left Joseph’s leading 3-11 to 2-13 before Damien Kennedy’s late goal decisively settled the outcome.