This article is from page 71 of the 2011-06-07 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 71 JPG
Cratloe 2-11 – Shannon Gaels 2-09 at Cusack Park, Ennis
CRATLOE were forced to dig deep to take all two points from a tense and compelling encounter with Shannon Gaels on Saturday.
Michael Coughlan’s 60th minute free looked to have rescued a share of the spoils for the Gaels but Cratloe came again.
Last season’s quarter-finalists forced a free a minute into injury time. The ever-reliable Cathal McInerney converted his eighth placed ball of the evening before Sean Collins slotted over the insurance point a minute later.
It was hard luck on the Gaels who had done enough to earn at least a point.
Carefully guarding possession, they defended with purpose and concentration to restrict Cratloe to just three points from play. John Neylon, Michael O’Donoghue and Michael Coughlan were instrumental throughout while at full-forward John Paul O’Neill caused Barry Duggan plenty of worrying moments before the Clare full-back was withdrawn through injury in the second half.
Still there was greater movement and menace about Cratloe, particularly when Padraic Collins and McInerney had the ball in their hands. And when possession was paramount in those tense final minutes, Conor Ryan manfully stepped up with a couple of important takes in midfield.
Cratloe made the brighter start, edging 0-3 to 0-1 ahead by the tenth minute before some loose defending by both full-back lines allowed for a flurry of goals.
McInerney bisected two Gaels jerseys to find Padraic Collins who drove low to the net in the 14th minute. Seconds later, a weak Cratloe clearance was hacked back towards goal by John Paul O’Neill where Noel Kennedy was left with an easy finish. Cratloe went one better in the 17th minute when Sean Collins’ high ball evaded Tomás Madigan and fell to McInerney who made no mistake from close range. That left Cratloe 2-3 to 1-1 ahead but the Gaels slowly but surely reeled them in. The hard working Coughlan kicked two frees before Cathal O’Neill’s foray forward from corner-back was rewarded with a point. Another Coughlan free levelled the game but McInerney hit back with another placed ball to give Cratloe a slender 2-4 to 1-6 lead at half time. The second half would be an even closer affair. After another McInerney free, John Paul O’Neill applied a goal scoring finish to a well-worked Gaels attack. Coughlan and McInerney continued their private place kicking duel before Cratloe sneaked 2-9 to 2-7 ahead in the 57th minute. Coughlan tied the game again with two more frees, the second of which had its roots in a mighty catch from Kennedy. A draw looked on the cards but Cratloe had other ideas and take their first big step towards reaching the business end of the championship once more.