This article is from page 56 of the 2011-11-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 56 JPG
Hermitage A 1 – Burren United 1 at The Fairgreen, Ennis
IT was a case of honours even at the Fair Green on Sunday as Hermitage and Burren United battled it out for a share of the spoils.
A superb strike from Burren’s Evan Talty was cancelled out shortly before half time by Richie Fitzgerald’s tap in. Level at halftime, both sides pressed for the winner after the break. But despite the game opening up neither side could make the breakthrough. Burren’s failure to do so owed much to a couple of outstanding saves from Tage goalkeeper Joe Burke.
The Ennis side created a couple of decent chances of their own but couldn’t find the back of the net,
Tage, beaten in their opening two league games, made the brighter start. Gerry Dullaghan tested Burren goalkeeper Craig Flannagan with a couple of long-range efforts before Eoin O’Meara Daly headed over in the 18th minute.
Having pushed Avenue United all the way in last week’s extra time defeat, Burren responded to the early pressure in a positive fashion. Talty and Chris Maoczek both went close before Dan Carey’s header was tipped over the crossbar by Burke.
The visitor’s energetic spell was rewarded with a goal in the 36th minute. Decent work by Pat Connole on the right wing teed up Talty in yards of space midway inside the Tage half. With options aplenty, the midfielder elected to go for an early and powerfully hit shot that eluded Burke.
It didn’t take long for Tage to hit back. Fitzgerald latched onto Gerry Dullaghan’s precise through ball in the 40th minute. Flannagan kept out the first effort but Fitzgerald was on hand to tap in the rebound.
Burren were the better side for long periods of the second half. Yet for all their pacy approach work the north Clare team could find no way past Burke in the Hermitage goal.
Martin McDonagh’s stinging half volley drew an outstanding save from the former Lifford man who later denied the same player as the game drew to a close.
Tage had some decent moments in the latter stages but both sides had to settle for a share of the points.
Hermitage
Joe Burke, Eoin Kane, Rhys Phillips, Eoghan Ryan, Neil Mills, John Maher, Gerry Dullaghan, Sean McGhee, Eoin O’Meara Daly, Richard Fitzgerald, Paul Dullaghan
Subs
Robert Dunne for O’Meara Daly, Paul Dinan for P Dullaghan, Chris Gaulier for McGee
Burren United
Criag Flannagan, Michael Reddan, Eric Murrihy, Dan Carey, Michael Keating, EvanTalty, Pat Connole, Pat Nagle, Martin McDonagh, Chris Maoczek,Alex Garcia
Subs
Stephen Moloney for Nagle, Marine Ghiat, Mark McCarthy
Referee
Pa Gleeson