Author: admin

Tubber 1-15 – Tulla/Bodyke 1-15 at Ballyea

BALLYEA had bragging rights from the day before when they scored a comprehensive victory in the Under 21 B quarter-final, but in this Clare Cup game out Tubber showed their battling qualities when landing two injury time points to earn a deserved share of the spoils.

Deserved, because of the way Tubber rolled up their sleeves in the second half when finding themselves six points adrift to a Ballyea side that seemed to be motoring towards victory on their first day out.

The came was delicately poised at half-time with Ballyea armed with a 1-7 to 1-5 advantage after they had forged ahead early on thatnks to a Francie Neylon goal as early as the seventh minute.

Four points in a row in as many minutes between the 16th and 20th minutes from Paul Flanagan, Francie Neylon, Tony Griffin and Niall Deasy put the home side 1-5 to 0-3 clear but a Cyril Cunningham goal for Tubber in the 25th minute brought them back into the tie before the break.

Two Patrick O’Connor pointed frees to bring his tally for the half to four in response to two from play by Tony Griffin, who also hit four in the half, left the game delicately poised on the turnover.

However, Ballyea’s fast start with points from Tony Griffin, Niall Deasey (2) and Francis O’Reilly inside five minutes of the re-start put them 1-11 to 1-5 ahead and in control.

But, it was as good as it got for Ballyea, as a mini-collapse helped Tubber gain a foothold once more, so much so that points over the nest 20 minutes the north Clare side outscored the home side by 0-8 to 0-2 to bring the sides back level.

Patrick O’Connor was the scorerin-chief with five more points from placed balls, while Cyril Cunningham, Jack Neylon, Cyril Cunningham and Mark Earlie chipped in with points from play.

With the sides locked at 1-13 apiece all was to play for but Ballyea recovered their composure to hit the front again by two thanks to points from Tony Griffin and Gearóid O’Connell, only for Tubber to get their reward with points in the 63rd and 65th minutes from Jack Neylon and Patrick O’Connor respectively.

Ballyea
Shane O’Neill, Eamon Griffin, Kevin Sheehan, David Sheehan, Niall Keane, Paddy O’Connell, James Murphy, Paul Flanagan (0-2), Francis O’Reilly (0-1), Gearóid O’Connell (0-1),Alan Carrigg, Niall Deasey (0-2), Declan Keane,Tony Griffin (0-8), Francie Neylon (1-1).

Sub
Frankie Griffin for Keane.

Tubber
RonanTaaffe, Gerard Brohan, Eoin Ruane, John O’Connor,Tommy Lee, Conor Earlie (0-1), Mark Earlie, Patrick O’Connor (0-8), Clive Earlie (0-2), David O’Donoghue, Barry O’Connor, Jack Neylon (0-2), Blaine Earlie (0-1), Shane O’Connor, Cyril Cunningham(1-1).

Subs
Justin McMahon for Brohan, Fergal O’Grady for Lee, Nigel O’Donoghue for Blaine Earlie.

Man of the Match
Tony Griffin (Ballyea) Referee Fergie McDonagh (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield)

Sixmilebridge 1-17 – Clooney-Quin 2-10 at O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge

DEFENDING champions Sixmilebridge extended their Clare Cup unbeaten run to eight games on Sunday when accounting for neighbours Clooney/Quin on home soil.

It wasn’t the demolition of last year when the ‘Bridge ran out comfortable 5-19 to 1-12 victors but the ‘Bridge always appeared more likely to take the points after finish ing both halves strongly.

Indeed, the holders were 0-4 to 0-1 clear inside the opening ten minutes, with debutant Tony Carmody getting off the mark. However, they were soon on the backfoot following a Fergal Lynch point and a goal from Cathal Egan who was perfectly positioned to take advantage of a Brian Shally lineball that rebounded back off the post.

Far from panicking however, Sixmilebridge simply brushed aside that set-back and finished the half the stronger with points from David O’Connor and Caimin Morey before Danny Morey raised the green flag to give the home side a welcome 1-10 to 1-05 half-time advantage.

An early fighback from the visitors yielded a three point haul for Mike Daffy, Cathal Egan and Brian Shally but Sixmilebridge soon got back into their stride and built up a nine point lead by the 55th minute.

Clooney/Quin never gave up the ghost though and hit an unanswered 1-2 late on with county senior Fergal Lynch grabbing the goal through a 20 metre free. But it was all too little too late as Sixmilebridge had enough in the tank to prevail and maintain their unbeaten run that now stretches back over 10 months.

Sixmilebridge
Derek Fahy,Tadgh Keogh,Aidan Quilligan, Ray McNamara, Barry O’Connor, Caimin Morey (0-2 1f),Trevor Purcell, Paul Fitzpatrick, Shane Golden, David O’Connor (0-2), Niall Gilligan (0-3 1f),Tony Carmody (0-1), Danny Morey (1-1), Brian Culbert (0-4), Declan Morey (0-2)

Subs
Tommy Morey for Golden (35 mins), Pa Sheehan (0-2 1s/l) for Fitzpatrick (39 mins), Eoin Quinn for McNamara (55 mins).

Clooney- Quin
Damien O’Halloran, Joe O’Loughlin, Conor Harrison, Shane McNamara, Mike McNamara, Sean Conheady, Enda Harrison, Brian Shally (0-3 2f, 1’65), Martin Duggan, Padraig Ward (0-1), Fergal Lynch (1-1, 1-0f), Mike Daffy (04), Ronan Gallagher, Cathal Egan (1-1), Derek Ryan.

Subs
John Earls for Ryan (HT),Adrian Fleming for Gallagher (HT)

Referee
Johnnie Healy (Smith O’Brien’s).

CLARE will face the Kilkenny youths in this year’s Interleague Youths Cup semi-final in Kilkenny on Sunday and The Cla re People

KILKENNY will be favourites to beat Clare in Sunday’s Inter-League Youths semi-final, but Banner boss Mike Moloney says that travelling to the Marble City holds no fears.

And why not! Clare go into the game on the back of a hugely impressive 5-1 demolition of Galway in the quarter-final. Galway were defending champions before being shot down in Tulla’s Cragg. Now for more of the same in Kilkenny.

“Maybe some people feel the quarter-final win came out of the blue,” says Moloney, “but it was a game we prepared well for. It was a reflection of the work that the lads have done.

“We had a trial run in Tulla at the end of November against Galway when we came out of it with a draw. That gave us the confidence to compete. We felt we had worked hard in the intervening time. We didn’t see a 5-1 coming, but we knew we’d be good enough if we got the breaks on the day. It’s a matter of seeing if we can do it again and reach the final.”

It won’t be for the want of preparation. Preparation has been a byword for this group of players, not just this year but over a number of years as Moloney deflects praise by pointing to the job of journeywork being undertaken at grassroots and underage level in the county.

“We have 12 or 13 games under our belts between competitive and friendly games. That’s the type of volume of games you need if you’re going to build up something with a group of players that would only have known about playing against each other,” he says.

“There is a certain amount of experience of them being involved in emerging talent development squads from under 11 to under 16. We have been trying to develop that and build a relationship and spirit.

“We can take confidence from the fact that we know we have prepared well. We can also take confidence from the performance against Galway. In that sense we are going down there with confidence, but we’re not under any illusions about what we’re going to face.

“It’s a reflection of the work the clubs are putting in at underage level, thanks to improved facilities. There is great unseen work going on there.

“It’s also a reflection on the work that Denis Hynes is doing with the Emerging Talent Programme. They are now going into a structure whereby they taken from under 11 right up to under 16. You’d expect that there’d be a decent group of players coming through,” Moloney adds.

It’s this infrastructure that will see a confident Clare make the long journey. Quietly confident like they were against Galway the last day out.

“The sense is that when you get to a semi-final of a national competition, that there aren’t any poor sides left. Kilkenny have won the four games they’ve played so far. I had a chance to look at them when they played South Tipp about six weeks ago. I was very impressed – the speed of the game, how quickly they moved it, how they played a lot of ball to feet. We know we’re in for a hell of a game.

“The fact that we have to travel adds a little bit extra. I would see that as something we have a chance to build off. The travelling is an additional thing you factor in as being part of the day – that can be a good thing, for guys to meet early in the day, get on the bus, stop along the way, get all your preparations right and just arrive their in the right frame of mind to put in a good performance.”

Newmarket-on-Fergus 1-17 – Kilmaley 1-14 at Clarecastle

IT TOOK over 140 minutes to separate the sides but in the end, it was Newmarket who held their nerve to qualify for the last four. Much like the drawn game, both sides had their periods of dominance in an encounter that swung one way and then the next before Newmarket’s superior composure and fresher legs in extratime saw them prevail.

In addition, Newmarket simply had the better spread of scorers throughout with six different forwards getting in on the scoring action while Kilmaley were over-reliant on their two scoring forwards, Daire Keane and Mikey O’Neill.

Newmarket were quick out of the blocks and had two points on the board through Ian Cusack and Shane Liddy before Kilmaley cranked into gear. However, upon settling, Kilmaley hit six points without reply starting with a hat-trick of O’Neill frees followed by eyecatching efforts from Daire Keane in the right corner and an Eoin Enright lineball.

However, the topsy-turvy nature of the tie meant that it was Newmarket’s turn to respond pulling back three before the break and adding four more unanswered points in the third quarter to pull themselves 0-9 to 0-6 clear. In the midst of that purple patch, Kilmaley goalkeeper Bryan O’Loughlin had to make an acrobatic double stop to deny a Shane Cusack volley from close range and it would make a significant difference as Kilmaley finally broke their 30 minute scoring drought by hitting three points in as many minutes to gain parity at 0-9 apiece by the turn of the final quarter.

Newmarket again attempted to shake off their opponents with points from Tommy Griffin and Noel Frawley but after a Conor Cleary reply, for the second successive week, it was Daire Keane who levelled up the game at the end of normal time with a free.

Extra-time was a different story however as the introduction of Donagh Keogh and Liam Clancy for Newmarket saw them up the ante once more while Kilmaley increasingly looked ragged and war weary.

Shane Liddy’s 64th minute goal had Newmarket ahead by 1-14 to 014 at the midway point but despite another Keane equalising 20 metre free to the net in the 73rd minute, Newmarket simply brushed of that setback and finished strongly with points from Clancy (2) and Shane Liddy to finally book their place in the semi-final against Cratloe.

Newmarket- on- Fergus
Ian Mulcahy, Niall Garry, Niall O’Connor, Shane Kelleher,Alan McInerney, Darren O’Connor, David Liddy, Sean O’Connor (0-3 2f, 1’65), Frank Melody,Thomas Griffin (0-2), Niall Enright, Noel Frawley (0-1), Ian Cusack (0-2), Shane Cusack, Shane Liddy (1-4 3f)

Subs
LiamClancy (0-3) for Enright (48 mins), Donagh Keogh (0-2) for S. Cusack (58 mins)

Kilmaley
Bryan O’Loughlin, Martin O’Connor, Stephen Griffey, Niall McGuane, Kevin Connellan, Colin McGuane, Kevin McNamara, Eoin Enright (0-1 s/l), Conor Cleary (0-1), Michael Pyne, Enda Finucane, John Cabey, Michael O’Neill (0-8 6f), Daire Keane (1-4 1-2f), Shane Darcy

Subs
Eoin Fitzgerald for Connellan (26 mins), Killian McNamara for Darcy (43 mins), Paul Kennedy for Cabey (43 mins), Sean Hayes for Pyne (60 mins), Michael Pyne for McNamara (60 mins), John Cabey for Cleary (ET)

Man of the Match
Darren O’Connor (Newmarket- on- Fergus) Referee Ger Hoey (Killanena)

St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 3-11 – Smith O’Brien’s 2-12 at O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge

A LESSON in finishing and composure as St Joseph’s made the most of their scoring chances to advance to the semi-finals. Defensive errors allowed Doora/Barefield to raid for two opportunistic first half goals in the space of five minutes and it had a huge bearing on the game as therafter, Smith O’Brien’s concentrated all their efforts on obtaining goals instead of picking off their points which proved a costly error in the end.

Much credit must go to St Joseph’s back seven as much as their attack for this latest result for stopping three 20 metre frees as well as smothering numerous attacks over the hour. Central to that miserly rearguard was Alan O’Neill who had a superb hour for the Parish at the centre of the defence and the Killaloe side found it extremely difficult to curb his influence.

A much more physical St Joseph’s side started the brighter, pulling 0-3 to 0-1 clear by the fifth minute through Shane O’Connor (2) and Jarlath Colleran. Smith O’Brien’s eventually settled and upon taking the lead solely through the stick of Kevin Walsh, they appeared to be taking control of the game before being hit with the first sucker-punch in the 20th minute.

An Alan O’Neill long range free wasn’t cleared and the ball broke inside for Ian Lyons to instinctly kick past onrushing goalkeeper Jason Monaghan for the opening goal. Micheál Ryan pulled a point back immediately for Smith O’Brien’s but they were soon on the backfoot once more when Niall Collin’s innocuous effort from 30 metres bounced past Monaghan to extend St Joseph’s lead at 2-5 to 0-5.

That six point advantage was maintained at the break (2-6 to 0-6) after Kevin Walsh’s 20 metre free was stopped while Ben Hynes follow-up drifted wide and there was futher frustration on the resumption as a Micheál Ryan 20 metre free was saved by Mikey Roseingrave while Luke Hession also had a goal opportunity but failed to connect with an aerial pull.

That obsession with finding the net certainly hampered Smith O’Brien’s and the difference in finishing was magnified when St Joseph’s hit on the counter-attack for Barry Millane to grab a third goal in the 41st minute.

Again Smith O’Brien’s rallied but had another Walsh 20 metre free stopped before finally making the breakthrough in the 44th minute through substitute Christopher Monaghan. However, St Joseph’s stubborn defence ensured that the margin would remain at five until another substitute Barry Power scored a consolation goal for Smith O’Brien’s with the last puck of the game. It is St Joseph’s who march on however and they will now play Ballyea in the semi-final in two week’s time.

St Joseph’s Doora/ Barefield
Mikey Roseingrave, Niall Hassett, Steven Collins, Darragh Murphy, Eamonn Clohessy,Alan O’Neill, Liam Clohessy, Jarlath Colleran (0-1), Leo Duggan, Niall Collins (1-0), Donal Fanning, Niall DeLoughery (0-3), Barry Millane (1-1), Shane O’Connor (0-6 3f), Ian Lyons (1-0)

Subs
Declan Meehan for L. Clohessy (HT), Cathal Duggan for Fanning (45 mins),Aaron Landy for Meehan (51 mins), Eoin Hennessy for N. Collins (60 mins)

Smith O’Brien’s
Jason Monaghan, Cian Nolan, Mark McInerney,Alan Lyons, Noel Howard, Mark Stritch (0-2 1f, 1’65), Kevin McEvoy, David Gough, Mark O’Halloran (0-1), Cian Moloney, Dean Sinnott, KevinWalsh (0-8 5f), Luke Hession, Micheál Ryan (0-1), Ben Hynes

Subs
Noel McInerney for Hynes (HT), Christopher Monaghan (1-0) for Moloney (HT), Barry Power (1-0) for Gough (49 mins)

Man of the Match
Alan O’Neill (St Joseph’s D/ Barefield) Referee Ger Lyons (Ruan)

Ballyea 2-19 – Tubber 1-10 at Ruan

BALLYEA are closing in on another under 21 title, two years after they last won the title in this grade. Standing in their way in the semi-final are St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield after the black and amber scored a comprehensive over disappointing Tubber side on Saturday afternoon.

All down to new county minor captain Tony Kelly, who followed up his virtuoso performance in the first round when his tally of 2-10 put reigning champions Wolfe Tones to the sword with another man-of-thematch display.

This time the midfielder accounted for 1-10, with his brilliant 28th minute goal putting Ballyea on the road to victory. That strike, from a very difficult angle, followed up three earlier points and helped Ballyea forge a 1-9 to 0-6 interval lead.

Up to that point it was an even affair with Tubber, thanks to the immense display of Patrick O’Connor at centre-back stayed in the ball game. O’Connor hit five of Tubber’s first half total from frees, Ballyea never looked back after Kelly’s strike.

They were the more evenly balanced team, with Niall Deasy’s contribution of 0-5 from play being also crucial to their cause as they eased to a 12-point win. Points by Conor Clancy and Patrick O’Connor from play early in the second half did reduce the margin to four points, while O’Connor’s goal in the 37th put the game back in the melting pot once more as the margin was down to two points.

However, from there Ballyea kicked on once more as points from Deasy, Paul Flanagan and Cathal Doohan by the 40th settled them once more, while Kelly resumed his scoring spree in the last 15 minutes when adding five more to his total.

Any lingering hopes Tubber may have had of launching a last-ditch rally were extinguished on 55 minutes when Paudge McMahon struck for Ballyea’s second goal as they stretched their lead into double figures.

CLARE ARE now top of the Division 3 table after six rounds and will play second placed Fermanagh in the final round on Saturday at a Clare venue at 4.45pm.

Clare were disappointed at the news on Sunday morning of a walk over from Longford. Longford are bottom of the table without any points and are scheduled to travel to Limerick for the final round on Sunday.

With the top four teams contesting the finals on April 16/17 Clare’s most likely opponents for their most important game to date this year will be either Down, Wicklow or Leitrim.

The two teams that qualify for the final will be promoted to Division 2 so in reality the importance of the semi-final exceeds that of the final.

Clare and Fermanagh last met in Croke Park in the TG4 All Ireland Intermediate Final in September 2009 while in that same campaign Clare travelled to Fermanagh to play them in the group stages with victory going to Clare on both of these occasion’s.

Much has changed in both campaigns with some players leaving and more players joining both county panels since then.

Regardless of the outcome on Saturday both sides are through to the semi-finals so maybe the respective managements may use the opportunity to try out some fringe players.

Woodstock Golf Club
Winter League Round 5 Results 1 James Carmody 304pts 2 Nick Germaine 303pts 3 George Smith 302pts 4 John O’Connor 299pts 4 Aidrian Kearney 299pts 4 Noel Mulcahy 299pts Sun Singles 1 Brendan McMahon 16 43pts 2 Pat Keane 11 43pts Next weekends competition is Winter League round 6. Club Singles Stableford

Dromoland Results
Stableford Competition Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th 1 Niall Geraghty 40pts 2 Dermot O’Neill 40pts 3 Jimmy McManus 39pts This weekend sees the start of our Diary Competitions. 18 Hole stableford competition with re-entry, all members welcome.

Kilkee Golf Club
Spring LeagueWeek 4 Results 1 P Harte 13 37pts WinningTeamB

B Harte, L Mullane, GReidy,T Carr, C Clancy MDaly – 127pts

Ennis Golf Club
Mens Scotch Foursomes. Sat. & Sun. March 26th & 27th. 1st Niall Howard & Garry Duggan 62.5Nett. 2ndWalter OBrien & Mat Molyneaux 63.Nett. 3rd Ian Myatt & Sean Myatt. 64 Nett. 4th Pat Murphy & Darragh Murphy. 64.5Nett. Dr. Rodgers Shield. 25th March 1st Michael Kenny, Michael Culliney,Matt Flynn & Sean Ryan 96Pts. 2nd Ger Hanrahan, Bren A Considine, Charlie McEnery & Eamon Kelly. 94Pts. 3rd Pierce Cahill, Ger Bredin, Andy Cregan & JimJ Casey. 94Pts. THE FOLLOWING are asked to attend for U15 Trials on Friday evening in Shannon Camogie Field at 7.15pm; Lisa O’Donoghue (Whitegate) Keli Nugent, Maedbh Kavanagh, Rachel Maloney, Caoimhe O’Gorman, Ellen O’Brien (Scariff), Edel Reidy, Susan

Williams, Celine McCormack, Hay- ley Nolan, Zoe McInerney, Chloe Donoghue (Wolfe Tones) Sinéad Collins, Aoife Forde, Amy O’Brien (Corofin), Shauna Ryan, Hannah O’Brien (Clooney-Quin) Sláine Carey, Deanna Considine, Laura Murray, Eimear Donnellan (Sixmilebridge), Alice Acers, Lisa McGrath, Aine Duggan, Siobhan Tuohy, Stacey Wright (Feakle), Leighanne Mc- Mahon, Amy Kennedy (Kilmaley), Ellen Culloo, Aisling Hunt, Emily Maloney (Tulla), Aine O’Shea (Ballyea), Claire Taffe, Amy McArthur (Killanena), Laura Commane (Inagh), Lauren O’Donoghue (Ruan), Siobhan Fahey (Truagh-Clonlara). Further details from Orla Considine on 087 2417355. St Senans R FC 20 Cobh Pirat es R FC 10 ST Senan’s ensured they will be playing Junior 1 rugby again next year as they were victorious in this bottom of the table clash with Cobh on a score line of 20-10. It was Senan’s who made the first break through with some good power play from their pack that made way for Brian Collins to claim the first try of the game. The conversion by Declan Collins was struck well and opened up a 7-0 lead for the home side. The game continued at a frantic pace from the restart with both sides making errors and neither side being able to take control, Senans lead was short lived when on 20 minutes Cobh crossed the try line and leveled the scores at 7-7.

A penalty after 27 minutes was easily converted and gave the visitors a 10-7 lead at half time.

Senan’s started the second half well and this pressure was rewarded 10 minutes into the half when Ronan O’Callaghan ran in for Senan’s second try. Declan Collins was on target with the kick. Senan’s led 14-10.

Senans kept the pressure on the visitors and when the ball was presented back to Declan Collins in front of Cobh’s goals he extended Senans lead to 17-10 with a well struck drop goal after 30 minutes.

Cobh tried hard to breach Senans defence but they were not able to break through and it was Senans who had the last score of the match deep in extra time when Ger McNamara converted a penalty.

MEETING at 6.30 in the morning is typically a burden for most. This however was not the case last Saturday morning for the Ennis RFC under 11’s. All 47 travelling players were at the meeting point well in advance of the coach leaving. Indeed this set the tone for the day.

For most this was their inaugural Rugby Tour. The excitement was palpable. We were bringing 3 teams to play in one of the country’s premier Mini Rugby Festivals in Willow Park with some 55 teams battling it out, on 14 pitches. This includes top school sides from Dublin, and representatives from the four provinces.

We duly arrived for registration at 9.30 and were ready to go at 10.30 for our first games. In the morning our teams were pitched against Wexford and Boyne in the A section (each played twice), and two further teams against De la Salle, Willow Park, St Michaels and Castlepark, Willow Park and Aravon in the B section of the competition.

This indeed was a very competitive and tough tournament with outstanding displays from all teams. The Festival itself does not determine overall winners yet encourages participation in a competitive environment.

The afternoon series of matches saw Ennis against St Marys, Tullamore and Colraine in the A section, Corinthians, Ul Bohs, Willow Pk and Barnhall, St Mary’s and Rahaelty in the B section.

All in all we played 19 matches re- cording 11 victories and two draws. This was a very impressive return during the day, and reflects the high level of expectation set by this bunch of players and coaches, and indeed the progress made this year. Amongst these victories there were numerous outstanding displays with Ronan Lannigan (top try scorer), Liam Wall, Ross O Flaherty, Tom O Brien, Morgan Garry, Turlough Barrett, Oisin Mangan, Frank Roche and Ben O Donnell deserving special mention.

Events continued in the National Aquatic Centre after and those of us that expected a quiet bus on the return to Ennis were deeply mistaken. A true rugby tour with plenty of fun, laughter.

A great day was had by all and the coaching body want to thank the parents for their support in this event with many driving to Dublin to support the event. This is a significant endorsement for all involved.

Ennis teams (pictured below)
LiamWall, Conall Bolger, Ross OFlaherty, Lorchan Clancy, Barry Neylon, JP Neville, Shane Brennan, Roan Lannigan, Ben Ryan, Frank Roche, Cathal Lennon, Sean Andreasson, Mike Reid, Joe Spellisey, Eanna ODonaghue Paul Tuohy, Eldon Nolan, EoghanWallace, Ben ODonnell, Eoin Martin, Ulick OSullivan,TomO Brien, Kevin Reynolds, Marc Barry, StephenTalty, Zak McDonagh,Turlough Barrett, CaimanWhelan, Luke Griffey, Dylan Myhill Eliaz Kunz, James Nugent, Eoin Clancy, Stepehn Dolan, Darragh Slattery, Oisin Mangan, Josseph Connaughton, David McNamara, Gerard Kavanagh, Morgan Garry, PhilipTalty,Aidan Jordan, Shane Vaughan, EvanToomey, HarryTalty

Clooney-Quin 3-07 – Crusheen 0-12 at Éire Óg

CLOONEY-QUIN progress to the quarter-final of the under 21 B championship after turning around a half time deficit of three points in a great second half display to clinch it by a point in this first round replay.

Crusheen started well but it was Clooney-Quin who struck first as Peter Duggan got the first score of his impressive tally from a ‘65 in the opening minutes. From here it became the battle of placed balls as Crusheen’s Darragh O’Doherty then converted two 65’s of his own.

Conor O’Donnell seemed to be the only man standing out in open play hitting four points in the first half as Crusheen took control.

Two free’s from centre forward Jamie Fitzgibbon added on the pressure which forced Duggan to go for goal from a 21 yard free that rattled the back of the net. However, a poor first half display from Clooney-Quin meant they trailed 0-9 to 1-3 at the break.

Crusheen still remained in control at the start of the second half but they were unable to build on their lead which gave Clooney-Quin hope.

Then with a quarter of an hour left it quickly became the Peter Duggan show after he found his form and went on to hit 2-3 giving his side the lead.

Crusheen were now on the back foot and only managed to reply with three points. However, after the nine points they scored in the first half this meant the game was still close to the finish.

They trailed by two points in closing stages as they went in search of a goal but it never came. A point is all they could manage but this wouldn’t suffice as Clooney-Quinn were victorious on a one point margin and will now face Corofin in the next round of the under 21 championship.

Clooney- Quin
Keith Hogan, Bryan McInerney, Brian Clune, Ronan McMahon, Niall McMahon, Ruaidhri McNamara, David Kennedy, Dáire Hannon (0-1); David Barry, Ryan O’Neill, Joeseph Clune (0-1); Conor Cunningham, Peter Duggan (3-5, 2f, 2‘65); Gary Hogan, Jason Ryan.

Subs
Shane Smyth for DBarry, John Reynolds for J Clune.

Crusheen
Brian Dillon, Ruairi Halpin, Conor Hayes, Jason Daffy, Jason Greene, Conor O’Loughlin, Darragh O’Doherty (0-2, 2’65);Youen Horner, Padraic O’Malley, SeanWeir, Jamie Fitzgibbon (0-4, 2f); Edward Forgarty, Ethan O’Donnell (0-1); Conor O’Donnell (0-5);Anthony Rogers.