Category: Sport

Crusheen/Tubber 6-9 – Tulla 5-2 at Cusack Park, Ennis

AN ELEVEN goal thriller that was swung Crusheen/Tubber’s way by a power packed display of hurling laced with accuracy and skill in Clare headquarters. The winners who were the better side overall delivered the crucial scores early in the game and with a solid defensive display held out despite a spirited late rally from the Tulla boys.

Crusheen/Tubber who won the Under 12D in 2009, demonstrated the steady progress made by leading from start to finish to capture their latest crown. First half goal from Breffni Horner (2), John Fawl and Colin Waters saw the north Clare amalgamation lead by an impressive 4-6 to 0-0 at the break with Tulla unable to pass the dominant Crusheen half back line and midfield led ably by Ronan Monahan.

Tulla, who would have been hopeful of a resurgence aided by the wind for the second half, saw their progress halted further by three delightful moments of skill by Ross Hayes as he bagged 1-2 minutes into the new half. He rounded off the end of the third quarter with his second goal as Crusheen went 26 points clear.

The loudest cheer of the year was reserved for Tulla’s Aaron O’Halloran when he found the net for their very first score after 50 minutes. To their credit they dominated the last ten minutes adding 4-2 without reply through Sean McNamara (2-0), Aaron O Halloran (0-2), Owen Shanahan (1-0) and Matthew Culloo (1-0) but admirable as the recovery proved to be, the title’s destination was already decided. Best for the winners were Gavin O’Brien, Brian McDonagh, Ronan Monahan,Stephen O’Halloran, Colin Waters, Ross Hayes and John Fawl. Tulla had solid displays from Conor Dinan, Brian Fahy, Sean McNamara, Aaron O’Halloran, Matthew Culloo, Darragh Murphy and Thor Ligtvoet.

Crusheen/ Tubber
ColmMcNamara, Emmet Quinn, Gavin O’Brien,

Brian McDonagh, Ronan Monahan, Stephen O’Halloran, John Fawl (1-1), Cillian Mullins, Mark Kearney, ColinWaters (1-3), JamesTaaffe (0-1), Ross Hayes (2-2), Breffni Horner (2-1)

Subs
Joe Copley (0-1) for Hayes, Conor O Loughlin for OHalloran, CalumTurner for Kearney, Chris McDonagh for Horner,Aidan McNamara, Cormac Lee

Tulla
Conor Dinan,Thor Ligtvoet, Kevin Conlon, Daniel Lauders, Brian Fahy, Darragh Murphy, Shane Hunt, Owen Shanahan (1-0), Michael Vaughan, Matthew Culloo (1-0), James Harrison, Sean McNamara (2-0),AdamHehir

Subs
Aaron OHalloran (1-2) for Harrison, Patrick OMahony for Hehir,Austin McInerney for Vaughan

Referee
Gus Callaghan (Feakle)

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.

Sixmilebridge 0-14 – Inagh/Kilnamona 1-07 at Inagh

REIGNING CLARE Cup champions Sixmilebridge bounced back from last Wednesday’s loss to Crusheen with a four-point victory over Inagh/ Kilnamona on Monday afternoon.

In a closely contested first half, the ‘Bridge were ahead 0-7 to 0-6 at the interval. Early points from Jamie Shanahan and Niall Gilligan saw them two clear after five minutes before Tomás Kelly got Inagh/Kilnamona off the mark two minutes later with a fine effort.

Former Clare senior Gilligan fired over a good score in the tenth minute before two Ger Arthur placed balls levelled matters after the first quarter. The home side were dealt a blow by this stage with full-back Brian Glynn forced to retire due to injury.

Sixmilebridge hit a purple patch sending over the games next three scores courtesy of Tommy Morey and Niall Gilligan (2) to extend their lead to three after 25 minutes as Robert Conlon entered the action for the injured Barry O’Connor.

Entering the final five minutes of the half, Ger Arthur and David O’Connor traded scores before two more Arthur efforts in first half added time narrowed the gap to one at the break.

On the resumption, Sixmilebridge did exactly what they did in the first half, by sending over the first two scores. These scores arrived thanks to David O’Connor and a long range John Fennessy free as they stretched the lead to three.

In a second half that was marred by persistent rain, it took the home team until the end of the first quarter to register a score with Arthur again the marksman. Indeed, up to this point both sides were guilty of failing to covert a few scoreable chances.

The games next score fell to Niall Gilligan who fired over a free in the 45th minute before moments later the hard working Tommy Morey increased the ‘Bridge lead to four.

Just as it appeared that the visitors were going to kick on from here and collect the two points, the combination were given a lifeline when they goaled to put just the minimum between the sides. This goal came about after Cathal Lafferty fielded a long clearance from David Hegarty on the fourteen-yard line and had only one thing on his mind as he turned and headed straight for goal before kicking the sliotar to the net.

With only a solitary point separating the sides the next score was going to be crucial in deciding this tie and unfortunately for the home team it fell to the ‘Bridge as Danny Morey fired over in the 57th minute. Sixmilebridge motored on from here with Gilligan and Morey closing out the games scoring as Inagh-Kilnamona tried in vain for another goal in injury time.

Sixmilebridge
Derek Fahy;Tagdh Keogh,Aidan Quilligan, Paul Fitzpatrick; Barry O’Connor, John Fennessy (0-1f), Paidí Fitzpatrick; Pa Sheehan, Anthony Liddane; Brian Culbert,Tommy Morey (0-2), David O’Connor (0-2); Jamie Shanahan (0-1), Niall Gilligan (0-6 3f), Danny Morey (0-2)

Subs
Robert Conlon for B. O’Connor (22 mins, inj), Kevin Lynch for Culbert (HT), SamO’Sullivan for Sheehan (46 mins)

Inagh/ Kilnamona
Patrick Kelly; Milo Keane, Brian Glynn, Dermot Lynch; Ronan O’Looney, Gary Lafferty, David Hegarty; ColmPilkington,Tomás Kelly (0-1); Damien Lafferty, Cathal Lafferty (1-0), Dermot Gannon; Ger Arthur (0-6; 3fs, 1‘65), Conor Tierney, Cathal Griffin

Subs
Brian Foudy for Glynn (14 mins, inj), StephenToomey for Griffin (44 mins), Shane Griffin for Pilkington (52 mins)

Man of the Match
Niall Gilligan (Sixmilebridge) Referee Ambrose Heagney (Corofin)

Newmarket-on-Fergus 2-22 – Whitegate 2-08 at Newmarket-on-Fergus

NEWMARKET moved back to the summit of Division 1 after a comfortable victory over relegation strugglers Whitegate on Monday afternoon. Both were understrength and without county seniors but it was the home side who were sharper and more clinical throughout, building up a seven point lead by the break before finishing the job on the turnover.

Tommy Griffin was the first half’s standout forward with three points on their way to a 0-11 to 0-04 half-time advantage, with Padraig Kilmartin and Enda Barrett also instrumental in keeping the east Clare side out at the other end.

Whitegate did manage to grab two goals through Ian Fahy and Stephen Malone in the second period while Newmarket were reduced to 14 following the dismissal of substitute Martin Murphy at the turn of the final quarter. However it still failed to trouble the home side who had a brace of goals of their own through Martin O’Hanlon and Anthony Kilmartin to ease up to victory and maintain their impressive unbeaten record of seven unbeaten competitive games.

Newmarket- on- Fergus
Kieran Devitt, Padraig Kilmartin, Stephen Kelly, Sean O’Connor,Alan Barrett, Enda Barrett, Noel Frawley, Martin O’Hanlon, Paraic Collins, Enda Kelly, David Barrett, JimMcInerney, Eoin Hayes,Anthony Kilmartin,Tommy Griffin

Subs
Darren Duggan for Griffin, Martin Murphy

for E. Kelly, Brian Clancy for Frawley, Bernard Gaffney for A. Kilmartin

Whitegate
AndrewFahey, Cathal Mulvihill, John Bugler, John Minogue, Jason Malone, Patrick Minogue,Trevor Kelly, Ian Fahy,Tomás McNamara, Michael O’Brien, Ray Cahill, Shane O’Rourke, GeorgieWaterstone, Stephen Malone, John O’Brien

Subs
Christy Jones for J. Minogue, Eoin Quirke for Kelly, John Minogue for Cahill

Man of the Match
Padraig Kilmartin (Newmarket- on- Fergus) Referee Damian Fox (WolfeTones)

Clooney/Quin 0-17 – Tulla 0-11 at Clooney

GOOGLE ‘HARMLESS’ and you will more than likely find a link to this game high on the reference list. More a fixture fulfilling challenge game rather than competitive action as both sides were understrength following the previous weekend’s championship fare.

The expected bite between the neighbouring clubs was predominantly non-existent as both sides went through the motions in an hour long formulaic struggle.

Clooney/Quin will undoubtedly emerge from this game in brighter spirits however as they controlled the game from the end of the opening quarter and srengthened their competition for places as John Earls hit five points from play; Adrian Fleming grabbed three; Brian Shally also contributed handsomely from both placed balls and play, including a standout volleyed point while the returning Seamus Conroy got some valuable game time.

Tulla meanwhile had none of the passion of their championship victory over the Mapgies that has one of Jim McInerney’s feet in the quarterfinals and while their defensive unit remained unchanged from the weekend, only three players remained from their front eight and it was to prove decisive. Without Eanna Torpey (emigrated), Danny O’Halloran (suspended), Conor O’Halloran, Brian Lynch, David McInerney and Andrew Quinn, Tulla were noticeably limp up front as measured by only six points from play that equates to one every ten minutes.

Instead, an even start that saw the sides level on four occasions by the 13th minute subsided into a one-sided second quarter in which the home side outscored their opponents by 08 to 0-1 in a 15 minute spell. Earls, Shally and Fleming were to the fore as was Cillian Duggan who swept up practically everything that crossed the halfway line as they led by 0-12 to 0-05 at the break.

The second period descended further into forgettable territory after Aidan Lynch’s early penalty was saved by replacement goalkeeper Patrick Cunningham. Instead, the Earls, Shally, Fleming triumvirate opened up a 0-17 to 0-08 advantage by the 57th minute and while Tulla finished with three Ray Stewart frees, it was Clooney/Quin who easily maintained their position in the semi-final qualification spot.

Clooney/ Quin
Damien O’Halloran, Shane McNamara, Conor Harrison,Tony McMahon, Mike McNamara, Cillian Duggan, Enda Harrison, Martin Duggan (0-2), Seamus Conroy, John Earls (0-5),Adrian Fleming (0-3), Daire Hannon, Mike Daffy (0-1), Cathal Egan, Brian Shally (0-6 4f)

Subs
Patrick Cunninghamfor O’Halloran (HT), Brian McInerney for Conroy (41 mins), Donnacha Murphy for Hannon (46 mins), Rory McNamara for Egan (52 mins), Niall McMahon for M. Duggan (58 mins)

Tulla
Philip Brennan, Eugene Cooney, Sean Torpey, John Brennan, Cian McInerney, Paul Lynch, Mark Quinn,Tomás McMahon, Cathal Dinan (0-1), John Fahy, Michael Murphy (0-1), Daragh Corry (01), Ray Stewart (0-5 3f, 1’65), Cathal Bolton,Aidan Lynch (0-3 1f)

Sub
Karl Quinn for McInerney (25 mins, inj)

Man of the Match
Cillian Duggan (Clooney/ Quin) Referee Seanie McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus)

Crusheen 2-12 – Sixmilebridge 0-16 at O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge

SKY SPORTS would have had been promoting this game for months in advance. The county champions Crusheen versus the Clare Cup equivalents Sixmilebridge promised a supercup of sorts to decide the ultimate champions. Instead, after the rigours of the weekend’s championship action, the standard of play was more like the Charity Shield, with both sides having to dip into their extended panels to decide which side took poll position in the race for two semi-final spots.

A goal in each half was enough to secure the points for the county champions, a victory that seemed very unlikely in a lacklustre first half offering that saw them trail by 0-8 to 0-2 as late at the 29th minute.

Up to that point, it was the Niall Gilligan show, with the former county senior and indeed current county intermediate chalking up five early points along with having a pull saved by goalkeeper Donal Tuohy.

Meanwhile, Crusheen couldn’t hit a barn door with a banjo but improved significantly with the introduction of Gearoid O’Doherty who decisively hit 1-1 from placed balls late in the half to slash the deficit. The goal came from a 20 metre free after he had been fouled himself and it was a welcome boost going in at half-time only trailing by two at 0-8 to 1-3.

With Gilligan being Sixmilebri dge’s main scoring forward, he maintained his good form on the restart with three further points while also having a flick drift by the post.

Crusheen, however, seemed to have the better balance and after O’Doherty, Paddy Meaney, Gerry O’Grady and Niall Fitzgibbon had levelled matters by the 40th minute, they used the momentum to grab a second goal in the 42nd minute when Shaun Dillon was quickest to react to a rebound from a Paddy O’Grady shot.

Now in front for the first time in the game, the county champions cemented their lead further with points from O’Doherty and Dillon, and while Gilligan would add four more points, O’Doherty and Paddy Meaney were equal to those efforts on the scoreboard.

The home side did create a match winning goal chance in injury-time when David O’Connor pulled across the 20 metre line to Tommy Morey but his shot was expertly hooked by Cathal Dillon and Crusheen held on for could be an important victory.

Crusheen
Donal Tuohy, John Brigdale, Cronan Dillon,Alan Brigdale, Jason Greene, Cian Dillon, Cathal Dillon, Shaun Dillon (1-1), Gerry O’Grady (0-1), Gearoid O’Donnell, Niall Fitzgibbon (0-2), Jamie Fitzgibbon, Conor O’Donnell, Patrick O’Grady, Paddy Meaney (0-3)

Sub
Gearoid O’Doherty (1-5f) for C. O’Donnell (25 mins)

Sixmilebridge
Derek Fahy,Tadgh Keogh,Aidan Quilligan,Trevor Purcell, Barry O’Connor, John Fennessy, Paidí Fitzpatrick (0-1), David O’Connor, Robert Conlon,Tony Carmody,Tommy Morey, Pa Sheehan (0-1), Niall Gilligan (0-12 7f, 2’65’s), Brian Culbert, Danny Morey (0-2)

Subs
Paul Fitzpatrick for Purcell (HT),Anthony Liddane for Culbert (39 mins)

Man of the Match
Shaun Dillon (Crusheen) Referee Seanie McMahon (Newmarket)

Ruan 0-14 – Sixmilebridge 0-12 at Clareabbey

IT WAS almost a year to the very day since these sides last clashed at the same stage of the intermediate championship, in a game that ultimately mattered far less due to the advancement of three teams from the group of five.

On Tuesday, the consequences of defeat were far greater as now only two places are up for grabs in a group of six teams. In that meeting, an Earol Tuohy goal was enough to give the ‘Bridge a two point victory, this time Ruan got over the line by the same margin when late points from Brendan Lyons and the ever-reliable John Punch put daylight between the sides.

In truth, while Sixmilebridge needed victory more after losing their opening tie against Parteen and indeed will be kicking themselves that they didn’t avail of the chance to close out this game after doing so much hard graft to level up the game by the 58th minute, Ruan deserved to prevail.

In similar circumstances last year, they let slip a three point advantage in the closing minutes but fortunate- ly for Ruan, this time they held their nerve to see out the win. In all, 16 wides made it a far less comfortable ride to collect the points, especially in the opening half when they dominated but still only found themselves ahead by the minimum at the break, with John Punch securing the first four of that total at 0-8 to 0-7.

The ‘Bridge’s best opportunities came from frees as they would only score three points from play over the hour but it was only in the final five minutes that they would really threaten Ruan’s hold on the game. Trailing by 0-12 to 0-09, two Sam O’Sullivan frees and a point from substitute Paul Corbett gained parity by the 58th minute as memories of last year’s late turnaround came flooding back.

However, whether last year’s final experience has steeled Ruan or not, they didn’t panic with Lyons and Punch pointing to maintain their perfect start to the championship and more or less ending the ‘Bridge’s hopes in the process.

Ruan
Pakie Roughan, Gary Bell, Niall O’Connor,

Leon Quirke, Killian Ryan, Jonathan Clohessy, Dara Roughan,Tadgh Hanrahan, Caimin Howard,Aidan Lynch (0-2), Eoin Hanrahan, MikeyVaughan, John Punch (0-10 7f, 1’65),Alan Bell, Brendan Lyons (01)

Subs
Sean Cullinan (0-1) for A. Bell (35 mins), Colin O’Donoghue for T. Hanrahan (54 mins)

Sixmilebridge
Sean Chaplin,Wayne Kennedy, Eoin Quinn, Cathal Walsh, Jonathan Downes, Stiofan Fitzpatrick, Christy Griffin, SamO’Sullivan (0-6f),Adrian Chaplin, Mark Culbert, Ronan Hayes (0-1), Sean Stack, Earol Tuohy (0-1), Rory Liddane, Tommy Liddy (0-3f)

Subs
David O’Meara for Stack (43 mins), Michael O’Halloran for Liddy (46 mins), Paul Corbett (0-1) for Griffin (54 mins)

Man of the Match
Eoin Hanrahan (Ruan) Referee Michael Fitzgerald (Ballyea)

Doonbeg 1-13 – Lissycasey 3-05 at Cooraclare

WHAT might have been for a Lissycasey team being teed up as whipping boys beforehand in what was supposed to be a gentle opener for Doonbeg in the defence of their county title.

Thing is, just like that county title was hard won after nine years of toil, this game was hard won too – they only got there because Lissycasey got caught like startled rabbits in the headlights when they should have been able to kick on to victory.

Lissycasey led 2-3 to 0-7 at halftime after goals by Danny Clohessy and Niall Kelly had rocked the Magpies – with the gale to come in the second half, the shock of the championship in the first game of the championship looked at hand.

Alas from Lissycasey’s viewpoint, they effectively imploded in the face another tour de force from David Tubridy, who hit 1-9 over the hour – 1-5 of it coming in the second half when his team needed his scores and leadership the most.

A sluggish Doonbeg struggled to get into their stride in the first half when a more pumped up Lissycasey side more than held their own when playing into the wind thanks to points by Matthew O’Shea and Derek McMahon by the tenth minute in replay to two early Tubridy points.

Shane O’Brien and McMahon then exchanged points before Paul Dillon and Brian Egan put Doonbeg 0-5 to 0-3 clear by the 24th minute. Then the game was turned on its head in the closing five minutes of the half thanks to two Lissycasey goals.

A forceful run up along the left wing by Martin Moran created the opening for Danny Clohessy in the 26th minute, with the midfielder gleefully blasting the ball beyond Nigel Dillon in goal.

Four minutes later it was Niall Kelly’s turn after he beat Padraig Gallagher to a long ball, turned and blasted to the net from eight yards to put Lissycasey four points up going into first half injury time.

It could have been panic stations for Doonbeg, but two pointed frees form David Tubridy during the four minutes played by Barry Kelly steadied the champions – they were portents of things to come.

Tubridy continued where he left off before half time with a brace inside the first ten minutes of the restart to level matters, while those around him gradually cranked up their performances.

Lissycasey did edge back in front in the 43rd minute thanks to an Oisin Talty point but there was no stopping Doonbeg when they hit 1-4 without reply in a 14 minute spell to kill the game.

Tubridy sowed the way with two more points by the 50th minute; Conor Whelan raided up the field to fist a point in the 53rd; Conor Downes teed up Tubridy for the match-winnng goal in the 56th, while Frank O’Dea rounded off their blitz with his first point in the 58th.

Lissycasey did rally with a Martin O’Connor point in the 59th minute and Niall Kelly’s second goal three minutes later, but it was too late.

They needed scores much earlier in the half, like the 46th minute when the sides were level and Paul Nagle raced through on goal with only Nigel Dillon to beat, blasted a dropkick that Dillon saved.

That’s where it all started to go wrong for Lissycasey.

Sixmilebridge 3-16 – Wolfe Tones 0-10 at Cusack Park, Ennis

WORD had it down in the Goalpost bar in Shannon that Patsy Keyes was Libya bound for work before its people decided to rise up against Colonel Gadaffi – if he’d gone he would have had an easier time manning troops on the ground than he had managing Wolfe Tones from the field of play as they took their bow in the 2011 senior championship on Friday evening.

All because, so depleted are the Tones resources this year that this was like going into battle with water pistols against anti-aircraft tanks. The difference between the sides was that stark as the ‘Bridge, no doubt on their guard because of the scare they got against Clarecastle in the first round, strolled to a 15-points success.

It was every bit as easy as the scoreline suggests with Jamie Shanahan’s brilliant 24th minute goal breaking the Tones’ resistance. The underdogs were competitive until then as points from Bobby and Garret McPhillips (2) in reply to ‘Bridge points from Shanahan (2), Niall Gilligan (2) and Caimin Morey had them only 0-5 to 0-3 in arrears.

The goal changed everything as Shanahan showed great pace when gathering in the right corner, turning and flashing a great sot to the net from 15 yards. From there the ‘Bridge turned the screw before half-time with a further five points to move 1-10 to 0-3 clear. Gilligan helped himself to two from play and a free, while Pa Sheehan and Caimin Morey were also on the mark.

With the wind to come in the second half, all the Tones could do was be like Colonel Gadaffi himself – refuse to surrender. That they did, with Colonel Keyes doing his best from full-back, while up front the two-time senior champions save some face when adding to their tally by seven points. Three points in row from the 37

Tulla 1-13 – Clarecastle 0-10 at Shannon

WHEN the Magpies were in their pomp in the mid-‘90s Tulla never stood back from the challenge, famously nearly bringing them to ground in their greatest ever year of 1997.

They didn’t stand back here either – but did the business this time as their mix of youth and experience eased them to a thoroughly deserved six-point win over a Clarecastle team that’s going through tough times.

Daragh Corry was the star turn from the new generation; David McInerney had his moments before being injured, while old boys Andrew Quinn, Aidan Lynch and Mark Quinn provided inspiration at key intervals as Tulla took another giant step towards a return to the quarterfinal for the first time since their sto- ried 2007 season.

The final leap was provided by last year’s county minor Corry – another soaring catch that was crowned when he turned and drove to the net from eight yards in the 59th minutes to ease any Tulla nerves and put them six clear.

Truth is, Tulla were nerveless at key moments of this tempestous encounter that saw referee Seanie McMahon flash five yellow cards and reds to Danny O’Halloran and Derek Quinn.

Before half-time when when Andrew Quinn hit four points in a row to ease Tulla 0-9 to 0-5 clear at the break; at the death after Clarecastle had pegged it back to point, only for the claret and gold to hit back with points by Cathal Dinan and Daragh Corry; finally Corry’s goal.

Clarecastle did have their chances, but a spate of bad wides in the closing stages – they hit ten in all – cost them very dear, as did their failure to match Tulla in the physical stakes.

Tulla’s Danny O’Halloran paid the price of a straight red card for a wild pull on Ollie Plunkett after only seven minutes; Eanna Torpey was very lucky not to walk for a pull on Eric Flynn three minutes later, while Clarecastle’s Derek Quinn went that way after some argy bargy in first half injury time.

In between there was actually some hurling – Tulla held the initiative early on and led 0-4 to 0-1 after 15 minutes with Aidan Lynch to the fore with two good points, but a flurry of four-in-a-row from the Magpies when Tyrone Kearse (2), Derek Quinn and Darragh Moloney put them 0-5 to 0-4 clear.

Ultimately, however, it was Clare- castle’s failure to raise a flag in the final ten minutes and Andrew Quinn’s haul of 0-5 in the same period that set them up for victory. Their fourpoint lead was still intact by the 40th minute after they traded a brace of points each.

Another surge by the Magpies saw them peg it back to the minimum as two Tyrone Kearse frees and a Conor O’Gorman effort had the matters delicatley poised at 0-11 to 0-10 in Tulla’s favour.

Clarecastle looked capable of kicking on, but didn’t as their wide tally mounted and they failed to score in the final 13 minutes of the game.

Tulla had no such problems and Clarecastle could have no complaints as the 2007 champions also missed two penalties during the game, as Aidan Lynch and Andrew Quinn had their shots stopped.

Tulla
Philip Brennan (7), Eugene Cooney (7), SeanTorpey (7), John Brennan (7), Paul Lynch (7), Mark Quinn (8), Cian McInerney (7), Cathal Dinan (7) (0-1), Conor O’Halloran (7), EannaTorpey (6), Daragh Corry (9) (1-1), David McInerney (7), Danny O’Halloran (6) (0-1) (6),AndrewQuinn (8) (0-7, 3f, two 65s),Aidan Lynch (8) (0-3).

Subs
Michael Murphy (6) for McInerney [40 mins], Raymond Stewart (6) for Murphy [57 mins].

Clarecastle
Donagh Murphy (7), Seanie Moloney (7), Stephen O’Halloran (6), Ollie Plunkett (7), Fergus Ryan (6), Patrick Kelly (7), Eric Flynn (7), Eamonn Callinan (6) (0-1), Danny Scanlan (6), Darragh Moloney (7) (0-2), Ciaran O’Dwyer (6), Jonathon Clancy (7),Aaron Considine (6), Derek Quinn (6) (0-1),Tyrone Kearse (7) (0-5, 4f).

Subs
Conor O’Gorman (6) (0-1) for O’Dwyer [41 mins], Gary Farmer (6) for Callinan [57 mins].

Man of the Match
Daragh Corry (Tulla) Referee Seanie McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus)