25 April 2008
Posted in Hurling - Intermediate Hurling

The Intermediate hurlers suffered their first defeat of the season when they went down to Meelick on Saturday.

Playing with the aid of a strong breeze in the first half, the Clooney lads were slow to settle which allowed the Junior A hurling Champions of 2007 into the game. By the mid-point of the half, the sides were level with the visitors on top in key areas of the field. A break was needed but it didn't fall Clooneys way. In fact, it was the visitors who got the break, when a goalbound Clooney shot rebounded off the foot of one post to an oncoming Clooney forward whos ground shot struck the foot of the opposite post before it was cleared to safety by a grateful Meelick defence.

This was a sign of things to come. From here to halftime, the sides swapped scores, going in at halftime level on 5 points each.

On the resumption, the home side were determined to take the game to the Meelick boys and did so. Unfortunately, some more missed opportunities proved costly as Meelick, who had their own problems with some poor shooting, were still ahead with 10 minutes left. That break we needed fell to Eoin McNamara and his rocket of a ground shot from 6 yards struck a defender on the line and went out for a 65. This misfortune proved to be the turning point of the game as Meelick hit four un-answered points to run out deserving winners at the end on an 0-11 to 0-7 scoreline.