Intermediates Secure Second Win

This game had all that was good in hurling, great excitement and tension, terrific scores, heroic defending and loads of tough but fair tackling.
The Clooney boys availed of the wind in the first half, but Meelick, back in Intermediate Grade following many years, were in no mood to roll over and had established a 2 pts to 1 lead by the 13th minute, their scores being of a high quality.
Having struggled to stay with the South-East Clare outfit for the early part of the half, there were positive signs that Clooney were now beginning to handle the Meelick tactic of playing a spare man in defence,and a brace of points from Ronan Gallagher in the space of 30 seconds in the 14th minute put Clooney in the lead, but Meelick hit back immediately and tied up the game.
Two frees from Derek Ryan edged Clooney back in front, but the game exploded into life with a superb James Casey goal in the 27th minute. He gathered a ball far out near the left corner and cut his way in along the end line, with a number of Meelick defenders in pursuit, but he held his nerve and bulged the Meelick net with a powerful shot. This was followed by a fine Eoin McNamara point to put the Clooney boys 1-6 to 3 up as the game headed into injury time. Back came the Meelick lads who popped over two points before the short whistle to leave the half-time score at 1-6 to 0-5.
Derek Ryan, from a placed ball got the Clooney/Quin lads off to a good start to the second half in the 2nd minute, but it was Meelick who then gained a firm grip on affairs, and, with the wind assisting them, set about reducing the defecit. Conor Dolan and Henry White responded for Meelick in the 3rd and 6th minutes to reduce the lead to a goal, but the Clooney defence then decided that was close enough. For the remainder of the game, they put on a text-book defence of their goal, repelling all efforts from the Meelick forwards. The good-sized attendence were on the edge of their seats right to the end as both sides tried with every ounce of effort to gain the upperhand on their opponents.
The Clooney scoring rate was now almost at a stop, but two break-away points from Eoin Mac and James Casey in the 21st and 27th minutes kept the Clooney boys in front. Conor Dolans brace of points once again reduced the difference to the goal as we headed into added time. A late Meelick goal effort flashed over the crossbar, and the final whistle sounded from the puck-out, to the relief of the Clooney/Quin players and supporters and disappointment for Meelick.
This win was secured by another fine team performance, but it has to be mentioned that the Clooney/Quin defenders can claim msot of the credit. They were not found wanting when the chips were down.
Next up in Round 3 of the Championship are Sixmilebridge.
Final Score Clooney/Quin 1-9 Meelick 0-10.