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23 March 2009
Posted in
Hurling -
Senior
Goals! Goals! Goals!..... And that was just the first 180 seconds of the game on Friday night as the Clooney/Quin Senior hurlers took on St. Josephs, Doora/barefield in Round 1 of the Clare Cup..................
A large attendance attended the match as this Local Derby got off to a whirlwind start under the bright Gurteen floodlights.
From the throw-in, Pa Reynolds gained posession and fired a long delivery deep into the Barefield defence. It landed in the grateful hand of Cathal Egan who flashed the ball to the net to stun the home side. This was within 15 seconds of the throw-in.
From the puck-out, the ball switched to the Clooney defence, with the Barefield full forward, Declan Malone getting a deft touch to the ball to send it past the advancing Padraig Cunningham to tie up the scores. We were still in the first minute.
From the puck-out, Seán Ward got onto the breaking ball to tap over on the run, to edge Clooney back in front.
To the amazement of both players and spectators, the next Barefield attack also ended with a goal.
The ball was delivered into the Clooney goal, but was secured by the 'keeper Cunningham. As he emerged through a crowded attack, the ball seemed to be knocked from his hand by a Barefield hurley. As the Clooney lads looked for the free, former Clare dual player, Colm Mullen despatched the ball to the Clooney net to put Barefield back in front. The clock showed 2 minutes, 50 seconds, the scoreboard 2-0 to 1-1 in favour of the home side.
The scoring rate had to slow down, and sure it did, until the 8th minute when Brian Shally hit a neat score from play to settle the Clooney boys.
This score was quickly followed by points from Seán Ward again and James Casey who received a pass following a great Cathal Egan catch to put Clooney 1-4 to 2-0 in front.
A Damien Kennedy free for Barefield in the 10th minute was answered by a like score from Shally in the 15th as the game continued at a fast pace.
There was some confusion a couple of minutes later as a Shally line ball was deflected over his own crossbar by Donal Conneely, but the score was dis-allowed for a small square infringement. It didn't upset the Clooney lads rhythm though, as Seán Conheady broke down the middle of the Doora/Barefield defence and popped a lovely point on the run.
Another Kennedy free in the 23rd minute reduced the Clooney lead but James Casey hit a great point for the Clooney lads following great work by Sean Ward, who centered a great pass for Casey to score.
Seán Flynn replied from play for the home side, with a Shally free completing the first half scoring.
Half-Time Clooney/Quin 1-8 Doora/Barefield 2-3
From the throw-in for the second half, Damien Kennedy converted a free, to cut the margin to the minimum.
Brian Shally from play in the 4th minute extended the lead once again, but Doora/Barefield won a semi-penalty in the 9th minute, thus presenting the Barefield lads with a great opportunity to re-take the lead.
David Hoey stepped up and hit a powerful shot, which was parried by Clooney net-minder Cunningham. Confusion reigned, as the net bulged, but the ball was heading out over the end-line for a 65. Apparently, Adrian Flemings hurley touched the net, which gave the apperrance that the goal had been scored.
The Barefield lads had to make-do with the 65 however, an opportunity that went wide, to the delight of the Clooney players and supporters.
The hectic pace of the game resulted in a number of players tiring, with scoring chances beginning to dry-up.
David Hoey soloed forward in the 15th minute to hit a beautiful point to lift his team-mates, as the pressure began to mount on the Clooney defence.
They held firm, with Casey hitting his third, and his teams 10th point as the game entered the final ten minutes.
As the Barefield lads put on a final surge to snatch something from the game, Greg Lyons reduced the margin to a point with two minutes remaining.
Pa Reynolds landed a long-range free as the game entered injury time to put two between the sides once more.
The Barefield lads had one final chance to snatch the win as they won a free 25 meters out, but David Hoeys powerful shot fizzed just over the bar. The final whistle came from the puck-out, with Clooney the winners on a 1-11 to 2-7 scoreline.
Scorers; Clooney/Quin - Brian Shally 4 pts(2 frees), James Casey 3 pts, Cathal Egan 1 goal, Seán Ward 2 pts, Seán Conheady 1 pt and Pa Reynolds 1 free.
Doora/Barefield - Damien Kennedy 3 frees, Declan Malone and Colm Mullen 1 goal each, David Hoey 2 pts (1 free), Greg Lyons and Sean Flynn 1 pt each.
Ref; Ger Hoey (Killenena)
