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08 October 2009
Posted in
Hurling -
Senior
Clooney/Quins involvement in the race for the Canon Hamilton Trophy came to an end on Sunday last when they were defeated by reigning County Senior Champions, Clonlara on 1-22 to 3-10 scoreline.........................
In a game that only had short periods of high level action, the Clooney/Quin lads will point to various opportunities during the game where they might have put themselves into a position to upset the Champions. Alas, it was not to be, as the South/East Clare lads were well deserving of victory.
Donal Madden opened the Clonlara account in the first minute, a score that was quickly followed by Darrach Honan.
Crucially, the Clooney lads spurned three excellent opportunities for scores early in the game, which would have helped the cause greatly. However, in tyhe 5th minute, Fergal Lynch was hauled down in the penalty area following the first of his many high catches over the hour. The semi-penalty was scored by Derek Ryan to put Clooney ahead.
The Clonlara response was immediate and oozed class, with John Conlon, A Madden free along with second points for Honan and Conlon plus a Keith Fennessy point had Clonlara ahead 0-7 to a goal by the 12th minute. For the next quarter of an hour, the Clooney/Quin lads played their best hurling of the match, but this wasn't reflected adequately on the scoreboard as some more good opportunities were not converted. It wasn't until the 17th minute that Clooney got their 2nd score but it was a vital goal. Derek Ryan caught a high ball in the now-creaking Clonlara full-back line and fed a pin-point pass to the onrushing Fergal Lynch who beat Ger O'Connell with a blistering goal. This lifted the Clooney supporters and players, with Martin Duggan levelling the match almost directly from the puck-out on a 2-1 to 0-7 scoreline. Two minutes later, it was Clonlaras chance to convert from a semi-penalty. However, Donal Maddens shot was brilliantly blocked and cleared by Cathal Egan.
Tommy Lynchs point in the 20th minute was well answered as Fergal Lynch caught and fed the on-rushing Sean Conheady to level once again. At this point, the game was well-balanced, with scores being exchanged on both sides. Madden, a Ryan free,
a Fergal Lynch point and a Nicky O'Connell free by the 28th minute had the sides still level 2-4 to 0-10. Crucially, Clonlara hit the final three points of the half from John Barry another O'Connell free and John Conlon to leave the Champions 0-13 to 2-4 ahead at the break.
The second half began well for the Clooney/Quin lads, with Derek Ryan converting frees in the 1st and 3rd minutes to cut the defesit to a point. Madden from play plus yet another long-range O'Connell free plus one from play had Clonlara 0-16 to 2-6 ahead by the 7th minute. Padraig Ward reduced the gap with a point, but Madden converted another placed ball to keep the Clon lads three ahead. Ryan from play in the 12th was answered by a Madden free, with Cathal Egan from play in the 18th edging the Clooney boys back into contention, 0-18 to 2-9. As the crowd sensed a shock, the Clon lads dug-in and benefitted from some slack defending by the Clooney backs and conceded points to Conlon, Madden and O'Connell by the 22nd minute eased their nerves.
The incident that eventually won the day for Clon occured a moment later. A long delivery into the Clonlara full-back line was yet again brilliantly fielded by Fergal Lynch approximately 13M out. He advanced on the Clonlara goal but was hauled down.
He got a great pass away to the on-rushing Derek Ryan but as he attempted to finish the pass to the net he was hit by desperation tackle from the Clon fullback line and the ball was cleared. Ryan received a nasty hand injury in the tackle and was replaced by Brian Shally, who's first action was to convert a 20M free in the 23rd minute. Darrach Honan pointed from the puck-out, with this score being followed by the goal that wrapped up the game for Clonlara as Keith Fennessy got in behind the Clooney defence and gave Padraig Cunningham no chance in the Clooney goal. The Clooney lads fought back, and Mike McNamara goaled at the other end and was unlucky not to have scored a second with the final puck of the game, but his shot was cleared to safety, the final whistle sounding from the clearance.
Overall, the team can be satisfied with their season, having held top spot in the Clare Cup to the final group games, reaching the knock-out stages of the Senior Championship for the first time since 1958 along with winning the Clare Senior 7-A-Side Competition. With the experience gained this year, the side is developing into one of the strongest sides in Clare.
Donal Madden opened the Clonlara account in the first minute, a score that was quickly followed by Darrach Honan.
Crucially, the Clooney lads spurned three excellent opportunities for scores early in the game, which would have helped the cause greatly. However, in tyhe 5th minute, Fergal Lynch was hauled down in the penalty area following the first of his many high catches over the hour. The semi-penalty was scored by Derek Ryan to put Clooney ahead.
The Clonlara response was immediate and oozed class, with John Conlon, A Madden free along with second points for Honan and Conlon plus a Keith Fennessy point had Clonlara ahead 0-7 to a goal by the 12th minute. For the next quarter of an hour, the Clooney/Quin lads played their best hurling of the match, but this wasn't reflected adequately on the scoreboard as some more good opportunities were not converted. It wasn't until the 17th minute that Clooney got their 2nd score but it was a vital goal. Derek Ryan caught a high ball in the now-creaking Clonlara full-back line and fed a pin-point pass to the onrushing Fergal Lynch who beat Ger O'Connell with a blistering goal. This lifted the Clooney supporters and players, with Martin Duggan levelling the match almost directly from the puck-out on a 2-1 to 0-7 scoreline. Two minutes later, it was Clonlaras chance to convert from a semi-penalty. However, Donal Maddens shot was brilliantly blocked and cleared by Cathal Egan.
Tommy Lynchs point in the 20th minute was well answered as Fergal Lynch caught and fed the on-rushing Sean Conheady to level once again. At this point, the game was well-balanced, with scores being exchanged on both sides. Madden, a Ryan free,
a Fergal Lynch point and a Nicky O'Connell free by the 28th minute had the sides still level 2-4 to 0-10. Crucially, Clonlara hit the final three points of the half from John Barry another O'Connell free and John Conlon to leave the Champions 0-13 to 2-4 ahead at the break.
The second half began well for the Clooney/Quin lads, with Derek Ryan converting frees in the 1st and 3rd minutes to cut the defesit to a point. Madden from play plus yet another long-range O'Connell free plus one from play had Clonlara 0-16 to 2-6 ahead by the 7th minute. Padraig Ward reduced the gap with a point, but Madden converted another placed ball to keep the Clon lads three ahead. Ryan from play in the 12th was answered by a Madden free, with Cathal Egan from play in the 18th edging the Clooney boys back into contention, 0-18 to 2-9. As the crowd sensed a shock, the Clon lads dug-in and benefitted from some slack defending by the Clooney backs and conceded points to Conlon, Madden and O'Connell by the 22nd minute eased their nerves.
The incident that eventually won the day for Clon occured a moment later. A long delivery into the Clonlara full-back line was yet again brilliantly fielded by Fergal Lynch approximately 13M out. He advanced on the Clonlara goal but was hauled down.
He got a great pass away to the on-rushing Derek Ryan but as he attempted to finish the pass to the net he was hit by desperation tackle from the Clon fullback line and the ball was cleared. Ryan received a nasty hand injury in the tackle and was replaced by Brian Shally, who's first action was to convert a 20M free in the 23rd minute. Darrach Honan pointed from the puck-out, with this score being followed by the goal that wrapped up the game for Clonlara as Keith Fennessy got in behind the Clooney defence and gave Padraig Cunningham no chance in the Clooney goal. The Clooney lads fought back, and Mike McNamara goaled at the other end and was unlucky not to have scored a second with the final puck of the game, but his shot was cleared to safety, the final whistle sounding from the clearance.
Overall, the team can be satisfied with their season, having held top spot in the Clare Cup to the final group games, reaching the knock-out stages of the Senior Championship for the first time since 1958 along with winning the Clare Senior 7-A-Side Competition. With the experience gained this year, the side is developing into one of the strongest sides in Clare.
