Seniors Suffer Narrow Defeat

It is said that goals win games. Well, they, or it, certainly did this Saturday evening, September 6th as Clooney/Quin went down to Clarecastle on a scoreline of 1-13 to 0-14 in Round 4 of the County Senior hurling Championship………………

The game had been scheduled to take place in Cusack Park but it was switched to Clareabbey on Friday as the Park is still unable to host games. If the task facing Clooney/Quin wasn’t difficult enough, having to travel to the Spiritual Home of The Magpies certainly made the task that little bit tougher.
It was a dry but windy afternoon as the teams took to the field, Clooney having use of the fresh breeze that blew into the Clarecastle end.
Clarecastle were first to score when Ken Ralph slotted over a free in the 2^nd minute, but Mike Mac replied from play almost immediately. Seanie Moloney then put the Magpies back in front a minute later, but Shally from a free tied up the sides by the 5^th minute. The early part of the game was marred by several stoppages of one sort of another as Clooney struggled to get any rhythm going in their play. During this time, however, The Magpies lost their ace marksman, Ken Ralph to an ankle injury as he chased after Shane McNamara as he made a cleareance. This however didn’t upset them as they pillaged two scores on the trot from Patrick Kelly and Eric Flynn to push them 4 to 2 up after 12 minutes.
More stoppages frustrated the Clooney lads as the clock ticked by, with little benefit of the wind to show on the scoreboard. However, Brian Shally got the Clooney/Quin forwards moving with a fine point from play in the 17^th minute, with Mickie Daffy levelling the scores a minute later following a fine pass from Cathal Egan. Derek Quinn took over the free-taking duties from the injured Ralph and edged Clarecastle back in front, but Daffy once again got around his man and levelled a second time in as many minutes to tie the game up with 20 gone in the half.
A beautiful lift and strike score from Cathal Egan under intense pressure put Clooney ahead for the first time but Clares Johnny Clancy replied from play two minutes later to level again.
A boomer of a free from Clooney ‘keeper Damien O’Halloran was caught and scored by Cathal Egan in the 28^th minute, with the final score of the half going to Derek Quinn from play to leave the half-time score at 7 points each. It was a disappointing half for the Clooney/Quin lads who couldn’t get moving with the fluency they showed in their previous two Championship matches. The talk at the break was how Clooney would get scores into the wind.
Pat O’Rourkes half-time talk did the trick as the Clooney lads hit five unanswered points as the 2^nd half burst into life.
Brian Shally started the scoring with a pointed free, and a moment later Clooney ‘keeper Damien O’Halloran went full-length to deny Derek Quinn a goal with a super save, the clearance finding Padraig Ward who slotted an inspirational score to put two between the sides. John Earls showed his speed when he received another Egan pass and slotted over on the run from the right wing. Mickie Daffy then scored his 3^rd point as he latched onto a Shally sideline. A minute later Daffy again picked up a ball out on the right side of the attack and showed a clean pair of heels to his marker and pointed to put Clooney 12 to 7 ahead by the 5^th minute.
Three minutes later, a free from Brian Shally which looked to most spectators on the near sideline as having been inside the right upright was waved wide by the umpire. This seemed to un-nerve the Clooney boys as the Magpies, with a number of astute switches and substitutions, were now beginning to get a grip around a crowded midfield and half-forward line. Derek Quinn and Brian Shally swapped frees, Shallys resulting from a Martin Duggan run when he was in on goal being pulled back by the Referee, much to the annoyance of the Clooney management and supporters.
Patrick Kelly slotted a terrific score from a sideline ball in the 15^th minute of the half to reduce the arrears to 4. Substitute Aaron Considine cut it further two minutes later, but then disaster struck Clooney.
Johnny Clancy emerged from a ruck of players around the midfield area and set off on one of his renowned solo runs. He cut through the Clooney defence and laid off a handpass to Darragh Moloney who found the Clooney net from close range. This levelled the game, but it was a massive boost to Clarecastle.
They were now firing on all cylinders, and Derek Quinn was fortunate to win a free close to goal to put Clarecastle back in front as time ticked down.
John Casey emerged from the Clarecastle goal and slotted a massive free from deep in his own half with 2 minutes to go, but John Earls reduced the defecit to the minimum a minute later when once again he worked his way up the right touchline and hit a terrific point.
This proved to be Clooneys last score, Derek Quinn slotted another Clarecastle free to complete the scoring., the Magpies two points to the good, on a final scoreline of 1-13 to 0-14.
This result puts Clarecastle in 2^nd spot in the Group with 5 points having played all their games. Clooney are third on 4 points with their final game against Kilmaley next Saturday. Clooney/Quin need at least a point from this game to stay in the Championship race. A point would put them into a Play-off with Clarecastle while a win would propel them into the quarter final. Our fate remains firmly in our own hands, but, as with Clarecastle, Kilmaley are another of the top club sides in Clare. The team have shown that they have the skill and ability to compete with the best around and, with a little bit of luck, our young, emerging side can get there. Onwards and upwards!

Scorers: Clooney/Quin; Brian Shally 4(3 Frees), Mickie Daffy 4, Cathal Egan 2, John Earls 2. Mike McNamara and Padraig Ward one each.
Clarecastle; Derek Quinn 5(4 frees), Darragh Moloney 1 goal, Patrick Kelly 2(1 Sideline) Ken Ralph 1(Free), Eric Flynn, Aaron Considine, John Casey(Free), Seanie Moloney and Jonathan Clancy, one each.

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