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11 September 2008
Our U-16 Hurlers put in another super performance on Sunday in Kilkishen to book their place in the County Final with a 3 point victory over Smith O'Briens. Once again this was a team effort with every Clooney/Quin player playing his part..............
Smith O'Briens were first to score with a point after 2 minutes. Clooney/Quin's response was immediate. From the puck-out Jason Ryan hit a perfect 20m 'stick' pass to the hand of Peter Duggan on the edge of the large parallelogram. Peter made no mistake in rattling the Killaloe net.
3 mins. later Peter split the posts with a free from an acute angle. Smith O'Briens replied with another 'minor'. The play became very 'robust' at this stage and the game was punctuated with many stoppages.
In the 11th minute Johnny Reynolds restored our 3 point lead. The next 10 minutes were very competitive but scoring opportunities for both teams were at a premium. Niall McMahon, Brian Clune and Ruaidhri McNamara were magnificent in defence during this period and throughout.
Smith O'Briens brought some fluency to their game and ended the half strongly. They scored a point from play after 20mins. and added one from a free 3 mins. later. On 25 mins. the game could have swung very much in their favour as their wing forward got free inside the C/Q defence with only the goalie to beat. Keith Hogan produced a full-length save to deny them the goal and the resultant 65M free tailed right and wide.
C/Q regrouped after this with David Barry, Mark Taylor and Alan Miller driving on the boys in green and red. Smith O'Briens completed their 1st half scoring with a pointed free in the 29th minute. Peter Duggan added a crucial point from a free in 'injury time' to leave Clooney/Quin leading by 1.3 to 0.5 at the half time break.
One minute into the 2nd half Peter doubled our advantage from another placed ball. Our attack were now playing with assurance with Shane Smyth, Niall Hehir and Ryan O'Neill in flying form and Joe Clune tormenting the Killaloe full back line. Jason Ryan landed point No. 5.
Smith O'Briens pointed in the 39th minute but Johnny Reynolds cancelled that out immediately with his 2nd point of the match.
It was a 2 point game again in the 41st minute as the Killaloe side scored from play. Alan Miller restored our 1 goal lead with a point 'on the run' 1 min. later. Smith O'Briens again brought it back to 2 points after 48 mins.
It was 'Hell for Leather' from here to the end as both teams went 'flat out' for a place in the final.
In the 55th minute a swift passing move from the C/Q forwards was finished off with an excellent strike to the back of the Smith O'Briens net by Jason Ryan. 2.7 to 0.8 - Looking good!
3 minutes later all changed again as a long range free was dropped in the C/Q goal area and finished to the net. Back to a dangerous 2-point game as we approached 'injury time'.
Clooney/Quin decided that the best form of defence was attack and were rewarded with a 60th minute free which was driven straight between the posts by Peter Duggan.
In the additional 5 minutes that followed, Clooney/Quin displayed a tremendous work rate all over the field to deny Smith O'Briens any opportunity of a score.
So, having fallen at this stage of the U-16 Championship last year, these guys have gone a step further in 2008. Maybe they are not finished yet!
Th final is scheduled for the weekend of the 20th/21st Sept. and Corofin will provide the opposition.
Final Score: Clooney/Quin 2.8 Smith O'Briens 1.8
Our Scorers: Peter Duggan 1.4 Jason Ryan 1.1 Johnny Reynolds 0.2 Alan Miller 0.1
