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10 July 2008
Clooney/Quin U-16 Hurlers got their competitive season off the ground with a home game against Cratloe at Hennessey Park on Sunday.
Playing in what now seems to be our annual July weather, with rain lashing down, it was the home defence and midfield that must take most praise for a creditable draw against one of the favorites for this year's title. They made the Cratloe forwards work very hard for every score and prevented them from getting a single shot at the C/Q goal.
The highlight of the first half was a Shane Duggan goal and when the short whistle sounded the score was Clooney/Quin 1.3 Cratloe 0.8.
The visitors maintained their two point lead for most of the 2nd half until midfield dynamo Alan Miller finished to the top of the Cratloe net after playing a one/two with Joe Clune.
A late point for Cratloe restored parity and a very good match ended as it started - level.
Final Score: Clooney/Quin 2.6 Cratloe 0.12
Our Scorers; Ryan O'Neill 6pts. Shane Duggan 1goal. Alan Miller 1goal.
During the heavy rain at Hennessey Park on Wednesday evening few could have envisaged the exciting game of hurling which was to follow as our U-16 Hurlers took on near neighbours Tulla with two points and local bragging rights on offer. The pitch soaked up whatever the clouds had to offer and two fine teams played out a mighty game of hurling.
Clooney/Quin were the dominant team in the first half. This was reflected on the scoreboard. The first score of the game was a Joe Clune goal. 7 points were added before half time - all from play and spread amongst six different players.
Tulla kept in touch with 5 first half points.
After a 10 minute break, Tulla took the field with a few positional changes and far greater urgency. They added 1.1 to their tally inside 3 minutes. The match was firmly in the melting pot now. Both teams exchanged points before Tulla hit for their 2nd goal to take the lead. Points from Joe Clune and Ryan O'Neill steadied the ship but when the visitors grabbed goal No.3 it looked like it would be Tulla's day.
With injury time approaching, Shane Smyth won a semi-penalty which Ryan O'Neill sent to the roof of the Tulla net. The teams were all square again.
Some slack defending allowed Jason Ryan fire over the lead point for Clooney/Quin again. This was cancelled out by a Tulla free.
In the last play of the game Joe Clune was denied a winning goal by a fine save from the Tulla net minder. All over - and most would agree, a 'fair result'.
Final Score: Clooney/Quin 2.12 Tulla 3.9
Our Scorers: Ryan O'Neill 1.4 Joe Clune 1.2 John Reynolds 0.2 Jason Ryan 0.2 David Barry and Ruaidhri McNamara 0.1 each
