17 April 2010

The Senior hurlers came from a 15 point to 8 defisit with 20 minutes remaining to record a 2-16 to 1-17 win over Cratloe in a re-arranged Round 4 Clare Cup tie on Friday, April 16th.
The Clooney-Quin side showed five enforced changes from the side that defeated Clonlara a week earlier and the Cratloe team took full advantage of the unsettled nature of the home side and hit three points in the first five minutes. A Damien Browne free and then from play was followed by a Conor McGrath point before Trevor Lee opened the Clooney account. The Cratloe lads continued to press and struck for two points in the 8th minute as McGrath again and Barry Gleeson converted. It could have been so much worse for Clooney-Quin in the 10th minute as McGrath got in for a goal chance but Damien O'Halloran made a great stop, Conor Ryan pointing the resulting loose ball. Browne again and a Sean Chaplin free in the 13th minute had Cratloe ahead 8 to 1. Mike Mac and Sean Conheady poointed in the 16th and 18th minutes to cut the arrears to 5 points.Again, the Cratloe response was swift, with three points from the 19th to the 21st minutes from McGrath, Cathal McInerney and Liam Markham to stretch the lead to eight.Back came the home side, with a free and 65 from Cathal Egan in the 23rd and 24 minutes, with Martin Duggan in the 26th cutting back the Cratloe lead, but Cathal McInerneycompleted the scoring just on half time to leave the visitors with a comfortable 12 points to 6 lead.
A major improvement was required if the Clooney lads were to salvage anything from the tie. A Cathal Egan free in the 34th minute was answered in defiant fashion by the reigning County Champions. Frees from Browne in the 35th and 37th minutes was added to by Conor McGrath in the 39th to push the lead back to 8 once again. With the clock hitting forty minutes, it was time for the Clooney-Quin lads to take control. Cathal Egan converted a free, with Mike Daffy from play in the 41st minute bringing the lead back to 6. Egan frees in the 42nd and 44th minutes cut further into the Cratloe lead, but then the tide swung in favour of the home side.At the three-quarter mark, Martin Duggan broke forward and shot from the 20 meter line. His shot looped upwards and then dropped in under the crossbar and over the line, inspite of the vain efforts of Sean Hays in the Cratloe goal. 1-11 to 0-16. The game was in the fire now! Damien Browne steadied the Cratloe ship with a free in the 48th minute, but John Earls from the puck-out pointed at the other end. Padraig Ward from play eventually tied up the sides with 9 minutes remaining. In true form of Champions, Cratloe went back in front when Clare Under 21 star, Conor McGrath converted from play. A Cathal Egan 65 levelled matters with 3 minutes remaining and John Earls restored the Clooney-Quin lead a minute later. As Cratloe pushed for the equaliser, a quick Clooney attack resulted in Mickie Daffy getting free and he headed for goal. His low shot was brilliantly stopped by Hayes, but the rebound fell to Daffy again. His first time pull was again heroically stopped by Hayes as he lay on the ground, but Daffy wasn't to be denied, his third shot hitting the back of the net.With time up, and Clooney ahead by four, surely it was enough, but Cratloe refused to give in. In a wealther of excitement, substitute, James Enright netted for Cratloe from close range to cut the lead to the minimum. Back came Clooney again and John Earls used his speed and pointed from the sideline to increase the lead, but Cratloe attacked again from the puck-out. However, the Clooney defence held firm and the clearance drew the final whistle to leave the home side victorious on a 2-16 to 1-17 scoreline. It was time to rest! Next up are Tulla.