20 May 2010

Clooney-Quin Senior hurlers got their Championship campaign off to a flying start when they defeated Broadford in Round 1 of their Group when the sides met in Cusack Park on Saturday, May 15th.
In the past, Broadford v Clooney-Quin games were tight affairs, and the early exchanges followed this trend, with little between the sides. Martin Duggan settled the Clooney lads in the 1st minute with a point. Fergal Lynch followed with a fine catch and score from a Cillian Duggan free in the 4th, with Craig Chaplin pointing a free for the Broadford lads a minute later.
Derek Ryan pointed from play following an excellent solo and pass from Mike McNamara in the 6th minute as both sides were playing very cautious hurling.When Derek Ryan pointed a 65 for Clooney to stretch the lead 4 to 3, the Clooney-Quin supporters were beginning to relax a little.
However, they were back to maximum tension moments later as Broadford were awarded a penalty.Craig Chaplins powerful shot was sent arrowing high into the net but a combination of the two Cathals, Hannon and Egan parried the shot and the ball was cleared.The relief felt was short-lived as a minute later, the lively Padraig Hickey sent a low shot from a tight angle to the Clooney net to level the match in the 12th minute.
A Ryan free in the 17th minute was answered by Craig Chaplins 65 in the 19th minutes as the sides were again on level scores. Derek Ryan then combined well with Martin Duggan for Murt to convert from play but the Broadford lads replied in their next attack when Craig Chaplin pointed another free.A long-range Ryan free in the 25th minute was followed by a Cathal Egan point and another huge free, this time from Cillian Duggan.
In injury time, Ryan pointed another free but Craig Chaplin replied at the other end with a point to leave the half-time score at 0-10 to 1-4.
The cagey first half, in which Clooney-Quin had the aid of a light breeze, was expected to continue for the 2nd half, but the Clooney lads made a great start to the half. 
From the off, they seemed to have cast off their hesitancy and launched a series of attacks on the Broadford rearguard. Another Ryan free in the 2nd minute was followed by the move of the match which, in hindsight decided the encounter.
Adrian Fleming stormed forward from defence and threaded an excellent ball into the corner in front of Fergal Lynch. As was the case all day, he had the measure of his marker and turned for goal. His powerful run drew the Broadford cover in his direction, before releasing a pin-point pass to his full forward team-mate Derek Ryan who released a blistering shot to the Broadford net, to the joy of all Clooney-Quin supporters. 
Leading 1-11 to 1-4, the Clooney-Quin lads needed to maintain their composure to avoid any Broadford comebacks.Craig Chaplin pointed a free in response for Broadford, but Martin Duggan in the 7th and a brace of frees from Ryan in the 9th and 15 minutes kept the Clooney-Quin lads on course for the win.
John Earls extended that lead with 12 minutes remaining but Chaplin again answered with a free.Broadford substitute, Declan Teefy hit two points from play in quick succession, with another Martin Duggan point from play in between before Derek Ryan completed the scoring with a free with 2 minutes left, to leave the final scoreline at 1-17 to 1-8.
Next up in the Championship is another difficult tie against Scariff.