2018 Clare Senior Hurling Championship Round 2

25th August @ Sixmilebridge

by Mike Brennan

Éire Óg 1-22    O’Callaghan’s Mills 1-16

Éire Óg withstood a robust challenge from the Mills Men to advance to the quarter finals of the Clare Senior Hurling Championship with a good win this afternoon bathed in sunshine down in Sixmilebridge.  The score line read 1-22 to the men in red to 1-16 to the men from the Mills. While there was 6 points in difference between the sides at the end, up until the midpoint of the 2nd half, this game hung in the balance.

The Townies started with the same 15 that started the previous week against Tulla with David Reidy getting a late reprieve against the harsh red card upon appeal on Thursday evening last. With the game starting late at 3.30 instead of the advertised 3.15 pm after the Shannon side, Wolfe Tones snatched a late victory against a much fancied Clonlara side with a very late goal. The Shannonsiders were still celebrating on the field up until the throw in.  Once the ball was thrown in, the game started at a frenzied pace with an early point from the young minor star from the Mills, Gary Cooney, who glided by Mikey Moloney to point from a tight angle. But Éire Óg responded straight away with a fine point from the right from David Reidy, 2 points in the very first minute! This even before most of the crowd had settled in their seats. 

The pace continued with the half forward from the Mills, Jacob Loughnane, exchanging points with Danny Russell from a free in the following 2 minutes. 3 minutes in and we are already 2 points apiece. The game then settled into a pattern with the Mills dropping a corner forward deep into their defense in front of our full forward line to snuff out the threat of David Reidy and Shane O’Donnell inside. This left Liam Corry free in the Éire Óg defense to sweep up to great effect. 2 more frees from the lethal Danny Russell were replied to by 2 frees from Loughnane again before Éire Óg pulled 3 points ahead from 3 frees from Russell again. Danny was deadly accurate today from placed balls, he didn’t miss one and in doing so, punished the Mills time and again. Coming into the 20th minute of the 1st half, this left Éire Óg 3 points in front and in control around the midfield and half back line.

O’Callaghan’s Mills responded with 2 points from centre back, Aidan Fawl before 2 more frees from Russell again re-established the Townies 3 points lead again.  At this stage, the men in red were cruising, punishing the Mills at every turn. A point from play from Clare 2013 All Ireland winning captain, Pat Donnellan was answered immediately by yet another free from the ever accurate Danny Russell followed by an excellent point from play by young Tadhg Connellan.

With halftime looming, the Townies had a 3 point lead before young minor star, Cooney, danced past 2 tackles to bury the ball into the corner of the Éire Óg net to draw the Mills level. Another Loughnane free from an impetuous foul left the men in green and yellow a point ahead at halftime on a score line of 1-8 to 10 points. In a half where Éire Óg had enjoyed a healthy 3 point lead, they found themselves a point down at the break from a late onslaught from the Mills. How would they respond in the 2nd half?

Éire Óg were fast out the blocks with a brace of points from inter county stars, Shane O’Donnell and David Reidy to put the men in red in a slender 1 point lead before 2 more Loughnane frees restored the Mills lead. Davy O’Halloran then replied for the Townies to establish parity once more. Gary Cooney struck a fine point from the right for the Mills before another Danny free and an O’Halloran point from play drew the sides level again.  A long range Donnellan point was cancelled out by yet another Danny Russell free. A Sean O’Gorman point and yet another Loughnane free meant that the Mills led by a slender margin at the midway point of the 2nd half.

The game then entered a key period where it was now or never for both teams. Each and every ball was contested as if their lives depended upon it. Another O’Gorman point was cancelled out by another Danny free before a Davy O’Halloran point pulled Éire Óg level.

With the game level, the Mills men drew a free but with regular free-taker Loughnane down injured, young star Cooney stepped up and put the ball wide where Loughnane would have stroked the ball over the bar. Advantage Éire Óg. The men in red stormed back up the field and Tadhg placed the ball expertly over the ball spot. From the resulting puck out, the Mills fans were incensed as they felt that they should have been awarded a free for a foul on Fawl but Éire Óg turned the ball around and drove it up field to Shane O’Donnell, who waltzed through the Mills defense before laying the ball off to Russell who from a tight angle drive the ball to the net. Advantage Éire Óg by 4 points but now to press it home.

2 more Danny Russell frees, including one from long range (over 65 meters) with a solitary reply by another Loughnane free, left Éire Óg 5 points ahead with time ebbing away. Substitute Barry Nugent fired the final score of the game with a point in the 32nd minute of the 2nd half. This left the final score line of 1-22 to 1-16.

Regardless of that, Éire Óg march on to the quarter finals where they will be joined by the likes of Ballyea and Clooney-Quin. Éire Óg were best served today by Liam Corry who drove forward time and again, Mikey Moloney did a great job policing the young star, Gary Cooney, while Dara Walsh and Tom Downes cleaned up in the middle. The star of the day was Danny Russell who was majestic from placed balls today, he never missed one from all angles and ranges. Plus, when called upon he buried his goal chance from an acute angle.

Éire Óg Scorers – Danny Russell 1-13 (13 frees); Davy O’Halloran 0-3, David Reidy 0-2; Tadhg Connellan 0-2, Shane O’Donnell 0-1; Barry Nugent 0-1.

Éire Óg Team – Philly Walsh; Liam Corry, Aaron Fitzgerald, Aidan McGrath; David McNamara, Dara Walsh, Mikey Moloney; Tom Downes, Eimhin Courtney; Davy O’Halloran, Nially McMahon, Danny Russell; David Reidy, Tadhg Connellan, Shane O’Donnell; Subs – Ronan Keane for Tom Downes, Barry Nugent for Eimhin Courtney, both 2nd half.