Clare 4-17
Cork 0-18
Daragh Small reports from Cusack Park Ennis
PETER DUGGAN SCORED two goals and Clare qualified for the final of the Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League with an 11-point win over Cork at Cusack Park in Ennis today.
The Clooney Quin clubman fired both goals in the first half and Cathal Malone scored the other while Niall Deasy added the fourth goal for the hosts after half-time.
Clare claimed their biggest win under Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor when they defeated Kerry 4-20 to 0-12 at LIT last weekend, while Cork lost to Limerick.
But with just one score in the first seven minutes, it was a surprise that Clare were able to run up a 3-5 to 0-10 lead by half-time here.
Peter Duggan scored their first goal in the fourth minute when he finished off a pass from Ian Galvin. Rob O’Shea finally registered a score for Cork, with a point in the seventh minute.
But Clare were rampant in the opening quarter and had three goals on the scoreboard by the 17th minute, after strikes from Malone and Duggan again, which pushed them 3-2 to 0-3 ahead.
However Cork’s Declan Dalton scored four frees before half-time and gave his side a chance going into the second half.
Cork were four points behind and on the resumption Clare’s Seadna Morey quickly extended the margin to six, with a pair of points in the 39th and 41st minutes.
From there Clare took control and substitute David Reidy scored two points before Deasy sealed an emphatic win with a fourth goal with 20 minutes remaining.
Scorers for Clare: Peter Duggan 2-0, Cathal Malone, Niall Deasy (0-1f) 1-2 each, Ian Galvin 0-3, Seadna Morey, David Reidy, Tony Kelly, Mickey O’Neill 0-2 each, Billy Connors, Ryan Taylor 0-1 each.
Scorers for Cork: Rob O’Shea 0-5 (0-2f), Declan Dalton 0-4 (0-4f), Daniel Kearney 0-3, Lorcan McLoughlin, Eoin Murphy 0-2 each, Eoghan Finn, John Looney 0-1 each.
Clare
1. Patrick Kelly (Inagh Kilnamona)
2. Eoin Quirke (Whitegate)
3. Conor Cleary (Milltown)
4. Patrick O’Connor (Tubber)
5. David Fitzgerald (Inagh Kilnamona)
6. David McInerney (Tulla)
7. Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge)
8. Ryan Taylor (Clooney Quin)
9. Colm Galvin (Clonlara)
10. Ian Galvin (Clonlara)
11. Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
12. Niall Deasy (Ballyea)
13. Billy Connors (Cratloe)
14. Peter Duggan (Clooney Quin)
15. Conor McGrath (Cratloe)
Subs
20. Jack Browne (Ballyea) for Quirke (18)
21. David Reidy (Eire Og) for C Galvin (38)
19. Tony Kelly (Ballyea) for Malone (50)
26. Mickey O’Neill (Kilmaley) for Connors (51)
17. John Conlon (Clonlara) for Morey (55)
Cork
1. Anthony Nash (Kanturk)
2. Conor O’Sullivan (Sarsfields)
3. Eoin Murphy (Sarsfields)
4. David Griffin (Carrigaline)
5. Chris O’Leary (Valley Rovers)
18. Eoin Cadogan (Douglas)
7. Rickard Cahalane (Ballymartle)
8. Lorcan McLoughlin (Kanturk)
9. Luke Meade (Newcestown)
10. Eoghain Finn (St Finbarr’s)
11. Brian Lawton (Castlemartyr)
12. Daniel Kearney (Sarsfields)
13. Rob O’Shea (Carrigaline)
14. Evan Sheehan (Na Piarsaigh)
20. Declan Dalton (Fr O’Neill’s)
Subs
24. John Looney (Aghada) for Finn (26)
19. Ian Cahill (Cloyne) for Sheehan (47)
23. Conor Twomey (Newtownshandrum) for Cahalane (57)
22. Eoghan Keniry (Killeagh) for Dalton (57)
17. John Cashman (Blackrock) for O’Sullivan (63)
Referee: John McCormack (Tipperary).
****************
Limerick 3-19
Kerry 1-15
LIMERICK FOLLOWED UP on their opening round victory over Cork to book a final place against Clare when they swept past Kerry at the Gaelic Grounds today.
John Kiely’s side did the damage in the first half when they struck three goals. Full-forward Seamus Flanagan notched a brace of goals in that period with Barry Nash also raising a green flag.
Limerick had cantered into a 3-9 to 0-2 lead at the interval and the foundations were firmly laid for victory.
Aaron Gillane, Diarmaid Byrnes, Nash and Flanagan all got on the scoresheet in the second half as they ran out ten-point victors.
Limerick
1. Barry Hennessy (Kilmallock)
2. Darragh Fanning (Pallasgreen)
3. Richie English (Doon)
4. Tom Condon (Knockaderry)
5. Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell)
6. Declan Hannon (Adare)
7. William O’Meara (Askeaton)
8. Paul Browne (Bruff)
9. Andrew La Touche Cosgrave (Monaleen)
10. Darragh O’Donovan (Doon)
11. Barry Nash (South Liberties)
12. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell)
13. Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell)
14. Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh-Castlemahon)
15. Barry Murphy (Doon)
Kerry
1. Stephen Murphy (Causeway)
2. Dougie Fitzell (Kilmoyley)
3. Bryan Murphy (Causeway)
4. Seán Weir (Crotta O’Neills)
5. Brendan O’Leary (Abbeydorney)
6. John Buckley (Lixnaw)
7. Jason Diggins (Causeway)
8. Jack Goulding (Ballyduff)
9. Daniel Collins (Kilmoyley)
10. Brandon Barrett (Causeway)
11. Daniel O’Carroll (Ballyduff)
12. Shane Conway (Lixnaw)
13. Padraig Boyle (Ballyduff – captain)
14. Colm Harty (Causeway)
15. Jordan Conway (Crotta O’Neills)
Referee: Joe Larkin (Cork)
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Why aree Tipp and Waterford not in this tournament?
@Sloop John G: they opted out.
@Sloop John G: because its a waste of time.
@Sloop John G: They’re dead right to opt out. Playing any kind of competitive match at this time of year in these conditions is madness.
@Colm O’Sullivan: I’d say it’s completely taken as a training session. Games are better than any training session. It’s not taken as a competitive game. No harm in it
@Colm O’Sullivan: You think Tipp and Waterford were sitting at home today in front of the fire or something? Games are good for these teams anytime of the year. Especially for fringe players looking to break in, the more chances they get to play the better.
@Damien Murphy: Well Tipp beat Dublin in a challenge match yesterday so they probably were at home in front of the fire today!
@Colm O’Sullivan: cancel rugby soccer and a lot of other sports as well so Colm is it?!!
@Joe Kennedy: this is point joe there is rugby on and the fitzgibbon is on why do they need more games? And if u play rugby and ur playing college hurling and then u have to play county ur risking burn out.
@John: what?! How many lads are playing rugby, college hurling and county you reckon?!! Many of the lads involved in Fitzgibbon don’t have to be involved with the county until the Fitz ends anyway. And other lads get a shot to play for their county and try out in the mean time. Don’t think anyone takes these early season competitions too seriously…..and I’d rather a game over running up and down fields or gym work ANY day!!
@Joe Kennedy: Rugby and soccer are winter sports Joe, both played with a big ball. Underfoot conditions do not suit hurling in January. Like I’ve said for years, there should be a complete break from all Inter county games until middle of February at least. It would certainly aid with player fatigue.
@Joe Kennedy: thats rubbish abt players involved in fitzgibbon dont have to play county. I know loads of players at the moment that are expected to turn up training for both and are playing 2 games at the weekend. Its complete nonsense.. players are afraid to say no cause they will be dropped.. you think that is right?
@Joe Kennedy: and some clowns are even making lads train for u21s and it isnt on until june. The whole system is a farce
@Colm O’Sullivan: not sure how soccer is a winter sport. The World Cup/ euros are usually on the summer aren’t they? I would agree about the underfoot conditions for hurling but all counties are back training at this stage anyway. My point was that I don’t think it’s ridiculous to be playing competitive games at this time of year as it’s better and more beneficial than training anyway, in my opinion.
@John: you know loads of lads playing Fitz AND county?! If that was true, you’d know that there is a mutual respect for both and county teams would always make allowances for players caught between the two…..especially as the Fitz is done and dusted for most by the middle of Feb anyway.