Famous first for Clonard hurlers

May 1988

Efforts to establish Clonard as a hurling force at adult level received a great boost last Friday night at Coolcotts, when their Junior ‘B’ team scored a well-merited 2-12 to 2-3 victory over neighbours Glynn-Barntown.

It was the first adult game the club ever played at the St. Peter’s College fields, which were really in top-class condition thanks to the dedicated work of club officials over the past fortnight or so.

That first-ever victory on Friday follows a hard-won draw in the previous round against Shelmaliers, where the score was 2-12 to 3-9. Clonard now eagerly await their next fixture, a Wexford Park derby with town neighbours, Faythe Harriers.

The decision of former Rathnure and Wexford star forward John Quigley to play with the fledgling club has been a major boost, but it would be unfair to say this is a one-man team. Other experienced men like Eamonn Devitt and Marty Bassett are also great additions to the side. The decision of former Barntown mentor Seamus White to manage the team is also a significant factor.

He is particularly pleased with the good performances of younger members of the side, like 17-year-old Brian O’Rourke, and former county under-14 players, Eamonn Moore, Derek Fortune, and Seamus Ryan.

The Clonard team that earned the club’s historic first ever adult hurling victory was: B. Dempsey; L. Murphy, L. Moore, J. Murphy; F. Martin, B. O’Rourke, R. Fortune; D.Fortune, E. Moore (0-2); S. Ryan (0-2), L. Evistone (1-0), T. Hayes (0-1); M. Lyng, J. Quigley (0-2), E. Devitt (1-4).

Sub: M. Barrett (0-1) for M. Lyng.