Clince’s class downs Island
Duffry ace in superb form
CATHAL CLINCE delivered a power-packed midfield display to inspire Duffry Rovers to a five-point victory over Our Lady’s Island in this Top Oil Intermediate ‘A’ hurling championship Group A second round game at Killurin on Sunday.
This was the kind of game where it was always going to take an outstanding individual display to separate the sides, given the rugged and close affair that it turned out to be.
And it was Clince who stepped up to the mark, finishing with a personal tally of 0-8, while also being involved in a number of other scores with his excellent deliveries inside to the attack.
While Our Lady’s Island were aiming for a victory to keep their championship prospects alive, they failed in attack, particularly in the first-half when wind assisted, hitting a number of poor wides.
Really, they lacked the scoring power and accuracy from in front of goal to seriously test their opponents, giving a lack-lustre display for most of the 60 minutes.
Noel Dempsey pointed the south county side in front within 30 seconds of the start, but both teams went on to squander some decent chances before Clince and Dean Maloney exchanged pointed frees.
The sides were still deadlocked (0-3 each) at the end of the opening quarter, but with Johnny Flynn-O’Connor, Cian Fitzhenry and Clince all finding the target, the eventual winners led by 0-8 to 0-5 at the interval.
Within 60 seconds of the re-start Cian Fitzhenry extended his side’s lead with a fine point off the wing. Following an exchange of scores between Dean Maloney and Eamonn Doyle, Jack Pettit’s pointed frees kept his side in contention.
Having reduced the deficit to 0-13 to 0-10 entering the final quarter, Our Lady’s Island were unable to translate their possession into scores.
And with Clince firing over three points in the closing four minutes along with an effort from John Dunne, the Duffry took two very valuable points, and deservedly so on the trend of play.
Duffry Rovers: Stephen Watchorn; James Nolan, Donie Doyle, Matthew Flynn-O’Connor; Gavin Watchorn, Paul Nolan, Aidan Byrne; Cathal Clince (0-10, 6 frees, 2 ‘65s), Tom Dunne; Johnny Flynn-O’Connor (0-3), Eamon Doyle (0-1), John Dunne (0-1); Robert Frayne, Alan O’Neill, Cian Fitzhenry (0-4, 2 frees). Sub. - Liam Pender for G. Watchorn.
Our Lady’s Island: Alan Kinsella; Brian Moore, Eamon Maloney, Robert Cloney; Quinn Saunders, Fintan Mullins, Cathal Devereux; Joey Murphy, Gary Walsh; Jack Pettit (0-5, 4 frees, 1 ‘65), Dean Maloney (0-3, 2 frees), Cian Meyler (0-1); Dylan Murphy (0-1), Noel Dempsey (0-1), Colm Kinsella (0-2). Sub. - Liam Kinsella for Cloney.
Referee: Damien Donovan (Volunteers).