A ’bridge too far for Clooney-Quin
SIXMILEBRIDGE claimed a 13th Clare senior hurling title at Cusack Park Ennis yesterday, in front of a crowd of 5,892. A week earlier, they were put to the pin of their collars to earn a draw against rank outsiders Clooney-Quin, the sides level on nine occasions, with Peter Duggan coming to the rescue, pointing a free late on But in the replay yesterday, their secondhalf performance proved to be too hot to handle for their gallant opponents. With 41-year-old Banner veteran Niall Gilligan starting at centreforward, the Bridge lead at half-time by 0-9 to 0-7, after a pretty dour opening half-hour. Clooney-Quin, for their part, in the first-half relied far too heavily on wingforward and free-taker Duggan for scores. He accounted for all but one of their scores in that period with Ryan Taylor being the only other point scorer before the break. The Bridge pushed on from the re-start with a pointed free by Jamie Shanahan, only seconds in. The turning point of the game arrived on 33 minutes when his colleague Brian Corry grabbed a Bridge goal to put six points between them. Shanahan then hit another point from play, laying down the foundation stone for victory. Sixmilebridge’s Brian Corry’s first cousin and opponent Michael Corry did find the net late in the game, with a first-time effort but that consolation goal proved to be too little too late. SIXMILEBRIDGE: D Fahy, N Purcell, P Fitzpatrick (Capt.), B Fitzpatrick, A Quilligan S Morey, C Morey (K Lynch 59), J Shanahan, C Deasy (B Carey 59), C Malone, N Gilligan (C Lynch 48), S Golden, B Corry, A Morey (G Whyte 52), A Mulready. Scorers: S Golden 0-5, J Shanahan 0-5 (3 fs), B Corry 1-1, A Mulready 0-3, N Gilligan 0-2, A Quilligan, C Deasy, C Malone, C Lynch 0-1 each. Wides: 2 (3) Yellow cards: D Fahy 30. CLOONEY-QUIN: K Hogan, R McNamara, S McNamara, B McInerney, C Duggan C Harrison, P Ward, D Murphy (D Kennedy 59), R Taylor, P Duggan, M Corry, T Shanahan (D Hannon 37), R O’Donnell, F Lynch (Capt.), J Corry. Scorers: P Duggan 0-10 (5 f’s, 2 ‘65’s, 1 s-l) M Corry 1-1, R Taylor, F Lynch, J Corry 0-1 each. Wides: 4 (4) Yellow cards: F Lynch 30, R Taylor 35. Referee: R Hickey (Éire Óg).