Clonakilty Hurlers’ Unbeaten Run Continues
Clonakilty played their 5th Carbery Junior A Hurling League match of the year in Ardfield on May 1st against St James. Clon had to make a change before the game as Eoin McCormack got injured in the warm up, Tim McCarthy coming in to midfield to replace him.
The home side opened the scoring against the breeze but Clon quickly got into their groove and rattled off some super scores in the next 10 minutes, 3 from the excellent Sean White and one each from Chris Kenneally and Fergal Murphy.
Eddie Morrissey started in goals for Clon and his distribution from very accurate puck outs lead directly to 2 of the points. He was well protected by the full back line of Ciaran Crowley, Kieran Calnan and Mike Noonan who was making his debut at full back. St James scored the next point from a free but scores by Fionn McCarthy from play and a Brian White free put Clon up by 7 points to 2 after 20 minutes. Sean White was replaced at this stage as a precaution by Thomas Palmer. St James scored another free to narrow the gap to 4 points. Thomas Clancy was very dominant all game through at centre back ably assisted by James Campbell and Mark White at either side of him. 2 more pointed scores from Chris and Fergal left the half time score at 9 points to 3 in favour of Clon.
At half time James O’Brien entered the fray for the first time in two years for Clon replacing Kevin Bracken and Shane Collins took over in goals from young Morrissey. Cillian White, making his first start for Clon and Tim McCarthy were very industrious in midfield all throughout the match and it was no different in the 2nd half. The work rate by the Clon team couldn’t be matched by St James. The next 6 points by Clon in the first 12 minutes of the 2nd half were shared between the outstanding duo of Fergal Murphy (3) and Brian White from play, a free and a 65. St James did manage 3 points of their own in this period to leave the score at 15 points to 6 with 15 to go. Patrick Murnane, Oisin Hassett and Eoin Lombard came on as substitutes in the last 15 minutes. They all worked hard and Clon finished strongly with points from Chris and 2 more by Brian with St James only response another pointed free.
The final score was one of the highlights of the match, a sideline by Brian straight over the bar from 45 yards out. Clon remain unbeaten in the league.
Final Score: St James 0-7 Clonakilty 0-19
The scorers were: B White 0-7 (3f, 1 ‘65), F Murphy 0-5, S White, C Kenneally 0-3 each, F McCarthy 0-1.
The team was: E Morrissey, C Crowley, M Noonan, K Calnan, J Campbell, T Clancy, M White, C White, T McCarthy, F McCarthy, S White, C Kenneally, F Murphy, K Bracken, B White. Subs were T Palmer, S Collins, J O’Brien, O Hassett, P Murnane, E Lombard.
