Clon Hurlers Finish Strong in Rossmore
Clonakilty played their 7th and final Carbery Junior A Hurling League game on Sunday June 1st in Rossmore against Kilbree. Kilbree won the toss and elected to play with the very strong breeze in the first half. Kilbree struck the first two points either side of a couple of wides before Clonakilty’s best player on the day Chris Kenneally scored a point. Kilbree scored another pointed free before great work by Tim McCarthy set Chris up for another point. 3.2 at this stage to the hosts who went on nice run of 1.2 over the next 10 minutes to leave them six points up. The Clon full back line of Ciaran Crowley, Eoin MCCormack and Kieran Calnan were battling hard against the elements and young Cillian White was putting in a fantastic shift in midfield alongside Tim. Kevin Cormican set up Chris for another point but Kilbree were starting to get on top in the game and despite some great work and saves by Shane Collins Kilbree scored another 1.1 to leave the score at 2.7 to 3 points with 2 minutes to go to ht. A lovely pass by Mike Noonan set up Chris for one final point in the 29th minute before Kilbree scored again. 2.8 to 0.4 at ht.
Clon’s forwards started the 2nd half in fine form with points by David Lowney, Cian O Donovan and Chris matching Kilbree. 10 minutes in and the score was 2.11 to 7. Clon’s half back line including Tom Palmer and James Campbell started to have an influence on the game and a free for Chris when Fionn McCarthy was fouled followed by a monster score by Tim McCarthy had Clon right back in the game at 2.12 to 11 points. Eoin McCormack then scored the point of the game off his left side right over the black spot having been set up by James Murnane. Game on. Patrick Murnane came on for his brother and James O’Brien was on the field now too and both sides were trading points, one a beauty by young Murnane and the other 2 were frees by Chris. 2.14 to 14 at this stage. Clon needed a goal and with Eoin Lombard now on they tried everything to get one. Unfortunately it was Kilbree who got a chance because of some confusion in the Clon defence. The final score was 3.16 to 15 points for Kilbree. A great second half performance from Clon that was very welcome. It was great to see Donnacha Walsh back in the squad today.
Clon had a very good league campaign and had 30 players that got game time. Huge credit to the players and the management team of James Forristal, Keith Kennedy, Adrian White, Oliver Crowley, JP Forristal, Sean O Sullivan, Michael Francis Collins and Jen Mythen.
The team was Shane Collins, Kieran Calnan, Eoin McCormack, captain Ciaran Crowley, Thomas Palmer, Mike Noonan, James Campbell, Cillian White, Tim McCarthy, Chris Kenneally, David Lowney, Kevin Cormican, Cian O’Donovan, Fionn McCarthy, James Murnane. Subs were James O’Brien, Eoin Lombard, Patrick Murnane and Donnacha Walsh.
Scorers were Chris Kenneally 0.10 (0.3f), D. Lowney, C O’Donovan, T. McCarthy, P. Murnane, E McCormack 0.1 each. Well done to everyone.
