Clonakilty GAA Club

On Friday June 26th, Clonakilty Junior A hurlers played Whitechurch in Whitechurch in the Junior A County League Quarter Final. Conditions were dry but windy.

WC opened the scoring with a point after 2 minutes but Jack O’Mahony hit the equaliser from a free a minute later. WC scored the next pt but then the returning Eoin Ryan and David Lowney scored the next 2 pts. WC equalised after 7 mins. The Clon full back line of Cian O Donovan, Mike Noonan and Kieran Calnan were coming under a lot of pressure but performed very well in the opening stages of the game. Then, in the 10th min, Clon were awarded a penalty after Kevin Cormican was dragged to the ground. Jack expertly dispatched the sliothar to the back of the net. David scored a beautiful point a minute later. Clon up by 4 after 11 mins. WC started to get a grip on the match and scored 1.2 without reply to lead by a pt after 16. Young Eddie Morrissey’s puck outs were proving to be very effective and Clon equalised when Jack scored from a 70. Clon were unlucky to concede a goal in the 18th min. 3 down again. Then Ben Coffey, making his adult debut for Clon burst into the game and scored a great pt which was followed by another pointed free by Jack after Jack McLoughlin was fouled. Tim McCarthy then got an equalising pt in the 25th min. Eoin McCormack and Cillian White were snuffing out a lot of danger in the half back line but couldn’t prevent WC scoring from two frees. The dominant David Lowney scored 2 of the next 3 points before a huge long range pt by Captain Jack had the scores level on 30 minutes. In injury time WC scored a pt from a 70 before Jack equalised with a free after Oisin Hassett was fouled on the stroke of half time. 1.12 to 2.9 the score at ht.

WC started the 2nd half wind assisted and with a scoring burst of 4 points in the first 5 mins. Patrick Murnane entered the fray as a sub for Clon. This squad don’t give in easily and a free by Jack and a super score from Ben Coffey brought it back to 2 after 39 mins. WC scored the next 2 pts to lead by 4 after 44. Isa Khan came on and tried his best. Clon dominated the next 10 minutes. 2 frees by Jack, a well executed score by David and a monster point into the wind by Ciaran Crowley sandwiched a free by WC. 1 pt down with 5 mins to go. 1.18 to 2.16. Sub Sean Coffey made a great catch in near the WC goal but was unable to get a shot off. James Campbell then replaced Tim. WC scored a free on 57 which Jack replied to a minute later. Then WC were awarded a debatable free on 58 mins which they scored. 2 in it. Ml F Collins was also on the field now. Clon went all out for a goal but WC scored a point on the break to lead by a goal with time almost up. Last chance saloon for Clon but unfortunately this brave bunch of lads ran out of time. A very sporting contest that Whitechurch just edged. Huge congratulations to all the squad and management team. Clon are building nicely for the Championship. Final score. 1.19 to 2.19.

Scorers were J. O Mahony 1.9 (1 pen, 7f, 1 ‘70), D. Lowney 0.5, Ben Coffey 0.2, E. Ryan, T. McCarthy and C. Crowley 0.1 each.

Team was E Morrissey, C O’Donovan, M Noonan, K Calnan, E McCormack, C Crowley, C White, B Coffey, J O’Mahony, D Lowney, J McLoughlin, T McCarthy, O Hassett, K Cormican, E Ryan. Subs who came on were P Murnane, I Khan, S Coffey, J Campbell and Ml F Collins.