By: Mary Dunne
Molloy Precast and Environmental Systems Senior B Hurling Championship Round 5
Clodiagh Gaels: 1-19
Carrig & Riverstown 1-16
While living on their wits for long spells it was Clodiagh Gaels who booked their place in the final four of the Senior B Hurling championship, following a ding dong battle with Carrig & Riverstown on Saturday last in Kinnitty.
From the throw in this was tight affair played on very fine margins and in the end it was the Clodiagh Gaels bench mixed with the calm heads of their experienced player who saw them over the line, despite the best efforts of a injury hit Carrig & Riverstown.
Certainly with no love lost between the sides, this game was a tough affair and with both sides but more so Clodiagh Gaels very wasteful in front of goals at certain times, it was always going to come down to the final whistle.
The game was thoroughly enjoyable to watch, but it would be remiss not to mention the fact that while there was a programme provided for the game, Carrig & Riverstown failed to line out by the numbers.
In fact only five of their starting fifteen wore the correct numbers and it made it very difficult indeed for supporters to work out who was who and really there is no excuse. Nobody at all has an issue with the starting fifteen being different and that comes with the territory a lot of the times, but there’s no excuse for not wearing the correct numbers as per the programme regardless of how a team lines out.
Now back to the game itself. This was huge win for Clodiagh Gaels. Going into the game they knew a win or draw would secure their semi final spot and for long spells it did look like they were in jeopardy and that their wastefulness would come against them.
But in the second half, they upped the ante big time. Sean Rattigan caused all sorts of havoc inside and with C&R not able to contend with Joey Keenaghan inside either, it all played in the favour of the Killeigh/Killurin amalgamation.
Carrig & Riverstown were certainly fired up for this meeting and they were the better of the sides in the opening half and were value for their four point half time lead, the goal however it has to be said was lucky on one side and unlucky on the other.
It came from an excellent sideline cut from Patrick Bergin and with Kevin Kinahan appearing to come out for the sliothar he slipped and somehow the ball rebounded and hit off his back into the net.
It was Clodiagh who were first off the mark in this one and with a mere twenty seconds on the clock Sean Brady pointed. It was a lead however which wasn’t on the cards for too long with a brace of quick scores from Timmy Carey and Lee Hogan giving Carrig & Riverstown the lead 0-2 to 0- by the 3rd minute.
Liam Langton levelled matters a minute later with his first of twelve for the game, but with a fine score the impressive Brendan Hoctor nudged C&R back in front.
Liam Langton levelled again, but C&R were very quick on their puck outs and responded with a nice score from Caelum Larkin.
Once again it was Liam Langton who led the charge for Clodiagh, but Liam Hoare with a long range free brought the scores to 0-5 to 0-4 fifteen minutes in.
Lee Hogan stretched the lead to two by the 18th minute, before Joey Keenaghan broke the momentum with a nice score from play.
Then we had the aforementioned goal and in the blink of an eye C&R lead by 1-6 to 0-5 and it was now Clodiagh Gaels who were really chasing the game.
Their response to the goal in fairness was very good and with a brace from Liam Langton in quick succession, the gap was back to two 1-7 to 0-7 with twenty four played.
Andrew Coakley and Timmy Carey hit two on the bounce for C&R and while they were playing catch up Clodiagh Gaels despite their wayward shooting did keep in touching distance with two more from Liam Langton by the 29th minute.
The gap was now two, 1-8 to 0-9, but it was Carrig & Riverstown who finished out the half strong with scores from Brendan Hoctor and Lee Hogan after a good save by Kevin Kinahan off a Timmy Carey goal bound shot ending the proceedings of the half and bringing the half time scores to 1-10 to 0-9.
It was a game certainly all to play for and on the resumption it was Clodiagh Gaels who came. Liam Langton brought it to a three point game a minute in and then with a brilliantly worked move between Cathal Brady and Sean Rattigan, they found the overlapping Joey Keenaghan on hand to rattle the net. The sides level 1-10 each and thirty four on the clock.
Andrew Coakley got C&R off the ground on the 36th minute to give them back the lead, but a long range free from Kevin Kinahan had the side’s level moments later.
C&R were starting to come to life again and in reality they should have pushed on, but they too started to have the wayward shooting bug, but finally with two scores on the trot from Brendan Hoctor and Lee Hogan, they were two clear 1-13 to 1-11 with forty four played.
Sean Rattigan had it back to a one point game three minutes later, but with his second of the game, Caelum Larkin nudged C&R two clear 1-14 to 1-12 by the 47th minute.
But that is when Clodiagh Gaels really came into their own. Joey Keenaghan was moved inside and fouled three times in a row Liam Langton duly pointed before adding a fourth from play and with fifty two on the clock, Clodiagh were now in the lead 1-16 to 1-14.
C&R were struggling to gain primary possession now and with two more scores from Liam Langton and Sean Rattigan the gap was suddenly four 1-18 to 1-14 with minute of normal time to play.
In the next three minutes Carrig & Riverstown launched missile after missile in around the goalmouth, but each time they were either stopped on the line or hooked on their shots in what was a real powerhouse of defending by Clodiagh Gaels.
Liam Hoare did recorded a ’65 on the 62nd minute, but with a fine response Sean Rattigan made sure the gap was four.
Andrew Coakley did have the final say of the game, but in the end it was Clodiagh Gaels who march on to face Clara in a semi final showdown. The final scores reading 1-19 to 1-16.
The Scorers
Clodiagh Gaels: Liam Langton 0-12 (0-5 Frees), Joey Keenaghan 1-1, Sean Rattigan 0-3, Kevin Kinahan 0-1 (Free), Cathal Brady 0-1, Emmet Curley 0-1.
Carrig & Riverstown: Lee Hogan 0-4 (0-2 Frees), Brendan Hoctor 0-3, Andrew Coakley 0-3, Goal – own goal by Clodiagh Gaels, Liam Hoare 0-2 (0-1 Free, 0-1 ’65), Caelum Larkin 0-2, Timmy Carey 0-2.
The Teams
Clodiagh Gaels: Kevin Kinahan; Caolan Flanagan, Clint Horan, Conor Berry; Ruairi Dunne (Capt.), Aaron Flanagan, Dylan Hyland; Eoin Dunne, Diarmuid Walsh; Emmet Curley, Liam Langton, Joey Keenaghan; Cathal Brady, Mark Dillon, Sean Brady.
Subs: Sean Rattigan for Mark Dillon (Half Time), Conor Langton for Emmet Curley (43 mins), Sean Dunne for Eoin Dunne (48 mins).
Carrig & Riverstown: Liam Hoare; Thomas Hogan, Michael Fitzgerald, Dylan Hogan; Sean Connaughton, Peter King, Brendan Hoctor; Caelum Larkin, Timmy Carey; Lee Hogan, Joe Hoctor, Patrick Bergin (Capt.); Conor Freeman, Conor Hanamy, Andrew Coakley.
Sub: David Egan for Conor Hanamy (49 mins).
Referee: Joey Deehan (Clara).
By Offaly Secretary Sat 5th Sep
