Molloy Environmental Systems Senior ‘B’ Hurling Championship Round 5
Seir Kieran 1-25
Clara 0-16
With both teams already qualified for the semi-finals, this was expected to be a tepid affair, but it couldn’t have been much further from that as four players saw red for separate incidents, including one who wasn’t even togged out! Straight red cards were brandished to Seir Kieran’s Pat Gilligan and Barry Kealey, while Gilligan’s brother Stephen along with Clara’s Alan Gavin were also sent off on second yellows.
The upshot from a 19th minute sideline melee was a straight red card for Pat Gilligan and yellows for Stephen Gilligan and opponent Barry Cushen. The former, who was in his civvies and was ordered to stand behind the perimeter fencing for the rest of the game. Stephen Gilligan picked up a second yellow card in 43rd minute and was followed to the sideline by defensive colleague Kealey 14 minutes later after he clattered into the raiding Conor Doyle from the side.
The county star received treatment on the pitch before being eventually assisted off, making him a big doubt for Clara’s Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship quarter-final against Shamrocks next weekend. Clara’s Alan Gavin became the fourth player to receive his marching orders after picking up yellow cards either side of referee Stephen Connolly’s final whistle.
With Pat Gilligan and Kealey set to miss the semi-final against Kilcormac/Killoughey through suspension, the victory came at a cost to Seir Kieran who were always in control, despite finishing with 13 players. Sharpshooter Sean Carey top-scored with 0-11, including 0-8 from placed balls, against a disappointing Clara side who racked up a whopping 17 wides, including 11 in the first half.
Another talking point centred around the final score. Many in attendance – including this reporter – had Seir Kieran winning by 1-26 to 0-16, but the referee clarified afterwards that the final score was actually 1-25 to 0-16. The confusion appeared to arise from a Kevin Dunne ‘point’ midway through the second half that wasn’t.
The result saw surprise Division 1 League champions Seir Kieran maintain their unbeaten run and finish top of the group with nine points from a possible 10. Clara stayed on six points and finished third after being overtaken by Clodiagh Gaels. After impressive wins over Kilcormac/Killoughey and Carrig & Riverstown in their previous two outings, this defeat is a setback for Sean Nolan’s men who need to regroup for a difficult semi-final against and improving Clodiagh Gaels.
Slicker and far more efficient, Seir Kieran led from pillar to post. They were 0-13 to 0-5 up at half-time and when Clara got back to within six points of them after the restart, a 49th minute goal from substitute Barry Bergin ended the game as a contest. Sean Dooley did all the spadework along the endline before setting up the Seir Kieran number 18, who finished from close range.
Clara played with a slight breeze in the opening half, but were immediately put on the backfoot by points from Sean Carey and Tom Dooley inside the first 90 seconds. Cormac Delaney opened the Brosnasiders’ account from a free, only for the unerring Carey to reply with two.
Marcas Dalton registered Clara’s first score from play before Darragh Guinan and Carey (’65) extended the winners’ lead to 0-6 to 0-2 after 10 minutes. Ross Brady and Conor Doyle halved the deficit before Dooley raised his second white flag after Adrian Hynes was unlucky to see his goal attempt come back off the crossbar.
By the time Barry Egan reduced the deficit to two again, 0-5 to 0-7, Clara had already hit eight wides and they lost their way completely after the sideline brawl as Seir Kieran closed out the half with six unanswered points from Kevin Dunne, Darragh Guinan (two), Sean Dooley (two) and Adrian Hynes, who was the sixth and final member of the Clareen front six to get on the scoresheet before the break.
Half-time substitute Luke Carey announced his arrival with the first score of the second half before a Delaney free ended a 17-minute Clara scoring drought. Carey (free) and Marcas Dalton traded scores before Carey and wing back John Coughlan made it 0-17 to 0-7. To their credit, Clara didn’t throw in the towel and got six of the next seven points via Delaney (two, one free), Conor Doyle, Conor Egan (two) and Dalton, with Carey nailing another free in between.
That left it 0-13 to 0-19, but Seir Kieran then put the game to bed with a point from Kevin Dunne and the only goal from Bergin. Barry Egan and Cormac Delaney (two) responded to scores from Tom Dooley and Carey (free) before the black and ambers underlined their superiority with the last four points from Sean Carey (three frees) and Luke Carey.
MATCH ANALYSIS
THE SCORERS
Seir Kieran: Sean Carey 0-11 (8fs, 1 ’65), Darragh Guinan and Tom Dooley 0-3 each, Barry Bergin 1-0, Sean Dooley, Kevin Dunne and Luke Carey 0-2 each, Adrian Hynes and John Coughlan 0-1 each.
Clara: Cormac Delaney 0-6 (4fs), Marcas Dalton 0-3, Conor Doyle, Conor Egan and Barry Egan 0-2 each, Ross Brady 0-1.
THE TEAMS
Seir Kieran: Joseph Connors; Noelie Bergin, Kieran Connor, Stephen Gilligan; Conor Dooley, Barry Kealey, John Coughlan; Thomas Connor, Michael Gilligan (captain); Darragh Guinan, Adrian Hynes, Sean Dooley; Sean Carey, Kevin Dunne, Tom Dooley. Subs: Luke Carey for N Bergin (half-time), Barry Bergin for Hynes (42 min).
Clara: Willie Fleming; Myles Handy, Ciaran Doyle, Callum Bracken; Alan Gavin, Conor Doyle, Scott Griffith; Conor Egan (captain), Ed Cullen; Ross Brady, Cormac Delaney, Josh Fleming, Barry Cushen, Barry Egan, Marcas Dalton. Subs: Colm Doyle for Cushen (27 min), Liam Flynn for Fleming (half-time), Lorcan Hiney for Conor Doyle (58 min, injured), Paddy Phelan for Dalton (60 min).
Referee – Stephen Connolly (Kilcormac/Killoughey).
STATISTICS
Wides: Seir Kieran 10 (5 in the first half); Clara 17 (11 in the first half).
Yellow cards: Seir Kieran – 2 (both for Stephen Gilligan); Clara – 4 (two for Alan Gavin and one each for Barry Cushen and Marcas Dalton).
Red cards: Seir Kieran – 3 (Pat Gilligan, Stephen Gilligan and Barry Kealey); Clara – 1 (Alan Gavin).
By Offaly Secretary Sat 5th Sep
