Clonakenny send the ‘Mines crashing out

GAA: FBD Insurance County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 3

Clonakenny 2-18

Silvermines 0-13

Report: Liam Hogan in Borrisoleigh

Scoring 1-6 without reply, fourteen-man Clonakenny claimed their first win of group 3 in the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship on Saturday evening, and in the process ended Silvermines hopes of progressing to the knockout stages.

Having led 1-7 to 0-9 at half time, Clonakenny seemed to have lost some of their momentum gathered after their whirlwind start in the opening ten minutes as they struggled for much of the first twenty minutes of the second half but yet kept their noses in front.

Silvermines remained in the game but squandered some guilt-edge chances. Then in the 50th minute Clonakenny lost John Costigan to a red card, and they looked to be in trouble. However, the dismissal stirred them into life as they dominated the remainder of the game to win by eleven points.

An important win for the Mid side who drew with Newport in their opening game. This victory moves them close to a place in the last eight unless they suffer a major defeat in their final game against Burgess while at the same time hope that Newport, if they are to beat Silvermines, don’t do so with a big winning margin.

Cian O’Dwyer lined out at left corner forward but the Tipperary senior panellist appeared to struggle with a leg injury he sustained in the Mid championship, but he finished with 1-2 to his credit, his goal in the 55th minute sealing the game.

After scores were level for the second time at 0-2 each, Clonakenny took command and went 1-4 to 0-2 in front after seven minutes with the goal coming when an alert John Joe Ryan intercepted a Silvermines clearance before racing through the defence and fired home.

Not the start that Silvermines wanted. They lost their first game to Burgess and needed a win but with the help of the breeze they began to settle where their half backline led by Darragh Nolan gave little away while their full backline of Ronan Sherlock, Eddie Ryan and Michael Corcoran were equally tight with the latter two very much prominent.

Up front remained a problem though as Danny Quinn looked to be the only threat, but his involvement was limited due to the close marking Alexei Harty and John Costigan while Diarmuid Ryan was very much to the fore both in his sweeping role and his ability to read the game well and cut off much ball on offer.

Silvermines scoring depended on Jason Forde, but he had an off day in terms of accuracy from frees and after the margin was out to six, the Tipp star scored the remaining four points including three frees and a sideline ball to leave the ‘Mines two adrift at half time, 1-7 to 0-9. John Joe Ryan had scored 1-5 of the Clonakenny total with all his points coming from frees.

Clonakenny began the second half in similar mode to that of the opening minutes of the first as they scored three points starting with a John Joe Ryan free, followed by points from Cian O’Dwyer and Nicky Ryan.

Another Forde free quenched the fire somewhat but Bobby Bergin re-kindled it with a point. Silvermines needed inspiration but Forde missed twice the first from a free and second from play with the elements not helping his cause.

Another factor that didn’t help their cause was their failure to press up on the Clonakenny puckout where Diarmuid Ryan was constantly available. It was just as well as Clonakenny’s lead was reduced to two by the 45th minute, 1-12 to 0-13 after a string of scores including a Forde free followed by a second Patrick Leamy point from long range before the same player won a free which Forde converted.

Trailing by two, the ‘Mines received a boost when Clonakenny had John Costigan dismissed following a late tackle on Michael Corcoran. However, they failed to capitalise and would not score again. Instead, it was Clonakenny who grabbed the baton. Cian O’Dwyer’s scored from a close range free in the 52nd minute and two minutes later he found himself in the right spot to fire a rebound to the net after David Shanahan had made a great save to deny Nicky Ryan.

That goal signalled the end of the game as a contest as Clonakenny went on a scoring spree starting with a Peadar Byrne point. Silvermines tried to remedy the situation but another wide increased that stat to twelve, double that of Clonakenny, and in response it was four more points from the winners as John Joe Ryan added a 65 while Bergin, John Joe Ryan (free) and Michael John Carroll added a point each to seal an important win for the Mid Tipp side.

Player of the Match: Diarmuid Ryan (Clonakenny).

Clonakenny: Stephen Russell (7); Cain Russell (7), John Costigan (6), Alexei Harty (7); Donie Greed (7), Willie Ryan (7), Diarmuid Ryan (8); Delacy Byrne (7), Matthew O’Sullivan (0-1, 7); Michael John Carroll (0-2, 7), John Joe Ryan (1-7, 0-6f, 0-1’65) 8), Bobby Bergin (0-3 (8); Nicky Ryan (0-2, 7), Conor Shanahan (6), Cian O’Dwyer (1-2, 0-1f) 7).

Subs: Peadar Byrne (0-1, 6) for Shanahan (45); Paul Bergin (6) for O’Sullivan (51); Brian Mullally (6) for Greed (51); John O’Meara (NR) for Dwyer (60+1 inj).

Silvermines: David Shanahan (7); Eddie Ryan 0-1 (7), Ronan Sherlock (7), Michael Corcoran (7); Michael Hogan (7), Darragh Nolan (7), Noel Quirke (7); Conal McKelvey (0-1, 6), Patrick Leamy (0-2, 7); Oisin Murphy (6), Orrie Quirke (6), Andy Hayden (6); Jason Forde (0-8, 7f, 1 s-cut) 7), Danny Quinn (0-1, 7), Mark Daniels (6).

Sub: Daniel Keogh (6) for Leamy (55 inj).

Referee: Paddy Ivors (Ballingarry).