Late points seal the deal for Clarinbridge juniors

Clarinbridge 0-10

Kilbeacanty 0-8

THREE points in the final quarter from Brian Carr, Shane Connors and Clinton Madden swung this Junior C hurling decider Clarinbridge’s way last Saturday as they held on in a nailbiting finish to clinch a two point victory.

It was always going to be an emotional day for Kilbeacanty, not two months since the sad passing of Niall Donohue, but they hurled with pride and honesty throughout the hour in their search for a first title since 1996 and, literally, threw everyone into attack in the closing stages chasing a matchwinning goal.

Indeed, both sides honoured the Galway wing back with a minute’s silence and applause before throw-in and then continued to produce an entertaining competitive contest that wouldn’t be out of place in a higher grade.

Madden opened Clarinbridge’s account after just 55 seconds before Peter Killilea equalised in the second minute. The teams were level twice more by the 18 minute mark as Madden with two more placed balls completed a personal hat-trick while Adrian Hughes and Colm Corless responded for Kilbeacanty.

Clarinbridge were struggling to find scores from play (their first coming in the 31st minute) but they threatened goal on three occasions. On nine minutes, Noel Conlon and Aidan Quinn put Brendan Murphy through only for Kilbeacanty keeper Alan O’Grady to react; Murphy provided Quinn for a second chance 10 minutes later only to be blocked; and a Madden free and Quinn rebound required two stops from William Fahey and O’Grady in the 21st minute.

In contrast, Kilbeacanty were dominating around the middle third and providing their attack with plenty of opportunities and 14 wides ultimately proved their undoing.  A move involving Seamus and Declan Fahey on 13 minutes should have yielded dividends with Corless unmarked on the right but a three minute purple patch gave them a three point cushion with points worthy of the admittance fee. Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune.