Substitute Forde finds the net twice to scuttle Kinvara hopes

Clarinbridge 2-9

Kinvara 2-5

TWO goals in the final quarter ensured Clarinbridge followed on from their 2013 Junior C success by adding the County Junior B hurling title last Saturday.

Substitute Micheal Forde was the hero being responsible for both green flags as a competitive contest ended with an eventful closing quarter.

Leading 0-7 to 0-5 after 45 minutes, Clarinbridge then took control. John Cannon’s effort forced a save from Kinvara keeper Ollie Bergin but Forde was on hand to send the rebound to the net and five separated the teams.

Clarinbridge’s victory looked secured in the 49th minute when Darragh Coen’s delivery landed near the small square. Bergin’s attempts to clear were foiled by Forde again who did enough to stop the clearance as the ball trickled over the line for a second goal.

At 2-7 to 0-5, Clarinbridge were in a commanding position though Kinvara nearly struck back 10 minutes from time through James O’Hara, but the afternoon would end on a sour note for O’Hara and Cannon who received straight red cards in the 52nd minute following an altercation that nearly led to a melee.

However, the extra space seemed to suit Kinvara who subsequently laid siege on their opponents’ goal as they desperately sought salvation. Some poor misses hadn’t helped them over the hour and it was looking bleaker when Coen and Paraic Cormican stretched Clarinbridge’s lead to ten points with four minutes remaining.

Needing a break, Kinvara got one two minutes later when an advanced Paul O’Sullivan took possession and his low effort cut through the crowded defenders for a goal.  Their supporters started to believe and were given more reason to celebrate when David Huban’s overhead bat from Mark Kavanagh’s dropping ball yielded another major and the gap was back to five.

Kinvara continued chasing and Clarinbridge’s defenders needed to be resolute but after four minutes of added time, referee Phelim Shaughnessy’s whistle sounded to ensure the maroon and white side consecutive county crowns.

Kavanagh had opened proceedings with two points in the first five minutes to give Kinvara a 0-2 to 0-0 lead but it would be 28 more minutes before they witnessed a third white flag when Huban split the posts. Clarinbridge’s link-up play was impressive and they enjoyed more possession, but the chances coming Kinvara’s way weren’t being taken.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.