Late points earn Patrickswell a semi-final spot

Patrickswell 2-13 Clarecastle 1-14

In a game that never rose above mediocrity, it looked to be heading for a replay after Alan O’Loughlin slipped home a goal four minutes from time but two late points, one a glorious effort by Paul O’Grady gave the Limerick champions a victory they just about deserved.

Given the near perfect conditions that prevailed, it was surprising the game never got off the ground apart from the closing minutes when Clarecastle levelled the scores for the sixth time with O’Loughlin’s goal, but as their coach John Fawl said after the game, it’s far better to win a poor game than lose a good one.

Clarecastle got off to a blistering start but couldn’t sustain the effort, but one wonders how the game would have panned out if Alan O’Loughlin had been in from the start.

On the programme to start at midfield, he made an appearance in the second half and certainly gave his side’s selectors plenty of food for thought by scoring 1-2, one point a superb effort from a sideline cut, and in the process succeeded in breaking the dominance of the Well midfield pair in the last quarter.

However, Clarecastle’s real problems were in attack. Apart from team captain Ken Ralph’s contribution of eight points, only two other forwards, Seanie Moloney (0-2) and Derek Quinn (0-1) managed to get on the scoresheet, and in such circumstances, the Clare champions didn’t deserve to succeed.

They got the perfect start with two Ken Ralph points inside a minute and with Anthony Daly hitting a lot of ball, they looked the better side early on.

Daly’s dominance at wing back kept the pressure on the Well defence with his lengthy clearances and with Ralph unerring from frees, Clarecastle were 0-4 to 0-1 in front at the end of the opening quarter.

However, the Limerick champions finally took control at midfield where Paul O’Grady in particular was outstanding, but faulty shooting costing them several scores before they finally enjoyed a slice of good fortune when a harmless-looking shot by Eoin Foley from 35 metres out ended up in the net through the keeper’s legs.

It tied the game for the first time but more importantly it settled the Well, who began to hurl with more determination as Ciaran Carey finally got on top of Conor Plunkett, and Declan O’Grady began to find the target.

The Well went in a point in front at half-time, but their coach Jim Fawl would point to the nine wides his side had in that opening period and would argue they deserved their slender lead.

“We wasted a lot of ball in the first half, had a chat at half-time and thankfully, there was a lot more steadiness up front in the second half and we weren’t as wasteful,” he said.

The Well got the perfect start to the second half when Declan O’Grady touched home Eoin Foley’s superb line ball, and while there was a suspicion of a square ball, the score was allowed to stand.

Clarecastle were back to level the game for the fifth time with two pointed frees by Ken Ralph and a brace from play by substitute Alan O’Loughlin, and a lacklustre match finally began to live up to its billing.

The excellence of the Well forwards forced the Clarecastle defence into innumerable errors which Declan O’Grady and Eoin Foley capitalised on, and three points without reply had the Limerick champions firmly in the driving seat with 10 minutes to go.

Clarecastle keeper Ger Griffey redeemed himself for his earlier error with a marvellous save from Foley as the Well began to tighten the screw, but in a welter of excitement the game was thrown wide open when Alan O'Loughlin billowed the net after Seán Moloney set him up, to tie the game for the sixth time.

However, O’Grady and Foley’s late points ensured a home tie against the Waterford champions in a fortnight’s time.

Scorers for Patrickswell: D. O’Grady 1-4; E. Foley 1-2; P. O’Grady 0-5 (0-4 frees); A. Carmody, J. McDermott 0-1.

Clarecastle: K. Ralph 0-8 (0-5 frees); A. O’Loughlin 1-2; S. Moloney 0-2; A. Daly 0-1 (65); D. Quinn 0-1.

PATRICKSWELL: E. Murphy; M. Foley, A. Foley, P. Earls; T. O’Brien, C. Carey, Paul O’Reilly; Peter O’Reilly, P. O’Grady; E. Foley, A. Carmody, P. Carey; D. O’Grady, G. Kirby, K. Carey. Subs. J. McDermott for Kirby; B. Geoghegan for P. Carey.

CLARECASTLE: G. Griffey; M. McNamara, M. Sheedy, G. Canny; E. Flynn, S. Sheedy, A. Daly; J. Clancy, G. Farmer; K. Ralph, C. Plunkett, D. Scanlon; S. Moloney, J. Casey, T. Kearse. Subs. D. Quinn for Casey; A. O’Loughlin for Farmer; O. Plunkett for Clancy; N. Dunne for Kearse.

Referee, J. McDonnell (Tipperary).