Convincing win for Clarecastle in semi-final

Clarecastle 0-12 St. Joseph’s Doora-Barefield 1-7

Only two points in it at the end of Saturday’s semi final in Ennis, but it wasn’t that close. This was a convincing win for Clarecastle over a leaden looking Doora-Barefield side, a side that looked spent in almost every department.

Only the mighty Seanie McMahon, playing much more than a captain’s role, looked hungry for this one. Consider this for a damning statistic: from centre-back, McMahon was by far and way the leading St. Joseph’s scorer. 1-5 he finished with, all from placed balls, 1-5 out of 1-7. Want an even more damning statistic? Between them, the six starting Doora-Barefield forwards, along with the two subs, contributed a grand total of one point, their only score from play.

Tired, the champions looked, worn out and utterly drained. In the circumstances it’s unfair to single anyone out, because, with the obvious exception of McMahon, of keeper Christy O’Connor, of David Hoey, Donal Cahill and to a lesser extent, Fergal O’Sullivan and Lorcan Hassett, all were equally culpable. But given that Jamesie O’Connor has so often been the outstanding example of all that was so right with this once all-conquering side, on a bad day all-round, he is now also worthy of examination.

Midfield was Jamesie’s position on Saturday, the place where this ball-hungry dynamo should have thrived. He didn’t, and both he and his inter-county teammate Joe Considine were thoroughly outplayed by the impressive magpie combination of Alan O’Loughlin and high-fielding Gary Farmer.

All the elements you usually associate with Jamsie were there, bar the most critical - timing. He was busy and hard-working as ever, hungry, getting stuck in, but totally at odds with the player who, with the complete hurler’s repertoire, thrilled the thousands for the last glorious seven years. Twice he completely mis-timed his swing, making solid contact with opponents when the ball was long gone. Accidental, and so out-of-character for a man who on his day, has an eye for the dropping ball the equal of anyone. If ever an individual looked like he needed a rest, it was O’Connor.

Clarecastle were in control of this from the outset. Inspired by former Clare and club captain Anthony Daly off the pitch, centre-back Stephen Sheedy on it, they led at the break 0-8 to 0-4. Their points came from a variety of sources, corner-forward Seanie Moloney with two, one apiece from half-forwards Conor Plunkett and Eric Flynn, with free-taker John ‘Skinny’ Casey adding a hat-trick.

Given that there was no breeze to speak of, no threatened pre-half-time spark from the champions, that early Clarecastle dominance looked set to continue on the changeover, but Doora-Barefield did make a comeback, of sorts. Unsurprisingly, it came from McMahon. Two frees from almost the identical spot, 60m on the left, brought them within two points ten minutes into the second period, before Derek Quinn replied in kind for Clarecastle. Then, in a fairly rancorous second half that eventually saw Doora-Barefield’s inter-county star Ken Kennedy take an early walk, came the most disputed play of the day. Helping out in defence, Derek Quinn looked to have cleanly gathered a daisy-cutter, but was blown for picking off the ground. McMahon stepped forward to the 25m free, and with a deceptive grounder, the sides were level, 0-9 to 1-6.

Had it stayed like that, or had St. Joseph’s then stepped up their game to take the spoils, it would have been absolute injustice, but showing great character, it was the Magpies who regained the initiative and a pointed brace from Quinn, with a long-range exclamation point from Farmer in the 57th minute, sealed a famous win.

Scorers for Clarecastle: J. Casey 0-3 (frees); D. Quinn 0-3 (frees); S. Moloney 0-2; E. Flynn, C. Plunkett, G. Farmer, J. Healy (free), 0-1 each.

St. Joseph’s Doora-Barefield: S. McMahon 1-5 (1-4 frees, 0-1 65); N. Brodie, J. O’Connor (free), 0-1 each.

CLARECASTLE: J. Healy; M. McNamara, M. Sheedy, G. Canny; R. Concannon, S. Sheedy, O. Plunkett; A. O’Loughlin, G. Farmer; C. Plunkett, E. Flynn, F. O’Loughlin; J. Casey, D. Quinn, S. Moloney. Subs: B. Keogh (Flynn inj. 34); T. Kearse (Casey 53); D. Fitzgerald (Moloney 63).

ST. JOSEPH’S DOORA-BAREFIELD: C. O’Connor; D. O’Driscoll, D. Cahill, K. Kennedy; D. Hoey, S. McMahon, F. O’Sullivan; J. Considine, J. O’Connor; D. Kennedy, N. Brodie, L. Hassett; M. Regan, C. O’Neill, C. Mullen. Subs: P. Dorgan (O’Driscoll inj. 30); E. Conroy (Regan 37); P. Mockler (O’Neill 53). Blood subs: P. Dorgan (O’Sullivan 16/18); C. O’Sullivan (Hassett 58/60).

Referee: K. Walsh (Wolfe Tones).