Champs Crusheen romp to victory

CHAMPIONS Crusheen advanced to the last four of the Clare senior hurling championship after a 1-24 to 0-10 win over Broadford at Clarecastle yesterday.

The game was switched from Ennis due to inclement weather but the late change of venue didn’tupset the titleholders who led 0-8 to 0-7 at the break.

Inspired by a Fergus Kennedy goal they took control after the restart with the victory setting up a penultimate clash with Kilmaley who defeated Clonlara (1-13 to 1-11)

Kilmaley’s cause was helped by the dismissal of Clonlara’s centre-forward Thomas O’Donovan on a secondyellow card in the 43rd minute, while the losers were also guilty of somehorrendous finishing in that finalquarter.

Cratloe and Sixmilebridge will square off in the last four of the Clare senior hurling championship aftervictories over Tulla and Inagh-Kilnamona

Cratloe won 4-12 to 0-15 with a pair of late goals by Cratloe corner-forward Cathal McInerney proving crucial. Cratloe, the 2009 champions were marginally the better side in the opening half and led 1-8 to 0-9 at the break with McInerney hitting the goal.

Sixmilebridge had two points to spare (0-17 to 0-15) in their quarter-final at Cusack Park in game that was level seven times in the first period and the sides were tied on eight points apiece at the break.

However a keenly contested and enjoyable match was marred at the very end by an ugly melee involving players from both sides. As a result,Inagh/Kilnamona half-forward Cathal Lafferty was shown a straight red card by referee Rory Hickey.

In a replayed Clare SFC quarter-final at Kilmihil on Saturday, Wolfe Tones na Sionna overcame the challenge of St. Senan’s Kilkee (1-10 to 0-9).Having led by 1-7 to 0-1 at the interval, the Shannon Airport club withstood a spirited fightback in the second period to book a place against St. Joseph’s Doora-Barefield in the semis.