Rodgers' influence makes all difference as Scariff shake off Clooney-Quinn
SHARP EYE: Clare star Mark Rodgers was on fire for Scariff. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
The brilliance of the mercurial Mark Rodgers made all the difference in this Saturday evening clash at headquarters as 2020 intermediate champions Scariff moved to within one more victory of a first county final appearance since 1995.
The Clare star hit 3-12 in a star-studded display which ensured that the East Clare uprising started earlier in the day by Feakle was taken on by their neighbours as they had too much for a Clooney-Quin that nothing left to give in extra-time.
The Mid-Clare side were in deep trouble when two brilliant strikes by Rodgers in the first-half helped Scariff build up a 2-8 to 0-9 interval lead, an advantage they stretched out of seven points early on the resumption.
However, with Peter Duggan finally getting his radar working Clooney-Quin rallied brilliantly and Scariff were left to rue the fact that they only managed 0-4 in the second half before Daire Keogh’s injury-time 65 brought it to extra-time with matters resting at 2-12 to 0-18.
Scariff looked shellshocked, but it was Clooney-Quin who were on the floor within minutes of extra-time beginning as Rodgers et al came alive once more with a scoring blitz that decided matters early, very early.
Patrick Crotty fired over two points inside a minute before Rodgers went on the rampage once more, hitting 1-2 from there until half-time as they moved 3-17 to 0-21 clear at the end of the first period.
From there, the mistakes they made to allow Clooney-Quin stage their dramatic comeback in normal weren’t forthcoming as the the Donal Moloney and Mark McKenna managed side saw things out clinically, despite a late Peter Duggan goal leaving just one puck of a ball between them.
Scorers for Scariff:
Mark Rodgers (3-12, 6f), P Crotty (0-3), L Crotty (0-1), P Ryan (0-1), M Barrett (0-1), E O’Brien (0-1), Scorers for Clooney-Quin:
P Duggan (1-7f), D Keogh (0-4, 3f 1’ 65), T Lee (0-3), D Fox (0-2), M McNamara (0-2), J Corry (0-1), S Harrison (0-1), E O’ Brien (0-1).
Scariff W Kavanagh; S McCaul, M Scanlan, D Treacy; S Cairns, D Nash, S Kavanagh; C Downes, K Hartigan; M Barrett, P Crotty, L Cortty; P Ryan, M Rodgers, F Madden. Subs S Minogue for Madden (46), E O’Brien for L Crotty (55), J Ryan for Downes (56), E Keenan for Cairns (64), L Crotty for Barrett (69), C Downes for S Kavanagh (75).
Clooney-Quin C Hannon; J Cahill, S McNamara, E Maxted; D Keogh, J Conneally, C Grogan; J Corry, M McNamara; T Lee, P Duggan, J O’Neill; D Fox, U O’Sullivan, S Harrison. Subs E O’Brien for Harrison (35), S Scanlon for Fox (41), M Corry for O’Sullivan (48).
Referee J Hickey (Cratloe)
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