Clare SHC: Ballyea resusitate championship challenge

Ballyea's Niall Deasy and Clooney-Quin's John Cahill in action. Pic: Eamon Ward

Clare SHC: Ballyea 0-19 Clooney-Quin 0-17 

Ballyea grabbed a crucial championship lifeline when a gritty finish kickstarted their Clare senior hurling campaign in O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge on Friday evening.

With both sides falling in their opening bouts, this do-or-die encounter was delicately poised at 0-15 apiece entering the final minutes. 

However, when leadership was needed most, Ballyea stood tallest with four of the next five points to snatch victory.

In a group that also involves holders Clonlara and 2022 finalists Éire Óg, a draw was of little use to either side, but despite the best efforts of Peter Duggan, Clooney-Quin simply couldn’t obtain an elusive goal at the death.

It was centre-back Jack Browne that inspired Ballyea, who only had nine survivors from the team that started their last county final win in 2022. 

The former county senior raided for three monster points in a wind-assisted opening period (0-11 to 0-07) before subsequently denying Peter Duggan two second-half goals.

2018 All-Star Duggan and Darragh Keogh led Clooney-Quin’s second-half recovery that saw them finally regain full parity by the 51st minute. 

However, despite the wind at their backs and in their sails, Fergal Lynch’s side simply couldn’t get their noses in front and were fortunate to survive a Ballyea onslaught that saw Tony Kelly’s shot saved and a Kieran McDonnell rebound goal disallowed for a square ball.

Niall Deasy, Mossy Gavin and replacement pair Cian Kirby and McDonnell had better luck over Cillian Duggan’s crossbar before having to cling on for what could be a valuable victory as the group 1 leaders Clonlara and Éire Óg clash in Tulla on Sunday at 2.30pm.

Scorers for Ballyea: N Deasy 0-7 (4f, 1’65); J Browne 0-3; Thomas Kelly, Tony Kelly, M Gavin 0-2 each; E Donnellan, C Kirby, K McDonnell 0-1 each.

Scorers for Clooney-Quin: P Duggan 0-7 (4f); D Keogh 0-4 (2f); R Taylor 0-2; T Lee, D Fox, J Corry, C Hassett 0-1 each 

Ballyea: B Coote; P Flanagan, P Casey, C Gavin; G O’Connell, J Murphy, J Browne; Tony Kelly, Thomas Kelly; C O’Connor, N Deasy, T Ó hUallacháin; M O’Leary, E Donnellan, M Gavin.

Subs: C Kirby for O’Leary (ht), F Ginnane for Murphy (ht), K McDonnell for Ó hUallacháin (40), D Costelloe for Donnellan (46). 

Clooney-Quin: C Duggan; C O’Gara; D Keogh, J Cahill, E Maxted; C Grogan, J Corry; R Taylor, P Duggan, C Hassett; S Scanlan, T Lee, D Fox. 

Subs: M Corry for Fox (57), M Duggan for Scanlan (59).

Referee: C Maguire (Wolfe Tones)