Éire Óg show class and appetite as they seek to end title famine

Clare star Shane O’Donnell was a constant threat. Pic: Ken Sutton, Inpho

Clare SHC quarter-final: Éire Óg 3-21 Inagh-Kilnamona 1-17 

Éire Óg became the 11th different Clare SHC semi-finalist in the last three years following a hugely impressive statement victory over Inagh-Kilnamona to complete the weekend’s action in Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg, Ennis.

With these two sides listed as joint-favourites for this year’s title, the Ennis side left no doubt as to their title credentials with a command performance to reverse last year’s result at the same juncture.

Now 35 years without lifting the Canon Hamilton Trophy, Éire Óg were ravenous to rectify that unwanted gap by leading from the fifth minute to the finish and soaring as much as 16 points clear at one stage.

With Inagh-Kilnamona having to try and shadow Éire Óg’s attacking triumvirate of Shane O’Donnell, David Reidy and championship top-scorer Danny Russell, it left the door open for others to shine as Darren Moroney, Marco Cleary and Darren O’Brien raided for timely goals to put the result beyond any doubt.

Corner-forward Cleary was a constant thorn in Inagh-Kilnamona’s side forcing a superb save out of goalkeeper Eamonn Foudy as early as the sixth minute before just clearing the crossbar with another goal sighting entering the second quarter.

The breakthrough goal would finally arrive in the 21st minute when Foudy denied Danny Russell, only for newcomer Moroney to bat the rebound to the net to ensure a 1-11 to 0-06 lead.

Braces from county seniors Aidan McCarthy and David Fitzgerald did lessen the half-time damage to just five at 1-13 to 0-11 and with a strong wind to come, Inagh-Kilnamona would have been satisfied by their position.

Nothing could be further from the truth however as a determined Éire Óg simply picked up where they left off, with Danny Russell (3), Darren O’Brien (2), Shane O’Donnell and even corner-back Fionan Treacy picking off points before Marco Cleary grabbed the clinching goal in the 50th minute at 2-20 to 0-12.

Having only scored a solitary point in the second period, Fred Hegarty finally ended Inagh-Kilnamona’s frustrating 20-minute barren patch, only to be met by a third goal down the other end as 2024 National Hurler of the Year O’Donnell plucked a Darragh Stack free from the skies and teed up Darren O’Brien to finish to the net at 3-20 to 0-13.

With the result beyond any shred of doubt, Gerry O’Connor’s side emptied the bench and it allowed Aidan McCarthy to make the final scoreline much more respectable with a 1-4 rally despite his brother Jason receiving a straight red in injury-time.

Éire Óg’s reward for a first semi-final appearance since reaching the final in 2022 is a semi-final derby against Kilmaley while the 2022 champions Ballyea take on Clooney-Quin in the other penultimate stage clash back in Ennis in a fortnight’s time.

Scorers for Éire Óg: D Russell 0-8 (7f, 1’65); D O’Brien 1-3; M Cleary 1-2; D Moroney 1-1; D Reidy 0-3; S O’Donnell 0-2; D McNamara, F Treacy 0-1 each 

Scorers for Inagh-Kilnamona: A McCarthy 1-10 (9f, 1’65); D Fitzgerald 0-3; F Hegarty 0-2; C Hegarty, J Hegarty 0-1 each 

ÉIRE ÓG: D Stack; F Treacy, R Loftus, L Corry; R Mulcahy, A Fitzgerald, C Russell; O Cahill, D Moroney; D McNamara, D Reidy, S O’Donnell; M Cleary, D Russell, D O’Brien 

Subs: T Kavanagh for McNamara (49), J O’Dwyer for Moroney (51), C Perrill for O’Donnell (57), N McMahon for Cahill (57), A McGrath for Treacy (59) 

INAGH-KILNAMONA: E Foudy; C Rynne, S Woods, P Devitt; J Hegarty, J McCarthy, K White; S Rynne, D Fitzgerald; D Cullinan, C Hegarty, F Hegarty; N Mullins, A McCarthy, K Guyler 

Subs: M Callinan for Mullins (ht), J Guyler for Cullinan (38), G Barry for K. Guyler (47), E McNamara for C. Hegarty (54, inj), T Barry for F. Hegarty (57)

Referee: J Bugler (Whitegate)