Clare SHC: Marco Cleary hits hat-trick as Éire Óg cruise and Kilmaley leave it late to reach semis

Marco Cleary’s hat-trick powered holders Éire Óg past Wolfe Tones, while Conor Cleary’s late goal sparked Kilmaley’s comeback win over Clonlara to complete the Clare SHC semi-final line-up.

Marco Cleary completed his hat-trick injury time for Éire Óg against Wolfe Tones. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Defending champions Éire Óg and their neighbours Kilmaley completed the Clare SHC semi-final line-up when prevailing in antithetical circumstances in Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg on Sunday.

Canon Hamilton trophy holders Éire Óg eventually eased to their 10th successive championship victory when a Marco Cleary hat-trick of goals greased the wheel for a comprehensive 3-25 to 1-14 success.

Difficult to believe that at half-time, the sides were level at 1-08 to 0-11 as a spirited Wolfe Tones, minus talisman Aron Shanagher, found the net just before the break through an Aaron Cunningham rebound goal to regain full parity.

Daithi Lohan, whose initial shot was saved, did inch the Shannon side in front in injury-time but the ever-reliable Danny Russell slotted over a last gasp free to ensure a stalemate by the recess.

The champions were far more clinical on the resumption though, with Shane O’Donnell teeing up 2026 All-Ireland Under 20 winner Marco Cleary for a breakthrough goal after only two minutes of the new half.

It seemed to be a weight off Éire Óg’s shoulders as six minutes later his older brother Luca was the provider for Marco’s second goal.

Oran Cahill, 2024 National Hurler of the Year O’Donnell and last year’s top-scorer Danny Russell who ended with 15 points (11 from placed balls) upped the ante considerably alongside Marco Cleary who duly completed his hat-trick in injury-time to catapult the Ennis side into a fifth semi-final in seven years.

The penultimate stage clash will be against neighbours Inagh-Kilnamona in what will be a heavyweight showdown in a fortnight’s time while Scariff will take on Kilmaley who produced an unforgettable finish to relevantly return to a second consecutive semi-final.

Trailing 2023 winners Clonlara by four points as late as the 57th minute, it seemed as if four missed goal chances in the opening period would prove costly. Crucially however, they never relented and would be rewarded with a scorching 1-5 to 0-1 finale ignited by a 58th minute goal for county senior Conor Cleary.

Brian Lohan’s defensive anchor has been a permanent fixture at full-forward for Kilmaley over the past three years and Cleary initially won a free that Tom O’Rourke converted before also getting a vital flick to a long range Mikey O’Malley free to find the top right corner of the Clonlara net to level matters at 1-17 to 1-17.

Seán O'Loughlin and Cathal O’Connell traded points but having earned a near miraculous reprieve, Kilmaley had the wind in their sails and at their backs to raid for the last three points in additional time through chief marksman O’Rourke (0-11), captain O’Malley and substitute Colm Killeen to garner a rousing 1-20 to 1-17 triumph.

All that after Diarmuid Stritch had lit up the opening period, scoring three points from play and setting up as many more for others as Clonlara opened up a three point advantage for the majority.

Kilmaley, much like the 2025 Semi-Final against eventual champions Éire Óg were luckless in front of goal as despite overturning short Clonlara puck-outs, Tom O’Rourke and Mikey O’Neill would both be thwarted by goalkeeper Alan Murnane at the midway mark of the opening period Michael Clancy would twice prevent Kilmaley from pulling the trigger in the second quarter, intercepting a Tom O’Rourke run before unceremoniously taking down the raiding Brian McNamara just before half-time.

Instead, Tom O’Rourke punished with two late frees to lessen the damage to just one entering the dressing rooms at 0-10 to 0-09 and now backed by the conditions, Brian McNamara inched Kilmaley in front for the first time in 35 minutes on the restart.

It would be their final score for five minutes though, more than enough time for Clonlara to clinically raid for a 1-3 blitz as points for young guns Michael Collins and Diarmuid Stritch were accentuated by a 41st minute opportunist goal for Ian Galvin at 1-14 to 0-12.

Kilmaley answered with the next three points but Clonlara only had to keep the scoreboard ticking over as substitute Colm O’Meara and Cathal O’Connell restored a four point cushion by the 57th minute at 1-16 to 0-15.

Kilmaley somehow saved their best for last though as that Cleary goal released the pressure valve for Kilmaley to relievedly snatch the last Clare SHC semi-final berth.