Clare SHC: Holders Éire Óg comprehensively bested by Inagh-Kilnamona in semi-final

SWAN SONG: Shane O'Donnell may have played his last game for Eire Og. Pic: John Sheridan/Sportsfile

Clare SHC semi-final: Inagh-Kilnamona 1-24 Éire Óg 2-14 

Éire Óg’s defence of the Canon Hamilton Cup is over as they were comprehensively bested by Inagh-Kilnamona in the Clare SHC semi-final.

13 points from the terrific Aidan McCarthy paved the way for their victory. The 2024 All-Ireland winner was outstanding all over, nailing frees, creating a goal and back protecting their goal in the final minutes.

The Ennis outfit were dealt a big blow when David McNamara went down holding his midriff early on. He briefly tried to play on before going down again. A stretcher was called for before he eventually limped off the field with Tom Kavanagh coming on in his place. That delay partly explains the five additional minutes.

For whatever reason, they struggled to click throughout that half. It took 14 minutes before their opening score from play, Shane O’Donnell making the most of his advantage. Danny Russell missed three scorable frees. The ball wasn’t sticking in their inside line. Aidan McCarthy was doing serious damage at the other end.

The defending champions were down 0-14 to 0-7 at half-time. As well as McCarthy’s clinic of first-time striking, David Fitzgerald was driving down his typical wing and Sean Rynne was chipping in from centre-forward. When Fred Hegarty, arrowed over a sublime sideline, they really started to hum.

It was a semi-final full of intercounty talent. Fitzgerald and O’Donnell met head on before a terrific Marco Cleary score at the Cloister end, Eamonn Foudy came out for long-range frees and David Reidy battled hard on breaks.

The second half started in the same fashion. McCarthy nailed a free and Hegarty added another while Russell had a goal shot saved by Foudy. An awesome spin and sprint almost saw O’Donnell land the first goal, but it was well saved. To make matters worse, Russell missed the resulting 65.

They finally found a spark when Marco Cleary went high to find the net. McCarthy made sure to extinguish it immediately. He followed up a point with a storming run through the centre, eventually laying off to Fred Hegarty for a goal.

A late David Reidy green flag wasn’t enough to salvage the tie. For Éire Óg, it is a disappointing end, especially since Shane O’Donnell had already announced he would retire at the end of this season. He exited the field to a standing ovation. Inagh-Kilnamona march to meet Kilmaley in the decider.

Scorers for Inagh-Kilnamona: A. McCarthy 0-13 (5 frees, 1 65); F. Hegarty 1-3 (1 s/l); D. Fitzgerald 0-3; S. Rynne 0-2; C. Hegarty, D. Mescall, K. Guyler 0-1 each.

Scorers for Éire Óg: M. Cleary 1-2; D. Reidy 1-1 (frees); D. Russell 0-3 frees; D. O’Brien, S O’Donnell 0-2 each; A. Fitzgerald, L. Corry, T. Kavanagh, D. Loftus 0-1 each.

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

Subs: T. Kavanagh for McNamara (6 – Inj); D. Moroney for L. Cleary (37); J. O’Dwyer for Russell (42); D. Loftus for Loftus (52); C. Perrill for Kavanagh (55);

INAGH-KILNAMONA: E. Foudy; K. White, S. Woods, C. Rynne; K. Hehir, J. Hegarty, D. Fitzgerald; D. Cullinan, C. Hegarty; M. Callinan, S. Rynne, D. Mescal; K. Guyler, A. McCarthy, F. Hegarty.

Subs: G. Barry for Mescal (half-time); J. Guyler for K. Guyler (47); N. Mullins for Callinan (50); J. Mescal for Hegarty (59); J. McCarthy for Cullinan (62).

Referee: J. Bugler.