Scariff CC edge St Joseph’s in senior school’s Semi Final thriller.
Clare post primary schools senior hurling semi final
Scariff Community College…………..2-19
St Joseph’s Tulla…………….1-20
By Michael O’ Connor.
East Clare rivalry at their best and at times during this game some great shows by players who may be featuring in seasons to come for their clubs. Added to that indeed a little bit of club rivalry emerging in this contest that appeared to be going with some certainty the way of St Joseph’s Tulla but swung the way of Scariff in the second half.
Over the hour the home side as the game was played at the St Joseph’s Tulla school grounds were dependant on Sean Boyce for score as his club manager Sean McNamara was in charge of the Scariff college. On the other side Terence Fahy, manager of St Joseph’s Tulla was up against his nephew Kalum Fahy from Whitegate in the Scariff college jersey. Indeed, Fahy kickstarted a flurry of scores for both sides within the opening five minutes.
Jake Slattery, Owen McGann and Billy Moroney struck for the first three Tulla scores before Mici Sheedy dragged one back for Scariff College. The two full forwards Ben Sweeney and Matthew Nolan added to their sides accounts before four in a row from St Joseph’s from Sean Boyce, Matthew Nolan (2) and PJ McCarthy raced the Tulla school (8-3) ahead. They threatened to overrun Scariff with Boyce (2) and Slattery ensuring a (11-3) lead after 20 minutes. Ben Sweeney was amongst the main scoring forces for Scariff College.
Yet, either Tulla took the foot off their efforts or Scariff finally got their hurling correct. In the first 20 minutes they were hitting ball aimlessly into a vacant full forward line but from now to the end of the first half they improved dramatically. Scariff added (1-4) to two points from St Joseph’s. Ben Sweeney hit all bar one point of this tally with a superb finish to his goal to leave St Joseph’s just three points, (0-13) to (1-7) ahead at the half time break.
The first attack of the second half went the way of Scariff College and they won a penalty sent to the net by Ben Sweeney and now the sides were level. Sean Boyce added two scores in response for St Joseph’s who were now finding scores very difficult to come by compared to the opening 20 minutes. Matthew Nolan forced a great save from Cormac Doyle in the Scariff goal and indeed he was a pivotal figure in the latter stages of the game with a number of game winning blocks. Ben Sweeney (2), Matthew Nolan and Owen McCann kept the scores coming as St Joseph’s were nervous (0-17) to (2-10) ahead. Over the hour there were 26 wides with St Joseph’s 14-12 ahead on that count. Owen McCann and Kalum Fahy traded scores before Ben Sweeney and Jake Slattery did likewise to leave the sides level (2-13) to (0-19) entering the final five minutes of action.
Sean Boyce sent Tulla ahead once more before Seamus O’ Donnell and a brilliant point from Mici Sheedy regained the lead for Scariff. Ben Sweeney and Oisin Nugent kept Scariff driving forward to open up a three-point lead. When it looked that Scariff would be winners St Joseph’s struck for an equalising goal from Jake Slattery and extra time looked ominous. The fighting spirit of Scariff was to the fore as late late scores from Mici Sheedy and a booming long range free from Scariff goalkeeper Cormac Doyle sent his side into the final against St Flannans who overcame Ennistymon Community College in the second semi-final.
Scariff Community College scorers: Ben Sweeney (2-9), Mici Sheedy (0-4), Eoin Nugent, Michael Heffernan, Seamus O’ Donnell Cormac Doyle (0-1) each
Scariff Community College: Cormac Doyle (Bodyke), Cormac Gunning (Broadford), Dylan Joyce (Bodyke), Tadgh Minogue (Scariff), Daniel Touhy (Whitegate), Michael Bogenberger (Whitegate), Michael Heffernan (Whitegate), Cathal McCaul (Scariff), Mici Sheedy (Ogonnelloe), Seamus O’ Donnell (Killanena), Kalum Fahy (Whitegate), Harry Bogenberger (Whitegate), Colin O’ Grady (Scariff), Ben Sweeney (Scariff), Michael Vaughan (Scariff). Subs: Mark Bugler (Scariff) for Heffernan, Lee Harrington (Scariff) for McCaul, Eoin Nugent (Scariff) for Vaughan, Eden Buckley (Bodyke) for Minogue.
St Joseph’s Tulla scorers: Sean Boyce (0-7), Jake Slattery (1-4), Matthe Nolan (0-4), Owen McGann (0-3), PJ McCarthy, Billy Moroney (0-1) each.
St Joseph’s Tulla: Daniel Ryan (Tulla), Fionn O’Gara (Clooney-Quin), Simon Kilker (Clooney-Quin), Cathal McNamara (O’C Mills), Rian McMahon (Tulla), Sam Cooper (Broadford), PJ McCarthy (Clooney-Quin), Darragh White (Clooney-Quin), Cathal Culloo (Tulla), Jake Slattery (Broadford), Owen McGann (Feakle), Ben Kelleher (Tulla), Seánie Boyce (OC Mills), Matthew Nolan (Tulla), Billy Moroney (O’C Mills) Subs: Conor McCarthy Clooney-Quin for Culloo. John Moran (Broadford) for Moroney, Andrew O’Neill (Clooney-Quin) for Cooper, Seán Clune (Tulla) for Kilker, Noah Corbett (Broadford) for McNamara.
Referee: John Bugler (Whitegate)