Sixmilebridge 1-10 Clonlara 0-13

Sixmilebridge brought the curtains down on the group stages of the Junior B championship with a lack-lustre draw, against already eliminated Clonlara on Saturday evening in Meelick. 

Both Sixmilebridge and Clonlara were without a number of regulars due to injury and the holiday season. Indeed Clonlara had to start the game with 14 men and played with 13 for a while in the first half after an injury forced one of their starters off the field. But this did not inhibit the men from South East Clare, who went in a point up at half time, 0-7 to 0-6. Indeed for most of the first half, Clonlara displayed the greater urgency and hunger and despite the tit for tat nature of the opening half, they were full value for their half time lead. 

Some stern words were spoken by Mikey Corbett and his backroom team at the break, but this did not kick start the Sixmilebridge lads. Inside 10 minutes of the second half, Clonlara extended their lead to two points, 0-10 to 0-8, before scoring two of the next three points to extend their advantage to three , 0-12 to 0-9, with less than 13 minutes remaining.

This prompted Corbett to empty the bench with Jordan Ryan replacing Martin Conlon, and Alan McAuley replacing the soon to be hitched Billy Maxwell.

Ryan made his presence felt immediately, when he plundered for a green flag and put the Sixmilebridge men on equal terms, 1-9 to 0-12. A James O'Neill point put the Bridge mens noses in front with minutes remaining. However the final score fell to a pointed free from the Clonlara centre forward, making it 1-10 to 0-13 on the final whistle.

This was a disappointing result, but what will have worried Mikey Corbett even more is the disappointing performance. The hunger and desire displayed in the opening rounds was missing and Sixmilebridge never got into their stride. Hopefully this serves as a timely warning shot ahead of the forth-coming quarter final.

Mark O'Donovan was solid on the edge of the square and both Kieran Liddane and Eric Lynch tried hard throughout the hour.

But focusing on the positives, Corbetts charges finished top of what was a tough group. This earns the team a quarter final game against a second placed team from one of the other groups. They will be only too well aware that a repeat of this performance will not be good enough to secure a semi-final spot, but the team are capable of moving forward if the qualities displayed against Kilmaley and Newmarket can be repeated.

The eagerly awaited quarter final draw will be made on Monday August 13th.

Team

JP Griffin

Eamonn O Donoghue

Mark O'Donovan

Billy Maxwell

Brian O'Loughlin

Eric Lynch

Barry Corbett

Johnnie Hayes

Kieran Liddane

Mike O'Halloran

James O'Neill

Jamie Lyons

Ed Skehan

Errol Touhy

Martin Conlon

Subs

Joradn Ryan for Martin Conlon

Alan McAuley for Billy Maxwell

Scorers

Jordan Ryan 1-0

Martin Conlon 0-3 (frees)

Jamie Lyons 0-2

James O'Neill 0-2

Mike O'Halloran 0-2

Errol Touhy 0-1