Clara maintain senior hurling status with win over Castlecomer
Clara 1-21 Erin’s Own 2-15
A fine second half display saw Clara overcome Erin’s Own in a pulsating St Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling Championship relegation semi-final in Ballyragget on Saturday.
An opening half goal from Dara Glynn, as well as further point tallies from the likes pof Conor O’Shea, Rory Glynn and Chris Bolger, gave Fintan Deegan’s team the edge as they battled their way to a three point success.
‘Comer grabbed goals in each half from Conor Fogarty and Michael Brennan but they probably relied a bit too heavily on Brennan with the Kilkenny underage star scoring 1-11 even in defeat.
The game was always there to be won for either side but Clara’e extra nous proved crucial in the final 10 minutes as they maintained their senior status ahead of a crack at Thomastown in the quarter-finals this weekend.
It’s the opposite effect for Castlecomer as they now go into a repeat of the 2023 relegation final when they meet Danesfort in a fortnight where only a win will secure a place in hurling’s top tier in a year’s time.
It was ‘Comer who made the brighter start with Michael Brennan landing two early scores before Clara responded with a Conor O’Shea free.
The winners then wrestled control of the contest when Rory Glynn found his brother Dara who made no mistake in shooting to the net after six minutes of play.
Erin’s Own kept in touch through efforts from Brennan and Shane Feehan who came in for Dan Coogan at the start of the game but with O’Shea proving ace on the frees and Joe Connolly also registering from play, it was Clara who led on a 1-5 to 0-6 scoreline past the 20th minute mark of the first period.
‘Comer then got a lifeline when the ever dependable Conor Fogarty found himself at the end of a move involving both Eoin Brennan and Shane Feehan and he used all his know-how in knocking the sliotar into the ground and beyond the reach of Kevin Nolan to give his side a one point advantage.
Clara responded excellently however with points from Rory Glynn and Chris Bolger ensuring it was them who held the initiative as they went into half-time with a 1-8 to 1-7 advantage.
A Martin O’Connell point pushed the lead out to two almost immediately upon the resumption before Comer hit back with a pair of Michael Brennan scores and a Michael Brennan effort and at that stage it was the side in blue who were dictating matters.
The up and down nature of the game continued all the way through the second period. It wasn’t surprising for an encounter of this nature. Clara scored six of the next seven points between the 41st and 48th minutes via Lester Ryan, Dara Glynn, Rory Glynn and Chris Bolger all finding the target as they pushed clear on the scoreboard.
‘Comer refused to throw in the towel though and within minutes they were back in front when the experienced Eoin Brennan batted a goal on the back of also landing two huge frees from distance.
Brennan would go on to score two more points inside the final 10 minutes for his side but ultimately it was Clara who held the edge with Dara Glynn, Paul Cody, Conor O’Shea and Joe Power pointing in advance of Brennan’s double salvo.
The lively Rory Glynn then finished the encounter in style for his side as he scored two stoppage time points to ensure they won out by three in the end.
Teams and Scorers
Clara: Conor O’Shea (0-5, 4fs); Dara Glynn (1-2); Rory Glynn (0-4); Chris Bolger (0-3); Joe Power, Paul Cody (0-2 each); Joe Connolly, Martin O’Connell, Lester Ryan (0-1 each)
Erin’s Own: Michael Brennan (1-11, 7fs); Conor Fogarty (1-0); Shane Feehan (0-2); Shane Coogan, Eoin Brennan (0-1 each)
Clara: Kevin Nolan; Joe Connolly, Matt Kenny, Conor Cody; Harry Boyle, Shane Staunton, David Barcoe; Martin O’Connell, Jack Langton; Dara Glynn, Paul Cody, Conor O’Shea; Lester Ryan, Rory Glynn, Chris Bolger.
Subs: Luke Lawlor for Kenny, 21 mins; Joe Power for Connolly, 35 mins; Sean Carrigan for O’Shea, 54 mins; Ciaran Prendergast for Boyle, 59 mins.
Erin’s Own: Conor O’Sullivan; Aidan Moran, Conor Delaney, Conor Brophy; Cathal Holland, Josh Dowling, Ciaran Wallace; Conor Fogarty, Niall McMahon; Conor McMahon, Eoin Brennan, Shane Coogan; Michael Brennan, Shane Feehan, James Coogan.
Subs: Eoghan Moore for Holland, h-t; Luke Connery for J.Coogan, 40 mins.
Referee: John Dooley.