Clare SHC Final: Clarecastle 3-14 Ballyea 1-11 Clarecastle are the new Clare senior hurling champions after they had a nine-point win over Ballyea in the decider at Cusack Park, Ennis, yesterday.
Claiming their 10th title, the champions were rarely troubled by their neighbours in a one-sided affair. Ballyea never really recovered from Clarecastle's three-goal spree early in the first half.
Goals from Tyrone Kearse, captain and top-scorer Ken Ralph, and corner forward Seanie Moloney left the winners 3-1 to 0-4 in front by the 16th minute.
In a sluggish opening half Ballyea depended in the main on scores from free-taker Alan Hehir. The number 15 hit the target on four occasions in a half that ended with Clarecastle enjoying a 3-6 to 0-6 lead.
The three-goal difference hampered Ballyea's chances of claiming a first title, but a small glimmer of hope appeared 13 minutes into the second half when goalkeeper Shane O'Neill came forward to crash a 20-metre free to the back of the Clarecastle net.
But this was as near as they got in a second half that saw Clarecastle take command methodically and build on their strong early lead.
A Tony Griffin point was all Ballyea added to the goal in the end, while Clarecastle, with some fine individual performances a good exhibition of team work, remained focused to regain the championship they last won in 1997.
In injury time, Ballyea's Tony Griffin and Stephen Sheedy of Clarecastle got their marching orders for their part in a nasty row that broke out involving a number of players from both teams.
CLARECASTLE: G Griffey; A Daly (0-1, free), M Sheedy, G Canny; E Flynn, S Sheedy, M McNamara; J Clancy (0-1), A O'Loughlin; K Ralph (1-9, eight frees), C Plunkett (0-1), D Scanlon; T Kearse (1-1), D Quinn (0-1), S Moloney (1-0). Subs: G Farmer for O'Loughlin, J Casey for Quinn, N Dunne for Kearse, J Considine for Flynn, O Plunkett for McNamara.
BALLYEA: S O'Neill (1-1, frees), M Hehir, T Chambers, R Long, E Griffin, P O'Connell, J Griffin (Capt), F Griffin, A Carrigg, K Sheahan, B Chambers, T Griffin (0-1), I Kilbane (0-1), D Chambers (0-2), A Hehir (0-6, frees). Subs: C Gavin for F Griffin, K Devitt for Carrigg, R Flannery for Sheahan.
Referee: T Stackpool (Ennistymon).
Athleague produced a masterful second-half display to overpower Oran by 2-13 to 3-6 in the Roscommon senior hurling final at Athleague and in the process claim their first title in 25 years.
Oran got off to the perfect start when Padraig Kenny rifled to the net after just 20 seconds. But Athleague took control of the game in the second-half and team captain Tom Reddington got through for two goals to ensure his side collected the honours.
SCORERS: Athleague: T Reddington (2-3), M Connaughton (0-3), K Regan (0-3, all frees), A Cunniffe, D Hogan, F Farrell, I Connaughton (0-1 each);
Oran: C Kelly (1-4, 1-2 frees), P Kenny, T Crowley (1-0 each), A Kelly, F Quine (0-1 each).
