Clonakilty 4-17, Shamrocks 2-10
Shamrocks travelled to Clonakilty to play their second last league game of the year on Friday night and suffered a 13 point defeat at the hands of the hosts, who went top of the table as a result of the win. Shamrocks hadnt played any game since being eliminated from the Junior A Championship in mid August while Clonakilty were pushing for top spot and had played 2 league games the previous week. As a result, Clon had the advantage over Shamrocks coming in and looking at the way the game panned out, it followed the expected pattern. This was also Shamrocks first ever game of hurling under floodlights and their first ever game in Clonakiltys fantastic new complex, in Anahilla, on the far side of the town.
The first 3 scores of the game were goals, 2 to Clonakilty and one, a beauty from Stephen Keane, to Shamrocks. After that opening 10 minutes when Shamrocks matched their opponents, Clonakilty opened up a bit and started to knock over the points, along with another goal. They opened up a 3-6 to 1-4 lead at halftime. It was a respectable effort from Shamrocks but their shooting wasnt as accurate as Clon’s.
After Clonakilty got an early goal and a few points to stretch further ahead, Shamrocks suddenly upped their game from nowhere and the whole game livened up considerably. They got right on top all over the field and indeed had the deficit down to 4 points after Gary Ronayne rifled home a great effort from 30 yards out, after great points from Mickey Prout and Stephen O’Neill. However, the next 3 scores went to Clonakilty straight away and they kept ahead until the end. Shamrocks used up all their subs as Clonaklity finished with the last 5 points, mainly from frees.
The Club ran a bus to this game for players and supporters and it proved to be an enjoyable experience. Thanks also to Clonakilty who provided us with food afterwards in their impressive clubrooms/bar.
Shamrocks have one league game to go against St Colums at home, on a date yet to be fixed. Shamrocks are in 3rd last position in the leage table with the bottom 2 to go down to Section 3. A win against Colums would almost guarantee staying up in section 2.
Team: R. Twomey, J. Tuohy, S. Collins, D. O’Neill, A. McCarthy, B. Sweeney, F. O’Neill, G. Ronayne, M. Prout, B. Mulqueen, T. O’Mahony, C. Kidney, J. Raleigh, S. Keane, S. O’Neill. Subs used – C. O’Sullivan, B. Cusack, P. Andrews, J. Wilson, S. Downey.
