Shamrocks 0-16, Clyda Rovers 0-6
Shamrocks had a deserved win over Clyda Rovers in the replay of the Co Semi Final in Blarney on Tuesday night. They were the better team over the hour and the 16 scores to 7 reflects their dominance. It took a fantastic second half performance to get them safely into the final.
The early exchanges were tight as expected and the first score didnt arrive until 12 minutes in, from Clyda. Both defences were on top with most of the action happening out around the middle where the half back lines and midfield were having a great battle. Andrew O’Grady from frees had replied to early Clyda scores after the outstanding David Andrews had opened the Shamrocks scoring after 15 minutes. The teams were level 8 minutes before halftime but one could sense Shamrocks beginning to get on top and they scored 2 points before HT to open up the first gap, 0-5 to 0-3. This was a big boost to them as they went in at HT.
The pattern continued after HT and Shamrocks were doing all the hurling now. Much more ball started going inside to the full forward line where Killian Murphy scored 3 second half points from play. Mattie Field also got on the score sheet and Andrew O’Grady was on top form from frees. Shamrocks had opened up a 0-11 to 0-5 and it looked significent with 15 minutes to go. However, Clyda battled on and scored a goal direct from a free out on the wing to claw back to 2 points down. Serious questions were now being asked of Shamrocks but they responded in kind with 4 points in a row, some of them great moves in particular Andrew O’Grady’s beauty from midfield. The lead was now 6 points. Clyda attacked and Cormac Scriven in the Shamrocks goal pulled off a great save. They scored a point to bring it back to 5 points with 5 minutes to go but Shamrocks controlled the last few minutes and scored 2 more pointsn to rubber stamp their superiority.
A great team performance from all, in particular in the second half. They are now into the C county final which will be played on Friday week, September 12th, in Páirc Ui Rinn at 6.40pm. This will form a double header with the B final.
Panel: C. Scriven, N. Hayes, C. Hayes, R. Meighan, M. Hitchmough, D. Barry, D. Andrews, C. Hayes, A. O’Grady,M. Field, J. Lynam, K. Murphy, S. Flavin, A. O’Keeffe, D. O’Mahony, S. Downey, E. Seymour, C. Murphy.
