Cratloe 0.22 – Wolfe Tones 2.12
Cratloe edged closer to a third successive quarter final berth by virtue of a four point victory over neighbours Wolfe Tones at county headquarters last bank holiday Sunday.
When these sides clashed in the group stages last year, the blues were somewhat fortunate to emerge with the spoils when a much storied Gareth McPhillips 21 yard drive hit the crossbar in injury time.
Whether Cratloe have improved or Wolfe Tones have regressed in the intervening twelve months is a moot point.
Either way, there was no need to rely on Lady Luck this time as Cratloe always looked likely winners.
Showing glimpses of 2009’s form they are motoring along nicely and will take much confidence from this win.
Superior pace and first touch were the key differences between the sides and in truth this game was over long before the Shannon men plundered two late goals to take some of the sheen off the scoreline.
Playing into the town end Cratloe raced into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead after seven minutes courtesy of scores from Oige Murphy, Conor McGrath and Sean and Podge Collins.
Gradually, Wolfe Tones hurled their way back into the game and points from Declan O’Rourke, Daniel Gallery, Barry Loughnane and Daithi O’Connell saw them regain the initiative at 0-8 to 0-6 after twenty minutes.
This proved to be the Tones’ most productive period as Cratloe took control from here to the interval. Six points without reply from Murphy, McGrath, James Enright, Damien Browne and the Collins brothers enabled the champions to retire with some breathing space.
Cratloe began the second half as they had ended the first and four more points from play put them in control at double scores with forty minutes played.
There was no way back from here for the Shannon men who found David Ryan, Cathal McInerney and Michael Hawes in mean form in defence.
Podge Collins, making his first championship start for the blues, wreaked havoc for the winners, helping himself to four points and giving Tones corner back John Coen a torrid afternoon.
All six forwards got on the scoresheet and there was even time for wing back Liam Markham to crown a man of the match display with a point from distance in the closing stages.
Ten points adrift in injury time, Wolfe Tones, to their credit, refused to lie down. Their efforts were rewarded with a brace of goals at the death through Daithi O’Connell and their best performer over the hour, Declan O’Rourke.
With just one game left to play, qualification is now unlikely for Wolfe Tones, barring a number of results going their way in Rounds 4 and 5.
Cratloe’s final group game will be played next Saturday August 14th against Tubber. The sides know each other well having met in the group stages every year since the championship was restructured in 2007.
It is expected that both sides will have to plan without the services of their county minors, who will line out in the All Ireland semi final in Croke Park the following day.
The other tie in Round 4 pairs Inagh-Kilnamona with Sixmilebridge. Victory for Sixmilebridge will send Cratloe through to the quarter finals regardless of the outcome of the Tubber game.
Ar aghaidh linn
Cratloe; S Hawes, P Gleeson, B Duggan, D Ryan, C McInerney, M Hawes, L Markham (0-1), M Óg Murphy (0-2), S Chaplin, S Collins (0-3), J Enright (0-3), D Browne (0-2), P Collins (0-4), C Ryan (0-1), C McGrath (0-6 (0-4f)).
Replacements; A Browne (55 mins), B Gleeson (59 mins)
Cratloe edged closer to a third successive quarter final berth by virtue of a four point victory over neighbours Wolfe Tones at county headquarters last bank holiday Sunday.
When these sides clashed in the group stages last year, the blues were somewhat fortunate to emerge with the spoils when a much storied Gareth McPhillips 21 yard drive hit the crossbar in injury time.
Whether Cratloe have improved or Wolfe Tones have regressed in the intervening twelve months is a moot point.
Either way, there was no need to rely on Lady Luck this time as Cratloe always looked likely winners.
Showing glimpses of 2009’s form they are motoring along nicely and will take much confidence from this win.
Superior pace and first touch were the key differences between the sides and in truth this game was over long before the Shannon men plundered two late goals to take some of the sheen off the scoreline.
Playing into the town end Cratloe raced into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead after seven minutes courtesy of scores from Oige Murphy, Conor McGrath and Sean and Podge Collins.
Gradually, Wolfe Tones hurled their way back into the game and points from Declan O’Rourke, Daniel Gallery, Barry Loughnane and Daithi O’Connell saw them regain the initiative at 0-8 to 0-6 after twenty minutes.
This proved to be the Tones’ most productive period as Cratloe took control from here to the interval. Six points without reply from Murphy, McGrath, James Enright, Damien Browne and the Collins brothers enabled the champions to retire with some breathing space.
Cratloe began the second half as they had ended the first and four more points from play put them in control at double scores with forty minutes played.
There was no way back from here for the Shannon men who found David Ryan, Cathal McInerney and Michael Hawes in mean form in defence.
Podge Collins, making his first championship start for the blues, wreaked havoc for the winners, helping himself to four points and giving Tones corner back John Coen a torrid afternoon.
All six forwards got on the scoresheet and there was even time for wing back Liam Markham to crown a man of the match display with a point from distance in the closing stages.
Ten points adrift in injury time, Wolfe Tones, to their credit, refused to lie down. Their efforts were rewarded with a brace of goals at the death through Daithi O’Connell and their best performer over the hour, Declan O’Rourke.
With just one game left to play, qualification is now unlikely for Wolfe Tones, barring a number of results going their way in Rounds 4 and 5.
Cratloe’s final group game will be played next Saturday August 14th against Tubber. The sides know each other well having met in the group stages every year since the championship was restructured in 2007.
It is expected that both sides will have to plan without the services of their county minors, who will line out in the All Ireland semi final in Croke Park the following day.
The other tie in Round 4 pairs Inagh-Kilnamona with Sixmilebridge. Victory for Sixmilebridge will send Cratloe through to the quarter finals regardless of the outcome of the Tubber game.
Ar aghaidh linn
Cratloe; S Hawes, P Gleeson, B Duggan, D Ryan, C McInerney, M Hawes, L Markham (0-1), M Óg Murphy (0-2), S Chaplin, S Collins (0-3), J Enright (0-3), D Browne (0-2), P Collins (0-4), C Ryan (0-1), C McGrath (0-6 (0-4f)).
Replacements; A Browne (55 mins), B Gleeson (59 mins)
 |
