Relieved Clara retain senior 'B' status as Birr relegated

THE eagerly anticipated Senior “B” Hurling Championship relegation clash at Faitfhul Fields was always going to be a lively one with Clara getting away in the second half to retain their status while a disappointed Birr return to the third tier in intermediate.

Molloy Environmental and Precast Senior B Hurling Championship Relegation Play-off

Clara 1-17

Birr 1-13

The Clara men started best as they raced in to an early two point lead, Barry Egan and late starter Scott Griffith raising white flags.

The experienced Thomas Bolger opened the Birr men’s account when the former senior A player pointed from forty meters out after a lovely pass from team captain Craig Shortt.

The lively Marcas Dalton won his side two frees in the following three minutes, both of which Cormac Delaney made absolutely no mistake in pointing leaving their side three to the good after ten minutes.

Rickie Fitzsimons pointed for the Birr men with a well taken point from infront of the Clara dugout before the Hawks netminder Marius Stones showed his experience in dealing with a ball lobbed into the square to keep the Birr men goal less for the time being at least.

Griffith got his second score of the night at the opposite end of the park before a Niall Lyons free had the Birr men back within two at the quarter way stage. 

The Clara men tagged on three points on the bounce during a crucial period for the Hawks with Cormac Delaney once again on song from placed balls pointing two either side of a Conor Egan pushing their side five to the good.

Birr looked to have to got in on goal in the twenty fourth minute when Darragh Mac Namara cut in through the Clara backs before finding himself one on one with Stones with the latter pulling off a great save for his side.

The experienced Birr side were trying to play clever passes at times but Clara’s work rate and honesty in the tackle ensured that they would see little return and only for a Ronan Bergin point they would have got nothing at all during the remaining minutes of the half.

Bergin himself showed great awareness in the twenty-seventh minute when he caught a high ball in and left Clara full back John Ledwith with little options only to pull the full forward down for a penalty in which Adam Fitzgerald came up from his own goal and dispatched to the top corner of Stones’ net leaving the minimum between the sides.

Niall Lyons and Thomas Bolger added two more points to their sides tally before Cormac Delaney left matters all square at the half way stage.

The lively Marcas Dalton gathered possession straight from the second half restart powering through before sending the sliotar straight between the posts for the opening score. 

Delaney and Lyons again showed their class from placed balls as they exchanged points in the following minutes before Lyons and Bolger tagged on two in a row leaving the Birr men one to the good after almost ten minutes of second half action.

Birr netminder Fitzgerald was once again on the score sheet when he pointed a free from his own sixty five meter line restoring the advantage for the men in red and green. 

Clara weren’t too long regaining control in the following seven minutes, tagging on three points on the bounce from the sticks of Liam Flynn, a Cormac Delaney free, and a fantastic Cathal O’Meara effort from under the stand.

The deal was ultimately sealed in the fifty second minute when a ball low into the corner was latched onto by Barry Egan and the county under twenty star rattled the back of Adam Fitzgerald's net leaving the Clara outfit ahead by five.

Birr tagged on two more scores late on, a Lyons free followed by a fine effort from wing back Eoin Pilkenton before they tried dropping balls in around the Clara square, three of which were well dealt with by Marius Stones and his defence along with one tailing over the endline.

The resulting puckout was won by Cathal O’Meara who switched the play to the corner of Barry Egan and he found himself a yard of space before pointing once again to seal the deal for the Clara men ensuring Senior B hurling for 2025.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Barry Egan (Clara).: There were some great displays, a lot of them in the white jersey of Clara. Marius Stones was solid in the goals dealing with plenty of ball in around the square and commanding his backs well along with getting off a lot of tough short puckouts. Cathal O’Meara, Myles Handy and early substitute Ed Cullen were on form in defence for the winners along with a gallant effort from midfield duo of Marcas Dalton and Conor Egan.

On the Birr side Niall Lyons was their main man throughout while Max Boyd and Eoin Pilkenton both put in honest shifts.

The nod here goes to Barry Egan. The decision to switch himself and Cathal O’Meara worked a treat for the Clara men. Egan shot 1-2, including the first and last score of the game and worked his socks off in the Clara forward line turning over ball and putting constant pressure on the Birr defence.

THE SCORERS

Clara: Cormac Delaney 0-9 (8f), Barry Egan 1-2, Scott Griffith 0-2, Marcas Dalton, Conor Egan, Liam Flynn and Cathal O’Meara 0-1 each.

Birr: Niall Lyons 0-6 (5f), Thomas Bolger 0-3, Adam Fitzgerald 1-1 penalty and 65’ , Rickie Fitzsimons, Ronan Bergin and Eoin Pilkinton 0-1 each. 

THE TEAMS

Clara: Marius Stones; Conor Taylor, John Ledwith, Ryan Carroll; Myles Handy, Cathal O’Meara, Lorcan Hiney; Marcas Dalton, Conor Egan; Cormac Delaney, Conor Doyle, Scott Griffith; Barry Egan, Ross Brady, Patrick Phelan. Subs: Edward Cullen for Taylor inj 22, Liam Flynn for Carroll half time.

Birr: Adam Fitzgerald; Sam Smith, Conor O’Callaghan, Ben Pardy; Cormac Kenny, Craig Pardy, Eoin Pilkinton; Darragh McNamara, Cian Ryan; Thomas Bolger, Craig Shortt, Max Boyd; Niall Lyons, Ronan Bergin, Rickie Fitzsimons. Subs: Darragh Tierney for Bergin 56.

Referee – David McLoughlin (Shinrone).

REFEREE WATCH

David McLoughlin was the man in the middle here and he done a good job. He kept control, was fair and and issued yellow cards when necessary, especially late on when there was a few cynical fouls on Clara’s part.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

There were two moments here: the first was before the throw in was the switch of Barry Egan from centre back up to full forward with Cathal O’Meara heading to the defence. Egan was on song up front winning and holding up crucial possession and working hard and O’Meara was a lot more at home putting in a solid shift in the Clara back line. 

Barry Egans goal in the fifth second minute was the second moment, if put the Clara men five points ahead and they never looked like a side who would be caught from here. 

VEN UE WATCH

On a lovely September’s evening for hurling Faithful Fields was in perfect condition for this clash. There was a nice crowd in attendance and as usual was hosted professionally, plenty of stewards and scoreboard in operation. Most importantly, the pitch was in fantastic condition.

WHAT'S NEXT

Clara retain their status in the Senior B championship for next year while Birr make their way down to Intermediate level

STATISTICS

Wides: Clara: 12 (6 in first half); Birr: 8 (5 in first half)

Yellow carcs: Clara 3: John Ledwith, Marcas Dalton and Barry Egan; Birr: 1: Darragh Tierney. 

Red cards: 0