Classy Clara claim second win as K/K finish with 13 men

Clara signalled their Molloy Environmental Systems Offaly Senior ‘B’ Hurling Championship ambitions with an excellent victory over a previously unbeaten Kilcormac/Killoughey second string who finished with 13 players in the Ballinamere sunshine on Friday evening.

Molloy Environmental Systems Senior ‘B’ Hurling Championship Round 3

Clara 3-19

Kilcormac/Killoughey 1-14

Inspired by sharpshooter Cormac Delaney, whose tally of 0-11 included six frees, one sideline, one ’65 and three points from play, Sean Nolan’s charges recovered from a slow start to lead by 1-10 to 1-6 at the break. And with the breeze behind them in the second half, they pulled away for a comfortable win to leapfrog Kilcormac/Killoughey on the table with four points. In the opening two rounds, Clara had beaten Drumcullen and lost to Clodiagh Gaels, while K/K had a draw and win from their encounters with Carrig & Riverstown and Clodiagh Gaels.

With veteran Ross Brady also helping himself to goals in either half, and Cathal O'Meara, Conor Doyle and Barry Egan producing big displays, the winners were highly impressive and will be a match for any team in the second-tier championship on this evidence. In contrast, it was a deflating loss for K/K who faded out of it after a promising opening 20 minutes and racked up 17 wides (Clara weren’t far behind with 14). The green and golds’ misery was complete when they had substitute Karl Guinan and corner back Tadhg Donoghue dismissed after a late skirmish involving players and mentors from both teams.

The row was sparked when Guinan crashed into Marcas Dalton from the side and was duly issued with a straight red card by referee Sean Michael Maher. Then, after the final whistle sounded, Donoghue was also sent off after picking up a second yellow card for something he said to the match official.

Delaney opened the scoring from a free in the third minute before Kilcormac/Killoughey hit back with a pair of Mark Mulrooney frees and a Danny Spain effort from play. Delaney’s second free reduced the deficit to the minimum before Conor Lowry got in behind the Clara defence from Shane Mulrooney’s resultant puckout to raise the game’s first green flag in the 12th minute.

Amid a flurry of wides, Delaney and Mark Mulrooney traded frees before Ross Brady’s first goal in the 17th minute from Barry Cushen’s pass made it a one-point game once again, 1-3 to 1-4. K/K goalkeeper Shane Mulrooney converted a long-range free, only for Barry Egan to reply with a terrific score from near the left sideline.

There was a further exchange of points between Mark Mulrooney (free) and Cushen before Delaney levelled from a free and then Brady gave the Brosnasiders the lead, 1-7 to 1-6, for the first time in 22 minutes. It was also a lead they wouldn’t relinquish as they finished the first half strongly with three points from Delaney – the first from a long-distance free, the second from a delightful sideline cut and the third from play after a rampaging run through the heart of the K/K defence.

Despite facing into the breeze, Kilcormac/Killoughey grabbed three of the first four points of the second half to cut the gap to two, 1-9 to 1-11. JK Kilmartin had to settle for a point after his shot was deflected over and Karl Guinan sent over a beauty from the right sideline before Conor Doyle got one back for the winners. A Shane Guinan strike kept the pressure on Clara, but they responded with an unanswered 1-3 between the 35th and 41st minutes to effectively put the game to bed.

Delaney nailed a ’65 after Barry Cushen’s goal attempt was deflected out by Shane Mulrooney, and followed up with a point from play and another from a placed ball. The top-scorer was also involved in his side’s second goal when his sideline cut was knocked down to Ross Brady whose instinctive first-time pull from close range gave the K/K 'keeper no chance.

JK Kilmartin and Richie Bracken hit K/K points either side of a Barry Egan effort, but the momentum remained with Clara who tagged on two more points through Josh Fleming and Delaney to stretch their lead to 2-17 to 1-11.

K/K replied with frees from Mark Mulrooney and Shane Mulrooney before Egan and Mark Mulrooney (free) traded scores. However, Clara underlined their superiority with a third goal from Josh Fleming and a monster point from Conor Doyle in injury-time before an otherwise sporting contest ended on a sour note.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Cormac Delaney (Clara): An All-Ireland U20 football winner with Offaly five years ago, Delaney is also a talented hurler who produced a scoring masterclass here to sink K/K.

THE SCORERS

Clara: Cormac Delaney 0-11 (6fs, 1 s/l, 1 ’65), Ross Brady 2-1, Josh Fleming 1-1, Barry Egan 0-3, Conor Doyle 0-2, Barry Cushen 0-1. Kilcormac/Killoughey: Mark Mulrooney 0-6 (6fs), Conor Lowry 1-0, JK Kilmartin and Shane Mulrooney (2fs) 0-2 each, Richie Bracken, Shane Guinan, Danny Spain and Karl Guinan 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

Clara: Willie Fleming; Myles Handy, Cathal O’Meara, Conor Taylor; Alan Gavin, Conor Doyle, Ciaran Doyle; Conor Egan (captain), John Ledwith; Ross Brady, Cormac Delaney, Josh Fleming; Barry Cushen, Barry Egan, Marcas Dalton. Subs: Liam Flynn for Cushen (44 min), Ed Cullen for Ledwith (47 min), Scott Griffin for Gavin (55 min).

Kilcormac/Killoughey: Shane Mulrooney; Tadhg Donoghue, Charlie Bracken, Cathal Kilmartin; Brian Guinan, Richie Bracken, Harry Sweeney; JK Kilmartin (captain), Peter Geraghty, James Geraghty, Danny Spain; Mark Mulrooney, Stephen Leonard, Conor Lowry. Subs: Karl Guinan for S Leonard (22 min), Shane Guinan for J Geraghty (23 min), Killian Leonard for Spain (41 min).

Referee – Sean Michael Maher (Seir Kieran).

REFEREE WATCH

Sean Michael Maher is an up-and-coming referee who handled proceedings very well, taking the necessary action when Kilcormac/Killoughey lost their discipline at the end.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Ross Brady’s second major in the 41st minute made it 2-14 to 1-9 and put the game beyond Kilcormac/Killoughey.

VENUE WATCH

The Ballinamere pitch was in great shape and the host club had plenty of stewards on hand to help with traffic management.

WHAT'S NEXT

Kilcormac-Killoughey meet Seir Kieran and Clara take on Carrig-Riverstown in round 4.

STATISTICS

Wides: Clara 14 (6 in the first half); Kilcormac/Killoughey 17 (11 in the first half).

Yellow cards: Clara – 1 (Conor Egan); Kilcormac/Killoughey – 2 (both for Tadhg Donoghue).

Red cards: Clara – 0; Kilcormac/Killoughey – 2 (Karl Guinan and Tadhg Donoghue).