Lough Lene Gaels’ ambitions shattered by Smyth and co

Slevin’s Coaches Senior Hurling ‘A’ Championship: Clonkill 1-22, Lough Lene Gaels 1-13

Paul Doolin reports

The second match in the double header in Kinnegad on Sunday afternoon last saw the only unbeaten team in the SHC ‘A’, Clonkill, face a Gaels team who knew that any chance they had of making a semi-final would mean them winning by a big margin, and hoping for results elsewhere to go in their favour.

That scenario never materialised however, as Clonkill put on a masterclass, and in truth, the final scoreline does them scant justice as they toyed with a wasteful Gaels side virtually from the throw-in.

Clonkill never looked in any danger here, and at times looked to be playing in second gear, while the Gaels’ tactic of firing long balls into a struggling forward line backfired on them. Time and again, the Loughegar men mopped up wasted and stray passes, and invariably punished them accordingly.

But for some individual excellence by some Gaels players, then this could have been a massacre. Clonkill look forward to the county final now, while for the Gaels it has turned out to be a season of might-have-beens.

Two Anthony Price frees and a superb Josh Murtagh strike from distance saw Clonkill open an early three-point lead, before Eoin Daly got the Collinstown men off the mark.

Andrew Shaw and Jordy Smyth (from almost on the sideline) for Clonkill and David Williams (Lough Lene Gaels, a free) exchanged scores, before the Gaels had their brightest moment when a fumble in the Clonkill square saw Shane Williams net the equaliser.

Darragh Egerton (with a long-range score for Clonkill) and David Williams (from a free) kept the contest even. Clonkill then hit six out of the next eight scores (all from play) with superb points from Oisín Loughlin, Niall Mitchell, Smyth, Shane Power, Niall Dowdall and Egerton showing the breadth of their scoring prowess.

The Gaels’ only replies came from two equally superb Shane Williams strikes, and at the break Clonkill led comfortably by 0-12 to 1-5.

Mitchell increased that lead with a wonderful point from a narrow angle for Clonkill, but sub Marcus Kennedy and the impressive Shane Williams answered for the Purple and Golds, and at last we looked to have a game on our hands.

Price (from a free and then from play) kept Clonkill ticking over, while a brilliant John Egan score and an opportunist effort from Shane Williams kept the Gaels in touch.

Clonkill were then given a penalty for a foul on Smyth; however, Mitchell’s tame effort was well saved by Noel Conaty, and one imagined this would lift the Gaels. But it was Clonkill who stepped up a gear, with sub Mikey McGrath, Smyth, Mitchell (from his own half) and a Price free establishing a commanding seven-point lead instead.

Warren Williams pulled one back with a fine score, and Shane Williams scored two wonderful points from play, which were all his own work. But it was mere respite, and after the former was sent off on a straight red card, it signalled the hoisting of the white flag of surrender.

Price hit a fabulous score off his left for Clonkill, but Jordan Williams negated that from a poor puck out, before the former hit two handy frees.

Then, in the dying minutes, Clonkill sub Matthew Glynn finished off a terrific team move with a brilliant goal that was totally deserved, and the game simply petered out to its inevitable conclusion.

Scorers – Clonkill: A Price 0-8 (6f), N Mitchell and J Smyth 0-3 each, M Glynn 1-0, D Egerton 0-2, J Murtagh, O Loughlin, S Power, N Dowdall, A Shaw and M McGrath 0-1 each. Lough Lene Gaels: S Williams 1-6, D Williams 0-2 (1 ’65’, 1f), J Williams, J Egan, E Daly, M Kennedy and W Williams 0-1 each.

Clonkill: Andrew Mitchell; Alan McGrath, John Kenny, Ciaran Nolan; Josh Murtagh, Peadar Scally, Darragh Egerton; Oisín Loughlin, Shane Power; Anthony Price, Niall Dowdall, Liam Moran; Jordy Smyth, Niall Mitchell, Andrew Shaw. Subs used: Mikey McGrath for Power (h-t), Adam Loughlin for Moran (41), Brendan Murtagh for Loughlin (48), Matthew Glynn for Dowdall (54).

Lough Lene Gaels: Noel Conaty; Kevin Hogan, Tommy Doyle, Philip Reilly; Aaron Hill, Micheál Daly, John Egan; Aaron Kennedy, David Williams; Mark McNicholas, Eoin Daly, Brendan Doyle; Thomas Kennedy, Shane Williams, Jordan Williams. Subs used: Marcus Kennedy for A Kennedy (28), Warren Williams for McNicholas (45), Oisín Dolan for T Kennedy (54).

Ref: Barry Kelly (St Oliver Plunkett’s).