Munster club SHC: McInerney boots Cratloe past Ballygunner

October 26, 2014

Cratloe's Liam Markham gets away from Conor Power of Ballygunner during the Munster club SHC quarter-final at Walsh Park.
©INPHO/Ken Sutton.

Cratloe (Clare) 3-7
Ballygunner (Waterford) 1-10

A kicked goal from Cathal McInerney with seven minutes to go proved decisive as Cratloe registered their first ever Munster club SHC victory at the expense of 14-man Ballygunner in Walsh Park.

Ballygunner had Brian O'Sullivan dismissed on a second yellow card in the 46th minute as Cratloe weathered a second half comeback by the home side to set up a semi-final date with the Tipperary champions.

Joe McGrath's charges laid the foundations for their win in the opening half when, despite playing against the wind, they led by 2-4 to 0-2 at the break. Conor McGrath scored both of Cratloe's goals in the eighth and 14th minutes. Shane Gleeson set him up for the first before he rounded 'keeper Stephen O'Keeffe for the second half after David Collins' pace had opened up the Ballygunner defence.

The Waterford champions were a different team after the restart when they scored 1-4 without reply - the goal coming from Conor Power in the 39th minute - to leave the bare minimum in it.

But O'Sullivan's sending off proved to be a huge setback as Enda Boyce steadied Cratloe with their first point of the second half. Scores from Pauric Mahony and David O'Sullivan kept the pressure on the Clare champions before McInerney settled it by booting the ball to the net after Podge Collins had teed him up.

Cratloe - G Ryan; S O'Leary, M Hawes, D Ryan; E Boyce (0-1), C Ryan, S Chaplin; D Collins (0-1), L Markham; S Gleeson, P Collins, S Collins; G Considine (0-1), C McInerney (1-0), C McGrath (2-4, 0-3f). Subs: D Browne for S Gleeson, A McNamara for G Considine.

Ballygunner - S O'Keeffe; Philip Mahony, B Coughlan, A Kirwan; D O'Sullivan (0-2), W Hutchinson, S Walsh; H Barnes, S O'Sullivan; Pauric Mahony (0-5, 4f, 1'65), Brian O'Sullivan (0-1), Barry O'Sullivan; JJ Hutchinson (0-2), P Hogan, C Power (1-0). Subs: S Power for P Hogan, I Kenny for B Coughlan, B Coughlan for W Hutchinson, D Walsh for C Power.

Referee - D Kirwan.


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