Caherlistrane continue fine scoring form in Clonbur

Caherlistrane 3-16

An Ceathrú Rua 1-8

By Ben Cooley

At Clonbur

CAHERLISTRANE made it two from two with a triumphant win over An Cheathrú Rua in Clonbur on Sunday.

Goals came at the right times for Caherlistrane, with Adam McGreal raising the first green flag in the 11th minute, while Ciaran Donnellan and Richard McGrath scored a goal each in the second half.

Caherlistrane had raced into a 1-3 to 0-0 lead after 11 minutes, as goalkeeper Kieran McDonagh landing a two-point free on the right-hand side.

Joint captain Alan Morris soon added another point and Barry McCabe’s side landed the first blow when Stephen Lawless broke an opposition kickout to Kevin Nally, who played the killer pass to McGreal and he fired home.

An Cheathrú Rua had a goal chance of their own through Eoinín Ó Cualáin, but his effort landed in the side netting after he penetrated the Caherlistrane full-back line. An Cheathrú Rua found their first score of the game from goalkeeper James Ó Flatharta as he raised an orange flag from a dead ball. Cian Ó Domhnaill cut the deficit further after he added a point to his team’s tally.

Caherlistrane wiped out An Cheathrú Rua’s efforts with Timmy Madden and Shane Greaney points just before half-time, leaving the North Galway club in charge at the interval on a scoreline of 1-5 to 0-3.

An Cheathrú Rua almost started the second half on a high note. Conal Ó Conghaile fed Ó Cualáin in on goal, but to his dismay Galway U-20 player Richard McGrath was there to collect his shot off the line.

Ó Conghaile and Kieran Mac Diarmada added a point each for An Cheathrú Rua to bring the game back to just three points.

Despite An Cheathrú Rua’s determination, Caherlistrane went on a spree of 2-6 in eight minutes, with two minutes between their goals.

Shane Greaney converted a two-pointer at the top of the arc before placing a free between the uprights. Ciaran Donnellan was the first goalscorer of the second half, after receiving a long ball and firing a shot that went into the top right corner after hitting the post.

Greaney once again scored from the right side, landing a super two-pointer on the run. Richard McGrath grabbed his first championship goal minutes later when he got on the end of a turnover and cooly slotted the ball into the net.

McGreal knocked over a point from play to top off Caherlistrane’s run of scoring, leaving the scoreline at 3-11 to 0-5 after 43 minutes.

Caherlistrane had a chance for another goal but Donnellan was unable to control a bouncing shot from Greaney. Timmy Madden soon added a point for his side, with Greaney following suit.

In the 52nd minute, Seán Óg Ó Loideáin set up Máitiú Ó Domhnaill for An Cheathrú Rua’s only goal of the game. The remainder of the game saw the sides trade scores, but ultimately, Caherlistrane’s streak was too hot to handle for An Cheathrú Rua.

CAHERLISTRANE: K. McDonagh (0-2, one 0-2 free); S. Kyne; S. Bohan; E. Cunningham; J. McGrath (0-1); R. McGrath (1-1); C. Molloy; S. Lawless; K. Nally; A. McGreal (1-1); Shane Greaney (0-8, two 0-2 scores, 0-2 frees); A. Morris (0-1); O. O’Brien; C. Donnellan; T. Madden (0-2). Subs: K. O’Donoghue, for Nally, 40 mins; Steven Greaney, for Morris, 49 mins; C. Faulkner, for O’Brien, 49 mins.

AN CHEATHRÚ RUA: J. Ó Flathartha (0-2, one 0-2 free); J. Ó Tiagharnaigh; R. Ó Domhnaill; J. Ó Gaoithín; K. Mac Donnacha; P. Mac Donnacha; E. Ó Sé; C. Ó Loideáin; S. Ó Briain (0-1); O. Ó Lochtnáin; C. Ó Domhnaill (0-1); M. Ó Domhnaill (1-1); E. Ó Cualáin; C. Ó Conghaile (0-1); K. Mac Diarmada (0-1). Subs: E. De Paor, for Ó Briain, blood, 2-11 mins; P. Ó Loideáin, for Lochtnáin, 46 mins; É. Mac Cormaic (0-1), for Ó Conghaile, 46 mins.

REFEREE: Colm Conway.

HERALD SPORT MAN OF THE MATCH: Shared by Richard McGrath and Shane Greaney (Caherlistrane).