Clarinbridge overcome slow start against Mellows

Evan Niland top scores, 2-16 in dominant second half

Clarinbridge 2-22

Liam Mellows 0-15

WINS over Craughwell and Cappataggle left Clarinbridge in pole position to top Senior Hurling Championship Group 2 and they put a flat, uninspired opening 30 minutes behind them to complete the job with a dominant second half against Liam Mellows at Pearse Stadium last Saturday evening.

Goals from Aaron Niland and Gavin Lee were the headline scores while Evan Niland uncharacteristically sent three first half frees wide but still finished his impressive outing with five points from both play and placed balls. David Lee starred from a bench that also contributed handsomely with 1-4.

Whatever was said by Cathal Coen and co during their half-time team talk, it triggered the desired response after shooting a meagre six points before the change of ends. 2-16 was a serious return after the break that could have been more.

Mellows outbattled the ‘Bridge on their way to a four-point lead after 20 minutes that was cut to one by the interval. By the three-quarter mark, though, it was a different story as they were 1-13 to 0-10 adrift of a rampant ‘Bridge team that wasn’t for catching and pushed on thereafter.

Conor Elwood, who had a riveting battle with Phelim McCann, was the only member of the Mellows attack to make inroads with three points. Too much of the burden rested on Adrian Morrissey who finished with nine, all but one from placed balls. They also came away empty-handed from goal chances at key stages.

Sean Morrissey, Ed O’Reilly and Luke McPhilbin impressed in the city side's defence as they tore into it and built a 0-7 to 0-3 lead with scores from Elwood (two), Tadhg Haran, Jack Hastings, Sean Morrissey and Adrian Morrissey (two frees). Elwood also pulled on a goal chance that went wide on 27 minutes.

Evan Niland (three, two frees), Aaron Niland (two, one free) and Shane Ryan accounted for the ‘Bridge’s slack return before a sharper, more fired-up version turned it around and and assumed control in the second half.

Points from David Lee, Dylan Dunne, Sean Kilduff and Evan Niland (four, three frees) were followed by a terrific solo goal from Aaron Niland who held off marker Stephen Barrett and Jack Kenny before flicking home one-handed from an acute angle as they opened a six-point advantage.

Two Adrian Morrissey frees and a terrific third point from Conor Elwood brought Mellows their only return, while Ronan Elwood and Adrian Morrissey saw goal attempts come to nought.

Darragh Counihan and Morrissey traded scores before the ‘Bridge reeled off 1-5. David Lee (two), Evan Niland (two) and Shane Ryan pointed before Dylan Dunne and TJ Brennan were the architects of their second goal, a bullet finish from half-time sub Gavin Lee.

That made it 2-19 to 0-11 on 53 minutes and Mellows had Louis Dee to thank for preventing a wider margin. Four late Adrian Morrissey points rounded out their total, as the Niland brothers and Shane Bannon completed a superb second half return of 2-16 from the ‘Bridge.

They move on to the last eight. Mellows meet Turloughmore.

CLARINBRIDGE: C. Callanan; M. Fallon, P. McCann, S. Bannon (0-1); C. Bannon, J. Ryan, T.J. Brennan; L. Leen, C. Brennan; D. Dunne (0-1), E. Niland (captain, 0-10, 0-5 frees), S. Ryan (0-2); M. Kennedy, C. Salmon, A. Niland (1-3, 0-1 free). Subs: S. Kilduff (0-1), for C. Brennan inj., 30+2 mins; D. Lee (0-3), for Kennedy, 30+3 mins; G. Lee (1-0), for Salmon, half-time; D. Counihan (0-1), for Leen, 45 mins; A. Monaghan, for S. Ryan, 54 mins.

LIAM MELLOWS: L. Dee; S. Barrett, S. Morrissey (0-1), J. Keville; B. Forde, L. McPhilbin, E. O’Reilly; J. Kenny, J. Hastings (0-1); C. McDonagh, A. Morrissey (0-9, 0-7 frees, 0-1 65), T. Haran (captain, 0-1); R. Elwood, C. Elwood (0-3), D. McPeake. Subs: C. O'Donovan, for McPeake inj., 21 mins; K. Hourigan, for McDonagh, 57 mins; S. Killeen, for Kenny, 56 mins.

REFEREE: David Earls.

HERALD SPORT MAN OF THE MATCH:

Evan Niland (Clarinbridge).