Murray’s accuracy the key as Clonkill advance

Clonkill 1-18, Turin 1-12

Clonkill produced a fine performance to eliminate Turin from the Intermediate Hurling Championship, in resplendent sunshine at Joristown Park, Raharney on Saturday.

Clonkill led all the way, holding a three-point advantage at the end of the first quarter and enjoying a 0-13 to 1-6 lead at the interval. The Loughegar side’s strong finish to the first half, in which they scored three unanswered points, suggested they were the superior side on the day, and so it proved.

Turin tried to rally in the second half and whittled Clonkill’s lead down to just two points, but the latter found another gear when it mattered and four unanswered points gave them a commanding lead, 0-17 to 1-8, after 52 in very sultry conditions. Turin failed to find the net from a second half penalty as corner forward Ray Aughey fired a shot over the crossbar with two minutes of normal time to play and his side seven points in arrears.

Even a goal may not have been enough at that stage as they conceded a very soft goal when a long-range shot from Ciaran Nooney was dropped to the net by ‘keeper Eoin Aughey, but the missed chance merely compounded a forgettable day.

Clonkill had more of a scoring threat and that was crucial, with Oisín Murray (0-4, 3f), Michael Heffernan and Ciaran Nooney getting their six points before the first water break. Turin replied through Alan Aughey, Derek Hourihane and Padraig Tormey and weren’t out of it, but the second quarter saw Clonkill take a grip. They scored 0-7 and Christopher Austin’s outstanding strike from distance, close to the sideline, was the pick of the lot. They could have had a goal but Eoin Aughey was equal to Niall Folan’s effort.

Turin always battled and Alan Aughey’s goal on 25 minutes was a great piece of ingenuity from the wily full forward as he flicked the ball past the opposing ‘keeper when it appeared to be drifting wide.

The second half saw Turin keep it tight for a while and it was 0-13 to 1-8 when Ray Aughey converted a free on 33 minutes. However, that was as close as they got - Clonkill surging clear in the heat as Evan Scally scored the pick of four unanswered points which gave them a 0-17 to 1-8 lead. Game over.

They were disallowed a goal for a square ball infringement when substitute Ciaran Crentsil finished low past the opposing ‘keeper, but pretty soon Ciaran Nooney’s shot from distance ended up in the net. That effectively confirmed their place in the semi-final.

Turin will be bitterly disappointed and losing against the second string teams of the bigger senior clubs ultimately cost them. They showed plenty of promise this year, but must wait until 2024 to reignite their challenge.

Scorers: Clonkill: O Murray 0-9 (7f), C Nooney 1-1, C Austin 0-3, M Heffernan 0-2, E Scally, C Doyle and B Gaffney 0-1 each. Turin: R Aughey 0-7 (5f; 1 pen.), A Aughey 1-1, D Hourihane 0-2, P Tormey and C Neville 0-1 each.

Clonkill: Paul Kelleghan; Scott Murtagh, John Fagan, Eoin Egerton; Ciaran Egerton, Liam Moran, Oisin Dowdall; Ciaran Nooney, Brian Gaffney; Michael Heffernan, Evan Scally, Christopher Austin; Oisin Murray, Niall Folan, Cillian Doyle. Subs: Mikey McGrath for O Dowdall (23), Jonathan Lynam for C Egerton (24), Robbie Cleary for Doyle and Ciaran Crentsil for Folan (49).

Turin: Eoin Aughey; Jack Dowling, Khassim Carey, Sean Scally; Damien Keogh, Sean Leech, David McGrath; Declan McGrath, Craig Neville; Derek Hourihane, Andrew Corcoran, Padraig Tormey; Danny McGrath, Alan Aughey, ray Aughey. Subs: Fergal Kent for Keogh (34), David Aughey for Hourihane (37), Jack Penrose for Dowling (43), Ciaran Kiernan for Declan McGrath (53).

Ref: Derek Heffernan (Raharney).

Examiner's Eye on game

Man of the match

Oisín Murray (Clonkill): The Clonkill corner forward was lethal from frees and his 0-9 haul set the Loughegar men up for a decisive victory.

Score of the match

Turin full forward Alan Aughey showed great skill to flick the ball to the net in the 26th minute, following Padraig Tormey’s delivery. The ball appeared to be drifting wide, but the full forward succeeded in getting his hurl’ to it in the air and guiding it to the net.

What it means

The two semi-finals will be contested by St Brigid’s and Clonkill; Castletown Geoghegan and Southern Gaels.