LUSMAGH made their claim to be one of the favourites for the Senior B Championship pretty clear on Friday evening as they demolished Clodiagh Gaels 5-18 to 1-17 in Kilcormac to make it three wins and a draw from four games.
Molloy Precast and Environmental Systems Senior B Hurling Championship Round 4
Lusmagh 5-18 Clodiagh Gaels 1-17
Four second half goals and a dominant display overall across the pitch saw Lusmagh get back to winning ways and all but condemn Clodiagh Gaels to a relegation battle on Friday evening as they emerged 13 point winners and warranted that result.
The midfield presence of Eoin Quinlan who caught anything and everything during the opening 30 minutes, capped with the second half clinical finishing by the brilliant Luke Bowe left Clodiagh Gaels pretty much chasing shadows coming down the home stretch. It was clear from Graham Lynch’s 35th minute goal which way this game was going to turn out and really Lusmagh will still feel they left a few scores behind them considering they finished with 15 wides.
It’s a bitter pill to swallow for Clodiagh Gaels as it’s now four defeats in a row for the season as they’ve just not got going all year. They started the game off the brighter and were in a commanding position leading 0-4 to 0-2 after nearly 10 minutes played, but that’s where the game began to shift as the extra sweeper system implemented by Lusmagh gave the likes of Eimhin Kelly the freedom to dictate the game from centre back and help orchestrate the way Lusmagh were going to attack.
Liam and Conor Langton were doing their thing in the first half as Conor had pucked 0-3 from the half back line, and Liam was winning dirty ball as well as setting up scores, with Ruairi Dunne also trying his best taking on his man every chance he got. However, it was the frees from Luke Bowe as well as the excellent shooting of Darren Healy that was giving Lusmagh the edge and that was further proven by Eoin Quinlan setting up Aaron Kelly for the game’s opening goal after 26 minutes to leave Lusmagh 1-11 to 0-9 up at half time.
A strong start to the second which saw Liam setting up his brother Conor Langton for their only goal seemed to set the second half to be a close enough affair but once Graham Lynch fired in his side’s second, the floodgates opened up as Luke Bowe began hitting top form from play and that illustrated by the solo effort for his goal. Two more strikes from Eoin Quinlan and first from James Kelly a minute earlier and the game was truly well beyond Clodiagh Gaels at that stage as the final 20 minutes was all about restoring a bit of pride.
The only negative for Lusmagh was striking 15 wides as well as going 13 minutes without a score during the third and fourth quarter of the game and at times both sides wouldn’t have been too happy with their discipline but for Lusmagh these will be minor things to fix before their big final round clash against Carrig & Riverstown which could decide who finishes top of the table.
Clodiagh Gaels will now bracing themselves for a relegation final and needing to win that in order to avoid a relegation to the Intermediate Championship which would be a major set back for the club seen as they were beaten finalists in the previous two years and were winners in 2021 and competing in the Senior A division in 2022.
There is one potential escape chute for them and path to the semi-finals. If Coolderry beat Kilcormac-Killoughey on Sunday, Clodiagh Gaels beat Coolderry in the last round and Clara beat K-K, then Clodiuagh Gaels, Coolderry and K-K would all tie on two points with scoring difference in the games between those three determining who goes into the semi-finals. However, if K-K get even a point from Coolderry on Sunday and they are favourites to win, the semi-final is out of reach for Clodiagh Gaels and it is the relegation play off, which is most likely at the moment.
MATCH ANALYSIS
MAN OF THE MATCH
Eoin Quinlan (Lusmagh): It was a toss of a coin between Luke Bowe and Eoin Quinlan as either man deserves the award and you’d be tempted to just pick both for their contributions. The nod goes to Eoin Quinlan just simply for his overall influence on the game, in particular the first half where he caught every game ball that came down on top of him and was the creative force in the midfield and half forward. A goal in the second half topped it all off.
Luke Bowe had an excellent second half and to end the game with 1-9 is impressive. Eimhin Kelly and Darren Healy also deserve their flowers as does Aaron Kelly and Graham Lynch on a very convincing evening for Lusmagh.
On what was an evening to forget for the Gaels, the two Langton’s and Anthony Gorman can hold their heads up for at least trying to get their side back into the game and make the scoreboard a bit more of a respectful reading.
THE SCORERS
Lusmagh: Luke Bowe (6frees) 1-9, Eoin Quinlan 1-2, Aaron Kelly 1-1, James Kelly and Graham Lynch 1-0 each, Darren Healy 0-3, Lorcan Troy, Shane Lanigan and Ruairi Kelly 0-1 each.
Clodiagh Gaels: Conor Langton 1-4, Liam Langton (5frees) 0-6, Anthony Gorman and Emmet Curley 0-2 each, Eoin Dunne and Ben O’Brien 0-1 each.
THE TEAMS
LUSMAGHH: Alan Kelly; Rory Quinlan, Andy Flynn, Dáire Temple; Eibheann Kelly, Eimhin Kelly, Ruairi Kelly; Lorcan Troy, Graham Lynch (C), Eoin Quinlan, Darren Healy, James Kelly; Paul Kinsella, Aaron Kelly, Luke Bowe. Subs– Daire Kelly for Troy (51m).
CLODIAGH GAELS: Kevin Kinahan; Aaron Dunne, Mark Kelly, Caolan Flanagan; Eoin Dunne, Aaron Flanagan, Conor Langton; Tom Dunne, Emmet Curley; Pat Lyons, Liam Langton, Ruairi Dunne; Ben O’Brien, Cathal Brady, Anthony Gorman.
Referee – David McLoughlin (Shinrone)
REFEREE WATCH
David McLoughlin refereed this game and while both supporters might have had reason to question one or two decisions, his impact left very little to the final scoreline.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Graham Lynch’s goal was the key moment as it stopped the momentum that Clodiagh Gaels were starting to build as they came out the blocks firing in the second half, but Lynch’s quick response down the far end kicked Lusmagh into another gear and from that moment on, there was only going to be one winner.
VENUE WATCH
The game was hosted in Kilcormac and it was initially a nice evening for hurling until the showers opened up towards the end. The pitch was in fantastic condition, and there was a decent sized crowd there too, with plenty of parking and a shop available to supporters.
WHAT’S NEXT
Lusmagh face Carrig & Riverstown in round 5, while Clodiagh Gaels take on Coolderry.
SEE NEXT: Soul searching ahead for Birr as never say die Tullamore come from behind to snatch sensational draw
STATISTICS
Wides: Lusmagh –15 (6 in first half); Clodiagh Gaels – 10 (5 in first half).
Yellow cards: 0
Red cards: 0
