Clonad are Laois Shopping Centre Intermediate hurling champions after they defeated Mountrath by six points in O’Moore Park this evening.
Clonad played with the wind in he first half and led by nine points at the end of it.
In truth, they should have been further ahead by they managed to amass nine wides.
David O’Brien’s men then managed the game against it and although Mountrath threw everything at them, Clonad had enough done to hold on.
They were on the front foot right from the off as Fionn Holland, Ross Holmes and John Onions all scored.
James Fahy got Mountrath underway in the seventh minute but Clonad’s next score was a goal.
John Onions drew a great save from Brandon Russell after latching on to a long ball but managed to win the rebound and got the ball across to Dan O’Sullivan who scored
Patrick O’Callaghan then added a point and while Eoin Brennan replied for Mountrath, Clonad led 1-5 to 0-2 after 15 minutes as Onions replied.
Mountrath stayed plugging away and did had half a goal chance when Gavin Sydes went for one from 21 yards but Jack Ahern blocked his effort.
They did get scores from Eoin Brennan, Cian Hill and Mark Cusack but they were well down at the break.
Patrick O’Callaghan, PJ Daly, John Onions, and Fionn Holland all scored as they led 1-11 to 0-5 at the interval.
Mountrath needed a spark when they teams emerged for the second half and they got it with a goal.
Eoin Brennan’s free dropped shot and brushed the fingertips of Jimmy Farrell, struck the crossbar and came down. The umpires adjudged that it crossed the line and awarded the goal.
John Onions replied but Mountrath made a right contest of it after that and reduced the gap to four points.
Eoin Brennan hit three in a row while James Fahy scored an incredible point from under the stand.
They almost had a goal too but Clonad keeper Jimmy Farrell pulled off an outstanding save to deny Cian Hill at point blank range.
With the game on the brink, Fionn Holland took it by the scruff of the neck and scored a brilliant point.
John Onions then pointed after Ross Holmes was fouled and the gap was back to six points with 50 minutes played.
Mountrath kept trying after that but Clonad had enough of a cushion – with veteran John Noonan coming off the bench to grab the final score.
SCORERS – Clonad: John Onions 0-7 (three frees), Fionn Holland and Patrick O’Callaghan 0-3 each, Dan O’Sullivan 1-0, PJ Daly 0-2, Barry Cormack, Ross Holmes and John Noonan 0-1 each Mountrath: Eoin Brennan 1-7 (1-4 frees), James Fahy 0-2, Gavin Sydes, Tom Kirwan, Cian Hill and Mark Cusack 0-1 each
CLONAD: Jimmy Farrell; Gareth O’Brien, Jack Ahern, Liam Whelan; Charlie Hand, David O’Brien, Patrick O’Callaghan; James Whelan, Barry Cormack; PJ Daly, Fionn Holland, Jimmy Norton; John Onions, Dan O’Sullivan, Ross Holmes. Subs: Cillian Duff for O’Sullivan (45), John Noonan for Holmes (53), Jim Holland for O’Callaghan (60)
MOUNTRATH: Brandon Russell; Jack Larkin, Kyle Moore, Kevin Murphy; Ruairi Carroll, Paul Rice, James Tobin; Gavin Sydes, Gearoid Williams; Tom Kirwan, Cian Hill, Eoin Brennan; Mark Cusack, James Fahy, Caelum O’Brien Subs: Aidan Linehan for Larkin (18), Glen Tobin for Williams (42), Colm Linehan for O’Brien (54), Scott Hetherington for Brennan (60)
REFEREE: Anthony Stapleton (Rathdowney-Errill)
Man of the Match
Liam Whelan had a great game at corner back while Eoin Brennan was excellent for Mountrath.
John Onions was classy again but we have gone for Fionn Holland. He drove Clonad on time after time and was excellent.
