Clonea produce dominant second-half display to beat Ferrybank
Cloneas Kieran Power in action against Ferrybank during the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Senior Hurling Championship clash at Portlaw GAA Club. Photos: Eddie Dee.
Clonea boosted their hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the JJ Kavanagh & Sons County Senior Hurling Championship with an impressive 10-point victory over Ferrybank at Páirc de Hindberg, Portlaw, on Saturday afternoon.
Having already posted some impressive totals during this year's championship, the Mid-Waterford side once again showed their scoring prowess, finishing with 27 points and looking capable of extending their winning margin had the need arisen.
Billy Power was once again central to Clonea's attacking threat, but he received strong competition for the Man of the Match award from namesake Kieran Power. The centre-back produced a superb display, dominating defensively while also contributing four excellent points from play.
Despite trailing by two points at half-time, Clonea were the better side for much of the opening period. Ferrybank led 2-8 to 0-12 at the break thanks to two late goals, a scoreline that arguably flattered the city side given the overall balance of play.
Clonea held a one-point lead at the end of the opening quarter. Francis Roche struck two scores, while Gearoid Power and Ronan Elliffe—who came into the side for the suspended Stephen Curry—added a point each. Ferrybank relied heavily on the accuracy of Mark O'Brien, who converted a free, a sideline cut and a 65.
Points from Roche and Billy Power stretched Clonea's advantage to two, but Ferrybank seized the initiative approaching half-time with two goals in quick succession.
The first arrived when O'Brien delivered a dangerous sideline ball from the stand side of the field. Clonea goalkeeper Jack Mackey elected to bat the dropping ball away rather than catch it, but his intervention only diverted possession into the path of Conor Haley, who made no mistake from close range.
Although Roche responded with a point for Clonea, Ferrybank struck again soon after. Following a wide at the opposite end, Mackey opted for a short puck-out to Mairtin Power. Robbie Carew dispossessed the defender and capitalised ruthlessly, firing to the net to leave Ferrybank 2-8 to 0-10 ahead.
Clonea finished the half strongly, however, with points from Ronan Elliffe and Ger Hahessy reducing the deficit to two by the interval.
The second half was a completely different story.
Driven by the influential Kieran Power at one end and Billy Power at the other, Clonea took full control. Their pace, movement and accuracy proved far too much for Ferrybank, who struggled to contain the relentless flow of scores.
By the midway point of the second half, Ferrybank had added just a single point to their tally through Ruaidhri McGarrity, while Clonea had surged to 16 scores and were firmly in command.
The final quarter followed a similar pattern. Caoillinn Mac Cathmhaoil and Mark O'Brien supplied Ferrybank's only scores during that period, while Clonea continued to pick off points with impressive consistency. Although they never seriously threatened a goal, their efficiency in front of the posts ensured there would be no late drama as they ran out comfortable winners.
Billy Power 0-7 (1f), Francis Roche 0-6 (3f, 1 sideline), Kieran Power 0-4, Ronan Elliffe 0-2, Gearoid Power 0-2, Pa Mackey 0-2, Ger Hahessy 0-1, Thomas Skehan 0-1, Conor Dalton 0-1, James Power 0-1.
Mark O'Brien 0-7 (5f, 1 65), Robbie Carew 1-2, Conor Haley 1-0, Caoillin Mac Cathmhaoil 0-1, Ruaidhri McGarrity 0-1.
Jack Mackey; Willie Hahessy, Mairtin Power, Ger Hahessy; Reece O'Mahony, Kieran Power, Adam Murray; Michael Curry, Ronan Elliffe; Billy Power, Francis Roche, Gearoid Power; James Power, Conor Dalton, Thomas Skehan.
David Flynn for Conor Dalton (42), Pa Mackey for Michael Curry (53).
Cormac O'Driscoll; Stephen Kane, Naoise Mac Cathmhaoil, Izzak Richards; Sean Adeyemi, Ryan Tierney, Cormac Heffernan; Neil O'Sullivan, Caoillin Mac Cathmhaoil; Jay Bagge, Robbie Carew, Luke Flynn; Ruaidhri McGarrity, Mark O'Brien, Conor Haley.
Fionn McGarrity for Jay Bagge (37), Lochlann Flanagan for Naoise Mac Cathmhaoil (40, black card), Lochlann Flanagan for Conor Haley (44).
Martin Curran (Old Parish)
