Gleeson guides Clonea to 24 point triumph on opening night
Clonea's Tom Walsh in possession against Tallow's Mark Stewart. Photos: Sean Byrne
Nobody complained on Friday night when Nicky Barry blew up this one-sided championship opener after just one minute of injury time. An impressive start for Clonea, a worrying one for Tallow.
Like the 2023 fixture between these two sides, Clonea put 4-22 on the scoreboard. Jason Gleeson emerged as tormentor in chief once again with 2-8 (2-3 from play). One point better than the year before. His ball winning ability and his finishing are a potent combination.
Clonea’s inside line clocked up 4-13 between them as Gearoid Power (1-3) and Francis Roche (1-2) also ran amok Billy Power banged over seven points from midfield on his return from Boston. Tony Shelly’s charges outscored their opponents 2-12 to 0-1 in the second half.
Reece O’Mahony, Ciarán Power and Máirtín Power formed a dominant half back line while Willie Hahessy held Tommy Ryan to a point from play. Clonea lost last year’s quarter final to De La Salle but could go further in 2024. Friday’s game against Roanmore will tell us more.
Another relegation battle beckons for Tallow. The Bridesiders couldn’t call on Ryan Grey and Kieran Geary due to injury. James Power didn’t feature for Clonea, after his return from the States, but he will be able to line out in round two.
Clonea named Micheál Harney and Ciarán Kirwan on the panel but both were unavailable for selection. The former Waterford panellists sought to assist the club on the hurling field in 2024 but their applications got refused back in January. A meeting with the DRA was held on July 11. The DRA quashed the decisions of the Waterford CCC and the Waterford HC and ordered that their applications to play with Clonea be reprocessed. This led to a hearing with the Waterford CCC on Thursday night. Their assists were turned down again which means that both players could be without a hurling club this year.
A minute’s silence was held before the game for Michael Hanrahan who won a county junior hurling title with Clonea in 1970. The Fraher Field pitch was cut tight and the quick surface led to a lively start. Darah Buckley struck the first point of the 2024 championship from a free which he won himself. In the third minute, Jason Gleeson snuck in behind three Tallow defenders, after Reece O’Mahony belted a long ball out of defence, and batted the sliotar past Shaun O’Sullivan. The direct route into the full forward line paid dividends as Gleeson added two points to his tally. Gearoid Power also struck the side netting.
On ten minutes, Tallow full forward Stephen Murphy beat Clonea goalkeeper Paudie Hunt to a high ball and rattled the net (1-4 to 1-3). Buckley shot four first half points for the Bridesiders but also hit four wides. Billy Power nailed his second from play before Tommy Ryan sent over a beauty from the stand sideline.
It was a one point game up to the eighteenth minute. Clonea pulled away as the second quarter progressed. Six minutes before the break, a pinpoint pass across goal from Gleeson found Francis Roche who squeezed the ball into the bottom corner despite the best efforts of two Tallow defenders. Billy Power finished the half with five points (two from play, two frees and a 65) as Shelly’s side went in 2-10 to 1-6 ahead.
The first five white flags of the second period belonged to the boys in green. Gleeson sent over three frees while Kieran and Gearoid Power chipped in from play. 1-7 without reply.
On 49 minutes, Gearoid Power reacted quickest when Kieran Power's point attempt struck the post. Gleeson blasted home his second major four minutes later. Mark Stewart registered Tallow’s solitary second half point. One minute of added time was a mercy.
Jason Gleeson 2-8 (5fs), Billy Power 0-7 (3fs, 1 65), Gearoid Power 1-3, Francis Roche 1-2, Kieran Power 0-2.
Darah Buckley 0-4 (3fs), Stephen Murphy 1-0, Mark Stewart 0-2, Tommy Ryan 0-1.
Paudie Hunt; Willie Hahessy, Tom Walsh, Adam Murray; Reece O’Mahony, Ciarán Power, Máirtín Power; Billy Power, Stephen Curry; Donnacha Hassett, Francis Roche, Kieran Power; Jason Gleeson, Michael Curry, Gearoid Power.
Ronan Elliffe for Hassett (47), Ger Hahessy for Máirtín Power (52), Pa Mackey for O’Mahony (54), Aaron Gleeson for Kieran Power (58), David Flynn for Murray (60).
Shaun O’Sullivan; Cian Geary, Robbie Geary, Eoin McGrath; Ben Aherne, Jordan Henley, Micheal Tobin; Shane Martin, Callum McCarthy; Mark Stewart, Ian Beecher, Darragh Spillane; Darah Buckley, Stephen Murphy, Tommy Ryan.
Jake Henley for Spillane (44), Jack McDonnell for Tobin (46), Conor Henley for Martin (54).
Nicky Barry
Jason Gleeson is a lethal inside forward across both codes.
Clonea’s second goal from Francis Roche spelt trouble for Tallow.
The pitch. It looked very bare in places.
Clonea will get a tougher test from Roanmore in Walsh Park on Friday night.
