Sixmilebridge 0-14 Inagh/Kilnamona 1-21

Last Friday evening Sixmilebridge Minor’s travelled to Inagh for this Round 3 clash with Inagh/Kilnamona on what was a perfect evening for a game of hurling with no breeze and plenty of sunshine, played on a pitch in excellent condition. The ‘Bridge lads started well and Sean McNamara opened their account 3 minutes in with a well taken point. Kealan Guyler got Inagh/Kilnamona up and running two minutes later with a cracking point out on the wing. Jack Corry put the ‘Bridge back in front with a 10th minute free before Shane Vaughan got a brace of points for Inagh/Kilnamona two minutes later. Ciaran Hassett caught a high ball under pressure 15 minutes in broke free of his marker and scored a lovely point to level the game for third time. For the next 15 minutes both teams were very even with every ball being contested very competitively with the result that the wide count started rising for both sides such was the pressure being applied to both sets of forwards by the backs. The free count also went up with the ‘Bridge just shading it with Jack Corry scoring 3 points all from frees, and Aiden McCarthy getting 2 points for Inagh/Kilnamona. It was Aiden McCarthy again who put Inagh/Kilnamona back in front by a point as the game entered injury time with another free. The next two minutes however were very costly from a ‘Bridge perspective. On 32 minutes a long high ball made its way into the ‘Bridge square and the backs found it very difficult to defend it. In the resulting confusion with the ball spilling across the square Thomas Barry kicked the sliotar into the back of the ‘Bridge net. From the puck out Inagh/Kilnamona won possession and Kealan Guyler got his second point of the half. It was a sucker punch for the ‘Bridge. From being a point up right on the stroke of halftime to be going in 5 points down. Halftime score 0-6 to 1-8 in favour of Inagh/Kilnamona.
Jack Corry reduced the deficit to three points with two frees within the first four minutes of the second half as the ‘Bridge fought on. Cian Shannon pulled one back for Inagh/Kilnamona only for Corry to point again from another free. However Inagh/Kilnamona were now beginning to get on top with Aiden McCarthy much more involved further out the field. They got two more points from play with Guyler getting his third of the evening and Diarmuid King making a good run from wing back to hit a good long range point. From the puck out Ciaran Hassett made another great catch and headed towards the Inagh/Kilnamona goal only to be brought down on the 20 metre line. Jack Corry slotted over the free but Inagh/Kilnamona scored five of the next six points to put this match out of reach for the ‘Bridge. To be fair to the ‘Bridge boys they showed great fight, but Inagh/Kilnamona just had too much fire power up front and with 14 of their starting 15 on the age at this level they had a big advantage over the ‘Bridge who had 9. Adam Breen finished the scoring in injury time with a ’65 to leave Inagh/Kilnamona worthy winners by 10 points.
For Inagh/Kilnamona Aiden McCarthy was outstanding both from frees and general play. Conner Hegarty and Kealan Guyler were also very impressive.
For Sixmilebridge Ciaran Hassett was immense and showed great fight in midfield. Darragh Toomey and Jack Corry were also very impressive.

Sixmilebridge: Shane Whyte, Leon Kelly, Adam Breen 0-1(65), Alex Frost, Colin Kelly, Storm Devanney, Darrgah Toomey, Ciaran Hassett 0-1, Jordan Downes, Conor Flynn 0-1, James Holloway, Matthew Hurley, Sean McNamara 0-1, Jack Corry 0-10 (9-F,1-65), John Hogan, Evan Murphy, Luke Keogh, Ferdia O Lionan.

Iangh/Kilnamona: Shane Dowling, Liam Hehir, Padraig Devitt, Marc Barry, Diarmuid King 0-1, Jason Griffin, Conor Leydon, Conner Hegarty 0-1, Dean Lynch, Thomas Barry 1-1, Shane Vaughan 0-4, Kealan Guyler 0-3, Cian Shannon 0-3, Aiden McCarthy 0-8 (0-3F), Niall Glynn.

Referee: Niall Malone.