Niland’s side proves to be a Bridge too far for Craughwell

Craughwell 1-14

Eanna O’Reilly at Kenny Park

Clarinbridge qualified for their first county senior final since 2011 with a comprehensive 10-point win over Craughwell in Kenny Park on Saturday afternoon. On the day, Clarinbridge thoroughly outclassed their opponents and were full value for their win, with the full-time score not particularly flattering them.

Jarlath Niland’s side steamrolled their opponents in the third quarter of the game, during which they outscored Craughwell by 2-7 to 0-1. Having turned a two-point half time lead into a 14-point margin by the second water break, Clarinbridge could look forward to the title decider with 15 minutes left to play in Athenry.

Craughwell will feel that they were well in the game at the interval, but Brian Hanley’s side were simply blown away after the resumption. It was a very disappointing outcome for Craughwell, who simply had no answer to the slick hurling produced by the Bridge during that 15-minute spell after the change of ends.

Niall Healy’s second-half dismissal compounded the situation for Hanley’s side, who found themselves 14 points behind and down a man with 0 minutes left in the contest. Such a wide margin certainly hadn’t been anticipated by most hurling followers in Galway, but credit must go to Niland’s charges for rising to the occasion.

County star Evan Niland pointed two early frees in Kenny Park to settle his side, before Niall Healy responded for Craughwell with two excellent scores from play. Clarinbridge went back in front when Mark Kennedy played a great cross field ball to Niall Armstrong, who took a good score. Craughwell equalised within a minute, with Tom Monaghan setting up Adam Clarke for a point from the left wing.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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