Conor Clancy’s side issued a strong finish in Dr.Daly Park Tulla to achieve a four-point victory over Scariff in the final group three round game of the Clare Senior Hurling Championship.
In a contest that rarely saw the sides separated on the scoreboard and littered with individual duals of the highest standard, it was Kilmaley’s ability to find the extra gear in the closing stages that made all the difference.
As per usual Mark Rodgers led the way for the East Clare outfit and would account for 1-05 of Scariff’s 1-10 total in the opening half, and while Shane Kavanagh was immense at half back, netminder William Kavanagh pulled off a string of saves to ensure the last line of defense was suitably as efficient.
For the eventual winner’s Conor Cleary, captain Mikey O’Neill, sharpshooters Michael O’Malley ,Seán O’Loughlin and Gearóid O’Grady were strongest with the latter providing Kilmaley’s goal as the sides went into the interval deadlocked at 1-10 apiece.
Mark Rodgers and Cathal Darcy would trade points on the restart and when Shane Kavanagh would follow up with his third point of the day for Scariff to take a 1-14 to 1-13 lead it seemed they might hang on for a famous victory.
However the Clare Cup Champion’s showed their experience to whether the storm and particular credit must go to Conor Clearly who kept Mark Rodgers well restricted in the second half as Kilamaley would hit a purple patch in the final quarter with further contributions from the usual suspects of Mikey O’Neill and O’Malley closing out the day.
It finished on a scoreline of Kilamley 1-21 to Scariff’s 1-17 in Dr.Daly Park.
Scariff will head for the relegation battle as Kilmaley head for the Senior B Competition.
