Despite the unfavourable conditions, Clooney Quin and Scariff treated the crowd at O’Garney Park Sixmilebridge to a thrilling spectacle in the opening group three clash of the Clare Senior Hurling Championship.
Ronan O’Donnell got the 2017 county finalists first score of the day with a point in the opening minutes before Patrick Ryan equalized after a flawless searching puck out from William Kavanagh.
Peter Duggan then opened his club championship account before young county star Mark Rodgers hit the next four placed balls in a row to place Scariff into a two point lead.
The game’s only goal followed after a piercing Ryan Taylor run forced a fantastic save from Scariff netminder William Kavanagh however Shane Harrisson was on hand to raise the green flag for the Mid-Clare side.
Rodgers had an opportunity to goal for Scariff shortly afterwards after being taken down in unceremonious fashion in the square and awarded a penalty. However former Clare U-21 All Ireland medalist Keith Hogan produced a stunning save to keep his clean sheet record intact.
Rodgers and Peter Duggan would trade frees while Ryan Taylor added scores from play as the sides went to half time at 1-13 at 0-11.
Clooney-Quin refused to relinquish their lead in the second period as scores from Taylor and Duggan secured a comfortable first round win. Despite a haul of ten points on the day from Mark Rodgers , Scariff’s over reliance on the young forward was ultimately their downfall.
It finished in O’Garney Park, Clooney-Quin 1-16 to Scariff’s 0-13 points
