Smith O’Briens have recorded the greatest upset of the Clare Senior Hurling Championship for 2022 thus far as last years Intermediate champions overcame the beaten finalists of 2021 by the minimum in the blistering heat at the Wolfe Tones GAA Grounds in Shannon.
Inagh-Kilnamona led the contest throughout the first half, largely through their greater efficiency at the posts. Eight Points from Talisman Aidan McCarthy in the opening period including seven placed balls ensured their advantage at the break.
Meanwhile despite racking up eight wides in the opening half the Killaloe outfit stayed in touch thanks to Tommy Reddan’s frees and a perfectly dispatched penalty on twenty three minutes from Keith Stritch.
The sides departed at 0-12 to 1-06 at Half Time.
Smith 0’Briens came out of the blocks with the greater intensity in the second period, determined to show their claws on their return to Senior Championship Hurling and battled back to take the lead on 38 minutes.
When David 0’Shea added his sides second goal the East Clare Men refused to relent despite the brave Inagh- Kilnamona fightback and hung on to gain a famous victory in Shannon on a score line of Smith O’Brien’s 2-15 to Inagh- Kilnamona’s 0-20.