Colt-Shanahoe power into Premier IHC semi-final as Clonad's brave fightback falls short

Colt-Shanahoe 2-13

Clonad 0-15 

COLT-Shanahoe are through to The Laois Shopping Centre Premier IHC semi-final after overcoming Clonad by four-points in Mountrath on Sunday afternoon.

A goal in either half did the trick for Colt-Shanahoe, with the goals coming through Paddy Farrell and Aaron McGowan.

James Keyes was very impressive for Colt-Shanahoe and his contribution to the score board helped massively for the victors.

As for Clonad they gave it everything in the second half and tried to fight back, but their efforts just came up short, but they have had a massively respectful year by staying up in the league and reaching the Premier IHC quarter-final in their first year up from Ordinary intermediate.

Both teams would trade points early on through James Keyes for Colt-Shanahoe while John Onions responded through a free.

Colt-Shanahoe seized the initiative by reeling off three points in a row with Jack Delaney getting two of them while Keyes scored in between the Delaney points.

Clonad came firing back though against a strong wind and levelled up matters as Barry Cormack hit a brace while Patrick O'Callaghan got the other point to level up the game.

James Keyes added two more frees for Colt-Shanahoe to lead once again, but Clonad responded once more through Fionn Holland and John Onions as there was nothing between the sides midway through the first half.

The victors then hit another three points in a row through Dayle Bergin, Keyes and Jack Delaney as Colt-Shanahoe were getting the upper hand.

John Onions would add another free for Clonad, but Paddy Farrell found the first goal of the game after firing passed Jimmy Farrell in the Clonad goal.

James Keyes then followed up the goal with another free, but Clonad would get the last point of the half through John Onions to leave it 1-10 to 0-8 to Colt-Shanahoe at the break.

After the break, Paddy Farrell and Fionn Holland traded points, before Colt-Shanahoe struck for a vital goal through Aaron McGowan despite the best efforts of Jimmy Farrell in the Clonad goal.

Clonad bravely battled on a made somewhat of a comeback as they hit a purple patch getting five points in a row.

John Onions would get three of them while Fionn Holland and Barry Cormack getting the other to close the gap to 2-11 to 0-14 with eight minutes left.

Colt-Shanahoe settled once more and replied with two points, one for Keyes and the other for Owen Joyce to halt the Clonad fightback.

Onions would get the last point of the game as Colt-Shanahoe advance to the semi-finals.

SCORERS:

Colt-Shanahoe: James Keyes 0-7 (0-5fs), Paddy Farrell 1-1, Jack Delaney 0-3, Aaron McGowan 1-0, Dayle Bergin and Owen Joyce 0-1 each.

Clonad: John Onions 0-8 (0-7fs), Barry Cormack (0-1f) and Fionn Holland 0-3 each, Patrick O'Callaghan 0-1.

COLT-SHANAHOE: Brian McDermott; Daniel Butler, Niall Brennan, Damien Cuddy; Robert Delaney, Colm Kavanagh, Cullan Kirwan; Mark Hearns, Aaron McGowan; Dayle Bergin, James Keyes, Paddy Farrell; Franky McEvoy, Jack Delaney, Ben McDonald.

Subs: Owen Joyce for McEvoy (26m), Dylan Cuddy for Hearns (47m), Brian Guilfoyle for McDonald (55m).

CLONAD: Jimmy Farrell; Gareth O'Brien, Jack Ahern, Liam Whelan; Charlie Hand, David O'Brien, Patrick O'Callaghan; James Whelan, Barry Cormack; Daniel O'Sullivan, Fionn Holland, Jim Holland; John Onions, Dan McCormack, Ross Holmes.

Sub: Daniel Thornton for McCormack (46m).

Referee: Mick Cleere (Rathdowney/Errill)