THE LINE-UP for the semi-final stage of the Clare senior hurling championship was completed today with Sixmilebridge, Clonlara and Newmarket-on-Fergus winning their quarter-final ties.
Ballyea had become the first team to reach the last four stage with a 1-20 to 2-14 win over Crusheen yesterday.
The other three spots in the draw which takes place tomorrow were up for grabs today. Sixmilebridge’s goalscoring prowess was integral to their 4-9 to 0-12 win in Clarecastle against Tubber.
Sixmilebridge lead by 2-4 to 0-5 at the break with goals from Alan Mulready and Seadna Morey. Their second-half goals arrived courtesy of Jamie Shanahan and Shane Golden as they claimed a nine-point win.
In Cusack Park in Ennis, it took extra-time before Clonlara defeated O’Callaghan Mills by 0-26 to 3-16. O’Callaghan Mills lead by 1-8 to 0-8 at the midway mark in normal time with Jamie Lynch hitting the first goal of the game.
And Clonlara needed Oisin O’Brien to fire over an injury-time equaliser to tie the teams at 2-12 to 0-18 and send the game to extra-time.
At the midway mark of extra-time the sides were still deadlocked at 3-14 to 0-23 with Adrian Donovan striking home O’Callaghan Mills third goal before Clonlara eventually prevailed by a point.
Champions
And finally the reigning champions Newmarket-on-Fergus were comfortable winners by 3-15 to 0-11 against Inagh-Kilnamona in the second quarter-final tie at Cusack Park at Ennis.
Clare senior Colin Ryan hit 1-6 in the first-half as the winners lead by 1-8 to 0-6 at the break and they had 13 points to spare at the full-time whistle.