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Under 12 Hurling 'Special' Final
Cusack Park: Friday 11th September Clarecastle 2-06
Sixmilebridge 3-02 'Young Magpies bring off under 12 Hurling double'  Last Friday evening in sun drenched Cusack Park, the young hurlers of Clarecastle and Sixmilebridge played out a thrilling final of the 11-a-side under 12 Hurling 'special' final.
After a tense opening five minutes Conor Ryan with a well taken goal, opened the scoring for Clarecastle and he followed up a minute later with an excellent point from play following good work by Stephen Barry and Ronan Garvey.
For the next ten minutes the game ebbed and flowed, the 'Bridge piled on the pressure, but the Clarecastle defence in which Tiernan McDermott, Mark McCabe, Stephen Kelleher and Josh Kelly were outstanding, held firm. On 14 minutes, Clarecastle had their second point, a great solo effort from the elusive and skilful Mark McAuliffe, two minutes later the 'Bridge opened their account with a well taken point.
On the stroke of half-time, Eoin O'Hara in the Clarecastle goal made an excellent double save, only to see the second rebound crash to the net to leave the scores 1-2 to 1-1 at half-time.
Sixmilebridge started the second half in lightening fashion with two goals in the first three minutes, but the young Magpies
did not panic and showed great character, determination and no little skill to get back into the game.
Conor Ryan steadied the Clarecastle ship with a fourth minute point and Eoin O'Hara who was having the game of his life in
the Clarecastle goal, made an excellent save a minute later to keep their hopes alive. Conor Ryan immediately followed up with
his second goal to leave his side trailing 2-3 to 3-1 and two minutes later Killian McDermott an impressive second half
substitute leveled the game with a well taken point from play.
The final ten minutes were tense and exciting, both teams showing great skill and determination went all out for the winner,
Clarecastle's captain Darren Crowe and Owen O'Mahoney got through an amount of work in midfield, Eoin O'Hara made some vital
saves and outside him the defence remained very composed and disciplined.
But there was to be no further scores and both teams deservedly got a second chance as the the game went to extra time, two
periods of five minutes.
Extra time was played at the same hectic pace as both teams went all out for victory, in the fifth minute Niall Galvin put
Clarecastle ahead with a well taken point after a lovely passing movement with Mark McAuliffe and two minutes later Conor
Ryan pointed to leave two points between the sides.
The 'Bridge put in a huge effort to find the winner and were rewarded with a point two minutes from time, but amid great
tension and excitement Clarecastle held out for a famous win, much to the delight of their large Magpie following.
Clarecastle: Eoin O'Hara, Mark McCabe, Stephen Kelleher, Tiernan McDermott, Josh Kelly, Darren Crowe Capt, Owen
O'Mahoney, Mark McAuliffe (0-1), Ronan Garvey, Stephen Barry, Conor Ryan (2-3) Subs: Killian McDermott (0-1) for Ronan Garvey, Jack Halpin for Josh Kelly, Niall Galvin (0-1) for Jack Halpin. Mark O'Loughlin, Joey Lynch, Peter Magliocco, Peter Gilroy, Conor McEldowney, David Barry, Garett Kelly.
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