Ogonnelloe Hurling Club

Ogonnelloe registered another win in Clare Cup League Division 2B away to Sixmilebridge's second team in perfect conditions on Sunday July 5th 2009. In doing so Ogonnelloe kept only their 2nd clean sheet on the goals front in this campaign and also registered a total of 7 goals in the last 2 games. An impressive statistic by all accounts for any team at any level.

Sixmilebridge played with the aid of a strong breeze in the opening half but their wayward shooting was to prove very costly come the end of the game. Ogonnelloe really struggled to make any headway in the middle section of field where the home side mopped up possession after possession for the entire first 30 minutes. Patrick Mooney scored a great point for the black-and-amber visitors and Barry Kiely ticked up another from play and combined with 2 frees kept Ogonnelloe in the contest at halftime.

If Sixmilebridge had to take 80% of their scoring chances in the opening period it is true to say that they could have been out of sight at the interval but this was not to be.

Half-Time : Ogonnelloe 0-4 Sixmilebridge0-8

Ogonnelloe started the second half much the brighter side and the aid of the breeze seemed to be enough to see them up their performance in this period.

A long range free from Peter O'Brien sailed all the way to the 'Bridge net as the home side goalkeeper seemed to be put-off by John McKennas attempt to flick the ball to the net. Ogonnelloe were now on the up and only a point between the sides after only minutes of the second half.

But Sixmilebridge would not lie down and they pressed hard and picked off some nice points in the following few minutes. But, just in Kilkenny fashion Ogonnelloe seemed to take the upper hand each time Sixmilebridge came back and Eoin Sheedy pounced on an attempted Bridge clearance to crash the ball to the back of the Bridge net half way thru the second period.

John McKenna picked off a brace of points from frees before Barry Kiely showed some 'sheer-class-man' to run onto a long delivery and lift the ball over the on-rushing goalkeeper to ensure Ogonnelloe remained in the driving seat.

Late points from Michael Noel Bugler & Eoin Sheedy ensured Ogonnelloe ran out winners on the slinder margin of 2 points before the clouds opened and nearly submerged both teams just on the final whistle.

Best for the winners were John O' Brien who was a commanding figure at full-back and could make this his new holiday destination. Along-side John was much-stitched-up Eoghan Collins who showed heart, determination and had a very solid defensive display for a young lad of 17 years of age.

In the half-back line OOoser McMahon got on a lot of ball, Peter O'Brien was as commanding as expected at number 6 and John Barton never let the side down as he has shown so many times before.

Up front Ogonnelloe struggled to pick off points from play with Thomas Condon, David Kilkenny & Patrick Mooney chasing down every ball to the bitter end.

Barry Kiely and Eoin Sheedy ended up topscorers with 1-1 a piece and the ever-green John 'George' McKenna showed some top class flashes of his skill and ability at the ripe old age of 46.

Full time : Ogonnelloe 3-8 Sixmilebridge 0-15

Ogonnelloe Lineout :

Thomas McKenna

Eoghan Collins, John O'Brien, Michael Mooney ,

John Barton, Peter O'Brien, Ozer McMahon,

Michael Noel Bugler & Paul Healy

Thomas Condon, Eoin Sheedy, Patrick Mooney

David Kilkenny, Barry Kiely, John McKenna

Subs : Alan Kirby, Jason Kirby, Joseph Mooney, Francis McNulty, Dermot Dinan