Crusheen 2-10 Inagh/Kilnamona 2-12
DISAPPOINTMENT was Crusheen's lot this afternoon, as the seniors were defeated in their first championship outing of 2017.
In the dying seconds of the first half the winners had a fairly fortuitous goal while within two minutes of the restart they had the ball in the net once more, scores that proved decisive.
The game followed Newmarket's victory over Clooney and was some ten minutes late starting. When the action did get underway Crusheen were first on the board, Colin Vaughan getting the club's first point of the 2017 championship. It was nip and tuck for some time afterwards, with the sides level at 0-5 apiece after 18 minutes. One more point each was added, before the Combo's first goal arrived in first half injury time, when a teasing line ball from Evan McNamara just about crept over the goal line, past Donal Tuohy.
While it was a sickening way for the half to end, Crusheen had played reasonably well in the first half, and were unlucky to be a goal behind.
However the game began to slip away after the restart, Conor Tierney had the first score of the second period from a free while David Fitzgerald had the ball in the net after 2 minutes, leaving Crusheen facing a seven point deficit, 2-7 to 0-6.
After three quarters of an hour the gap was still two goals, but Crusheen received a lifeline when Shaun Dillon made an excellent catch in the Inagh/Kilnamona goalmouth and was then fouled. Donal Tuohy travelled up from the other end of the field and drove it past his opposite number Pa Kelly.
However Crusheen never managed to get any closer than three points. Late scores for Inagh/Kilnamona brought the gap to five, and despite a goal deep into injury time from Cian Dillon, they held on for the win.
Crusheen now go into the losers section, where they will face another side defeated in the first round. Other clubs who will be in this section after today's results include Cratloe, Clooney/Quin, Clarecastle and Feakle, with three more first round ties to be played tomorrow.
Crusheen: Donal Tuohy (1-0, penalty); Alan Brigdale, Cathal Dillon, Mark Perrill; Jason Greene (C), Gerard O'Grady, Ciaran O'Doherty; Patrick Vaughan (0-5,4F), Cian Dillon 1-0; Alan Tuohy, Shaun Dillon (0-1), Jamie Fitzgibbon; Colin Vaughan (0-1), Fergus Kennedy (0-2), Conor O'Donnell (0-1).
Subs: Ross Hayes for Alan Tuohy (HT), Breffni Horner for Jamie Fitzgibbon (42 mins), Joe Meaney for Alan Brigdale (52 mins), Darragh o'Doherty for Shaun Dillon (58 mins).
Referee: Ambrose Heagney.
