The meteoric rise of Clonlara continued with they annexed the Clare SHC title for the first time in 89 years at Cusack Park yesterday, the Evening Herald reports.Last season Clonlara earned promotion from the intermediate ranks and now they are the Banner County champions after overcoming Newmarket-on-Fergus by three points, 1-12 to 1-9, to be crowned county champions for only the second time in their history. Certainly none of the Class of 2008 were around when they were honoured for the first time, as that was back in 1919!
The half-back duo of of Nicky O'Connell and Domhnall O'Donovan gave masterful defensive displays while O'Donovan's twin brother Cormac pushed himself to the limit on a famous afternoon for Clonlara.
Scorers -- Clonlara: D Madden 0-7 (5fs), T Lynch 1-0, D Honan, J Conlan 0-2 each, N O'Connell 0-1. Newmarket: P Collins 0-7 (5fs), M Murphy 1-0, S O'Brien 0-2.
Clonlara -- G O'Connell; S Nihill, J Moloney, P Collins (capt); N O'Connell, D O'Donovan, P Nihill; D Conway, C O'Donovan; J Conlan, P O'Hare, T O'Donovan; D Honan, D Madden, T Lynch. Subs: B Moloney for O Hare (44).
Newmarket -- K Devitt (capt); B Clancy, S Kelly, A Kilmartin; E Barrett, James McInerney, A Barrett; M O'Hanlon, P Collins; M Murphy S O'Brien, Jim McInerney; E Kelly, D Barrett, C Ryan.
Subs: E Hayes for E Kelly (half-time), P Kilmartin for A Barrett (37), S Arthur for O'Hanlon (44), B Gaffney for Collins (57).
Ref -- G Hoey (Killanena)
