Mountrath defeat Clonad to get Intermediate Hurling campaign off to the best possible start

Mountrath have laid down a marker in this year’s Laois Shopping Centre Intermediate Hurling Championship after a fine win over Clonad at home this evening.

The home side were superb all over the field and were well worth their victory in the end.

Mountrath 1-22

Clonad 2-15

Clonad got off to the better start as Ross Holmes opened the scoring within 20 seconds of referee Anthony Stapleton blowing the whistle to start the game. Dan McCormack made it two points to nil with a minute played. Josh Holmes and a Jake Walsh 65’ levelled the game soon after. The Walsh 65’ coming after Jimmy Farrell made a great save as Caelum O’Brien bore down on goal.

John Onions nudged Clonad back in front before the home side responded with three wonderful scores without reply. James Tobin split the posts before Josh Holmes took his tally to three points. The next four scores were traded as Onions (free) and Ross Holmes raised white flags for Clonad while Mark Cusack and Gavin Sydes opened their accounts for Mountrath.

A Gerry Williams point in the 22nd minute gave Mountrath a three-point cushion which they deserved after their first-half showing. Onions got a fourth score with Dan McCormack getting his second of the game. Josh Holmes and Jake Walsh (65’) replied as they still held their three-point advantage. However, they would be behind at the break as Clonad ended the half with a point and a goal. Barry Cormack scored the point while Daniel O’Sullivan was quickest to react to a breaking ball to blast the ball beyond Aaron Middleton. Clonad led 1-9 to 0-11 at half-time.

Mountrath’s first score in the second period was a superb one as Caelum O’Brien shrugged off his marker before placing the ball into the top-corner of Farrell’s net. Onions pointed two more frees from Clonad as Mountrath responded through Sydes and a free from Tom Kirwan. Josh Holmes and O’Brien pointed a score each to give the home a four-point lead. PJ Daly cut it to three with 10 minutes to go but Mountrath upped it again and got three points in a row. Williams, Walsh (65’) and Tobin all raised white flags to all but seal the win for Mountrath.

Barry Cormack replied with two frees but Mountrath just kept adding scores down the other end as points from Tobin and Josh Holmes left them six ahead with 60 minutes played. Barry Cormack pointed another free but Walsh (free) and a superb team score from James Fahy put the game beyond doubt. Barry Cormack fired in a late goal for Clonad but it mattered little as Mountrath opened their campaign with an impressive win to say the least.