Hogan’s haul lifts Clara into decider
By Daire Walsh
Monday, November 26, 2012
Clara (Kilkenny)1-12 St Oliver Plunketts/Eoghan Ruadh (Dublin) 0-8
A 1-6 haul from Keith Hogan proved crucial in Blakestown yesterday afternoon as Clara advanced to the Leinster Club IHC decider with seven points to spare over St Oliver Plunketts/Eoghan Ruadh.
Clara enjoyed a dream start with a goal from close-range by Hogan inside the opening 60 seconds, followed by quick-fire points from former All-Ireland winner Conor Phelan and Hogan.
Scores from Stuart Mullins and powerful full-forward Kevin Sexton got the Plunketts’ account up and running but points from centre-forward James Nolan (three) and Hogan (two) gave the Noresiders a 1-8 to 0-4 interval lead.
The Dublin champions did make a real fight of it after the restart but Clara had that little extra in the tank, though, as points from Lester Ryan, Hogan and Chris Bolger helped to ease them over the line.
Scorers for Clara: K Hogan 1-6 (5fs), J Nolan 0-3, Lester Ryan, Liam Ryan, C Bolger 0-1 each. St Oliver Plunketts/Eoghan Ruadh: S Mullins 0-6 (6f), P Bergin, K Sexton 0-1 each.
CLARA: K Nolan; T Ryan, J Phelan, S O’Shea; N Prendergast, S Prendergast, D Langton; J Langton, Lester Ryan; C Phelan, J Nolan, Liam Ryan; K Hogan, A Murphy, C Bolger.
Subs: C O’Shea for J Langton (9-15, blood sub), C Prendergast for C Phelan (48), Cillian Phelan for J Nolan (48), P Nolan for Murphy (55), P Galvin for T Ryan (55), B O’Shea for J Langton (57).
ST OLIVER PLUNKETTS/EOGHAN RUADH: J McDonald; J Smith, D Brennan, E Boland; A Baird, P Bergin, P Curran; K Fitzsimmons, F Dunleavy; S Mullins, N Murray, S Bonfield; L Corbett, K Sexton, D Burke.
Subs: C McDonald for Murray (27), O Boland for Burke (half-time), C Boland for Corbett (half-time), C Walsh for Dunleavy (47), M Jordan for Brennan (48).
Referee: A Stapleton (Laois).