Salthill Hotel Senior Hurling Championship 2012

Mullagh Vs Craughwell

Sunday 29th April  at 1:45pm

Ref: Eoin Shaughnessy

Mullagh

1. Eric Ward

2. Cathal Hardiman

3. Alan Gaynor

4. Cathal Kennedy

5. Derek Hardiman

6. Eamon Donohue

7. Johnny Rafferty (Capt)

8. Kevin Briscoe

9. Conor Hardiman

10. Ciarán Rafferty

11. Damien Monaghan

12. Alan Whyte

13. Finian Coone

14. Justin Gaynor

15. David Glennon

Subs: 21. Donal Reilly for 14. Justin Gaynor, 28 Conor Dervan for 8. Kevin Briscoe, 19 Niall Cahalan for 9. Conor Hardiman.

Paddy Hardiman, Craig Finnerty, Francis Hardiman, Padraig Kennedy, David Headd, Sean Hardiman, Cathal Finnerty, Kevin Kelly, Colm Fahy, Micheál Garvey, Sean Finnerty.

Management: Paul Finnerty Selectors: Paddy Finnerty, John Mullins and Johnny Pilkington

Craughwell

1. Jamie Ryan

2. Ger O'Halloran

3. Ian Daniels

4. Tom Rooney

5. Cathal Greaney

6. John Ryan

7. Mark Horan

8. Hugh Whiriskey

9. John Greaney

10. Mike Coughlan

11. Fergal Healy

12. Damien Rooney

13. Keelan Greene

14. Adrian Cullinane

15. Keelan Cullinane

Subs: Colin Rooney, Shane Dolan, Dermot Ryan, Dermot McMahon, 20. Alan Callanan, 21. Niall Healy, Cathal Whiriskey, Mark Monaghan, Darren Callanan, Niall Donohue, Davud Flaherty, Tom Davey, Michael Farrell, Cian Larkin and Brian Dolan.

Only eight of the starting fifteen which fielded against Clarinbridge last October in the quarter final replay were sent out to battle in this opening round of the 2012 championship. Niall Cahalan has a broken in bone in his hand which he picked up in a challenge match recently. Cathal Dervan is still recovering from surgery he had some months ago. Dermot Clarke has transferred to a Dublin club.

Mullagh left this one behind as they were leading throughout and up until 7 minutes left in the game they were up 4 points. The game was snatched from Mullagh's grasp when Niall Healy got inside the Mullagh back line and pounced for goal. To make matters worse Mullagh had no response to this devastating blow and Craughwell didn't give up adding on two more points both from Hugh Whiriskey which gave them the one point win they needed and left Mullagh reeling.

Mullagh played with a very stong wind in the first half and conditions were otherwise dry. In the absense of Cahalan Finian Coone took up free taking duties and opened the scoring for Mullagh on 6 minutes. Craughwell responded from play from corner forward Keelan Cullinane on 16 minutes. Mullagh's lack of scoring from the 6th to the 25th minute with the wind at their backs will be something that they will take away with them. Derek Hardiman and Eamon Donohue were under pressure clearing their lines on a number of occasions on the stand side. Coone was again on hand with one from play. Coone rightly questioned the umpires on 17 minutes when he looked to have split the posts but the umpires were not in agreement. Mullagh operated a two man full forward line in that barron spell between Glennon and Coone. Glennon could do little with the way the corner back was allowed hang out of the Mullagh county man, but it was overlooked by the officials. In the last five minutes of the game there was a flurry of scores from Mullagh. Coone stood over a 21 yard free followed by another from a placed ball. At this stage Donal Reilly was introduced for Justin Gaynor. Reilly's introduction saw some good work by him allow centre forward Damien Monaghan in for a score. Glennon got away from his marker just before the half hour mark for a well taken point. Good work then by Alan Whyte around mid field, he got the ball to Coone, to close Mullagh's scoring in the first half. The ref blew for half time when Niall Healy got Craughwell's second score from play. Half Time: Mullagh 0:07 Craughwell 0:02

A five point lead and the standard of hurling produced by Mullagh in the first half was never going to be enough to see them through. Craughwell now playing with the wind really upped the tempo of the game and Niall Healy was on hand from a placed ball after 2 minutes. The introduction of Conor Dervan for Kevin Briscoe really lifted the Mullagh side and Dervan launched an attack moments onto the field. He dropped a ball inside which caused a 65' which he duly converted himself after 11 minutes. He brought a sense of stability around the middle of the field. Adrian Cullinane responded for Craughwell from play. Reilly got a fine score for Mullagh from an awkward angle to leave it Mullagh 0:09 Craughwell 0:04. Full back Alan Gaynor got in a vital hook 15 minutes into the half. Good work by centre back Donohue found Coone for one from play. Mullagh looked to be home and dry but it wasn't to be. Niall Healy (f) and Alan Callanan (p) got two more. Finian responded with another from a placed ball. Again Craughwell were on the scoreboard from Adrian Cullinane and the menacing Healy. Coone found Monaghan for a much needed Mullagh point. Niall Cahalan was introduced for Conor Hardiman. Then the blow came and Mullagh were not to register another score  - Healy goaled with 7 minutes to go and Whiriskey added two points from play. The full time whistle was blown and Mullagh had lost by a solitary point.

Full Time score in Loughrea: Mullagh 0:12 Craughwell 1:10

Despite the fact a number of other top teams suffered defeat over the weekend such as Clarinbridge, Portumna and St Thomas' Mullagh should not have been added to this list as they will look back on this one as one they left behind.

They went into a Draw on Monday evening and were drawn against Clarinbridge who were defeated by Beagh. This Round 2 clash will draw great interest from the hurling public and is due to be played on 12/13 May.