Inagh/Kilnamona 0-10  -  Wolfe Tones 1-4 at Eire Og Grounds, Ennis

THE hardship of if all.
Standing on the sideline with no umbrella, in summer shoes, with no weather-gear, being soaked through to jocks and locks and having no wipers on one's glasses as the sluice gates opened from above.
However, through it all there was still something to be seen as clearly as a mad full moon on frosty winter's night.
The fact of hurling life is that this game really smacked of being something akin to a changing of the guard.
Wolfe Tones Ð the old championship dogs, who expended so much energy in the first six years of the millennium trying to prove that they were more than one-hit wonders from '96, looked like a side with not too much more to give.
A team with their county medals and behind it all Ð however hard they try to convince themselves otherwise in training and team-talks Ð happy with their lot. In order words a team lacking in that real belly-aching hunger to do climb a mountain they've scaled before.
Inagh/Kilnamona inhabit a very different world Ð theirs is an orbit where hunger is the only thing they know. There's adventure there too, just by being competitive in their maiden voyage as a senior club has brought the best out in them.
The bald facts of the hour tell this story. Inagh/Kilnamona whipped over eight first half points from a variety of distances when playing with the wind, while Wolfe Tones produced absolutely nothing apart from a few near misses and plenty of huffing and puffing.
Then on the turnover Inagh/Kilnamona managed to snipe a few crucial scores from Conor Tierney and Tony Carmody, while Wolfe Tones spared themselves the ignominy of a scoreless afternoon when they broke their duck in the 45th minute and tacked on a further 1-3 in the closing 15 minutes.
However, the Tones' miserable total of 1-4 for an hour's hurling Ð even allowing for the brutal the weather conditions Ð was just damage limitation from the wreckage of a game in which they looked like a spent force where winning championships are concerned.
One would have thought beforehand that this game was teed up for the Tones Ð they'd won many championship games in poor weather conditions, grinding out results from memory, experience and sheer physicality. But Inagh/Kilnamona were the grinders, starting as early as the fifth minute when Tony Carmody pointed from 45 yards.
It was a case of desperate defence for the Tones as Inagh/Kilnamona rode the wind and rain blowing towards St Flannan's College. Further points by Dermot Gannon and Tony Carmody had them three clear by the 10th minute, while three minutes later goalkeeper Patrick Kelly landed a free from his own 21-yard line.
Kelly struck again in the 18th minute, while two Dermot Gannon points had them seven clear by the 20th minute. Down the other end the Inagh/Kilnamona backs were playing like men possessed, with Ronan O'Looney leading the way at centre-back.
Wolfe Tones were struggling to muster shots on goal and when they did Patrick Kelly showed why he's on the county panel. In the 21st minute he made a fine save from Garret McPhillips' goal bound shot. Two minutes later he made a smart interception to thwart Declan O'Rourke's hopeful lob into the square.
Those rare attacks were as good as it got for Wolfe Tones in the first 30 minutes, while the mountain they had to climb in the second half was made harder again when Conor Tierney pointed on the stroke of half-time.
A fast start was the only chance the Tones had, but it was 15 minutes before Patsy Keyes put them on the board. Further points by the 20th minute came from Declan O'Rourke and Barry Loughnane, but a breakaway attack from Inagh/Kilnamona which was finished over the bar by Conor Tierney gave them as six-point cushion as they braced themselves for the closing onslaught.
A goal from Brian O'Connell in the 24th minute made for an interesting finish, but Tony Carmody's third point from play in the 58th sealed Inagh/Kilnamona's day. A Bobby McPhillips 65 from the last puck of the game reduced the gap to four, but this scoreline flattered them.

Won and Lost
Inagh/Kilnamona really wanted it and from the opening whistle chased two more precious points to go with the ones collected in their first round victory over Tulla. Wolfe Tones, meanwhile, thought they wanted it, but workrate required just wasn't there. They'll have to want it against Tulla or else...

Match Details
Inagh/Kilnamona Patrick Kelly (8) (0-2f), Stephen Howard (7), Jamie Davin (8), Dermot Lynch (7), Eamonn Glynn (7), Ronan O'Looney (8), David Hegarty (7), Cathal Lafferty (7), Cathal Griffin (7), Dermot Gannon (7) (0-3, 2 frees), Brendan Longe (7), Tony Carmody (8) (0-3), Gerry Arthur (7), Eugene Cullinan (6), Conor Tierney (7) (0-2). Subs Shane Griffin (7) for Arthur, Sean Devitt (6) for Cathal Griffin.

Wolfe Tones Ray Carley (7), John Coen (7), Brian Lohan (7), Dermot O'Rourke (7), Jamie Roughan (6) Bobby McPhillips (7) (0-1, 65m), Frank Lohan (7), Daith’ O'Connell (7), Brian O'Connell (7) (1-0), Denis Riordan (6), Patsy Keyes (6) (0-1), Barry Loughnane (6) (0-1), Andy Moloney (6), Declan O'Rourke (6) (0-1), Garret McPhillips (6). Sub Gary O'Connell (6) for Moloney.

Man of the Match
Ronan O'Looney (Inagh/Kilnamona)
A brilliant first half display by Inagh/Kilnamona's backs was the winning of this game and no one stood taller than their captain O'Looney. The senior panelist from the All-Ireland final year of '02 was inspirationa in this dogfight of a game, time and time again coming out of rucks with the ball. Then again Jamie Davin, Dermot Lynch and Eamonn Glynn were just as inspiring, even if they were just below O'Looney in the pecking order over the hour.

Match Official Ger Hoey (Killanena)

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