Holland double fires Clonad past Mountmellick and into Premier IHC quarter-finals

Clonad are safely through to the quarter-finals of this year’s Laois GAA Laois Shopping Centre Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship after two Fionn Holland goals proved decisive in their victory over Mountmellick in Trumera on Friday evening.

David O’Brien’s side could yet top the group and advance directly to the semi-finals should they overcome Camross in the final round of fixtures.

Playing with a strong breeze in the opening half, Clonad built a five-point interval lead. However, that advantage was wiped out almost immediately after the restart when Pete Culleton found the net after just 20 seconds. Mountmellick eventually surged three points clear with seven minutes remaining, but Clonad ended an 18-minute scoring drought in emphatic fashion, finishing with an unanswered 1-3 to claim their second victory from two outings.

Mountmellick arrived in Trumera knowing they needed a positive result after their opening round defeat to Camross. They must now beat Clonaslee St Manman’s in their final group game to avoid a relegation play-off. Clonad, meanwhile, had already defeated Clonaslee St Manman’s and knew a win would be enough to secure a place in the knockout stages.

With the breeze at their backs, Clonad opened the scoring after just 40 seconds when Patrick O’Callaghan picked out Daniel Thornton and the forward split the posts. Mountmellick full-forward Oisin Hade responded with two excellent scores from almost identical positions near the sideline.

The game’s opening goal arrived shortly afterwards when a Ross Holmes sideline eventually broke to Holland, who made no mistake in firing beyond James Hillard. Holland followed up with a point as Clonad moved 1-2 to 0-2 ahead after nine minutes.

The next six points were shared between the sides. Pete Culleton struck twice for Mountmellick, while Jack Gorman produced an excellent score after bursting forward from centre-back. Clonad replied through a Barry Cormack free and two John Onions points.

Onions’ second score sparked a run of four unanswered points, with the Clonad number 13 adding two more before Holland increased his personal tally to 1-2. Pete Culleton converted two more frees before the break with another Holland point arriving in between as Clonad carried a 1-9 to 0-7 advantage into half-time. There was some concern for Clonad, however, with both Liam Whelan and Gareth O’Brien collecting yellow cards before the interval.

Whatever was discussed in the Clonad huddle at the break had little impact on the opening seconds of the second half. Hade’s effort for a point dropped short into the square, Jimmy Farrell lost sight of the ball in the sun and could only bat it into the path of Pete Culleton, who gratefully finished to the net.

Cormack settled Clonad with an early free, but Mountmellick quickly closed the gap to a single point through Pete Culleton and Finn Lyons. Onions restored Clonad’s two-point cushion from a placed ball after 38 minutes, but remarkably they would not score again until the 54th minute as Mountmellick hit five unanswered points to seize control.

Pete Culleton and Jack Weston both raised white flags before Culleton was brilliantly denied a second goal by a superb Liam Whelan block after collecting Weston’s delivery and rounding Farrell. Jack Mahon and two further Culleton frees put Mountmellick ahead for the first time since Hade’s early score, while Farrell also produced a magnificent save to deny Hade what looked a certain goal as Clonad clung on.

The response was outstanding. Holmes' sideline found Onions, who clipped over the bar before Jack Aherne’s long delivery picked out Holland. Once the Clonad forward gathered possession, he powered through the defence before crashing the ball to the net. Late frees from Onions and Cormack completed the comeback, while Mountmellick's final chance to salvage a draw went begging as Finn Culleton’s close-range kicked effort drifted wide.

Clonad now face Camross’ second team in a potential winner-takes-all battle for top spot, while Mountmellick must defeat Clonaslee St Manman’s to avoid a relegation playoff.

FINAL SCORE

Clonad 2-14

Mountmellick 1-14

SCORERS– Clonad: Fionn Holland 2-3, John Onions 0-7 (0-4 frees), Barry Cormack 0-3 (frees), Daniel Thornton 0-1. Mountmellick: Pete Culleton 1-8 (0-5 frees, 0-1 65), Oisin Hade 0-2, Jack Mahon, Jack Gorman, Finn Lyons and Jack Weston 0-1 each.

MOUNTMELLICK: James Hilliard; Rory Culleton, Redmond McEvoy, Aidan Byrne; Liam Connolly, Jack Gorman, Laurence Kenny; Jake Colbert, Jack Weston; Finn Lyons, Jarlath Connolly, Finn Culleton; John Connolly, Oisin Hade, Pete Culleton. Subs: Eli Colbert for John Connolly and Jack Mahon for Lyons (Both 45 mins), Jordan Downey for Jarlath Connolly (57 mins)

CLONAD: James Farrell; Gareth O’Brien, Jack Ahern, Liam Whelan; Charlie Hand, David O’Brien, Shane Cahill; James Whelan, Barry Cormack; Daniel Thornton, Fionn Holland, Patrick O’Callaghan; John Onions, Daniel O’Sullivan, Ross Holmes. Subs: Jim Holland for G O’Brien (43 mins), Dan McCormack for Thornton (45 mins), John Noonan for J Whelan (53 mins), Jimmy Norton for Holmes (57 mins).

Referee: Jamie McDonald (Rosenallis)