Passage's Edmond Fitzgerald turns away from Clonea's Billy Walsh.

Passage's Edmond Fitzgerald turns away from Clonea's Billy Walsh.

Passage 1-14; Clonea 1-6

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Passage overcame the blow of an early goal against them to claim the Eastern Junior Hurling Championship for attached sides in Kill last Saturday.

This was a fully deserved victory as Passage pulled away in the final quarter to claim the title.

Passage opened the scoring when impressive full-forward Ger Farrell pointed from play after five minutes.

Clonea responded five minutes later with the first goal of the day, after Billy Walsh fired the ball home following Eddie Lynch’s brilliant saving of a Chris Mears strike.

Passage travelled a tough road to reach this final, and were not going to give up on it easily. Seamus Barry scored the second point of the day with a well-taken free but this was quickly cancelled out by a point from play by the dangerous Chris Mears.

One of the names on people’s lips after this game was that of Passage wing-forward Joe McCleane. McCleane was dominant in the air throughout and in the 14th minute he fielded a puck out from Eddie Lynch and set up Ger Farrell for another point.

Centre-forward John Kirwan scored a neat point from play to open up a two-point lead for Clonea but this was soon cancelled out when Seamus Barry and Niall Troy from frees dragged Passage back on to level terms.

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