This article is from page 64 of the 2011-04-26 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 64 JPG
Kilmurry Ibrickane 1-13 Kilrush Shamrocks 0-8 at Michael Tubridy Park, Kilrush
KILMURRY Ibrickane are sitting pretty at the summit of affairs in the Cusack Cup after a Bank Holiday Monday victory that’s every bit as convincing as the double scores result reads.
They brushed aside the disappointing Shams challenge, largely on the back of hugely impressive starts to both halves when they blitzed the home side with a flurry of scores, while holding conceding very little at the back.
They led 1-4 to no score inside the first 22 minutes, a fast start that all but decided the destination of the two points and secured Kilmurry their third win from four starts and maintained their unbeaten start to the 2011 league season.
Ian McInerney showed the way with two early frees before Kilmurry put themselves in pole position thanks to a well-worked goal that was finished to the net by Enda Coughlan in the 15th minute.
Still, there was no respite for the Shams and no let up by a rampant Kilmurry side as man of the match Shane Hickey made his first impression on the scoreboard with a point in the 19th minute before young gun Thomas Lernihan added another three minutes later.
It was until Kilrush started to make changes that their fortunes lifted somewhat, with substitute Darragh Bolton getting his side off the mark five minutes before half time with a point from play, one that was followed up by a Stephen Sweeney effort a minute later.
However, Ian McInerney finished the half as he started it with another pointed free to give his side a 1-5 to 0-2 interval lead – a six-point advantage that was a portent of things to come as the 2008 champions really turned the screw in the opening stages of the second half.
A six-point deficit wasn’t insurmountable for the Shams, but a 12point deficit most certainly was. That’s the margin that separates the sides approaching the last ten minutes of play as Kilmurry reeled off six points in-a-row to move 1-11 to 0-2 clear.
It was hugely impressive stuff – Enda Coughlan (2), Thomas Lernihan, Evan Talty and Peter O’Dwyer all grabbed points from play, while Ian McInerney brought his tally for the hour to 0-4 as the Shams were pummelled into submission.
However, they plugged away in the final stages to give the scoreboard a more respectable look to it, once Peadar McMahon opened their account for the half with a pointed free in the 48th minute.
Jim Young pegged another back in the 50th minute before Enda Coughlan landed his third point from play a minute latter. All that was left was for Peadar McMahon to finish the game with a mini-flourish of four points in seven minutes, while Shane Hickey rounded off his impressive display with a second point from right-halfback.
Kilmurry Ibrickane
Peter O’Dwyer, JohnWillie Sexton, Darren Hickey, Declan Callinan, Shane Hickey (0-2), Paul O’Connor,Thomas Lernihan (0-2), Seamus Murrihy, Peter O’Dwyer (0-1), Ian McInerney (0-4f), Mark McCarthy, Seamus Lynch, Johnnie Daly, Enda Coughlan (1-3), Michael O’Dwyer.
Subs
Evan Talty (0-1) for Lynch, Niall Hickey for Michael O’Dwyer.
Kilrush Shamrocks
Tony Burke, Seamus Bolton, Cathal Lyons, Niall Gilbride, Gearóid O’Brien, Niall Clancy, Matthew Moloney, Paul Heaslip, JimYoung (0-1), Paddy Clancy, Peadar McMahon (0-5, 4f), John Hayes, Rory O’Connor, Donal O’Sullivan, Stephen Sweeney (0-1).
Subs
Darragh Bolton (0-1) for Bolton, Con O’Brien for O’Brien, Pat Joe McGrath for O’Connor.
Man of the Match
Shane Hickey (Kilmurry Ibrickane) Referee Michael Rock (Ennistymon)