Month: June 2011

Kilmurry Ibrickane 1-9 – Kilmihil 0-9 at Cooraclare

KILMURRY Ibrickane got up and running in the 2011 championship, but to say it was a spluttering start is generous – very generous even, as they were severely tested by a Kilmihil team that had scant regard for the former Munster champions’ lofty reputations.

This was evident throughout. Kilmihil forced the pace when playing with the first half breeze, then gritted their teeth and never-said-die in the second half, even after being hit by a 1-3 blast in a five-minute spell, losing Timmy Ryan to a red card and playing the final 20 minutes with only 14 players.

It was that kind of game, more a war of attrition than an open game of football as both slugged it out from start to finish – the difference in the end being the steady hand of experience that Kilmurry showed in the second half.

Ian McInerney slotted the frees, Enda Coughlan really came on strong with three points from play, while Peter O’Dwyer played a captain’s part in the centre of the field as Kilmurry slowly ground out their victory while playing way below themselves as a unit.

Indeed, it was Kilmihil that looked much more of a team in the first half, principally because they had a gameplan built around the industrious Mark O’Connell conducting things at the back and the ploy of playing long and direct ball into David Ryan on the edge of the square.

It worked – O’Connell was the link between defence and attack; Ryan gave Darren Hickey a very tough afternoon, especially in the first half as Kilmihil forged clear by 0-6 to 0-2 by half-time.

It was Ryan who opened the scoring with a point in the fifth minute before Enda Coughlan replied in the tenth minute, but it wasn’t until the 29th minute that Kilmurry again raised a flag when Stephen Moloney shook off his team’s lethargy with a fine point from play.

In between it was all Kilmihil, save Peter O’Dwyer fighting what at the time looked like a very lone battle in the middle of the field. Points by David Reidy and Shane Mangan by the 15th minute and then three Declan Downes points copper-fastened Kilmihil’s first half supremacy. Another Declan Downes free two minutes into the second half stretched Kilmihil’s advantage before the Kilmurry comeback was finally kickstarted by an Ian McInerney free. Then Enda Coughlan helped turned the match decisively in Kilmurry’s favour, pointing in the 37th and 38th minutes, while in between his fisted effort at a goal crashed off the crossbar and into the path of Noel Downes who coolly dispatched to the net. Declan Downes did level matters in the 40th minute with another free, but when Timmy Ryan was sent off it was destined to be Kilmurry’s day as two Ian McInerney frees and points from play by Peter O’Dwyer and Enda Coughlan edged them 1-9 to 08 clear before Paul Reidy grabbed a consolation point in the 64th minute. Kilmihil could have got more though – they screamed foot-block and penalty in the 50th minute when Noel Downes was denied a goal. However, Kilmurry were also denied a goal in the first half when the other Noel Downes’ effort was clearly over the line.

Wolfe Tones 2-8 – Kilrush Shamrocks 0-9 at Lissycasey

‘CRISIS? What Crisis?’ It seems rumours of Wolfe Tones demise were all too premature as this dramatic yet spirited first round encounter proved on Saturday. Decimated by emigration, injuries and retirements including first team regulars such as Brian O’Connell, Johnny Bridges, Frank Lohan, Kevin Cahill, Stephen Monaghan, Jamie Roughan, David Reidy and Mickey O’Connell, Wolfe Tones were expected to roll over for Kilrush who appeared to be the ones most likely to challenge Kilmurry Ibrickane at the top of the group.

However, with the Shannon side primed for battle and determined to prevail, it was Kilrush who looked like the team who were crippled by those issues and despite having a host of goal chances that could have swung the game decisively, they never seemed to want it as much as Wolfe Tones.

Essentially, Kilrush looked like a side that just expected to turn and collect the points, a complacency fuelled by the continuous coverage of the Shannon club’s woes throughout the year so far. However, they hadn’t bargained for an inspired Wolfe tones side who packed up the defence, hit on the counter-attack and were timely aided by a Daniel Gallery goal in each half that boosted their self-belief.

At times, only full-forward Darren Ryan remained in Kilrush’s half as Wolfe Tones smothered the life out of their opponents and continually frustrated them. In saying that, the Shams did have four glorious goal opportunities and had they taken any, the game might have played out differently.

Ruaidhri O’Connor had a stinging effort excellently stopped by goalkeeper Jason Casey midway through the first half and only three minutes later full-back Sean Brennan was equally limber to keep out a Jim Young shot. While in the second period, the same pair were repelled by a miserly Shannon last line.

A more efficient Wolfe Tones mag- nified those misses however starting with a back-to-front move in the seventh minute that ended with the overlapping Daniel Gallery rattling the net to give his side a 1-1 to 0-2 lead.

That advantage became three when centre-back Brendan Hughes pointed only two minutes later and while a shellshocked Kilrush did finally settle, those two missed goal chances halted their progress somewhat, only cutting the deficit through points fro Stephen Sweeney and Jim Young by the 29th minute.

Wolfe Tones regained control before the break with the effective Gary Leahy and hardworking Chris Dunning both getting in on the scoring action on their way to a 1-4 to 0-5 lead. It didn’t get much better for Kilrush on the turnover despite having a larger chunk of possession. Three early wides and another blocked Young effort were only brightened by an O’Connor point to slash the deficit to the minimum.

Wolfe Tones soon cancelled it out however when Darren Ryan fisted over the bar in the 40th minute and with the game delicately balanced, the turning point came with the dismissal of Kilrush centre-back Niall Clancy in the 45th minute, followed almost immediately by Wolfe Tones second goal.

Clancy failed to heed a warning when he was fortunate to stay on the field in the 42nd minute after an off the ball altercation with Alan Hehir and by needlessly getting involved in a second incident three minutes later, he was duly sent off for a second yellow.

Wolfe Tones didn’t waste any time in hammering home their one man advantage when Gallery raced through and played a one-two with Alan Downes before finding the net and give his side a five point cushion. A Leahy free made it six soon afterwards while a luckless Kilrush saw a Ruaidhri O’Connor flick come back off the post, having beaten goalkeeper Casey.

Kilrush did rally with late points from Young (2) and substitute Eoin Tarrant but by then, the momentum had shifted firmly in Wolfe Tones direction and despite being reduced to 13 men with the late dismissals of Patsy Keyes and Gary Leahy, captain Hughes and man-of-the-match Gallery wrapped up the points with late strikes to complete the first surprise of the championship.

Clondegad 1-13 – Corofin 0-07 at Cusack Park, Ennis

CLONDEGAD ran out comfortable winners over Corofin to get their championship campaign off to an ideal start in Cusack Park on Saturday.

The early stages indicated this was going to a tight contest but once Clondegad asserted control of midfield about midway through the first half there only ever looked one likely winner.

It might have been different had Michael Concannon’s penalty flown under instead of over the bar 30 seconds into the second half. By then Clondegad led by three points. A combination of Padraig McMahon’s accuracy, Gary and Shane Brennan’s energy and Kieran Browne’s smart distribution from centre back, ensured that lead had been extended to 10 points by the 46th minute.

Corofin were game and worked hard but the early promise of their performance in the first quarter was gradually and effectively snuffed out by their opponent’s greater overall quality.

The 2006 Munster intermediate finalists certainly had the bit between their teeth in the opening stages with John Keane’s monster free nudging them 0-2 0-1 ahead in the 9th minute.

Both sides were guilty of sloppy finishing and poor decision making in the final third before Gary Brennan stormed through to tie the game at 0-3 0-3.

This was the cue for Clondegad to stamp their authority on the match. McMahon, who had earlier seen a low drive skid across the face of goal, rounded off a well-worked point before Clondegad moved into a commanding lead.

Gary Brennan fed Patrick Coffey in acres of room at the heart of the Corofin defence. The corner forward took full advantage, roofing a shot to the net to put Clondegad 1-4 0-3 ahead in the 24th minute.

That’s how it remained until seconds after the restart when Corofin were handed a potential lifeline. Jason Tierney was hauled to the turf as he attempted to shoot just yards from the Clondegad goal. Up stepped Concannon but his penalty flew over the bar.

Having survived an early scare, Clondegad proceeded to stitch together some piercing attacking moves that typically involved wing forward Kenneth Kelly.

An unbroken 11-minute sequence of points from McMahon (2), James Murphy, Gary Brennan Eoghan Donnellan, Shane Brennan and Flan King put Clondegad 1-11 0-4 ahead by the 46th minute. Corofin grabbed late points from Darren Malone, Fergal Neylon and Diarmuid Daly but Clondegad were, by then, out of sight.

Clondegad
Declan O’Loughlin (7), Connor Gavin (7), Paddy O’Connell (7), Brian Murphy (7), James Murphy (7) (0-1), Kieran Browne (8), Francis Neylon (7), Gary Brennan (8) (0-2), Shane Brennan (8) (0-1), Kenneth Kelly (7), Padraig McMahon (8) (0-6)(1f)(45’), Kevin Donnelly, (7) Patrick Coffey (7) (1-0), Francis O’Reilly (7) (0-1), Eoghan Donnellan (7) (0-1)

Subs
Flan King (0-1) for Donnelly,

Corofin
Kieran Carkill (7), Stephen Quinn (6), Eamon Malone (6), Kieran O’Leary (6), Diarmuid Daly (6) (0-1), Brendan Keane (7), Daragh Shannon (6), Luke O’Loughlin (6), John Keane (7) (0-1)(1f), Michael Concannon (6) (0-2) (1f), Fergal Neylon (6) (0-1), Stephen Heagney (6), Jason Tierney (6), Damien Ryan (6), Darren Malone (6) (0-2)(1f)

Subs
MatthewShannon

Man of the Match
Shane Brennan (Clondegad) Referee Michael Rock (Ennistymon)

O’Curry’s 3-09 – Ballyvaughan 1-03 at Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown Malbay

A CLASH OF the last two relegated sides from senior level but it appears that O’Curry’s are in the best position to regain that status in the coming year after an impressive treble scores victory on Sunday. 2-6 to 0-1 ahead at the break and a whopping 16 points clear by the three quarter mark, the gap in quality at times appeared as contrasting as their northsouth divide on the county map and it meant that O’Curry’s could ease up to victory and empty the bench in the process.

From the line-ups alone, it was clear that Ballyvaughan came off worst in the emigration losses and so it proved as O’Curry’s kicked 2-4 without reply in the opening quarter, with Eoin Troy in particular revelling in his role at full-forward. Indeed, he was involved in all but one of those scores, scoring 1-1 himself while also crucially teeing up Damien Clohessy for the opening goal in the sixth minute.

O’Curry’s slicker passing was eyecatching, emitomised by Troy’s 13th minute goal that was moved through Sean Haugh, Ger Quinlan and Michael Carmody before ending up with Eoin Troy who roofed his effort from close range on their way to an eleven point interval lead.

Any hopes of a Ballyvaughan recovery were irrefutably put to bed as early as the third minute of the new half when Eoin Troy’s pinpoint pass over the top to Sean Haugh saw him hauled to the ground by Kieran Casey and Eoin Troy place the resultant penalty to the right corner of the net. Indeed, O’Curry’s should have raised a fourth green flag soon afterwards but Damien Clohessy somehow conspired to miss from point blank range.

That miss hardly registered in such a one-sided contest as Derek and Eoin Troy added to Ballyvaughan’s woes to open up a 16 point gap by the 42nd minute. As O’Curry’s emptied the bench though, Ballyvaughan availed of the opportunity to restore some pride with Jack Queally grabbing a goal in the 47th minute when suppied by the north Clare side’s best performer James Hynes inbetween points from John McCormack and Hynes. They could have cut the deficit further when Hynes and Queally again combined late on but goalkeeper PJ Greene was equal to the substitute’s efforts while a second yellow for Ray Casey rounded off a thoroughly forgettable afternoon for Ballyvaughan while possibly the start of a memorable one for O’Curry’s.

O’Curry’s
PJ Greene (7), Paul Roche (7), Michael O’Shea (8), Gearoid Lynch (7), BrianTroy (7) (0-1), Ollie Quinlan (7),TomDownes (8), DerekTroy (7) (0-1), Ger Quinlan (8), Damien Carmody (8) (0-2), Sean Haugh (8) (0-1), Michael Foran (7), Michael Carmody (7) (0-1), EoinTroy (9) (2-3 1-0 Pen), Damien Clohessy (7) (1-0)

Subs
DeclanWalsh (6) for Foran (38 mins, inj), Jack Scanlon (6) for M. Carmody (41 mins), Eoin Murray (6) for D. Clohessy (46 mins), Ryan McMahon (6) for Downes (49 mins), GeraldTroy for E.Troy (58 mins)

Ballyvaughan
Damien McNamara (6), Marc Walsh (7), Sean McNamara (5), Mark O’Loughlin (7), CianWalsh (6), Kieran Casey (6), John Linnane (6), Ray Casey (6), John McCormack (6) (0-1), PhelimCoyne (5), Kevin Carrucan (5), Cillian Mahon (6),Adrian Niland (7) (0-1f), Donnacha Mahon (6), James Hynes (7) (0-1)

Subs
Jack Queally (7) (1-0) for Coyne (HT), Paul Darcy (6) for Carrucan (HT),Thomas Francis (6) for D. Mahon (41 mins), John Mooney Hynes for C. Walsh (53 mins)

Man of the Match
Eoin Troy (O’Curry’s) Referee Barry Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown)

St Breckan’s 3-11 – Éire Óg 1-10 at Páirc Finne, Corofin

THE biggest score of the opening weekend of the championship; the biggest winning margin; the biggest shock.

All combined to make this a glorious return to the ranks of senior football for the men from Lisdoonvarna and Doolin as they dished out a thoroughly deserved seven-point beating to an Éire Óg team that’s already fighting for survival in the 2011 championship.

Where to start for Breckan’s.

The all action display of the likes of Stephen Tierney who started running when the ball was thrown in and didn’t stop until the end in a performance highlighted by his brilliant 55th minute goal that finally the game and put his side seven points clear.

Sean Cormican’s two-goal blast in the first half that put Breckan’s on the road to victory – the industry of everyone wearing maroon, whether snaffling up 90 per cent of the breaks around midfield, Dinny O’Driscoll pulling the strings, Greg O’Leary coming out of retirement.

All this and much more conspired to bring Breckan’s alive against an Éire Óg team that was flat-footed and consequently overrun for the 60 minutes and lucky to be within seven points at the end.

The writing was on the wall for the Townies are early as the 11th minute when a quick free-kick from Pat Nagle on the 21-yard line was finished to the net by Sean Cormican before anyone in red knew what was happening.

It put St Breckan’s 1-4 to 0-3 clear against the breeze, bookending a bright start that saw them hit early points through Denis O’Driscoll (2), Donal Howley and Pat Nagle to replies from Stephen Hickey (2) and Eoin Glynn.

Éire Og did bounce back from the goal with points by Hickey and Nicky Hogan by the 19th minute, but a sweeping move in the 21st minute, started by the impressive Raphael Considine, carried on by fellow wing-back Stephen Tierney and then blasted to the net by Sean Cormican from 12 yards showed up the gulf between the sides – Breckan’s had energy, support play and killer instinct, the Townies didn’t. That said, another rally that yield- ed 1-2 in the closing minutes of the half – Hickey pointing on either side of Nicky Hogan’s scrambled goal brought the sides level at the break. It was a very false reflection, how- ever, something that was hammered home by a rampant St Breckan’s side in between hitting seven second half wides. Éire Óg were restricted to just three points from frees in the half – Breckan’s hit 1-7 to cruise to victory. They were on their way thanks to points by the Cormican brothers and Pat Nagle as they moved three clear and they never looked back. They toyed with the Townies at times before points by Nagle (2), Shane O’Connor from distance in response to token points from two Shane Daniels frees and finally Stephen Tierney’s brilliant goal settled the issue. Not even the sending off of captain Conor Howley near the end could spoil St Breckans’ party. A second Nicky Hogan goal was disallowed in the 60th minute for a square ball, but even if it had been allowed, it wouldn’t have made any difference.

Ennistymon 0-10 – Liscannor 0-08 at Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown Malbay

IT WAS A changing of the guard in some respects, not just between these former team-mates but in the overall championship itself. In a game as tight as a submarine door, you would have expected experts Liscannor to pull through just as they have done countless times before but aging legs were replaced by Ennistymon’s fresh ones in the crucial final quarter.

With an average age of 31 and two thirds of the team the wrong side of 30, Liscannor were unable to kick on from an 0-8 to 0-6 advantage held by the 45th minute and it was Ennistymon, backed by seven of their Under 21 winning side, who kicked the last four scores to take the honours and give themselves a tremendous boost heading into the ten week break.

It was all so different in the early stages as Liscannor surged into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead by the end of the opening quarter with Niall Considine at full-forward grabbing two of those scores. However, their grip was loosened by an Ennistymon rally that saw them hit four without reply in a six minute spell as Danny Rouine punished from frees while impressive wing-forwards Kevin Scales and Joe Dowling were on target from play. There was even a half chance of a goal for Robert McDonagh af- ter a Rouine free rebounded off the upright but he was smothered by Liscannor’s last line before Clohessy gained parity at the other end going into the interval. The scores were few but the en- tertainment and tension grew to a heightened level as the second half progressed. Ennistymon appeared to have kicked their hopes of victory away in the early stages with three successive wides while Liscannor were more accurate at the other end in grabbing three out of the first four points of the half by the turn of the final quarter to lead by 0-8 to 0-6, with Brian Considine’s curling effort from 35 metres the pick of the bunch. More often than not, Liscannor would have seen out the victory from that point but far from dropping their heads, Ennistymon refused to lie down and their hunger to succeed allied to their fresher legs saw them gain confidence from every passing score. A Danny Rouine free and a Joe Dowling left footed effort from 35 metres levelled up the game for the third time amidst a huge roar of approval from a packed new stand while Dowling turned provider for their third point in as many minutes as Ennistymon took the lead through Kevin Scales in the 50th minute. The expected backlash from Liscannor never materialised however as they got nowhere near to scoring their first championship goal in seven games. Instead, it was Ennistymon who strengthened their position further when Scales burst through the centre of the defence and was hauled down for Rouine to complete a perfect start to the championship and come out from under the shadow of their north Clare neighbours.

St Senan’s Kilkee 2-12 – Cooraclare 1-08 at Shanahan Memorial Park, Doonbeg

“HOW are ye fixed,” was a question posed to a former Blues great before the start of the championship encounter in Doonbeg on Monday afternoon. “We don’t know,” came the answer. “We never do.”

True too, they’re Kilkee after all – the moody Blues who can lurch from the very good to the bad.

Thankfully from their point view the good side was on show as they ground out a deserved victory over a Cooraclare side that never really got going.

It was a tough weekend for Cooraclare after the sudden death of Pat Lillis, former club chairman, championship winner and father Fergal and Cathal who put family tragedy behind them to take their place on the starting 15.

Some things are much more important than football, but it was tough out on the field for Cooraclare too as they played second fiddle to a Kilkee side that showed a clinical touch in front of goal in the second half.

Michael O’Shea was the man – his haul of 1-7 was the difference between the sides, his goal nine minutes into the second half putting his side six points clear, while he then tacked on three crucial points in the final ten minutes after Rory Donnelly’s 45th minute goal had helped bring the gap back to a point.

Things looked good for the Blues at the break after they carved out a 06 to 0-5 interval lead having played against the strong breeze blowing towards the scoreboard goal. They held the initiative early on thanks to two Michael O’Shea points, gradually Cooraclare settled down and reeled off three in a row courtesy of Rory Donnelly, Declan McMahon and Cathal Lillis by the 19th minute.

Indeed, Aidan Moloney’s side looked to have grabbed the initiative approaching half time when they responded to a levelling point from Barry Harte with points by Mark Tubridy and Rory Donnelly, but it was missed goal chance in the 29th minute when they led 0-5 to 0-4 that really cost them dear.

The chance fell to Rory Donnelly about six yards out, but he snatched his left-footed shot into the side netting.

From there the Blues raided, with Kevin Larkin storming up the field and kicking the score of the day from 45 yards and Michael O’Shea following up with an injury time point to give them the interval lead.

Nine minutes in they had stretched it to six after Chris Williamson and Michael O’Shea points was followed by O’Shea’s goal after he was put through by Senan Larkin with his first touch after coming on as a sub. From there it looked as if the Blues would close out the game but it was back in the melting pot when Sean Maguire set up Rory Donnelly for a 45th minute goal that was quickly followed by two Mark Tubridy points from frees to leave only a point in it. Suddenly the force was with Cooraclare, but Michael O’Shea restored order with a hat-trick of points by the 56th minute as Kilkee moved four clear, while Chris Williamson’s 61st minute goal finally closed out an impressive day’s work for the Blues.

Doonbeg 1-13 – Lissycasey 3-05 at Cooraclare

WHAT might have been for a Lissycasey team being teed up as whipping boys beforehand in what was supposed to be a gentle opener for Doonbeg in the defence of their county title.

Thing is, just like that county title was hard won after nine years of toil, this game was hard won too – they only got there because Lissycasey got caught like startled rabbits in the headlights when they should have been able to kick on to victory.

Lissycasey led 2-3 to 0-7 at halftime after goals by Danny Clohessy and Niall Kelly had rocked the Magpies – with the gale to come in the second half, the shock of the championship in the first game of the championship looked at hand.

Alas from Lissycasey’s viewpoint, they effectively imploded in the face another tour de force from David Tubridy, who hit 1-9 over the hour – 1-5 of it coming in the second half when his team needed his scores and leadership the most.

A sluggish Doonbeg struggled to get into their stride in the first half when a more pumped up Lissycasey side more than held their own when playing into the wind thanks to points by Matthew O’Shea and Derek McMahon by the tenth minute in replay to two early Tubridy points.

Shane O’Brien and McMahon then exchanged points before Paul Dillon and Brian Egan put Doonbeg 0-5 to 0-3 clear by the 24th minute. Then the game was turned on its head in the closing five minutes of the half thanks to two Lissycasey goals.

A forceful run up along the left wing by Martin Moran created the opening for Danny Clohessy in the 26th minute, with the midfielder gleefully blasting the ball beyond Nigel Dillon in goal.

Four minutes later it was Niall Kelly’s turn after he beat Padraig Gallagher to a long ball, turned and blasted to the net from eight yards to put Lissycasey four points up going into first half injury time.

It could have been panic stations for Doonbeg, but two pointed frees form David Tubridy during the four minutes played by Barry Kelly steadied the champions – they were portents of things to come.

Tubridy continued where he left off before half time with a brace inside the first ten minutes of the restart to level matters, while those around him gradually cranked up their performances.

Lissycasey did edge back in front in the 43rd minute thanks to an Oisin Talty point but there was no stopping Doonbeg when they hit 1-4 without reply in a 14 minute spell to kill the game.

Tubridy sowed the way with two more points by the 50th minute; Conor Whelan raided up the field to fist a point in the 53rd; Conor Downes teed up Tubridy for the match-winnng goal in the 56th, while Frank O’Dea rounded off their blitz with his first point in the 58th.

Lissycasey did rally with a Martin O’Connor point in the 59th minute and Niall Kelly’s second goal three minutes later, but it was too late.

They needed scores much earlier in the half, like the 46th minute when the sides were level and Paul Nagle raced through on goal with only Nigel Dillon to beat, blasted a dropkick that Dillon saved.

That’s where it all started to go wrong for Lissycasey.

Ruan 0-14 – Sixmilebridge 0-12 at Clareabbey

IT WAS almost a year to the very day since these sides last clashed at the same stage of the intermediate championship, in a game that ultimately mattered far less due to the advancement of three teams from the group of five.

On Tuesday, the consequences of defeat were far greater as now only two places are up for grabs in a group of six teams. In that meeting, an Earol Tuohy goal was enough to give the ‘Bridge a two point victory, this time Ruan got over the line by the same margin when late points from Brendan Lyons and the ever-reliable John Punch put daylight between the sides.

In truth, while Sixmilebridge needed victory more after losing their opening tie against Parteen and indeed will be kicking themselves that they didn’t avail of the chance to close out this game after doing so much hard graft to level up the game by the 58th minute, Ruan deserved to prevail.

In similar circumstances last year, they let slip a three point advantage in the closing minutes but fortunate- ly for Ruan, this time they held their nerve to see out the win. In all, 16 wides made it a far less comfortable ride to collect the points, especially in the opening half when they dominated but still only found themselves ahead by the minimum at the break, with John Punch securing the first four of that total at 0-8 to 0-7.

The ‘Bridge’s best opportunities came from frees as they would only score three points from play over the hour but it was only in the final five minutes that they would really threaten Ruan’s hold on the game. Trailing by 0-12 to 0-09, two Sam O’Sullivan frees and a point from substitute Paul Corbett gained parity by the 58th minute as memories of last year’s late turnaround came flooding back.

However, whether last year’s final experience has steeled Ruan or not, they didn’t panic with Lyons and Punch pointing to maintain their perfect start to the championship and more or less ending the ‘Bridge’s hopes in the process.

Ruan
Pakie Roughan, Gary Bell, Niall O’Connor,

Leon Quirke, Killian Ryan, Jonathan Clohessy, Dara Roughan,Tadgh Hanrahan, Caimin Howard,Aidan Lynch (0-2), Eoin Hanrahan, MikeyVaughan, John Punch (0-10 7f, 1’65),Alan Bell, Brendan Lyons (01)

Subs
Sean Cullinan (0-1) for A. Bell (35 mins), Colin O’Donoghue for T. Hanrahan (54 mins)

Sixmilebridge
Sean Chaplin,Wayne Kennedy, Eoin Quinn, Cathal Walsh, Jonathan Downes, Stiofan Fitzpatrick, Christy Griffin, SamO’Sullivan (0-6f),Adrian Chaplin, Mark Culbert, Ronan Hayes (0-1), Sean Stack, Earol Tuohy (0-1), Rory Liddane, Tommy Liddy (0-3f)

Subs
David O’Meara for Stack (43 mins), Michael O’Halloran for Liddy (46 mins), Paul Corbett (0-1) for Griffin (54 mins)

Man of the Match
Eoin Hanrahan (Ruan) Referee Michael Fitzgerald (Ballyea)

Crusheen 2-12 – Sixmilebridge 0-16 at O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge

SKY SPORTS would have had been promoting this game for months in advance. The county champions Crusheen versus the Clare Cup equivalents Sixmilebridge promised a supercup of sorts to decide the ultimate champions. Instead, after the rigours of the weekend’s championship action, the standard of play was more like the Charity Shield, with both sides having to dip into their extended panels to decide which side took poll position in the race for two semi-final spots.

A goal in each half was enough to secure the points for the county champions, a victory that seemed very unlikely in a lacklustre first half offering that saw them trail by 0-8 to 0-2 as late at the 29th minute.

Up to that point, it was the Niall Gilligan show, with the former county senior and indeed current county intermediate chalking up five early points along with having a pull saved by goalkeeper Donal Tuohy.

Meanwhile, Crusheen couldn’t hit a barn door with a banjo but improved significantly with the introduction of Gearoid O’Doherty who decisively hit 1-1 from placed balls late in the half to slash the deficit. The goal came from a 20 metre free after he had been fouled himself and it was a welcome boost going in at half-time only trailing by two at 0-8 to 1-3.

With Gilligan being Sixmilebri dge’s main scoring forward, he maintained his good form on the restart with three further points while also having a flick drift by the post.

Crusheen, however, seemed to have the better balance and after O’Doherty, Paddy Meaney, Gerry O’Grady and Niall Fitzgibbon had levelled matters by the 40th minute, they used the momentum to grab a second goal in the 42nd minute when Shaun Dillon was quickest to react to a rebound from a Paddy O’Grady shot.

Now in front for the first time in the game, the county champions cemented their lead further with points from O’Doherty and Dillon, and while Gilligan would add four more points, O’Doherty and Paddy Meaney were equal to those efforts on the scoreboard.

The home side did create a match winning goal chance in injury-time when David O’Connor pulled across the 20 metre line to Tommy Morey but his shot was expertly hooked by Cathal Dillon and Crusheen held on for could be an important victory.

Crusheen
Donal Tuohy, John Brigdale, Cronan Dillon,Alan Brigdale, Jason Greene, Cian Dillon, Cathal Dillon, Shaun Dillon (1-1), Gerry O’Grady (0-1), Gearoid O’Donnell, Niall Fitzgibbon (0-2), Jamie Fitzgibbon, Conor O’Donnell, Patrick O’Grady, Paddy Meaney (0-3)

Sub
Gearoid O’Doherty (1-5f) for C. O’Donnell (25 mins)

Sixmilebridge
Derek Fahy,Tadgh Keogh,Aidan Quilligan,Trevor Purcell, Barry O’Connor, John Fennessy, Paidí Fitzpatrick (0-1), David O’Connor, Robert Conlon,Tony Carmody,Tommy Morey, Pa Sheehan (0-1), Niall Gilligan (0-12 7f, 2’65’s), Brian Culbert, Danny Morey (0-2)

Subs
Paul Fitzpatrick for Purcell (HT),Anthony Liddane for Culbert (39 mins)

Man of the Match
Shaun Dillon (Crusheen) Referee Seanie McMahon (Newmarket)