This article is from page 61 of the 2011-08-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 61 JPG
WHITHER the big ball game in Kilkishen and the Mills was most definitely the cry when they were taken for 14 points by a rampant Kilmurry Ibrickane on June 5 last in Ballynacally.
But, it must have been a case of it being the darkest hour before the dawn, because since then they’ve won league honours and now, on the back of this 14-point win they’re back in contention for the Talty Cup.
For Kilfenora, who were crowned junior champions last year, it was a chastening experience, so much so that after back-to-back defeats and the prospect of facing group leaders Kilmurry Ibrickane in the final game, they are now haunted by the real threat of relegation and a quick return to the junior ranks.
They were simply outclassed here by an O’Callaghan’s Mills side that showed eight changes in personnel from that ill-fated maiden voyage against Kilmurry over the June Bank Holiday weekend.
The writing was on the wall as early as the 15th minute, by which time the Mills had raced into a 1-3 to no score lead. Early points by Fergus Donovan, Eoin Pewter and Bryan Donnellan settled the east Clare side before Donnellan rattled the Kilfenora net at the midway point of the half.
The centre-forward, who was the game’s most influential performer coolly dispatched a penalty passed Liam Keane – a penalty Donnellan himself won when being bundled over just outside the small square.
From there futher points by Donnellan (2), full-forward Noel Nash helped the Mills into an unassailable 1-7 to 0-1 interval lead.
Kilfenora, who were a pale shadow of the team that beat Éire Óg in last year’s junior A final, needed goals, but all they could muster were five points over the hour as the Mills tacked on a further nine points in the second half as they complete superiority continued unchecked.
Killian and Aidan Malone showed well at times in the Kilfenora full-forward line, registering point each for their efforts, while Jason Connolle and sub James Brody also found the range, as the Mills followed up their recent Division 5 league final win over Kilrush Shamrocks with their best performance of the year.
The final game against Kildysart is now a winner take all affair. The met a few years ago in a junior champions final, with victory going to the east Clare side.
O’Callaghan’s Mills
Enda McNamara, Gary Neville (Capt), Niall Donovan, Gerry Cooney, John Lyons, Declan Donovan, Patrick Donnellan, Conor ‘Rocky’ Cooney (0-1), Conor Cooney, Fergus Donovan (0-2), Bryan Donnellan (1-5), James Murphy (0-1), Eoin Pewter (0-2), Noel Nash (0-2), James Hook (0-1).
Subs
Padraig Hickey for Pewter, Billy Donovan for Nash, Sean O’Connor for Gerry Cooney, Flann McMahon for Declan Donovan, Eoin Kelly (0-1) for Conor ‘Rocky’ Cooney.
Kilfenora
LiamKeane, Shane Longe, Diarmuid Nagle, MJ Malone, Paudie Ireland, Cathal Nagle, Paul Reddan, Pat Connole, Jonathon O’Gorman (0-1), Jason Connole (0-1), James Keane, Kevin Theasby,Austin Kelly,Aidan Malone (0-1), Cillian Malone (0-1). Subs LiamO’Brien for Reddan, Daniel Egan for Killian Malone, James Brody (0-1) for Theasby.
Man of the Match
Bryan Donnellan (O’Callaghan’s Mills) Referee JimHickey (Cratloe)