This article is from page 66 of the 2011-09-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 66 JPG
O’Curry’s 1-14 Corofin 1-06 at Pairc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty
THE O’CURRY’S machine cranked up a gear in its pursuit of a quick return to senior level by seeing off Corofin in this winner-takes-all semi-final decider. O’Curry’s displayed a healthy blend of youth and experience to recover from an early setback when Corofin grabbed a 12th minute goal against the conditions.
Perhaps it was the kickstart they needed after a slow start that saw a young Corofin side take the game to their opponents. The game wasn’t even a minute old when a Darragh Shannon lineball was worked from Jamie Malone to Stephen Heagney whose shot for a point dropped short and allowed Fergal Neylon to ghost in at the back post to punch the ball agonisingly wide. Corofin did opening the scoring through the impressive Jamie Malone in the right corner and despite Ger Quinlan’s equalising free and a glorious goal opportunity for Eoin Troy, the north Clare side finally made amends for their earlier miss when Jamie Malone played a pass across the square for the waiting Damien Ryan to volley first time to the net in the 12th minute.
Corofin failed to build on that ad vantage and if anything, the goal only angered O’Curry’s who despite six first half wides would manage to kick eight points without reply in the remainder of the half while keeping their opponents scoreless. Three Ger Quinlan frees bookended good ap- proach work from Michael Carmody and attacking centre-back Ollie Quinlan, and scores for impressive minor Jack Scanlon (2), Eoin Troy (2) and Damien Carmody to hold a 0-9 to 1-1 half-time advantage.
Corofin improved in the second period mainly through Damien Ryan’s free but with Ger Quinlan unerring from placed balls as well, they predominantly cancelled each other out.
Still, for all O’Curry’s control, they were still only four points up with just over ten minutes remaining, having survived a scare when Jamie Malone and Ryan again combined but this time goalkeeper Eoin Clohessy made the decisive save from Ryan with his feet.
That miss was magnified when substitute Mark Roche finished off a slick handpassing move from back to front with his first kick of the game finding the net.That goal put the result beyond doubt and with Corofin becoming increasingly desperate, O’Curry’s finished strongly with further points from Scanlon, Ger Quinlan and Roche again to cement their position in the last four against Kilmurry Ibrickane. However, Corofin’s young side still have a Under 21B final to look forward to in the coming weeks.
O’Curry’s
Eoin Clohessy (7), Gearoid Lynch (7), Michael O’Shea (7), Paul Roche (7), BrianTroy (7), Ollie
Quinlan (8),TomDownes (8), Ger Quinlan (8) (0-7f), DerekTroy (7), Damien Carmody (7) (0-1), EoinTroy (7) (0-2), Michael Foran (7), Michael Carmody (8), Sean Haugh (7), Jack Scanlon (8) (0-3)
Subs
JimDownes (6) for Ml. Carmody (47 mins), Mark Roche (8) (1-1) for Foran (48 mins), Ryan McMahon for O’Shea (57 mins), Eoin Murray for E.Troy (57 mins), DeclanWalsh for D. Carmody (60 mins)
Corofin
Kieran Carkill (7), Brian McGauran (5), Brendan Keane (6), Ollie O’Loughlin (6), Diarmuid Daly (6), Eamon Malone (7), Manus Malone (7), John Keane (7) (0-1), Luke O’Loughlin (7), Fergal Neylon (6), Damien Ryan (7) (1-3 3f), Darragh Shannon (7), JasonTierney (6), Jamie Malone (8) (0-2), Stephen Heagney (6)
Subs
Donnacha Kelleher (6) for McGauran (21 mins), HaulieVaughan (6) for Neylon (48 mins), Killian Neylon (6) for Tierney (48 mins)
Man of the Match
Ollie Quinlan (O’Curry’s) Referee Michael Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane)