This article is from page 77 of the 2011-09-27 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 77 JPG
Kilmihil 0-11 – Kilmurry Ibrickane 1-07 at Shanahan McNamara Memorial Park, Doonbeg
THE club’s senior team may be walking a tight rope when they go into a relegation decider against St Joseph’s Miltown in Quilty this weekend, but it could be Kilmihil’s year at minor level.
They’re in a county final against Ennistymon thanks to this dramatic win over favourites Kilmurry Ibrickane – the fourth time in the campaign to date that they’ve secured a one-point win, against Clondegad, Cooraclare, St Joseph’s and now Kilmurry Ibrickane.
And they did this the hard way, coming from 1-6 to 0-1 adrift early in the second half to storm to victory on the back of a brilliant scoring performance from dual star Martin O’Leary who hit eight points over the hour to put his club to within 60 minutes of a first Minor A title since 1995.
Kilmurry Ibrickane played with the wind in the first half after winning the toss, but were slow to get into their stride and only led by 0-2 to 0-1 after the opening 15 minutes.
However, a penalty that was converted by Darren Sexton was the tonic Kilmurry needed and it helped them into a 1-5 to 0-1 interval lead. Darren Sexton bagged 1-1 in the half for Kilmurry, while three Niall Hickey frees and an effort from play by Aaron Murrihy ensured they enjoyed a healthy seven-point interval lead.
Within a minute of resumption Kilmurry Ibrickane added a further point but from there on Kilmihil took control. Inspired by their Captain Stan Lineen, Kilmihil began to take control and with 10 minutes to go they had reduced the lead to a single point. Up front Martin O’Leary was causing all kinds of problems for the Kilmurry Ibrickane backs, he kicked the four points in a row to give Kilmihil a two-point lead entering the final minutes.
With less than a minute on the clock Kilmurry Ibrickane launched a final attack which resulted in a point leaving just a point between the sides at the death.
Kilmihil
MatthewKeane, Conor O’Flaherty (0-1),Alan Dalton, Stephen Coughlan, David Coughlan, Jack
Browne, Diarmuid Lorigan, Stan Lineen, Niall Pender (0-1), Conor Egan (0-1), David Blake, Conor Dennehy, Conor Finucane, Martin O’Leary (0-8, 2f) Geróid Johnson.
Sub
Ronan Flaherty for Johnson.
Kilmurry Ibrickane
Dara Pender, Ciaran O’Neill, Ciaran Morrissey, Shane Kavanagh (0-1), Danny Murphy, Padraig Lynch, Conor Killeen, Niall Hickey (0-4f), John McNamara, Gary Sexton,Adrian Murrihy, Diarmuid Downes,Aaron Murrihy (0-1), Darren Sexton (11), Keith Sexton.
Sub
Darren Callinan for Downes.
Man of the Match
Martin O’Leary (Kilmihil) Referee Michael McGann (Michael Cusacks)