This article is from page 93 of the 2010-02-23 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 93 JPG
IT WAS hardly an ideal night for the Opening round of the Cusack Cup. The obvious benefit of lights was in stark contrast to an icy chill that swirled around Cooraclare on Satur- day that saw only the hardcore sup- porters man the stand. That said, it wasn’t the only contrast on the night as a much sharper Doonbeg simply had too much for a ringrusty Liscan- nor outfit.
From this performance alone, it 1s easy to see why the Magpies are per- ennially in the shake up for Cusack Cup honours. They approach the league with a typically champion- ship zest while Liscannor appeared to be simply blowing off the cobwebs of the new year.
The statistics reflect a relatively even share of possession but it was the use of the ball as well as move- ment off it that essentially dictated the outcome and in that count, Doon- beg just had far more options, espe- cially up front.
The respective panels also had a bearing on the game as the dismiss- als of Doonbeg’s Colm Dillon and Liscannor’s Shane Canavan were significant for both sides. Up to that point, Dillon was controlling the
midfield sector but their superior strength in depth ensured that substi- tute Paul Hehir took up where Dillon left off as Doonbeg saw out the win.
The game was only two minutes old when Doonbeg had the ball in Liscan- nor’s net as David Tubridy slipped a ball through to the unmarked Shane Ryan to drill a ground shot past goal- keeper Noel Kilmartin.
Liscannor’s response was immedi- ate as Kieran Considine pointed a free resulting from the kick-out but far from rallying, Liscannor were simply too wasteful. Jamie Whelan restored Doonbeg’s goal lead only two minutes later and after a ten minute period of Liscannor pressure yielded nothing, the Magpies finally got to grips with the tie to open up a decisive advantage.
Four points in as many minutes fol- lowed as Doonbeg laid siege to the Liscannor half, with Colm Dillon in particular having a hand in almost every attack. Two impressive long range strikes from Dillon, added to by points from Whelan and Shane O’Brien pushed the leaders 1-5 to 0-1 clear by the 21st minute. David Tu- bridy opened his account in the 28th minute but there was a mini-revival from Liscannor until the break.
Points from Alan Clohessy and
Thomas McDonagh gave them re- newed hope for the second period and although Doonbeg’s Shane Ryan opened the scoring, the sendings off were to briefly alter the course of the game once more. As the ball moved up the other end of the field, Dillon and Canavan got mixed up in some afters that possibly deserved only yellows but after consulting with his umpire, referee Michael Talty adopt- ed a zero tolerance approach.
Two Kieran Considine frees saw Liscannor slowly creep back into the game and once Alan Clohessy set up corner-forward Paul Guerin for an- other at the turn of the final quarter, the deficit was now down to four.
Doonbeg didn’t panic though and pushing half-time substitute Paul Hehir back into midfield as well as introducing Brian Dillon, they re- gained control of the game. Liscan- nor attempted to push forward but with Enda Doyle, Conor Whelan and Paraic Aherne constantly counter-at- tacking, they were soon on the back- foot.
Tubridy converted a free in the 48th minute to settle his side but his next contribution was to seal the win as Doonbeg produced the best move of the game to secure a second goal. It was Doyle again that initiated it,
bursting forward before playing a ball over the top for Jamie Whelan who in turn fed the onrushing Tu- bridy to place the ball to the bottom corner of the net.
There was still time for a peach of a point from Hehir but by that stage, Liscannor had accepted their fate as Doonbeg crank up for another tilt at a title that has somehow eluded them in recent years.