Category: Sport

Corofin 2-14 – Feakle 1-15 at Newmarket

COROFIN produced a strong second half comeback to edge past Feakle in this crucial group encounter in Newmarket.

Having led by a solitary point at half time, Feakle hit 1-1 after the break to power five points clear.

However Corofin doggedly stuck to their task, reeling in their opponents before seizing the lead going down the home straight.

The result means Corofin and Éire Óg will advance to the knockout stages while Feakle, having lost to the townies the last day out, exit the championship.

The east Clare side were buoyed by strong performance from Padraig Hogan and Henry Hayes while Gerard Hanrahan was among their key scoring contributors. However it wasn’t enough to deny Corofin who recorded their fourth win.

Feakle
Eibhear Quilligan, Peter Collins, Colm Naughton, Patrick Daly, Padraig Hogan, Sean O’Grady, Gerard Hanrahan,Alan Hogan, Raymond Bane, Kenneth Collins, Colin Nelson, Francis O’Grady, Gary Guilfoyle, Shane McGrath

Shannon Gaels 0-9 – St Joseph’s Miltown 0-6 at St Michael ’s Park, Kilmihil

SHANNON Gaels opened up the group once more following their fully merited victory over a disappointing Miltown side on Sunday. Such was the control of the Gaels for the majority of this tie that they could afford to kick 12 wides and play with only 14 men for the final 22 minutes of the game and still comfortably come out on top.

However, as much as that was a testament to the battling qualities of Shannon Gaels, it was also a clear indictment on a Miltown side that failed to muster up the same intensity and character that saw them beat the same opposition at the same venue to win the Cusack Cup just over a year ago.

Granted, they were without county senior captain Gordon Kelly, Kevin Burke and Gearoid Curtin but after an encouraging opening against St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield, they quickly sunk back down to earth in this crunch encounter.

Instead, it was the Gaels who forced the pace for the majority, even if they were quite wasteful with the wind at the backs in the opening period. Following Joe Curtin’s opening point for Miltown in the fourth minute, the Gaels settled with four Michael Coughlan frees to open up a 0-4 to 02 lead by the 14th minute. However, despite a large share of possession, they failed to build upon that advantage, kicking seven wides for the remainder of the half and it opened the door for Miltown to hit back with two Eoin Curtin frees and gain parity by the break.

Now with wind advantage, Miltown were expected to kick on from that juncture but instead, the Gaels dug in and upped the ante once more with John Bermingham, Michael Coughlan and John Paul O’Neill adding points in the opening seven minutes to push 0-7 to 0-4 clear.

However, just as it seemed that the game was slipping away from Miltown, the harsh dismissal of Shannon Gaels midfielder Noel Kennedy handed them an unlikely lifeline. It was a second chance that Miltown simply couldn’t benefit from however as they failed to supply their forward unit adequately while the Gaels’ determination saw them actually pull further away through Coughlan and O’Neill to lead by 0-9 to 0-4 by the 52nd minute.

The expected Miltown fightback eventually arrived, but it was much too little too late as they finally opened their second account in the 57th minute with a Dessie Molohan point from distance, while Sean Malone added a second on the hour mark.

Following their first round defeat to Cratloe, the Gaels’ championship hopes are back in their own hands, with a final round showdown with bottom side Doora/Barefield to come before they realise their fate. Miltown are also in with a shout but will have to be much transformed side to oust leaders Cratloe from their lofty perch.

Shannon Gaels
Keith Ryan (7), Frank Cleary

(7), John Neylon (9), Fergal Kenny (7),Tomás Madigan (7), Brian Bermingham(7),Tomás Cleary (8), Michéal O’Donoghue (8), Noel Kennedy (7), John Bermingham(7) (0-1), Sean Reynolds (8), Cathal O’Neill (6), Michael Coughlan (7) (0-6f), John Paul O’Neill (7) (0-2), David Neylon (7)

GOLDEN Vale milk Clare community games had a very successful weekend at the natioanl finals in Athlone I.T. They had great success in the boys pitch & putt from Doora/Barefield winning gold as did Doora/Barefield sisters Roisin & Ciara Cahill in Judo. Winning gold also was Eoin Rouine of Ennistymon/Lahinch/Liscannor and Rory McEvoy Doora/Barefield in swimming events. The 3 silver medals were won in the judo.

Clare had 98 competitors at the finals & brought home a total of 78 medals which is a great achievement for any county. 9 Gold, 3 silver, 15 bronze & 51 of the lovely 4th place medals. All 5 judo competitors brought home medals.

The standard in swimming was extremely high but most of Clare children qualified for semi finals.

In cycling all 4 competitors took to the track in very wet conditions with 3 of them qualifying for finals. Standard was extremely high with last years gold medalist Lauren McConway getting a well deserved bronze and Cathal Browne also of Quin/Clooney who fought hard for the 4th place.

On Saturday evening the variety group team from Sixmilebridge/Kilmurry took to the stage and put on a brilliant display of music, song, dance & comedy and won them- selved 4th place.Following their long tradition of representing the county.

Doora/Barefield did extremely well in the medals.

In the gymnastics u-14 boys Peter Stack of Clarecastle/Ballyea has represented Clare in the national finals for seven years and this was his 1st medal.

Results
Gold – Eoin Rouine – Ennistymon/Lahinch/ Liscannor in u-10 freestyle Rory McEvoy-Doora/Barefield u-14 backstroke Roisin Cahill – Doora/Barefield – judo up to 25kgs Ciara Cahill – Doora/Barefield – judo up to 50kgs Boys pitch & putt Doora/Barefield – Colum Devine, Niall Keane, Cathal Clune, Danny Mungovan, Sean Myatt Silver –Tara Walsh – Ennis St Johns – judo up to 30kgs Nicki hardiman – Doora/Barefiel – judo up to 25kgs IkemUgwuery – Ennis St Johns – judo up to 45kgs Bronze – Lauren McConway – Quin/Clooney – cycling u-14 Hugh McMahon – Doora/Barefield – u-14 freestyle Dianne Carmody – Doora/Barefield – gymnastics u-10 Eleanor O’Loughlin – Ennistymon/ Lahinch/Liscannor Gymnastics u-12 Hugo Kinahan – Cratloe – gymnastics u-10 Peter Stack – Clareccastle/Ballyea – gymnastics u-14 Girls pitch & putt – Ennis St Johns – Hannah Bredin,Aisling Maher, Rachel Coote, Emma Neylon, Elana Bradley Boys swimming squad u-16 – Doora/Barefield – Rory McEvoy, Lorcan Casey, Patrick Cooney, Hugh McMahon 4th place medals –Cathal Browne – Quin/Clooney – cycling u-12 Dara Gleeson – Ennis St Johns – u-14 butterfly Laura Culliney – Doora/Barefield –gymnastics u-16 Girls u-13 swimming squad – Ennistymon/Lahinch/ Liscannor – Aoibhin O’Sullivan , Eva Guinane, Isabel Coleman, Lea Gosseau, Kate Gilna Girls u-16 swimming squad – Doora/Barefield – Sarah O’Reilly, Orlaith O’Neill, Hannah O’Brien, Eimear McGrath, JaneTaylor Sixmilebridge/Kilmurry variety u-16 – James Connor, Jennifer Gaule, Claire Corbett, Caroline Hogan, Shane Hayes, Eimear McDermott, Kim Stephen, Jenny Flynn, Dervla Murray, Jessica Wilmot, Leanne Gaule, Sarah Collins, Slaine Carey Ennis St Johns u-12 boys soccer – Jack Connolly, Frank Roche, IkemUgwuery, Jesse Onejekwe, Darren O’Brien, Kevin O’Connor, Josh Costin, Conor McDaid, PhilipoTalty, RobbieWoods, Ronan Lanagan, Fionn Nolan, Rory Brennan, Sam Ogundare, Stephen Kennedy Girls volleyball u-16 – Doora/Barefield – Kate Norton, Cliodhna Fanning, Gabrielle De Silva, Jessica O’Connor, Caoimhe Feerick, Meghan Fitzgerald, Claire Purcell, Niamh Courtney, Sarah Jane O’Connell, Jenny Hansbury

WHEN the final whistle blew Padraig Hickey was billeted in his left corner forward position – it was one of the few times – nay the only time – he was stationary, because for the previous hour he’d been a ball of energy.

He was everywhere, but most of all he was the man of the match by the near marathon it is in miles from Cusack Park to his home patch in Glenomora Park in Broadford. All to do with his tour de force of 1-4 over the hour that contributed more than anything else to Clare’s remarkable victory.

“1-4,” he says, “but it should have been 1-6 because I missed a few chances at the end. I’m delighted, not for myself, but for the team to be in an All-Ireland final. It’s brilliant.

“We were really on the back foot when it started out, but for the goal the ball kind of broke out to me. As a forward it’s nice to get a break like that and we got a bit of heart from that.

“In the forward line, we were in their to do a job. Get the ball over the bar and in the net. It’s as simple as that. The boys outside trust us to do that. We did it today.

“Galway could have been more ahead at half-time, but we kept it to three points. It was very important to get that goal, but keeping the scoreboard ticking over with points was just as important, because we were in the game from then and in touch with them.

“When we went in at half-time we talked about what happened – that we had conceded those two goals, yet were still only those three points down.

“We all knew those first ten minutes of the second half were going to be very important. Luckily we tacked on a few scores and we really rolled on in the final 20 minutes,” adds, before pausing to draw some breath.

And no player rolled better than Hickey, his 44th minute point when running onto a pass from Niall Gil ligan was sublime; the point a minute later showed his determination, while the all-important goal inside four minutes was the perfect riposte and strike that threw a badly needed life buoy to Clare’s All-Ireland final ambitions.

“Once we got back level and once we got the lead we knew that we’d beat them,” he says. “It was then that the Cork and Limerick games really stood to us. Galway had no championship game, but we’d be through two tough games.

“In the Cork game with 15 minutes to go, we really kicked on to win the game. We didn’t really kick on in the Limerick game, but we knew we had to do it against Galway. It took a huge effort, but everybody just set their mind to it.” Couldn’t compete with Kevin Keehan and was in all sorts of trouble early on. But brilliant in the second half in the corner.

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)

Clare 2-18 – Galway 2-9 at Cusack Park, Ennis

FOR a few minutes, it seemed as if all of those in the attendance of 3,554 were transported back nearly 79 years to the day that Clare and Galway last clashed in an All-Ireland semi-final in the mid west.

1932 on the Ennis Road, when Galway punched holes as wide as the nearby Shannon in the Clare defence that supporters were cowering for the exit gates before half-time as the armageddon of annihilation loomed.

For one and a half minutes, after Brian Murphy and Kevin Keehan had slammed home goals, armageddon and annihilation looked at hand, but from there this game gradually turned on its head. Completely. Utterly. Remarkably.

First Clare became competitive; then they stayed so, clinging to Steve Mahon’s men on hurling wits alone; then they reeled in the Tribesmen; then they turned the screw by reeling off the last 11 scores of the game to complete a remarkable comeback that brought the famous afternoon in ’32 back into the radar. IT was Tull Considine’s goals in ’32; it was the collective effort this time as Clare summoned something special to catapult themselves into the All-Ireland final with nine points to spare.

Improbable? Outlandish? The stuff of fairytales?

Yes, it was all of those things, and probably more, when you consider how much at sea Clare were in those opening 90 seconds when Galway bagged two goals, with Clare’s full-back line trio of Conor Earley, Patrick Kelly and Alan Brigdale having a torrid time of it.

It was a nightmare, but somehow Clare kept afloat, thanks in the main to Padraig Hickey’s goal inside four minutes and from there they stayed competitive in the first half, even if Galway threatened to cut loose on more than one occasion.

The game could have been up if Kevin Keehan’s ninth minute penalty found the net, while the Tribe’s five first half wides also helped Clare’s cause as they gradually got to the pitch of the game that was set during that blistering start.

Midfielders Shane Golden and Ronan Keane were key – they ran at Galway; they tacked on points from play, while Niall Gilligan’s accuracy from placed balls were also key, as was a hardworking half-back line that gradually stemmed some of the tide towards the scoreboard goal.

Golden’s second after 20 minutes had the gap down to 2-4 to 1-4 – an admirable recovery from Clare in the face of a tempest when Galway seemed capable of scoring anytime they launched an attack.

Kevin Keehan and Brian Murphy were their trump cards, hitting 2-6 between them in the first half, with 2-3 coming from play, but crucially from Clare’s viewpoint the gap was never more than four after Padraig Hickey’s crucial goal.

On four occasions in the first half Galway edged four clear, but each time a dogged Clare pegged back a point to stay within striking distance of only 2-7 to 1-7 adrift at the break.

Then Galway edged four clear again after 37 minutes thanks to a Joe O’Leary 65 and a Kevin Keehan free after Niall Gilligan had reduced the margin to two points in the opening minutes.

Remarkably, however, Galway didn’t raise another flag. Mark Earley, who had been relocated to fullback thundered into the game, as did Patrick Kelly in the corner, while outside them the inspiration really started to flow once Padraig Hickey bagged two brilliant points from play by the three-quarter stage.

The second brought the sides level and from there this contest had an air of inevitability about it. Niall Gilli gan was the conductor out the field, while those around him grew in stature with every passing minute.

The nett result was 1-10 without reply in the closing 23 minutes. It looked like being a rout for Galway at the start – it ended up being one for Clare.

Amazing stuff.

Clare
AndrewFahy (Whitegate), Mark Earley (Tubber), Patrick Kelly (Clarecastle),Alan Brigdale (Crusheen), Kevin Moynihan (Éire Óg), Michael Hawes (Cratloe), John Fennessy (Sixmilebridge), Ronan Keane (Éire Óg) (0-1), Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge) (0-2), Martin Duggan (Clooney/ Quin) (0-1),Tony Carmody (Sixmilebridge) (0-2), Kevin Dilleen (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), Declan O’Rourke (WolfeTones), Niall Gilligan (Sixmilebridge) (0-8, 4f, one pen, one 65), Padraig Hickey (Broadford) (1-4).

Subs
Joe O’Connor (Parteen) (1-0) for O’Rourke [38 Mins].

Galway
Kevin O’Grady (Beagh),Alan Leech (Kinvara), Damian McClearn (Loughrea), Pat Holland (Ardrahan), Joe O’Leary (Ardrahan) (0-1, one 65), David Hayes (Kiltormer), Brian Mahoney (Loughrea), Kevin Brady (Castlegar), Niall Callanan (Craughwell), Fergal Healy (Craughwell), Keith Kilkenny (Kiltormer) (0-1), Enda Concannon (Castlegar), Conor Kavanagh (Kinvara), Kevin Keehan (Beagh) (1-5 4f), Brian Murphy (Turloughmore) (1-2).

Subs
Joe Cooney (Sarsfields) for Concannon [21 Min], Barry Hanley (Carnmore) for Kavanagh [27 Mins], Kenneth Burke (St Thomas’] for Callanan [32 Mins], Martin Corcoran (Meelick-Eyrecourt) for Hanley [49 Mins], Rory Gantley (Beagh) for Kilkenny [56 Mins]

Referee
TomCarroll (Offaly)

Doonbeg 3-7 – Ennistymon 1-9 at Pairc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty

WITH an immaculate, carpet-like pitch and a full stand in Pairc Naomh Mhuire on Saturday evening, the stage was set for this top of the table decider between the respective Magpies of north and west Clare.

After all, Doonbeg are defending champions and Cusack Cup finalists while Ennistymon are Garry Cup and Under 21A holders that suggested it would be just as close as the first game of the double header.

As often as is the case however, it is the most anticipated championship matches that fail to ingite and so it proved on this occasion also as Doonbeg kicked two first half goals to quell the early Ennistymon rebellion and always looked like winning the game without ever making it comfortable for themselves on the scoreboard.

Ennistymon appeared to have expended most of their energy in the pre-match ‘introduction’ on their way to the field as aside from an early Sean McConigley goal, they displayed scarcely any of the determined, fighting qualities that saw them snatch victory from the clutches of last year’s finalists Liscannor last time out.

Instead, Doonbeg brushed off the early 1-1 to 0-1 deficit and hit back by playing to their strengths, with midfielders Enda Doyle and Colm Dillon working tirelessly to feed the quality of David Tubridy and Shane Ryan up front.

Tubridy as ever was the focal point of the attack, scoring points from both feet as well as setting up Frank O’Dea for their opening goal in the tenth minute. Ten minutes later, they regained full control when a Shane Ryan free was floated towards the square and Colm Dillon rose unmarked to punch to the net and give the Magpies a 2-4 to 1-3 lead.

It was a lead that they would never relenquish, despite making much harder work of it than was entirely necessary. Another Tubridy free had them 2-5 to 1-4 clear by the break while they would only score thrice more in the game, thanks in the main to seven second half wides.

Unfortunately for Ennistymon, they just couldn’t muster up enough grit to take advantage as the management made several alterations and substitutes but to little avail. They did get to within a goal of the lead- ers by the 47th minute after points from Joe Dowling and Brian Conway but it always seemed as if Doonbeg could pull away if needed and sure enough, it came to pass in the 56th minute when David Tubridy cleverly punched a Colm Dillon break into the net to give them some breathing space once more.

Ennistymon hit back with late points from Willie Murphy and Brian Conway but again Doonbeg upped the ante before the finish with Paul Dillon’s goalbound shot saved before Tubridy put the rebound over the bar to maintain Doonbeg’s perfect start.

Doonbeg
Nigel Dillon (7), RichieVaughan (7), Padraig Gallagher (7), Conor Whelan (7), Brian Dillon (7), Paraic Aherne (8), Shane O’Brien (7), ColmDillon (8) (1-1), Enda Doyle (9), Shane Ryan (7), Shane Killeen (6), Frank O’Dea (7) (1-0), Paul Dillon (7), Kevin Nugent (6), DavidTubridy (8) (1-5 2f)

Subs
EamonTubridy (6) for Nugent (14 mins, inj), Conor Downes for E.Tubridy (55 mins)

Ennistymon
David McInerney (7), Michael Hohey (6), Laurence Healy (8), Michael Anthony Devitt (7),Willie Murphy (7) (0-1), Micheál

O’Loughlin (8), OisinVaughan (7), Ronan Linnane (6), Sean O’Driscoll (7) (0-1 ’45), Robert McDonagh (7) (0-1), Kevin Scales (6), Joe Dowling (7) (0-2 1f), Joey Rouine (7), Brian Conway (7) (04 3f 1 lineball), Sean McConigley (7) (1-0)

Subs
Cathal Malone (7) for Linnane (38 mins), Michael McDonagh (6) for Scales (38 mins), Brian McDonagh (6) for R. McDonagh (49 mins), Michael Houlihan for Rouine (55 mins)

Man of the Match
Enda Doyle (Doonbeg) Referee Rory Hickey (Éire Óg)

AFTER the ball game and Niall Romer is gathering up hurleys – as you do, but on this occasion he’d have been forgiven for neglecting this chore in favour of celebrating with those around him.

But no, why be caught up in the fervour of a remarkable victory, when he knew it was going to happen and had taken it as a given – before a ball was pucked, even after a couple of balls were pucked and Galway had two goals up on the board.

“We had great faith in them,” says Romer, “and straight up, I’ll tell you that I had this field booked for training next Wednesday night.

“Ask the groundsman Martin Flanagan. He’ll tell you that – that we had the placed booked because we were very confident of winning this game. We knew we would win this game and that’s the confidence we had in these players to deliver.

“We played against Galway in a challenge match back in June and they scored seven goals against us. That’s why two goals, even coming so early wasn’t going to beat us,” he adds.

With that he drifts away to pick up some more hurleys and a few training cones, before revealing the real secret to Clare’s remarkable comeback from the double whammy of those opening goals from Brian Murphy and Kevin Keehan.

“It’s the character of the lads,” he says. “They have awful character. They’re tough men. They just wouldn’t give up and people don’t realise how good they are.

“Galway could have been further ahead at half-time, but I’m a big believer of giving lads a second chance. We could have made changes, but we didn’t.

“I asked them at half-time, and so did Kevin – we asked them to give it everything and leave it out on the field and walk off htat field with heads held high.

“Those players did that. They did themselves proud. They did Clare hurling proud and they did the county proud in the way they came back to win that game.

“Look at some the performances out there. Padraig Hickey was unbelievable – he didn’t even have to look at the posts. He just had the ability to pop them over. It was great to see Joe O’Connor come on and get a great goal. Niall Gilligan’s leadership. Everyone was brilliant,” says Romer.

It brings him into a familiar parish. Kilkenny in an All-Ireland, as it was when Romer captained the Clare juniors back in 1993 when they scored a famous win in Croke Park.

“It’s onwards and upwards,” he says. “It’s great to be in an All-Ireland. Kilkenny are raging hot favourites, but we’re going up to win. End of story.

“We have that confidence in this team. Kevin Kennedy has a way of working with guys and getting the best out of them. Tommy O’Donoghue is very underrated, so we’re confident. We’re looking forward to it. We can’t wait for it, wherever it’s on.

“As I say, Kilkenny are favourites because they always are, but we don’t mind about that. We’ve come this far and we want to finish it off.” ALL- IRELAND INTERMEDIATE HURLING SEMI- FINAL

Liscannor 1-9 Lissycasey 1-8 at Pairc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty

LAST year’s finalists Liscannor returned to their game-edging best after a late surge got their championship campaign back on track on Saturday. Agonisingly overturned by the minimum in the opening round against Ennistymon, this time it was Liscannor’s turn to come back from a two point deficit in the final quarter to snatch a dramatic victory.

It was a cruel twist on Lissycasey who for the second successive game, failed to hold onto a match winning position and in the end, it was predominantly their inexperience that cost them dearly. Inexperience is something that cannot be labelled at Liscannor however as 16 out of the 17 players used on Saturday had featured in last year’s county final and they used that match winning knowhow and patience to eventually get them over the line.

Their strong finish was matched by an equally impressive opening when surging into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead by tenth minute thanks to Alan Clohessy, a superb Michael Foley point and one apiece from the towering full-forward duo of Johnny Considine and Alan Flaherty who posed a major aerial threat everytime the ball was lofted in their direction. Lissycasey meanwhile used placed balls to settle them into the tie through Enda Finnucane and Niall Kelly and by the interval, they had gained parity at 0-5 to 0-5.

Again Liscannor took control on the restart and should have troubled goaleeper Joe Hayes with a flowing move involving Niall Considine and Alan Flaherty that was teed up for the onrushing Gerard Considine to strike just over the crossbar after only 30 seconds. Two poor wides along with a Clohessy smothered shot ensured that Liscannor would not profit further on their period of dominance and they were to be punished to the maximum at the other end in the 36th minute with a bizarre goal against the run of play.

It stemmed from a hopeful Michael Melican effort from 45 metres that swirled in the wind and eluded the despairing Noel Kilmartin in a moment that almost seemed like slow motion. It was to be the kickstart that Lissycasey so badly craved and they capitalised on that fortune to open up a four point lead by the 40th minute following points from Paul Nagle and Niall Kelly.

Liscannor didn’t panic however and utilising their aerial advantage in the full-forward line, they grabbed a lifeline only five minutes later when a Dara Blake high delivery was caught and offloaded by Johnny Considine to Alan Clohessy who did well to hold off the attention of several defenders before getting a successful shot away to the left corner.

With that, Liscannor’s match winning character came to the fore and while they were perhaps fortunate to maintain their full side after Brian Considine threaded a thin line to avoid a second yellow, pressure didn’t seem to bother them when it came to taking their chances from frees when it mattered most.

1-8 to 1-6 down with six minutes remaining, a Clohessy free was matched by one from Kieran Considine in the 57th minute to equalise. And there was almost a sense of inevitability in a tumultuous, ill-tempered finish when Niall Considine was fouled 35 metres from goal and Clohessy stepped up to get Liscannor off the mark in the championship.

Liscannor
Noel Kilmartin (6), Dara Blake (7), David McDonagh (7), Michael Foley (8) (0-1), Shane Canavan (7), Ronan Slattery (7), Denis Murphy (7), Brian Considine (8), Niall Considine

(7), Joe Considine (6),Alan Clohessy (8) (1-4 3f), Gerard Considine (7) (0-1), Kieran Considine (7) (0-1f),Alan Flaherty (8) (0-1), Johnny Considine (7) (0-1)

Subs
Robert Lucas (7) for Joe Considine (HT), Paul Guerin for Johnny Considine (60 mins)

Lissycasey
Joe Hayes (7), Martin O’Connor (7), Gerry Moran (7),Alan Nagle (7), Cathal Hill (7), Michael Melican (8) (0-1), Cyril Sheehan (6), Enda Finnucane (7) (0-2f), Danny Clohessy (7), Paul Nagle (7) (0-2), Francis Hayes (8), Matt O’Shea (7), Derek McMahon (7), Niall Kelly (8) (0-4 3f), Fergal Talty (6)

Subs
OisinTalty (6) for F.Talty (36 mins), Martin Moran for Sheehan (36 mins), Dermot Nagle for Clohessy (54 mins)

Man of the Match
Alan Clohessy (Liscannor) Referee Michael Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane)

Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-10 – Kildysart 0-7 at Cooraclare

KILMURRY Ibrickane’s train is beginning to build up a head of steam – not just at senior level with the O’Gorman and Cusack Cups already on the sideboard back in Peter O’Dwyer’s homestead in Mullagh.

The intermediate train is purring along nicely too – like their senior brethren they’re in the knockout stages, for them it’s a semi-final thanks to this hard-earned win over Kildysart on early Sunday afternoon.

Kildysart looked like they were on their way to victory early in the second half when they forged 0-7 to 0-3 clear, but from there Kilmurry finally found their feet, began to use the wind to maximum advantage and eventually reeled off seven points in succession to get home by three.

It was tough on Kildysart who were beaten semi-finalists last year, when they went down in a replay to eventual champions St Breckan’s. They went into this game on the back of a four-point win over Kilfenora in the first round, with a semi-final spot with a game to spare at stake in this one.

It looked to be Kildysart’s for the taking as they led 0-6 to 0-3 at halftime. With Ger ‘Bobby’ Kelly displaying his usual accuracy from frees – he landed two in the half, as well as chipping in with one from play, they grabbed the initiative in the second quarter of the half.

The sides were locked at 0-3 apiece after 18 minutes, Odran O’Dwyer (2) and Senan McCarthy were on the mark for the men for Ibrickane, but from there Kildysart dug deep to open up a double scores lead at halftime.

Christy Clancy, Keith Murphy and Kieran Ayres contributed points from play in the half as they were full value for that three points advantage, while a point early in the second half from Ger ‘Bobby’ Kelly stretched that lead out to four.

However, Kilmurry gradually came to life, with the introduction of veteran John Talty into fray playing a crucial part in giving them a stanglehold of the midfield exchanges, dominance that ultimately paved the way for the scores to give them to two precious points.

Odran O’Dwyer and Colm Donnellan were on the mark with points as the comeback cranked to life – they held Kildysart scoreless for the final 25 minutes.

The lead score came from Mark Moloney after 53 minutes, while Thomas O’Connor and Odran O’Dwyer also chipped in with points as they eased to their three-point comeback success.

Kilmurry Ibrickane
DavidTalty, Eamon Dunne, John Sexton, John McNamara, Mark Moloney (0-1), Gary Donnellan, Pat Sexton,Vinny Talty,Thomas O’Connor (0-1),Adrian Murrihy, Thomas Greene, ColmDonnellan (0-1),Aidan Moloney Jnr, Odran O’Dwyer (0-6, 2f), Senan McCarthy (0-1). Sub JohnTalty for McCarthy.

Kildysart
John Murray, John Guinane, Shane McNeilus, Kieran Ayres (0-1), Brian Ayres, Keith O’Connor, Michael Eustace, Brian O’Sullivan, Neil O’Connor, John Clancy, Christy Clancy (0-1), Niall Guinane, Ger Kelly (0-4, 3f), Keith Murray (0-1), Kevin Kelly. Subs Eoin Cleary for Niall Guinane, Damian Murtagh for Kevin Kelly.

Man of the Match
Odran O’Dwyer (Kilmurry Ibrickane) Referee Pat Cosgrove (Corofin)