*Cian O’Dea produced an outstanding display as Kilfenora outclassed Liscannor. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
First round wins were recorded by Corofin, Kilfenora, Kildysart and The Banner in the opening round of the Clare IFC.
Wolfe Tones’ tie with Coolmeen was postponed on account of a COVID-19 case within the Shannon ranks. It is due to take place this coming Sunday.
Winning start for The Banner
Banner 3-5
Éire Óg 1-10
Venue: Gurteen
Newly crowned Clare Junior A football champions, The Banner made a winning start to life at intermediate level when they overcame the challenge of neighbours Éire Óg in the opening round of the intermediate championship at Gurteen on Sunday evening.
Three first half goals played a key role in this victory which was all the more praiseworthy given that they were without a few key players from the junior title win seven days earlier.
Goalkeeper Mark Cleary, defender Eoin Walsh and full forward Danny O’Halloran were absent while centre back Ronan O’Halloran hobbled off the field after ten minutes.
The winners got off to a blistering start and were 1-1 to 0-0 up after just two minutes, the goal coming from Johnny Martyn. It was 1-2 to 0-3 at the first water break but Éire Óg struck a big blow when play resumed as Luke Moore goaled to give them the lead for the only time in the game.
That lead was short lived as the winners hit back and Colin Duffy finished to the net after a good move. Duffy repeated the feat five minutes later, finding the net after good work by Daire Walsh and they went on to lead 3-2 to 1-5 at half time.
Éire Óg had the opening three points of the second half but Banner had gone two clear by the second water break.
Shane Daniels brought it back to the minimum ten minutes from time. Daire Walsh landed the winner’s only score of this period three minutes from time and they held on for a merited win.
Éire Óg finished with fourteen players afrer Gavin D’Auria picked up a second yellow as the game went into time added on
Banner: Andala Flynn; Oran Rynne, Cian Rynne, Mark Duffy; Sean Collins (0-1), Ronan O’Halloran, Diarmuid Cassidy; Darragh Gleeson, Niall Walsh; Thomas Meenaghan (0-1), James Coakley, Johnny Martyn (1-0) Ronan Collins, Colin Duffy (2-0), Daire Walsh (0-3, 2f)
Subs: Oisin McMahon for O’Halloran (9 Inj); Ollie Gleeson for D. Gleeson; Matthew McGrath for Cassidy; Tola Coote for C. Duffy
Éire Óg: Eoin Slattery; Mark Collins, Rory Brennan, Cuan O Glascain; Eoin Guilfoyle, Sean Corry, Ultan Shields; Alan O’Neill, Stephen Dolan; Jack Joyce, Shane Daniels (0-7, 6f), Jarlath Collins (0-1); Luke Moore (1-1), Brian Shannon (0-1), Gavin D’Auria;
Subs: Micheal Foley for Dolan; Kevin Moloney for Joyce; Michael O’Regan for O’Neill
Kildysart hold the upperhand over Michael Cusacks
Kildysart 0-17
Ml Cusacks 0-10
Venue: Ennistymon
Kildysart, one of the favourites for the title, made a winning start to this season’s intermediate football championship when they proved too strong for Michael Cusacks at Ennistymon on Saturday evening.
The 2019 Junior A champions made the favourites battle all the way for this victory. Cusacks led by the odd point in nine at the first water break but Kildysart hit back and had opened a two point lead by the halfway mark.
The winners were three clear, 0-10 to 0-7 at the three quarter stage and they held the upperhand in the closing period for a merited win. Eleven players got on the scoresheet and shared in Kildysart’s impressive tally
Scorers Kildysart: Conor Hassett (0-3) Diarmuid O’Donnell, Seamus Casey, Keith Murphy, Keith O’Connor (0-2) each John Guinnane, Emmett McMahon, Stephen Sheehan, Fergal Guinnane (0-1, Luke McGrth (0-1) Kieran O’Brien (0-1) each
Scorers Ml. Cusacks: Aidan Forde (0-5); Sean McNamara (0-3) Joey Droney, Aidan McNamara (0-1) each.
Kildysart: Aidan O’Loughlin; Ian Flanagan, Fergal Guinnane, Stephen Sheehan; Kieran Leahy, Conor Donnellan, Rory McMahon; Keith O’Connor, Kieran O’Brien; Conor Hassett, Seamus Casey, Luke McGrath; Diarmuid O’Donnell, Emmett McMahon, Keith Murphy
Subs: Mikey Donnellan for McGrath; Brian Eyers for Guinnane; Shane McNeilis for Flanagan; Michael Eustace for C. Donnellan; John Guinnane for O’Brien
Ml. Cusacks; Shane Lee; Ronan Monahan, Ruadhri McMahon, Conor Fahy; Hugh Kelly, Danny O’Connor, Thomas Roche; Pappy Taaffe, Lorcah O’Grady; Jack McGann, Aidan McNamara, Domhnaill McMahon; Joey Droney, Sean McNamara, Aidan forde
Sub: John Fawle for O’Grady
Cahill brothers shine as Corofin impress in opening round
Corofin 2-19
Naomh Eoin 2-7
Venue: Cooraclare
Beaten finalists last year, Corofin started well in this first round tie played at Cooraclare on Sunday and they had a ten point lead by half time when the score was 1-10 to 0-3.
Naomh Eoin stormed back into the contest in the third quarter, helped by goals from Michael Liddane and Eoin Lynch and they got to within four points of their opponents before Corofin stepped up a gear and kicked some impressive points on their way to a merited victory.
The winner’s goals came from Enda Collins and Gearoid Cahill on a day when they lined out without inter county man Jamie Malone who is struggling to shake off a leg injury which he suffered earlier in the year.
Corofin: Luke Neylon; Mark O’Loughlin, Brendan Keane, John Rees; Colm Rice, Damian O’Loughlin, Shay Malone; Kevin Keane, Fionn Clancy; Cian Doolin, Diarmuid Cahill, Geroid Kelly; Enda Collins, Cillian McGreary, Gearoid Cahill;
Subs: Cilléin Mullins for S. Malone; Cillian Clancy for Kelly; Robin Mounsey for Collins; Damian Ryan for Doolin; Ross Hayes for B. Keane
Naomh Eoin; Kieran Magner; Andrew Naughton, Mark McQuaid, Adam Haugh; Declan Keniry, Conor Magner, Eoin Hanrahan; Gavin Magner, Odhran Lynch; Niall Bonfil, Gearoid Lynch, Eoin Daly; Eoin Lynch, Michael Liddane, Patrick Foley;
Subs: Liam Keating for Daly.
All square between Shannon Gaels and O’Currys
Shannon Gaels 0-11
O’Currys 1-8
Venue: Shanahan McNamara Park, Doonbeg
A draw was a fair outcome to the meeting of Shannon Gaels and O’Currys at Shanahan McNamara park in Doonbeg on Sunday afternoon.
O’Currys started well and went two points clear and they held this advantage to half time when the score was 0-6 to 0-4.
The Gaels held the upperhand in the third quarter when they kicked five unanswered points and they looked set to push on and reverse the league result between the sides a few weeks earlier when O’Currys won by four.
The Peninsula outfit bounced back and a goal from Sean Murphy gave them a one point lead but Niall Ellis struck for the equalising point for the Labasheeda based team.
Both sides were guilty of some missed chances on the day something they will need to improve on if they are to be in contention for the title later in the campaign.
O’Currys; Colin Clohessy; Seamus Keane, Michael O’Shea, Jim Mullaney; Dara Keane, Sean Haugh, Brian Troy; Eoin Brew Thomas Clancy; Shane Browne, Michael Foran, Cathal Downes; Danny Downes, Eoin Troy, Gearoid Lynch
Subs: Alex Harvey for B. Troy; Sean Murphy for Foran; Jim Marrinan for S. Browne
Shannon Gaels; Michael O’Shea; Eoin Keane, Fergal Kenny, Michael McMahon; Aaron Malone-Smyth, Matthew Reidy, Tomas Cleary; Darragh Bohannon, Jack Reidy; Thomas Kelly, Darren Crehan, Michael O’Malley; Barry Crehan, Niall Ellis, Tadhg Kelly
Subs; Eanna Moloney for O’Shea (inj).
Kilfenora much too strong for Liscannor
Kilfenora 3-16
Liscannor 1-5
Venue: Corofin
Inspired by outstanding captain Cian O’Dea, Kilfenora comfortably won this North Clare derby contest at Corofin on Sunday.
They led from the outset and were never really troubled by Liscannor who struggled in many areas and who weren’t helped by the loss of the experienced and long serving Ronan Slattery to injury early in the game.
The winners had goals from Cian O’Dea, Declan Brennan, and Michael Theasby on a day when they led by nine points at half time when the score was 2-8 to 1-2.
The O’Dea brothers Cian and Jack gave the winners the upperhand at midfield and helped create many scoring opportunitiies on a day when Micheal Duffy, Paul Carkill and Niall Hegarty were amongst those to impress.
Oisin Leyden was the goalscorer for Liscannor who look like they will have a battle on their hands to retain their intermediate status for the coming season.
Kilfenora; Liam Keane; Niall Hegarty, Paul Carkill, Cronan Howley; Shane Long, Daniel Egan, Gearoid Howley; Cian O’Dea, Jack O’Dea; Paudie Ireland, Micheal Duffy, Matthew Egan; Declan Brennan, Paat Connole, Michael Theasby
Sub: Patrick Collins for Ireland;
Liscannor; Alan McDonagh; Cohan Phillipson, Alan Canavan, Shane Canavan; Kieran Roche, Brian Considine, Robert Lucas; Kevin Scales, Brian Leyden; Francesco Bonito, John Kerin, Alan Clohessy; Daniel White, Oisin Leyden, Ronan Slattery;
Subs: David Commane for Slattery (inj); Aidan Murray for D. White; Diarmuid Commane for Leyden.
