Breckans boss Ennistymon to seal semi-final spot

*Dale Masterson. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography

A five star performance from full forward Joe McGann was the highlight as St. Breckans booked a place in the semi-final of the Clare senior football championship with a merited win over a fancied Ennistymon outfit at Cusack Park.

St. Breckans 0-11
Ennistymon 0-8
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

McGann who kicked 0-6 caused all sorts of problems for the Ennistymon defence throughout and he also found time to help out his defence when needed.

The Lisdoonvarna outfit put down a marker from the throw in and they dominated the opening period and led 0-6 to 0-0 before their opponents managed a score twenty six minutes into the tie.

It was 0-8 to 0-2 for the winners art the interval and while the winners were held scoreless in the third quarter, Ennistymon managed just two points in this period.

At the turn of the final quarter McGann pointed twice in a minute to push his side six clear again.

Ennistymon battled to the end and they dominated the closing minutes during which they really piled on the pressure on their North Clare neighbours but they could only manage three points from frees.

Overall St. Breckans were the much livelier side and their movement and passing throughout caused huge problems for Ennistymon. Surprisingly Ennistymon didn’t drop a player back to try and cut off the supply to McGann who revelled in the open spaces in Cusack Park.

St. Breckan’s winning margin could have been greater but Colm O’Brien had an off day from placed balls but his workrate as an extra defender was a key element in the team’s victory.

The team’s kick out strategy was another key element in their performance as all but one of Tristan O’Callaghan’s kicks went to a team mate.

Team captain Alan Sweeney, Jack Sheedy, Evan Barrett, Dale Masterson, Padraig Kelly and Jamie Stack were others who contributed handsomely to this victory.

For a disappointing Ennistymon, Cathal Malone worked hard throughout while the experienced Lawrence Healy did well when introduced.

Scorers St Breckans: Joe McGann (0-6, 1f;) Jamie Stack (0-3, f) Dale Masterson, Aidan Davidson (0-1) each.

Scorers Ennistymon: Cillian Rouine (0-4, f)Cathal Malone (0-2), David Fitzgerald, Eoin Rouine (0-1) each

St. Breckans:
1: Tristan O’Callaghan

2: Conor Burke
3: Evan Barrett
4: Cian Burke

5: Alan Sweeney
6: Jack Sheedy
17: Raphael Considine

8: Liam Tierney
9: Maccon Byrne

10: Dale Masterson
11: Padraig Kelly
12: Colm O’Brien

13: Jamie Stack
14: Joe McGann
15: Aidan Davidson;

Sub: 7: Rowan Danaher for Stack (56)

Ennistymon:
16: Noel Sexton

2: Darragh Conneely
3: Sean O’Driscoll
4: Adam Ralph

25: David McNamara
11: Cillian Rouine
7: Tiernan Hogan

23: Mattie Kinch
9: Cathal Malone

22: Eoin Rouine
5: Sean Rouine
24: Kevin Hehir

19: Ryan Barry
8: David Fitzgerald
12: Michael McDonagh;

Subs:
6: Lawrence Healy for McDonagh (half time)
21: Niall Canavan for Barry (half time)
26: Keith White for Kinch (40)
10: Michael Leigh for E. Rouine (45)
17: John Murphy for McNamara (52)

Referee; Niall Quinn (St Josephs Miltown)