*Colm Flynn is fouled by David Frost. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
SEMI-FINALISTS in the FutureTicketing Clare Cup have been confirmed following some exciting contests on Sunday.
O’Callaghans Mills have finished on top in Division 1A, a point ahead of Sixmilebridg and Crusheen with the ‘Bridge getting second spot as a result of their win over Crusheen when the sides met.
Ahead of the final round of games Clooney/Quin had sealed top spot in Division 1B. Five teams remained in contention for the second qualifying spot from this group with Sunday’s results confirming Scariff as the team to go through to the semi-finals where they will play the Mills with the Bridge and Clooney-Quin set to do battle in the other semi.
Broadford and Ballyea will drop down to Division 1B for next season while Smith O’Briens and Parteen/Meelick will be competing in Division 2 next year having finished in the bottom two positions in their group.
A final day victory for Wolfe Tones over Clarecastle ensured that they retained their Division 1B status for next season.
In division 2, Bodyke are through to the final where they await the winners of the semi-final clash of Corofin and Sixmilebridge.
The semi-final pairings in Division 3are Cratloe v Kilmaley and Clonlara v Clooney/Quin while the Division 4 semi-finalists are Sixmilebridge, Clarecastle, Scariff and Éire Óg.
In Division 5 Tulla, O’Callaghans Mills, Clonbony and either Bodyke or Tubber will play off for the title
Sixmilebridge on top in disappointing tie
Sixmilebridge 1-15
Newmarket-on-Fergus 1-12
Venue: Fr Murphy Memorial Park, Newmarket-on-Fergus
This meeting of neighbours and great rivals proved to be a disappointing affair with Sixmilebridge emerging as the happier outfit as the victory sealed their place in the semi-final and ended their neighbours involvement in this season’s race.
Points were exchanged in the early stages but by half time the winners had opened a six point gap with the score at 1-7 to 0-4, the goal coming from Brian Corry.
Newmarket needed a stronger display after the break and while the managed to close the gap helped by a Liam Clancy goal, the ‘Bridge held firm helped by a number of scores from substitutes Sean Lynch (0-4) and Paul Corry (0-1) while Alex Morey (0-4) and Kevin Lynch (0-3)also contributed valuable scores.
Sixmilebridge; Derek Fahy; Noel Purcell, Brian Carey, Jordan Downes; Dylan Downes, Leon Kelly, Colm Flynn; Sean McNamara, Conor Deasy; Ronan Tuohy, Alex Morey, Luke O’Halloran; Brian Corry, Kevin Lynch, Adam Murray.
Subs; Sean Lynch for R. Tuohy; Paul Corry for O’Halloran; Alan Mulready for A. Murray;
Newmarket-on-Fergus: Paudie Guilfoyle; Stephen Casey, Colin Guilfoyle, Paudie McMahon; Jack Enright, Shane Lynch, Niall O’Connor; Liam Clancy, John Fehilly; Mikey McInerney, Colin Ryan, Eoin Guilfoyle; James Power, James McInerney Eanna Crimmins;
Subs; David Frost for J. McInerney; James Liddy for C. Ryan; Cian Foley for J Fehilly;
Referee: Fergal O’Brien (Broadford)
Another win for Clonlara
Clonlara 2-16
Kilmaley 0-14
Venue: Clonlara
First half goals from Diarmuid Stritch and Daniel Moloney laid the foundations for Clonlara’s latest win in this campaign as they accounted for Kilmaley on Sunday afternoon.
It was 2-7 to 0-7 at the break for the home side who continued to hold that advantage in the second period against an understrength Kilmaley side for whom Joe Carmody top scored with 0-9 on the day.
Micheál O’Loughlin continued his recent good form for the winners contributing 0-10 to this victory.
Clonlara; Seimi Gully; Michael Clancy, Tommy Walsh, Logan Ryan; David Fitzgerald, Colm O’Meara, Paraic O’Loughlin; Jathan McMahon (0-1), James Hastings; Cian Moriarty, Nicky O’Connell (0-1), Micheál O’Loughlin (0-10, 7f; Diarmuid Stritch (1-1), Daniel Moloney (1-0), Micheál Stritch (0-3)
Subs: Dylan McMahon for J. McMahon; Tom Power for Moriarty; Patrick Conlon for Walsh (Inj); Eoin Meehan for Fitzgerald; Padraic Campbell for D. Stritch.
Kilmaley: Bryan O’Loughlin; Oisin Looney, Colin McGuane, Enda Haren; Shane Staunton, Tommy Barry, Noel Casey; Cian Moloney, Brian Cahill (0-1); Daire Keane (0-2) Sean Kennedy (0-2), Joe Caarmody (0-9, 7f); Conor Neylon, Cian Neylon, Conor Cahill;
Subs; Darragh McMahon for Conor Neylon; Stephen McNamara for Kennedy; Ken Kennedy for Can Neylon; Cian Neylon for Keane;
Referee; John Bugler, Whitegate;
Cleary sparkles as the Mills reach semi-final
O’Callaghans Mills 3-18
Inagh/Kilnamona 2-16
Venue: Hamilton Park, Kilkishen
Colm Cleary excelled as O’Calllaghans Mills sealed top spot in Division 1A with this victory over Inagh/Kilnamona.
This was a game in which both sides enjoyed periods of dominance but Cleary’s display, particularly in the closing stages, sealed victory for his side and a place in the semi-final.
He finished with 1-7 on a day when the visitors struggled to cope with his pace.
The home side made the better start and at one stage looked like they would win easily as they held an eleven point advantage.
Inagh/Kilnamona fought back and when the half time whistle sounded they were a point in front, 2-9 to 2-8, their goals having come from David Mescall and Shane McInerney
A big plus for the winners was the return of Conor ‘Rocky’ Cooney who missed the previous week’s win over Broadford due to injury. Following his introduction on Sunday, he contributed a goal while the team’s other goalscorer was Cormac Murphy.
The sides were level at 2-16 each with just a couple of minutes remaining but the visitors failed to curb Cleary who sparkled in those closing minutes.
O’Callaghans Mills: Killian Nugent (0-4); Keith Donnellan, Pat Donnellan, Gerry Cooney; Eoin McInerney, Aidan O’Gorman (0-1), Aidan Fawl; Fionn Hickey, Cormac Murphy (1-1); Michael McGrath, Sean O’Gorman (0-3), Stephen Donnellan (0-1); Conor Henry (0-1), Bryan Donnellan, Colm Cleary (1-7);
Subs: Michael Cotter for McInerney; Conor Cooney (1-0) for G. Cooney; Mikey McMahon for McGrath; Niall Donovan for S. Donnellan;
Inagh/Kilnamona: Pat Kelly; Damian Lafferty, Colin Shannon, Cathal McConigley; Seamus Foudy, Jason McCarthy, Shane Woods; Darren Culllinan, Niall Mullins; Shane Vaughan, Connor Hegarty (0-7), Eoghan Foudy; Keelan Guyler, Shane McInerney (1-0), David Mescall (1-1).
Subs: Gerry Coote for S. McInerney; Jason Griffin for D. Mescall (inj); Cian McInerney for S. Vaughan
Referee: Joe Mullins (Clonlara)
Goals steer Crusheen to victory
Crusheen 4-15
Feakle 0-18
Venue: Crusheen
Two goals each from Conor O’Donnell and Fergus Kennedy steered Crusheen to this impressive win over Feakle at Crusheen on Sunday.
Both teams were in the race for a place in the semi-final going into this game and while Crusheen’s win saw them draw level on points with Sixmilebridge, they lost out on being involved in the play offs because they had lost to Sixmilebridge back in March when the sides clashed in round 2 of the competition.
The winners led by six points at half time on Sunday when the score was 3-9 to 0-12 and while Feakle tried hard to cut back the lead after the bresk, the home side held firm for a merited win on the day.
Crusheen: Donal Tuohy; Mark Perrill, Cian Dillon, Gavin O’Brien; Eanna McMahon, Ross Hayes, Cathal Dillon; Cillein Mullins, Oisin O’Donnell; Ian O’Brien, Jamie Fitzgibbon, Breffni Horner; Fergus Kennedy, Gerry O’Grady Conor O’Donnell;
Subs: Luke Ketalaar for Kennedy; John Brigdale for I O’Brien; Glenn O’Sullivan for O’Grady;
Feakle: Liam O’Connor; Cillian Bane, Evan McMahon, Conor McGann; Gary Guilfoyle, Conn Smythe, Eoin Daly; Eoin Daly, Enda Noonan; Oisin Donnellan, Shane McGrath, Martin Daly; Justin Nelson, Stevie Conway, Eoin O’Connor;
Subs: Enda Madden for Nelson; Fiachra Donnellan for O. O’Connor; Diarmuid Bane for E. Noonan.
Referee: Kevin Corry (Sixmilebridge)
Broadford on top in clash of relegated teams
Broadford 5-18
Ballyea 2-15
Venue: Ballyea
With their fate already sealed, Broadford and Ballyea clashed at the latter’s venue in the knowledge that both will be in Division 1B next season.
The visitors got on top from the outset and helped by goals from Darren McNamara and Stiofan McMahon they led 2-10 to 0-8 at half time.
Further goals followed in the second half from Oisin Kavanagh, Denis Fahy and Darren Chaplin as the East Clare side recorded a comfortable victory.
Ballyea had their goals from Mossy Gavin and Eoghan Gavin. They were without goalkeeper Barry Coote who recently suffered a broken thumb
Broadford: Roy Duffy; T.J. Dillon, David Boland, Damian Keniry; Cian Mulqueen, Cathal Chaplin, Craig Chaplin; Jack O’Brien, Darren Chaplin; Darren McNamara, Padraic Hickey, Oisin Kavanagh; Mark Moloney, Stiofan McMahon, James Vaughan;
Subs: Cian O’Brien for Duffy; Cathal O’Sullivan for Dillon; Denis Fahy for Hickey
Ballyea: Cathal Doohan; Brian Casey, Peter Casey, Brian Longe; Aonghus Keane, Gearoid O’Connell, Joe Neylon; Fergal Guinnane, James Murphy; Kieran McDonnell, Niall Deasy, Cillian Gavin; Mossy Gavin, Damian Burke, Eoghan Gavin;
Subs; David Meaney for P. Casey; Barry Nealon for Longe; Kevin Clohessy for E. Gavin;
Referee: Ger Hoey (Killanena)
Scariff seal promotion to top division
Scariff 2-17
Tubber 0-11
Venue: Tubber
Two goals from Paddy Ryan, one in each half, helped steer Scariff to a place in the semi-final of the Clare Cup and promotion to the top division for next season when they proved too strong for Tubber at the latter’s venue on Sunday.
Sunday’s win saw them finish level on points with St. Josephs, Doora/Barefield but the East Clare side claimed second place behind Clooney/Quin because of their opening day victory over the Doora/Barefield outfit.
Both teams went into this game short a number of first choice players and Tubber were probably the worst hit in this area with injury ruling out a lot of their first choice squad including Clare U20 forward Senan Dunford and former Clare senior panellist Domhnall McMahon.
Scariff: William Kavanagh; Eoghan Keehan, Mike Scanlan, Seamus McCaul; Jack Ryan, Diarmuid Nash, Scott Cairns; Conor Downes, Martin Cunningham; Seanie Hartigan. Liam Crotty, Martin Barrett; Patrick Ryan, Sean Minogue, Tadhg Minogue;
Subs: Rory Ryan for Hartigan; Sean Collins for Cunningham; Cathal Madden for Keehan; Sean Tuohy for S. Minogue;
Tubber: Ronan Taaffe; Tom Taaffe, James Howard, Shane Monahan; Shaun Naughton Pat O’Connor, Mark Earley; John Fawle, Pappy Taaffe; Jonah Culligan, Aidan McNamara, Lorcan O’Grady, Blain Earley, Shane O’Connor, Cathal Droney;
Subs: Fergal O’Grady for Fawle (inj); Ger Brohan for S. Monahan (inj); Declan Ryan for S. O’Connor;
Referee; Robert Harte (St Senan’s Kilkee)
Goals vital for Cratloe
Cratloe 2-19
Parteen/Meelick 0-19
Venue: Parteen
Goals from Cathal McInerney and Kyle Neylon were the difference when Cratloe defeated their South Clare neighbours Parteen/Meelick at Parteen on Sunday.
The win wasn’t enough, however, to get them through to the semi-finals as they lost out by one point to Scariff.
This defeat sealed Parteen/Meelick’s relegation to division 2 for next season. Oisin Hickey again top scored for the South Clare outfit, contributing 0-11, eight from frees.
Cratloe: Gearoid Ryan; Caimin Deegan, Mikey Hawes, Jack Manley; Aaron Costigan, Damian Browne, Riain McNamara; Enda Boyce, Sam Sheehy; Luke Healy, Cathal McInerney, Kyle Neylon; Daithi Collins, Conor McGrath, Kevin Danaher;
Sub: Cathal Lohan for Sheehy
Parteen/Meelick: Alan Murnane; Donal Kenny, Phil Lavin, Danny Williamson; Jason Smyth, Damian Moloney, David O’Sullivan; Daniel Cooney, Darragh McDermott; Ruairi Mc Dermott, Dara Nolan, Adam Sherlock; Oisin Hickey, Darragh McGleenon, Joe O’Connor
Subs: Alex Kennedy for McGleeenon; Eoin Phelan for Sherlock; Joe sherlock for Williamson
Referee: Kieran Liddane (Sixmilebridge)
Doora/Barefield take control in opening half
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 2-24
Smith O’Briens 0-14
Venue: Parteen
A very strong first half showing laid the foundation for this comfortable win by St. Joseph’s over Smith O’Briens at Parteen.
When the half time whistle sounded the visitors were seventeen points clear, 2-14 toi 0-3, helped by goals from Conor Tierney and Cian Barron.
They continued to hold the upperhand in the second period to seal a comfortable win but it wasn’t enough to get into the semi-finals.
David Gough and Caimin Quigley were the top scorers for the Killaloe side with 0-4 each while Micheal Ryan landed two points.
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Mikey Roseingrave; Ian Williams, Darragh McMahon, Eoghan Thynne; Adam Mungovan, Francie Meaney, Dara Nagle; Jack Hannan, Dara O’Shea; Brian Guilfoyle, Eoin Lahiffe, Podge Geraghty; Conor Tierney, Cian Barron, Matthew Power;
Subs: Brian Clancy for O’Shea; Cathal Ruane for Hannan; Donal O’Halloran for Thynne; Aaron Landy for Nagle; Eoin Burke for Barron
Smith O’Briens; Adam Power; Cian Moloney, Ben Murnane, Sean McMahon; Mike Gough, Eddie Bourke, Marc O’Halloran; David Gough, Eoin Heffernan; Cillian Collins, Micheal Ryan, Jason Monahan; Eoin Power, Patrick Aherne, Shane Geraghty;
Subs: Cathal Lynch for Bourke; Mark McInerney for A. Power; Tony Foley for S. Geraghty; Adam Moloney for Cillian Collins; Caimin Quigley for M. O’Halloran
Referee: Fearghal Gray (Feakle)
Wolfe Tones seal status
Wolfe Tones 1-17
Clarecastle 0-15
Venue: Shannon
Wolfe Tones will again play in Division 1B next season after this victory over Clarecastle sealed their place in the group.
This outcome didn’t appear likely when they trailed by six points with little over half of the opening half played.
They put in a strong finish to the half, however and when Jim Hickey blew the half time whistle, the Shannon men were a point ahead, 1-8 to 0-10, the goal having come from Kevin McCafferty.
The maintained a slight edge throughout the second period to seal victory and their place in division 1 B for 2024.
Conor Griffin was impressive for the Magpies who were short a big number of their panel.
Wolfe Tones; Oisin O’Rourke; Shane Nihill, Gary Cusack, Conor Carigg; Luke Merrigan, Liam Murphy, Sean Costello; Dean Devanney, John Guilfoyle; Cian O’Rourke, David Ryan, Aaron Kelly; Kevin McCafferty, Billy Connors, Liam O’Dwyer;
Subs: Colin Riordan for A. Kelly; Craig Riordan for D. Ryan; Aaron Cunningham for O’Dwyer;
Clarecastle: Cian Broderick; Filip Wiechinski, Cian Donnelly, Conor Griffin; Aaron Hayes, Colin Brigdale, Tommy Howard; Sam Browne, Conor Halpin; Niall Brigdale, David Tuohy, Lee Brack; Jack Murphy, Oisin Whelan, Josh Brack;
Subs: Jack Hayes for Howard (inj); Evan O’Connell for Browne; Noel Copley for L. Brack; Niall Og Tuohy for Halpin; Paddy Maxwell for Whelan;
Referee: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)
O’Neill inspires Clooney/Quin to another win
Clooney/Quin 1-19
Whitegate 1-17
Venue: Whitegate
Lining out at full forward Jack O’Neill landed 1-10 to inspire Clooney-Quin to their latest victory in the Clare cup and seal their place as the top team in division 1 B.
Already through to the semi-finals prior to this tie, they emerged with a merited win but were made fight all the way by Whitegate who were chasing the second qualifying spot from this group.
The result means that the East Clare men missed out narrowly with their neighbours Scariff going through to the semi-finals.
On a disappointing note for the winners they had Eoghan O’Brien sent off on a straight red card.
Clooney-Quin: Cathal Hannon; Enda O’Halloran, Conor Grogan, David Kennedy; Dara Keogh (0-2), Michael McNamara, John Cahill; Callum Hassett (0-1), Jimmy Corry (0-2); Eoghan O’Brien (0-1), Dylan Cunningham (0-1), Dannan Fox (0-1); Michael Corry, Jack O’Neill (1-10) Shane Harrisson;
Subs: Eoin Guilfoyle for Kennedy; Sam Scanlan (0-1) for Cunningham; David Considine for M. Corry;
Whitegate: Andrew Fahy; Mark Bugler, Finn Madden, Eoin Patterson; Brendan Bugler (0-1), Colm Madden, Ian Fahy (0-1); Liam Murray, Conor Whelan (0-10); Danny Hynes (0-1), Thomas Holland, James Carey (0-1); Cian McDermott, Ronan Hayes (1-2), Paddy Burke (0-1);
Referee; Gus Callaghan (Feakle)
