*Colm O’Brien takes on Conor Finucane. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
THE RACE for the Cusack and Garry Cups has passed the halfway stage and Clondegad and St Joseph’s Miltown remain the leaders in Division 1 and 2 respectively.
Clondegad have a three point lead over Kildysart and St. Breckan’s who jointly share second place with Ennistymon next on four points.
Miltown have a one point lead at the top of the Garry Cup from Kilmihil and the sides meet this week in what should be an interesting top of the table clash
Clondegad edge closer to a first Cusack Cup title
Clondegad 2-15
Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-15
Venue: Ballynacally
Two goals in a minute in the second half saw Clondegad maintain their unbeaten run and their place at the top of the Cusack cup league table when they accounted for Kilmurry Ibrickane at Ballynacally on Saturday.
Kilmurry Ibrickane played some impressive football in the opening half and they took a three point lead to the break when the score was 0-9 to 0-6.
Ryan Jennings was impressive in the half forward line for the winners and he was one of their goalscorers with Morgan Garry getting the other goal as they made it four wins from four starts and moved closer to the knock out stage of the competition.
The loss of full back Mark Killeen to injury didn’t help Kilmurry Ibrickane’s cause as they were forced into a number of positional changes.
However full marks go to Clondegad who have been impressive in all their games to date and they are deserving league leaders at this stage of the competition.
Clondegad: Pat Coffey; Brian Casey, Conor Gavin, Niall Lynch; Barry Toner, Peter Casey, Patrick Sweeney; Joe Neylon, Morgan Garry; Colm Meaney, Shane Brennan, Ryan Jennings; Daniel Kelly, Gary Brennan, Mossy Gavin;
Subs: Evan Flynn for J. Neylon; Paudge McMahon for D. Kelly; Brian Long for N. Lynch
Kilmurry Ibrickane; Tomas Sexton; Michael Comber, Mark Killeen, Andrew Shannon; Ciaran Morrissey, Martin McMahon, Diarmuid Comber; Darren Hickey, Diarmuid King; Shane Hickey, Jason Cussen, Oisin Sexton; Cathal Talty, Niall Hickey Joe Campbell.
Subs; Josh Moloney for Killeen (inj); Shay Gleeson for Cussen; Colin Considine for Morrissey; Conor Kearney for M. Comber.
Referee; Barry Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown)
McGann’s goal steers St. Breckans to victory
St. Breckans 1-9
Lissycasey 0-8
Venue: Lisdoonvarna
Joe McGann’s goal in the first half proved a key score as St. Breckan’s accounted for Lissycasey in this Cusack cup game played at Lisdoonvarna on Saturday.
After much uncertainty all week with regard to the venue, St. Breckan’s confirmed that their pitch was available to host the tie.
The visitors exchanged early points and the sides were level at 0-2 each. Midway through the half McGann struck for the games only goal which helped his side to a four point lead at half time when the score was 1-4 to 0-3.
The winners had a chance for a second goal after the break but Lissycasey goalie Thomas Collins saved from the penalty spot while he also managed to convert two long range frees for the visitors.
In the end the overall greater experience of the home side proved decisive.
St. Breckans: Oisin O’Loughlin; Conor Burke, Paddy Doherty, Padraig O’Dwyer; Colm O’Brien, Cian Burke, Jack Sheedy; Padraig Kelly, Denis O’Callaghan; Maccon Byrne, Eoin Guerin, Shane Fitzpatrick; Rowan Danaher, Mark O’Donnell, Joe McGann;
Subs; Conor Shannon for Danaher; Cathal Guerin for M. O’Donnell; Cian ‘Jimmy’ Burke for E. Guerin
Lissycasey; Killian Normoyle; Michael Meaney, Matt O’Shea, Daire Hill; Colin O’Shea, Niall McCarthy, Daire Killeen; Conor Meaney, Enda Finnucane; Fionn Cotter, Conor Finnucane, Luke Griffin; Shane Culligan, Cian Meaney, Niall Kelly;
Subs: Thomas Collins for Normoyle (half time); Tom Collins for Hill (inj); Cyril Sheehan for Tom Collins (inj); Darren Keane for Griffin; Harry Keane for Culligan
Referee; John O’Connell (Cooraclare)
All so easy for Ennistymon
Ennistymon 1-13
Doonbeg 0-01
Venue: Ennistymon
While opinions may have been divided as to who would win this meeting of Ennistymon, few, if any, would have predicted a fifteen point margin between the sides.
Ennistymon dominated from the outset against a Doonbeg side that struggled in many areas.
It was 0-6 to 0-1 at the interval with full forward Mikie Tubridy getting Doonbeg’s only score.
Ennistymon remained in control in the second half when Ryan Barry was their goalsccorer and they had the league points secured long before the final whistle.
Ennistymon: Noel Sexton; Joey Rouine, Lawrence Healy, Ciaran McMahon; Josh Guyler, Oisin Vaughan, John Murphy; Josh Vaughan, Ciaran Devitt; Eoin Rouine, Sean Rouine, Liam Devitt; Paudie Considine, Ryan Barry, Eanna Rouine;
Subs; Niall Canavan for Considine; Mark Kelleher for J. Vaughan;
Doonbeg: Eamonn Tubrdy; Cillian Blake, Joe Blake, Jason Linnane; Cian O’Mahoney, Tadhg Lillis, Cian Clancy; Kevin McInerney, Kevin Pender; Cathal Killeen, Eoin Conway, Sean Conway; Fionn Donovan, Mikie Tubridy, Rory Walsh;
Subs; Gavin O’Shea for C. Clancy; James Killeen for J. Blake
Referee: Niall Quinn (St Joseph’s Miltown)
Kildysart continue upward curve
Kildysart 1-10
Corofin 1-5
Venue: Páirc Finne, Corofin
Last year’s intermediate champions Kildysart continue their impressive form with this victory over Corofin at the latter’s venue on Saturday.
They took the lead from an early stage and had a four point advantage as half time approached but Corofin struck for a goal from Gearoid Kelly and this left just the minimum between the teams at the halfway point with Kildysart ahead on a score of 0-6 to 1-2.
The winners continued to hold the edge in the second half and a goal from Seamus Casey ensured that they recorded their second win of the campaign helped by points from Rory McMahon, Luke McGrath, Conor Hassett, Mikey Donnellan, Keith Murphy and Oisin Coyle.
Kildysart: Conor Cusack; Michael Eustace, Brian Eyers, Stevie Sheehan; Rory McMahon, Kieran Leahy, Fergal Guinnane; Conor Moloney, Kieran O’Brien; Luke McGrath, Seamus Casey, Mikey Donnellan; Conor Hassett, Keith Murphy, Oisin Coyle;
Subs: Ian Flanagan for Murphy; Jack Cotter for Donnellan; Mark Moloney for Coyle;
Corofin; Luke Neylon; Colin Fitzgerald, Cilléin Mullins, John Reeves; Michael Cahill, Ross Hayes, Shay Malone; Sean O’Brien, Fergal Killeen; Gearoid Kelly, Cillian McGroary, Cian Doolin; Gearoid Cahill, Damian Ryan, Eoin Davoran;
Subs: Gearoid Hanrahan for Neylon (inj.); Cillian Clancy for Kelly; Eoin Fitzgerald for S. Malone; A. O’Loughlin for Reeves
Referee: Chris Maguire (Wolfe Tones)
Kelly and Malone return after injury
St Joseph’s Miltown 1-11
Éire Óg 0-09
Venue: Ennis
St Joseph’s Miltown continued their winning run in this season’s Garry Cup and edged closer to the play offs when they accounted for Éire Óg at the Ennis club’s venue on Friday evening.
The winners achieved this latest victory with the help of two of their most experienced players who had their first outings of this season having been out of action due to injury.
Gordon Kelly returned after over a year on the sideline due to a leg injury while Seanie Malone was introduced during the tie and he contributed 0-2 to the team’s tally.
The sides exchanged points early in the tie before the home side edged in front and led 0-5 to 0-3 at the break. Éire Óg had the first point of the second half but three in a row from Cian Mahony whose tally for the evening was 0-5, brought Miltown level before Seanie Malone marked his return when putting Miltown in front.
The game’s only goal came from Miltown midfielder Oisin Looney and this helped his side to push on for a merited win.
St Joseph’s Miltown: Sean O’Brien; Damien Devereaux, Eoin O’Brien, Gordon Kelly; Cian Flanagan, Enda O’gorman, Gearoid Burke; Darragh Mcdonagh, Oisin Looney; Jamesie O’Connor, Cian Mahony, Sean Neylon; Patrick Greene, Paul Keane, Brian /Curtin;
Subs used; Seanie Malone, Oisin Meade, Euan Lineen, Cillian Keavey
Éire Óg; Shane Daniels; Geroid Collins, Eoin Guilfoyle, Mark Collins; Einne O’Connor, Dean Ryan, Dean D’Aauria; Ultan Shields, David McNamara; Niall O’Donoghue, Luke Moore, Sean Perrill; Andrew McElwee, Philip Talty, Luke Pyne;
Subs Jack Joyce for Moore (inj); Sean Mulooly for O’Donoghue (inj); Kcvin Moloney for G. Collins (inj)
Referee: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)
Downes and Lernihan lead the way for Kilmihil
Kilmihil 1-16
Wolfe Tones 0-14
Venue: St Michael’s Park, Kilmihil
Outstanding displays from the midfield pairing of Ciaran Downes and David Lernihan helped Kilmihil to their latest win in this season’s Garry Cup when they accounted for Wolfe Tones at Kilmihil on Saturday.
Downes top scored with 1-10 to his name, 1-6 coming in the second half. The visitors had marginally the better of the first half exchanges and they led by a point at half time when the score was 0-7 to 0-6.
The home side got a grip on proceedings after the break and they quickly hit the front on their way to victory which leaves them in second place, just a point behind leaders Miltown.
Kilmihil: Damian Lineen; Fionn Febbaro, Mikey Keating, Shane Downes; Gavin Downes, John Finnucane, Stan Lineen; Ciaran Downes, David Lernihan; David Coughlan, Shane Egan, Sean Crowley; Michael Cotter, Martin O’Leary, Sean Johnston;
Subs: Niall Reidy for Crowley (inj); Colm Pender for Johnston
Wolfe Tones; Fionn McInerney; Shane Nihill, Jayme O’Sullivan, Aaron Kelly; Jason McGauley, Eoghan Casey, Brian Murphy; Joe McGauley, Dean Devanney; Jack Ryan, Craig Riordan, Sean Costelloe; Darragh O’Neill, Cian O’Rourke, Ben O’Neill;
Subs: Stephen Donnellan for J. Ryan; Chris Dunning for D. O’Neill; Oisin O’Rourke for J. McAuley; Conor Casey for S. Costelloe; Conor Carigg for D. Devanney
Referee: Joe Kelly (Cooraclare)
St. Joseph’s maintain promotion push
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 2-17
O’Currys 0-8
Venue: Gurteen
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield kept up their challenge for promotion with this comfortable victory over an understrength O’Currys at Gurteen on Saturday.
First half goals from Nikki Hardiman and Dara O’Shea helped the Doora/Barefield outfit to a nine point interval lead when the score was 2-7 to 0-4.
They continued to dominate the second half adding 0-10 to four for the visitors.
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Tom O’Brien; Peter Collins, Dara O’Callaghan, Conal Dorgan; Jack Hannan, Dara O’Shea, Sam Costello; James Curran, Dara Nagle; Kieran Thynne, Eoghan Thynne, Conal Kelleher; Nickie Hardiman, Joe Rafferty, Paddy Bugler;
Subs; Dara Whelan for Costello (inj); Conor O’Brien for O’Callaghan; Odhran O’Connor for J. Rafferty; Jack Scahill for Curran; Cian Moloney for C. Kelleher;
O’Currys; Derek Troy; Padraig Kelly, Dara Keane, Jonathan Clancy; Eoin Brew, Sean Haugh, Seamus Keane; Eoin Troy, Thomas Clancy; Ian Roche, James Troy, Eoin Kelly; Michael Foran, Danny Downes, Keith McMahon;
Subs: Sean Marrinan for K. McMahon; Martin Daly for Foran; Danny Clohessy for J. Troy
Referee: Barry Keating (Lissycasey)
Cooraclare take control in second half
Cooraclare 2-18
Cratloe 1-11
Venue: Cratloe
A strong second half saw Cooraclare record a coofortable win over Cratloe in this Garry cup tie played at Cratloe on Saturday.
After an evenly contested first half the sides went to the break on level terms at 1-7 each, the winners goal coming from Sean Browne while Conal O’Hanlon found the net for the home side.
After the break, however, it was a different story with the winners well on top. Substitute Jack Morrissey, having his first outing in the current campaign, scored his side’s second half goal while he also added four points. Ciaran O’Donoghue and Jack Carey also landed 0-4 each as the visitors pulled away for a mrited win
Cooraclare; Mark Lillis; Gary Donnellan, Fergal Donnellan, Ronan Donnellan; James Burke, Thomas Downes, Padraic O’Donoghue; Jake Garry, Ciaran O’Donoghue; Gearoid Lillis, Jack Carey, Sean Browne; Ciaran Ryan, Colin McNamara, Davy Foran;
Subs: Jack Morrissey for Foran; Mark Tubridy for Lillis; Fergal Nolan for Burke; Ciaran Chambers for P.O’Donoghue; Tadhg Lillis for McNamara;
Cratloe; Padraig Chaplin; Denis Mundy, Mike Brennan, Caimin Deegan; Rian McNamara, Sean Collins, Cathal Lohan; Tommy Rooney, Conal O’Hanlon; Jamie Costigan, Cathal McInerney, Luke Healy; Sean Ryan, Sean Gallagher, Michael Mundy;
Subs: Kyle Neylon for Ryan; Jake Higgins for Costigan; Eoin Deegan for M. Mundy.
Referee: Michael Talty (Kilmurry/Ibrickane)
