*Sean McAllister of Clondegad. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
TEN GAMES were played at the weekend as the race for the 2024 U21 A, B and C football championships got underway.
A knockout format has returned for 2024 but teams that were unsuccessful over the weekend will have a second outing as they will compete for shield titles.
Defending champions, Ennistymon are through to the A semi-final but they had to go to extra time before overcoming Kilrush Killimer. In the semi-final they are joined by Lissycasey, Clondegad and St. Josephs, Doora/Barefield
Through to the B semi-finals are Wolfe Tones, Cratloe, Kilmurry Ibrickane and Éire Óg
There were just two C quarter-finals at the weekend when St Joseph’s Miltown overcame Clann Lir (Liscannor, Kilfenora and Michael Cusacks) while St Breckan’s proved too strong for Parteen-Meelick.
Miltown won on a score of 8-4 to 1-7 while St Breckans were 1-14 to 0-3 winners over Parteen/Meelick.
Already qualified were Western Gaels (Naomh Eoin, O’Currys and St. Senan’s Kilkee) who had received a bye and Kildysart/Coolmeen who didn’t have to play as Ennistymon’s second team withdrew on Friday.
The semi-final draw took place on Monday evening, details of which are below.
Lissycasey pull away in second half
Lissycasey 2-16
Western Gaels/Doonbeg 1-7
Venue: St Michael’s Park, Kilmihil
A strong second half showing powered Lissycasey into the semi-final of the Berwick Callian Murphy solicitors Clare U21A football championship at Kilmihil on Friday night.
The game was still in the melting pot at half time when the winners led by four, 0-9 to 0-5.
A lively start to the second half which yielded three unanswered points set the tone and while the amalgamation responded with a goal from Fergal Keane, Lissycasey’s answer to that proved a killer blow for the combination as Daire Culligan finished a great move with his side’s first goal.
The second goal came from his brother Shane and it killed any remaining hopes their opponents might have had of getting back into contention.
Full forward and team captain on the night, Daire Killeen top scored for the winners with 0-5 from play on an evening when Euan Wragg, Conor Meaney, Darren Keane, Ben Skerritt and Jack Cahill played prominent roles for the winners.
The loss in the opening five minutes of Darragh Burns was a huge blow to the West Clare side for whom Fergal Keane, Conor O’Mahoney, David McNamara and Luke Conway did well.
Lissycasey: Thomas Collins (0-1); Evan O’Haire, Ian Griffin, Conor Hill; Michael Kelly, Euan Wragg (0-1), Luke Griffin; Conor Meaney (0-2), Darren Keane (0-4); Jack Cahill (0-1), Daire Culligan (1-0), Ben Skerritt (0-2); Shane Culligan (1-0), Daire Killeen (0-5), Diarmuid McMahon.
Subs: Aaron Killeen for E. O’Haire; Aidan Weaver for C. Hill; Cian Neylon for B Skerritt; Colin O’Shea for S. Culligan; Jack Meere for D McMahon
Western Gaels/Doonbeg; Sean Roche (Namoh Eoin); Conor O’Mahoney (Doonbeg), Kevin O’Mara (St Senan’s), Dara O’Shea (St. Senan’s); Paddy Clancy (O’Currys), Adam Haugh (Naomh Eoin), Shane Berminghan (Doonbeg); Fergal Keane (Naomh Eoin) 1-0, Liam Griffin (O’Currys) 0-1; Fionn Doherty (Naomh Eoin), Eoin Killeen (Doonbeg), 0-1 Brian Keane (O’Currys); Daniel McNamara (St. Senan’s), Luke Conway (Doonbeg) 0-3, Darragh Burns (Doonbeg);
Subs: Adam Foley (Naomh Eoin) 0-1 for Burns; Dylan Conway (Doonbeg) for B. Keane; Rory Walshe (Doonbeg) for P. Clancy; Eoin Daly (Naomh Eoin) for L Griffin; Eoin Kelly (O’Curry’s) 0-1 for L. Conway
Referee; John O’Connell |(Coorclare)
Ennistymon on top in extra time
Ennistymon 0-13
Kilrush-Killimer 2-5
(after extra time)
Venue: Cooraclare
Ennistymon booked their place in the under 21 A championship semi-final but they had to go to extra time to get past the challenge of Kilrush/Killimer on Friday night.
A point in front at the end of a low scoring first half (0-5 to 1-1) the teams remained evenly matched throughout the second half at the end of which the score was 0-10 to 2-4.
Fiachra McKeown in the first half and Jack Kelleher were the goal scorers for the Kilrush/Killimer combination.
Ennistymon struggled early on but, as the game progressed, they improved and they dominated the extra time, keeping their opponents scoreless.
Paudie Considine top scored for the winners with 0-4 while Brendy Rouine contributed 0-3.
Both sides finished with thirteen players, Conor Fennell (2 yellows) and Sean Canny (yellow and black) being dismissed from Kilrush/Killimer while Sean Rynne (2 yellows) and Diarmuid Fahy (black in the closing stages) were the winners’ players to be penalized.
Ennistymon: Conor Morrissey; Brian McNamara, James Cullinan, Liam Cotter; Dara Rouine, Sean Conneally, Josh Guyler (0-1); Josh Vaughan (0-1), Mark Kelleher; Sean Rynne (0-1), Brendy Rouine (0-3), Daniel Brody; Paudie Considine (0-4), Diarmuid Fahy (0-3), Eanna Rouine;
Subs: Kevin Nunan for M. Kelleher, Fred Hegarty for Eanna Rouine, Alex Leyden for B. McNamara;
Kilrush/Killimer: Cian Corry; Jimmy Browne, Ciaran Bermingham, Sean Kelly; Daniel Moloney, Sean Canny, James Blunnie; Sean Fennell, Liam Culligan; Michael Kelleher Conor Fennell (0-4), Fiachra McKeown (1-0); Odhran Cunningham, Jack Kelleher (1-1), Tadhg Lysaght;
Referee: Barry Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown)
Clondegad get upperhand in second half
Clondegad 1-11
Cooraclare 1-8
Venue: Coolmeen
Clondegad came from four points down at half time to record a three point win over Cooraclare in this under 21 A quarter final.
Cooraclaare had the better of the first half exchanges and would not have been flattered has they been further ahead at half time when the score was 1-6 to 1-2.
They struck for the first point of the second half but from then on Clondegad came more and more into the game and they enjoyed the upperhand in the final quarter when they picked off some good scores.
Sean McAllister and David Meaney gave the winners the upperhand at midfield while Niall Carigg led a strong defence.
Clondegad: Dara O’Neill; Dylan Killoughery (0-1), Niall Carigg, Dean Brassil; Daniel Costello (0-1), Evan Flynn, Cillian Gavin (0-1); Sean McAllister, David Meaney; Eoin Kennedy (0-4), Michael Meaney (0-1); Colm Meaney (0-1); Cian Kirby (1-2), Kieran McDonnell, Luke Minogue;
Subs: Dara Coote for Minogue; Sam Garry for Brassil
Cooraclare: Harry O’Gorman; Noel Gavin, Sean O’Dea, Pat Fennell; Aidan Considine (0-1), Jake Garry, Aaron Townsend; Gearoid Fennell, Brian McNamara (0-3); Kevin Marrinan, Jack Carey (0-2), Darragh Townsend; Finn O’Driscoll (1-0), Sean O’Malley, Rory Lillis (0-2)
Subs; Sean Culligan for F. O’Driscoll; Shane O’Connell for S. O’Malley; Donnacha Morrissey for R. Lillis; Fionn Burke for J. Garry
Referee: Chris Maguire (Wolfe Tones)
Doora/Barefield march on to semi-final
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 2-14
Corofin 3-2
Venue: Clarecastle
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield pulled away in the second half of this under 21 A quarter final at Clarecstle on Sunday morning to emerge with a comfortable win.
The margin between the teams at half time was three points with the Doora/Barefield side ahead on a score of 1-5 to 1-2.
Their ability to pick off points proved decisive as they shot some fine scores over the hour on their way to a merited victory and a place in the semi-final.
With a number of their senior team eligible, especially in the forward line, their experience proved too much for their opponents.
Scorers St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Tom Curran (0-7); Joe Rafferty (1-2) Michael Nash (1-0); Diarmuid Boyle (0-3), James Curran, Fionn Kelleher (0-1) each
Scorers Corofin; Cathal Flanagan, Killian O’Connor, Eoin O’Brien (1-0) each; Cillian McGroary, Josh O’Brien (0-1) each
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Ben McDonagh; Charlie Hannan, Eoghan Boyle, Conal Dorgan; Diarmuid Boyle, Fionn Kelleher, Sam Costelloe; Oisin O’Donnell, James Curran; Cian Moloney, Odhran O’Connell, Conor Daly; Tom Curran, Joe Rafferty, Michael Nash
Subs; Ogie Fanning for C. Moloney; Joseph Keane for O. O’Donnell; Ian Williams for S. Costelloe; Padraig O’Donovan for C. Daly; Cormac Maher for C. Dorgan
Corofin; Keelan Mounsey; Cathal Ryan, Colin Fitzgerald, Adam O’Loughlin; Caoimhin O’Donovan, Marc O’Loughlin, Evan Doolin; Colm Breen, Cillian McGroary; Jack McDonagh, James Organ, Eoin O’Brien; Josh O’Brien, Killian O’Connor, Cathal Flanagan.
Subs: Tiernan O’Neill for J O’Brien; Cormac Walsh for C. Fitzgerald; Liam Fitzpatrick for A. O’Loughlin; Micheal de Brun for C Ryan; Dara Kenny for K O’Connor
Referee: Barry Keating (Lissycasey)
Tones go in search of another title
Wolfe Tones 3-10
Cill Cuil Gaels 2-5
Venue: Gurteen
Wolfe Tones put a week of celebrations behind them following their intermediate and junior B football championship wins as they took a step towards what they hope will be another title by accounting for Cill Cuil Gaels in the B championship at Gurteen on Friday night.
They struggled a little in the first half but they had opened a five point lead when the half time whistle sounded when the score was 1-4 to 0-2.
They pulled away in the second half against a Cill Cuil Gaels side dealt a big blow midway through the opening half when they lost inter county panellist Fergal Guinnane to injury.
Craig and Colin Riordan led the way for the Shannon men, contributing 2-9 of their tally on the evening.
Wolfe Tones: Liam Cook; Shane Duggan, Aaron Kelly, Niall Fitzgerald, Tan Greene, Ronan Walsh, Eoghan Casey; Liam Divilly, Brian Murphy; Jack Ryan, Tadhg Fitzgerald (1-1) Fionn Hayes; Cody Walker, Craig Riordan (0-7) Colin Riordan (2-2);
Subs; Sean Murphy for T Greene; Gavin Carigg for C Riordan; Aaron Shinners for F. Hayes; Bradley Kemp for S. Duggan (inj); Ben O’Connell for C. Waller
Cill Cuil Gaels: Ciaran McCarthy (Shannon Gaels); Cillian Kelly (Kildysart), Tadhg Kelly (Shannon Gaels), Mark Moloney (Kidysart); Damian Downes (Shannon Gaels), Matthew Reidy (Shannon Gaels), Padraig O’Grady (Kilmihil); Fergal Guinnane (Kildysart), Jack McCarthy (Shannon Gaels); Conal Casey (Kildysart) 0-1, Mark Normoyle (Kilmihil), Jack Cotter (Killdysart) 0-1; Jamie Sheehan (Kildysart), Riain Meaney (Coolmeen) 1-2, Michael Cotter (Kilmihil).
Subs; Colm Finnucane (Kildysart) for Guinnane (inj.), Colm Downes (Shannon Gaels) for J. Cotter;
Referee: Niall Quinn (St. Joseph’s Miltown)
Cratloe by the minimum margin
Cratloe 2-4
Clarecastle 1-6
Venue: Gurteen
Cratloe’s only score in the second half, a Keelan O’Donoghue point, proved to be the winning score in this under 21 B tie played at Gurteen on Friday night.
For Clarecastle a number of their players had lined out for the club in the junior A final four days earlier when they went down to Michael Cusacks.
Scores were hard to come by but the winners found the net twice in the opening half on their way to a 2-3 to 0-3 halftime lead, the goals coming from Keelan O’Donoghue and Jamie Moylan.
A Rory O’Connell goal gave the Magpies hope in the second half but, try as they did, they could not get the score they needed to force extra time.
Cratloe; Cian O’Gorman; Oisin Collins, Jake Higgins, Mike Flanagan; Cathal Lohan, Eoin Carey, Denis Mundy; Rian McNamara, Danny Dunne; Keelan O’Donoghue (1-2), Adam Murray; Tadhg Lohan (0-1) Jamie Moylan, (1-1) Jake Moylan
Subs; Jack Donnelly for D Dunne; Sam Sheedy for M. O’Connell; Eanna Collins for Jake Moylan;
Clarecastle; Fionn Morgan; Mark Griffin, Conor Whelan, Niall Brigdale; Darragh Hickey, Aaron Hayes, Conor Griffin; James Doherty, Cian O’Dell (0-1); Oisin Whelan, Rory O’Connell (1-2), Rian Sheridan; Sam Browne, Scott Brack, Paul O’Connell (0-2);
Subs: Harry Doherty (0-1) for R. Sheridan; Conor Ralph for S. Brack; Evan O’Connell for J. Doherty (inj.); Tiernan Collins for O’Dell
Referee: Robert Harte (St. Senan’s, Kilkee)
Talty points the way for Bricks
Kilmurry Ibrickane 1-14
Banner 2-9
Venue: Lissycasey
A haul of 0-9 from full forward Cathal Talty was key to Kilmurry Ibrickane’s two point win over Banner in this under 21 B quarter final played at Lissycasey on Saturday.
The teams were evenly matched throughout and, in fact, they went to the break at 1-6 each, the winner’s goal having come from Jason Cussen.
Kilmurry Ibrickane held a slight edge at midfield through Evan Cahill and Joe Campbell, both members of their senior panel and this played a part in helping them to edge ahead in the second half.
Kaden Deegan-Herlihy was the Banner’s first half goalscorer while their second goal came from a penalty converted by William Bello.
Kilmurry Ibrixkane; Tomas Sexton; Matthew Campbell, Diarmuid Comber, Shay Gleeson; Colin Considine, Conor Kearney, Leo Switzer; Evan Cahill (0-1), Joe Campbell (0-1); Cian Coughlan, Josh Moloney (0-1), David O’Donoghue; Jason Cussen (1-2), Cathal Talty (0-9), Colm O’Neill
Subs: Tom O’Connor for C. O’Neill; Fergal McMahon for C Kearney;; Colm O’Neill for L.Switzer.
Banner: Cillian Ryan; Conor O’Toole, Scott Kelly, Dylan Moroney; Mufana Flynn, Justin McGrath, Conor Dennehy (0-1); Matthew McGrath (0-1), Fuhmad Akinwale; Kaden Deegan-Herlihy (1-2), Sean McMahon (0-4), Diarmuid Toner; Caleb Walsh, Ronan Kilroy (0-1), Oisin McMahon.
Subs; Eoin Fitzpatrick for D. Moroney; William Bello (1-0) for K. Dorgan-Herlihy; Sean Montwill for C. Walsh;
Referee; Pat Keane (Lissycasey)
Comfortable victory for Éire Óg
Éire Óg 3-13
Doonbeg 0-7
Venue: Cooraclare
This under 21 B quarter final at Cooraclare on Sunday morning finished at thirteen a side after referee Joe Kelly sent off two from each club.
Doonbeg’s Rory Walsh and Eoin Killeen were each shown straight red cards as was Sean Perrill from Éire Óg while Luke Pyne from the winners side was shown a yellow and a black card which ended his involvement in the game.
Éire Óg had the better of the exchanges throughout and emerged as worthy winners. They led from the start against a Doonbeg side, some of whom had played in the A quarter final on Friday night when they were amalgamated with Naomh Eoin, O’Currys and St. Senans Kilkee.
The absence of senior player Darragh Burns, injured on Friday, was a huge blow to the team.
That said the experience of Luke Pyne, Oran Cahill and Jarlath Collins, all of whom have played at senior level, helped the Ennis side to hold the upperhand throughout
Scorers Éire Óg; Andrew McElwee (1-4); Michael Heneghan (1-2); James Lyne (1-0); Alex McNamara, Oran Cahill, Sean Perrill, Jarlath Collins, Conor Perrill, Bernard Keating (0-1) each
Scorers Doonbeg; Luke Conway (0-5, 4 frees); Kian Conway, Gavin O’Shea (0-1) each
Éire Óg: Peadar O’Keeffe; Darren Moroney, Eoin Guilfoyle, Jack Lynch; Alex McNamara, Fionan Treacy, Luke Pyne; Oran Cahill, Sean Mullooly; Darragh Stack, Sean Perrill, Jarlath Collins; Evan Casey, James Lyne, Andrew McElwee
Subs; James O’’Dwyer for J. Lyne;; Michael Heneghan for S. Mullooly; Conor Perrill for E. Casey; Bernard Keating for O. Cahill
Doonbeg; Darragh O’Mahoney; Colin Ryan, Shane Berminghm, Robbie Burns; Jamie O’Shea, Conor O’Mahoney, Dylan Conway; Colm McMahon, Gavin O’Shea; Rory Walsh, Eoin Killeen, Aaron Meaney; Matthew Horan, Luke Conway, Kian Conway;
Subs: Conor Linnane for E. Killeen; Michael Honan for A Meaney; Aaron Meaney for Matthew \Honan
Referee: Joe Kelly (Cooraclare)
Semi-final draw:
On Monday evening the draw took place for the semi-finals.
U21A football semi-finals:
Clondegad vs St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield
Lissycasey vs Ennistymon
U21B football semi-finals:
Wolfe Tones vs Cratloe
Kilmurry Ibrickane vs Éire Óg
U21C football semi-finals:
Western Gaels vs Coolmeen/Kildysart
St Breckan’s vs St Joseph’s Miltown
U21A football shield:
Corofin vs Cooraclare
Western Gaels/Doonbeg vs Kilrush/Killimer
U21B football shield semi-finals:
Clarecastle vs Cill Cuil Gaels
Doonbeg vs Banner
U21C football shield final:
Parteen/Meelick vs Clann Lir
