*Jack Sheedy and Martin McMahon battle for possession. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Three rounds into this season’s Cusack Cup, Clondegad remain unbeaten and top the table following their third successive win but last year’s winners St Breckan’s recorded their first win over the campaign.
Kildysart, last year’s finalists, also got their first win of the campaign when they accounted for Ennistymon while a late penalty from David Tubridy earned Doonbeg a draw with Corofin.
In the Garry Cup, St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield and Kilmihil shared the spoils in a high scoring tie which leaves Kilmihil at the top of the table.
O’Currys had six points to spare over Wolfe Tones leaving the Shannon side propping up the table with three losses to date. In a low scoring affair Éire Óg defeated Cooraclare while the St Joseph’s Miltown v Cratloe tie will take place on Tuesday evening.
Strong finish keeps Clondegad top of the table
Clondegad 1-10
Lissycasey 1-5
Venue: Lissycasey
Points were exchanged early in this tie at Lissycasey after Podge McMahon for the winners and Connor Meaney swapped scores from frees.
Midway through the half Lissycasey went in front when Shane Culligan finished off a good move with the opening goal of the game and they stretched the lead when Meaney converted another free but Clondegad fought back strongly and when the half time whistle sounded there was just the minimum between the sides with the home side in front 1-2 to 0-4.
Lissycasey would not have been flattered with a greater lead at this stage but they failed to convert a couple of gilt edge chances including one great goal opportunity.
A Gary Brennan free at the start of the second half levelled the game but a superb effort from Conor Finnucane had Lissycasey back in front a few minutes later.
Points were exchanged twice before the end of the third quarter when the home side still led by the minimum margin.
Substitutes Daniel Kelly and Fiachra Kirby helped Clondegad pile on the pressure and when Lissycasey lost possession when clearing their lines, the visitors pounced for their goal From Tomás ‘Mossy’ Gavin.
From here to the finish they held the upperhand and added some good points to seal victory.
Clondegad: Darren Cleary; Brian Casey, Conor Gavin, Niall Lynch; Ryan Jennings, Peter Casey, Niall Carigg; Diarmuid O’Neill, Morgan Garry; Shane Brennan, Barry Toner, Eoghan Gavin; Thomas Gavin, Gary Brennan, Podge McMahon.
Subs; Fiachra Kirby for O’Neill; Daniel Kelly for McMahon; Colin Meaney for E. Gavin; Patrick Sweeney for M Garry
Lissycasey; Killian Normoyle; Michael Meaney, Matt O’Shea, Colin O’Shea; Daire Hill, Niall McCarthy, Tom Collins; Enda Finnucane, Cian Meaney; Fionn Cotter, Conor Meaney, Shane Culligan; Francis Hayes, Conor Finnucane, Niall Kelly.
Subs: Seamus Collins for Hayes; Daire Killeen for Culligan; Luke Griffin for Connor Meaney (inj)
Referee: Niall Quinn (St Joseph’s Miltown)
Tubridy’s penalty earns Doonbeg a share of the spoils
Doonbeg 1-9
Corofin 0-12
Venue: Shanahan McNamara Park, Doonbeg
When Corofin led by four points in the closing stages of this game on Saturday evening, a victory for last year’s Garry Cup winners looked likely.
Doonbeg had other ideas, however and in a sweeping move they won a penalty which David Tubridy converted to level the tie.
The Magpies had marginally the better of the first half exchanges and they took a three point lead to the break, 0-8 to 0-5.
On the changeover Corofin got a grip on proceedings and with Gearoid Cahll kicking some impressive points they levelled and then went in front.
The loss of Diarmuid Cahill to injury proved a blow but they still looked set to record a victory when they opened a four point gap well inside the final quarter.
Doonbeg refused to give up and when they won a penalty David Tubridy stepped up to find the net on a day when he contributed 1-5 of his side’s tally.
Doonbeg; Eamonn Tubridy; Cillian Blake, Joe Blake, Jason Linnane; Cian O’Mahoney, Eoin Conway, Tadhg Lillis; Kevin McInerney, Kevin Pender; Cathal Killeen, Eoin Killeen, Sean Conway; Gavin O’Shea, David Tubridy, Rory Walsh.
Sub: Fionn Donovan for E. Killeen
Corofin; Keelan Mounsey; Conor Fitzgerald, Ross Hayes, John Reeves; Shay Malone, Cillein Mullins, Michael Cahill; Colm Rice, Sean O’Brien; Shane O’Brien, Cian Doolin, Gearoid Kelly; Diarmuid Cahill, Eoin Davoran, Gearoid Cahill
Subs; Fergus Killeen for S. Malone; Josh O’Brien for D. Cahill (inj); Cian O’Loughlin for G. Kelly
Referee; Barry Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown)
Early goals give Kildysart the upperhand
Kildysart 2-10
Ennistymon 0-10
Venue: Ennistymon
Goals inside the opening quarter from Ryan Casey and Stevie Sheehan helped Kildysart to their first victory in this season’s campaign.
The winners, last year’s beaten finalists led by those goals at half time when the score was 2-4 to 0-4
Casey fisted to the net for the opening goal after Michael Donnellan and Keith Murphy created the opening.
Ennistymon tried hard to get back into contention in the second half but good defensive work by Kildysart plus good performances from substitutes introduced ensured that the visitors remained in front to the end for a merited victory.
Kildysart; Damian Hill; Michael Eustace. Brian Euyers. Stevie Sheehan; Oisin Coyle, Conor Maloney Rory McMahon; Kevin O’Brien, Keith O’Connor; Luke McGrath, Seamus Casey, Michael Donnellan, Ryan Casey, Keith Murphy, Conor Hassett.
Subs; Kieran Leahy for R. Casey; Jack Cotter for M. Donnellan; Ian Flanagan for Coyle; Colm Finnucane for O’Connor; Mark Moloney for McGrath;
Ennistymon; Noel Sexton; Ciaran McMahon, Lawrence Healy, Joey Rouine; Michael Vaughan, Brian McNamara, John Murphy; Eoin Rouine, Ciaran Devitt; Ryan Barry, Sean Rouine, Darren McNamara; Eanna Rouine, Josh Vaughan, Niall Canavan
Subs; Cathal Frawley for C. Devitt; Paudie Considine for N. Canavan; Liam Devitt for S. Rouine; Danny Rouine for McNamara; Joe Dowling for M. Vaughan
Referee: Joe Kelly (Cooraclare)
A first win for title holders
St. Breckan’s 1-8
Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-9
Venue: Páirc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty
A goal from Joe Mc Gann played a key part in St. Breckan’s recording their first win in this season’s Cusack cup campaign when they accounted for Kilmurry Ibrickane at Quilty on Saturday.
The Lisdoonvsrna outfit enjoyed the better of matters I n the opening hlf and they had opened a six point advantage, 1-5 to 0-2 by half time having played with the aidd of the wind.
Kilmurry Ibrickane with a mainly under 19 team stormed back into the contest after half time and slowly reduced the winner’s lead.
However, a lack of experience and a failure to convert some good scoring chances didn’t help their cause and the visitors held on for a merited win.
St Breckan’s; Conor O’Neill; Patrick Doherty, Cian Burke, Diorraing McNamara; Eoin Guerin, Rowan Danaher, Jack Sheedy; Maccon Byrne Padraig Kelly; Denis O’Callaghan, Colm O’Brien, Shane Fitzpatrick; Cian Jimmy Burke, Mark O’Donnell, Joe McGann.
Subs: Oisin O’Loughlin for O’Neill; Cathal Guerin for E. Guerin; Patrick O’Dwyer for Cian Jimmy Burke; Conor Shannon for S. Fitzpatrick.
Kilmurry-Ibrickane: Tomas Sexton; Diarmuid Comber. Michael Comber, Andrew Shannon; Ciaran Morrissey, Martin McMahon, Conor Kearney; Diarmuid King, Joe Campbell; Colin Considine, Shane Hickey, Tom O’Flaherty; Jason Cushen, Oisin Sexton, Cathal Talty
Sub: Shay Gleeson for O’Flaherty
Referee: John O’Connell (Cooraclare)
O’Currys make long journey count
O’Currys 2-10
Wolfe Tones 1-07
Venue: Wolfe Tones GAA Grounds, Shannon
By Páraic McMahon
A 157km round-trip was made worth it for O’Currys as they bagged their second win of the RealPrint Garry Cup.
Dinny McMahon’s charges had a fully deserved win in this encounter, six points was the difference at the finish with Wolfe Tones playing the entire final quarter with fourteen men after Aaron Brennan was dismissed for a second bookable offence.
Of the two sides, the men from the Loop Head Peninsula were far closer to full strength and should the clubs cross paths in championship, a much tighter affair will be on the cards. Clare U20 defender Eoghan Casey was among those on the high list of absentees for the Shannon side, the Lohan brothers Daithí and Darragh, Aaron Kelly, Darragh Leahy and Brian Monaghan are others that would return to strengthen their lineup.
Ben O’Neill who was impressive throughout, kicking 1-05 over the afternoon, was the first to register a score but a well-worked move from the O’Curry’s men served as the ideal response with Michael Foran finishing it off by raiding for goal, the experienced Foran acted as a sweeper for the bulk of the contest.
Efforts from O’Neill and centre forward Craig Riordan reduced the deficit to a single score but a strong finish to the opening half saw O’Currys add points via Jim Marrinan and Danny Downes.
They started the second half as they meant to go on with a fine point from distance from Eoin Troy. A superb run from Cathal Downes saw him carry the ball from the middle of the park to the 21m line, he then offloaded via a handpass to Danny Downes who clinically stuck the ball past Fionn McInerney.
Two frees from Thomas Clancy ensured that O’Currys had put a tally of 1-05 together without reply, effectively winning the game in this period.
It was O’Neill who finally ended the scoring drought for the Tones, slotting the ball past Derek Troy on forty minutes.
Marching orders were then issued to Aaron Brennan while his colleague in the half-back line Sean Brennan was forced off injured, joining Dean Devanney who had limped off earlier in the tie.
Clancy and Jayme O’Sullivan traded efforts before Danny Downes put back to back scores together. Wolfe Tones led by O’Neill finished out the game with three of the last four scores.
Without a win in three games, Wolfe Tones are on the brink so far as relegation from the Garry Cup is concerned. Indeed they have no win out of six games at senior level when hurling is thrown into the mix with the Shannon club feeling the effects of emigration coupled with the involvement of players with local soccer teams and county squads.
For O’Currys it’s a second win in three games and pushes them in the right direction of the Garry Cup table. As they always do, they brought admirable spirit to proceedings and played the better football on this day. Cathal Downes, Eoin Brew, Sean Haugh and Danny Downes set the way for the winners.
Scorers O’Currys: D Downes (1-03 2f), T Clancy (0-04 2f), M Foran (1-00), J Marrinan (0-02), E Troy (0-01).
Scorers Wolfe Tones: B O’Neill (1-05), C Riordan (0-01 1f), J O’Sullivan (0-01).
O’Currys: Derek Troy; Jonathan Clancy, Darragh Keane, Stephen Kelly; Seamus Keane, Sean Haugh, Eoin Brew; Thomas Clancy, Cathal Downes; Patrick Clancy, Eoin Troy, Jim Marrinan, Danny Downes, Michael Foran, Shane Browne.
Subs: Keith McMahon for Browne.
Wolfe Tones: Fionn McInerney; Shane Nihill, Jayme O’Sullivan, Jason McAuley; Aaron Brennan, Sean Brennan, Chris Dunning; Dean Devanney, Joe McGauley; Jack Ryan, Craig Riordan, Darragh O’Neill; Conor Carrig, Eoghan Gough, Ben O’Neill
Subs: Brian Murphy for Devanney (inj), Sean Costelloe for D O’Neill, Luke Cahill for S Brennan, Stephen Donnellan for Carrig,
Referee: Robert Harte (St Senan’s Kilkee)
Spoils shared in lively contest
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 3-13
Kilmihil 3-13
Venue: Gurteen
The meeting of St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield and Kilmihil provided plenty of entertainment at Gurteen on Saturday evening even if the early exchanges suggested that it might be a one sided affair as the home side raced into a nine point lead 2-5 to 0-2, the goals coming from corner forward Paddy Bugler.
With Ciaran Downes continuing his impressive form, the visitors fought back strongly and were just a point adrift at half time, helped by goals from Downes who finished with 1-7 and Sean Johnston.
Eoghan Thynne’s goal helped the home side to lead by two at half time but Kilmihil continued to claw their way back after the break and substitute Shane Egan struck for their second third goal.
If Downes was the stand out player for Kilmihil, St. Josephs had an outstanding display from midfielder Tom McDonald who kicked some outstanding points on a day when a share of the spoils was a fair outcome.
St Joseph’s Doora/Barfield: Tom O’Brien; Peter Collins, Dara O’Callaghan, Conal Dorgan; Sam Costelloe, Jack Hannan, Dara Whelan; Tom McDonald, Dara O’Shea; Kieran Thynne, Dara Nagle, Conal Kelleher; Eoghan Thynne, Jack Scahill, Paddy Bugler;
Subs: Cian Moloney for Scahill; Gearoid Neylon for Kelleher; Davy O’Brien for K.Thynne
Kilmihil: Sean Cafferky; Shane Downes, John Finnucane, Michael Keating; Stan Lineen, Fionn Febbraro, Conor Crowley; Gavin Downes, David Lernihan; David Coughlan, Ciaran Downes, Sean Crowley; Sean Johnston, Martin O’Leary, Micheál Cotter;
Sub: Shane Egan for Johnston
Referee: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)
Talty hits five to steer Éire Óg to victory
Éire Óg 0-7
Cooraclare 0-4
Venue: Ennis
Philip Talty’s contribution of 0-5, four from frees, played a key part in Éire Óg’s win over Cooraclare in this Garry Cup tie tie on Saturday evening at the Ennis club’s venue.
This was a poor contest played between two teams who were missing the majority of their first choice players due to injuries and involvement with a number of inter county teams.
The first half was particularly poor and at the break Éire Óg led 0-2 to 0-0. Things picked up a little after the break but the town side continued to hold the edge and emerged with a merited win.
Éire Óg: Shane Daniels; Gavin D’Auria, Eoin Guilfoyle, Gearoid Collins; Einne O’Connor, Gavin Murray, Dean D’Auria; David McNamara, Gavin O’Brien; Sean Perrill, Luke Moore, Dean Ryan; Philip Talty, Dara Walsh, Niall O’Donoghue;
Subs; Mark Collins for G. D’Auria(inj), Colin Smyth for Moore; Adrian McElwee for Perrill; Sean Mullooly for O’Donoghue; Luke Pyne for D. D’Auria
Cooraclare: Mark Lillis; Ciaran Chambers, Fergal Donnellan, Ronan Donnellan; Padraic O’Donoghue, Mark Tubridy, Jake Garry; Ciaran O’Donoghue, Colin McNamara; Gearoid Lillis, James Burke, Tadhg Lillis; Finn O’Driscoll, Kevin O’Gorman, Ciaran Ryan;
Subs; Nel Gavin for McNamara; Gary Cunningham for O’Driscoll
Referee; Michael Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
