*Michael Nash is tackled by Colm Rice. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
ST JOSEPH’S Doora/Barefield made it two wins from two outings when overcoming Corofin in the second round of the Clare SFC.
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 1-14
Corofin 1-12
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
An appearance in the knockout stages is now guaranteed for Doora/Barefield whether that is directly through to the last eight or if they will have to line out in a preliminary quarter-final will only be decided in the final round of Group 2.
It was a game that they certainly made hard work of and had Corofin been more clinical with scoreable frees then they would have managed to salvage something from the tie.
Cusack Park had a swirling wind towards the Aldi/Clonroad end and it was with Doora/Barefield in the opening half. Despite playing against the elements and producing a shaky start, Corofin managed to pull themselves to within a single point on eighteen minutes yet they were trailing by seven when the half time whistle sounded.
A much improved Corofin showing on the restart brought them right back into contention but they were left to rue missed opportunities as they fell to a successive championship loss.
With four minutes played, St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield were 1-2 0-0 in front. Eoghan Thynne converted a penalty to put them in a commanding position but it also ignited some bit of a challenge from Corofin who fisted the next score through Gearoid Cahill.
Tom Curran kicked his second score of the evening before Kieran Thynne issued a composed score from distance and it was met with a like effort by Cillian McGroary at the other end.
A poor shot from Cian McDonough which fell into the hands of Cilléin Mullins allowed Corofin to work the ball up field, a move which resulted in the awarding of a penalty, Diarmuid Cahill played a clever ball to Sean O’Brien who made great strides to set up Gearoid Cahill, he was brought then and the penalty was tucked away by Damien O’Loughlin on fifteen minutes.
Diarmuid Cahill reacted quickest to a breaking ball before splitting the posts reducing the deficit to a single point on eighteen minutes.
At this juncture, Doora/Barefield would have been livid that their despite their dominance the scoreboard showed the smallest of gaps between the teams. However they kicked on for the final ten minutes of the half with six scores in succession, two from Darragh O’Shea to restore a lead that they could be content with.
Their leading margin could have been greater, had Kieran Thynne finished a penalty on twenty two minutes, instead it was saved by Eoin Davoren but the stop did little to inspire Corofin for the remainder of the opening half as they trailed 1-10 1-3 by half-time.
Corofin’s come back was beginning to materialise on the restart, they had four of the first five scores.
Their strengthened challenge saw Doora/Barefield introduce both Jack Hannan and James Curran from the bench, the duo have been carrying knocks and were not deemed to have the full sixty minutes in them for Saturday’s second round.
With five minutes of normal time remaining, Corofin had reduced the deficit to three points, Cillian Clancy, Evan Doolin and Josh Ryan kicking scores.
However they missed two scoreable frees, both from the boot of Cillian McGroary as the game was about to enter additional time.
Numercial advantage also fell the way of Corofin, first Michael Nash was dismissed on a second yellow card with fifty eight minutes played, then they were down to thirteen when Tom Curran was shown a black card 112 seconds later.
Eoin Davoren converted a 45 and Diarmuid Cahill cut the gap to a single point entering the final of three minutes additional time but the experienced Jack Hannan popped up with a fisted score to restore a two point advantage at the death for Doora/Barefield.
Two wins from two outings ensures Doora/Barefield are not sweating heading into the final round. Without question they made hard work of this win and there was an element of panic that set into their play as evident with the rising indiscipline as the contest wore on. They are on course to make it back to the quarter-finals for the second year in succession and they are doing so while playing a nice brand of football.
Donagh Vaughan’s side are well able to adapt, this illustrated by how they could move Tom McDonald to the edge of the square when with the wind but they were sharp on the sideline not to leave him there when the supply wasn’t constant. Darragh O’Shea, Eoghan Boyle, Odhran O’Connell, Fionn Kelleher, Tom McDonald and Tom Hannan led the way for the Parish.
Defeats are becoming too frequent for Corofin. Their hurlers fell to a twenty six point hammering at the hands of Kilmaley while back to back losses have been experienced by the footballers which leave them at risk of a relegation battle for the second year running. This loss will certainly have a tinge of regret attached to it as it was a game they could have prevailed in, had they taken their chances and not fell away in the second quarter.
When they ran at pace with a purpose off the shoulder they demonstrated their ability and reminded spectators in Cusack Park that they were a team which reached the last four two years ago. They face St Breckan’s in the final round where both teams are in need of a win. Diarmuid Cahill, Cilléin Mullins and Damien O’Loughlin stood out for Peadar O’Brien’s side.
Scorers St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: T Curran (0-5 2f 1M), M Nash (0-3 1M), E Thynne (1-0), D O’Shea (0-2), K Thynne (0-1), C McDonough (0-1), J Hannan (0-1).
Scorers Corofin: G Cahill (0-3 1f), D O’Loughlin (1-0 1’Pen), C McGroary (0-2), D Cahill (0-2), G Kelly (0-1), E Doolin (0-1), J Ryan (0-1), E Davoren (0-1 1’45), C Clancy (0-1 1M)
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield:
1: Tom O’Brien
4: Eoghan Boyle
3: Conor O’Brien
2: Fionn Kelleher
18: Kieran Thynne
6: Tom Hannan
7: Cian McDonough
9: Darragh O’Shea
13: Tom McDonald
10: Nicki Hardiman
11: Joseph Rafferty
17: Odhran O’Connell
15: Tom Curran
14: Michael Nash
12: Eoghan Thynne
Subs:
5: Jack Hannan for K Thynne (37)
8: James Curran for E Thynne (37) (inj)
19: Paddy Bugler for Rafferty (48)
26: Conor Daly for Hardiman (56)
21: Cathal O’Shea for Boyle (63)
Corofin:
1: Eoin Davoren
4: John Rees
3: Cilléin Mullins
18: Colin Fitzgerald
7: Colm Rice
9: Sean O’Brien
5: Damien O’Loughlin
8: Gearoid Kelly
6: Kevin Keane
12: Caoimhin Donovan
10: Cillian McGroary
17: Evan Doolin
15: Diarmuid Cahill
11: Gearoid Cahill
13: Cillian Clancy
Subs:
20: Josh Ryan for Fitzgerald (49)
19: Cian Doolin for Clancy (47)
Referee: Barry Keating (Lissycasey)
