*Ennistymon goalkeeper Noel Sexton. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
ENNISTYMON remain unbeaten from four outings in the Cusack Cup while Corofin also have full points in the Garry Cup.
A number of teams are in contention for the play-off stages of both the Cusack Cup and Garry Cup with both competitions now getting beyond the halfway stage.
In the FutureTicketing Cusack Cup title holders Ennistymon are unbeaten after four outings while neighbours Kilmurry Ibrickane and St Joseph’s Miltown have each recorded two wins and a draw St. Breckan’s are bottom of the table with one point from their four outings.
In the Garry Cup, Corofin lead the way with full points from their four outings while Kilrush Shamrocks are in second spot with three wins from their four games. Éire Óg and Doonbeg have two wins and a draw from their four outings to date..
Ballyvaughan have yet to collect a point while O’Currys got their first win of the season when they accounted for the North Clare side on Saturday last
Sexton earns bragging rights for Kilmurry Ibrickane
Kilmurry Ibrickane 1-12
St Joseph’s Miltown 2-8
Venue: Páirc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty
A converted free in injury time by Keelan Sexton, who returned from the US earlier in the week following a family bereavement, earned Kilmurry Ibrickane the bragging rights when they recorded a one point win over their great rivals St Joseph’s Miltown on Saturday evening.
In a game played before a big attendance, the sides were level on seven occasions and a share of the spoils looked likely for much of the game.
The home side made a blistering start striking for 1-1 in the opening minute, Andrew Shannon’s point being followed by a goal from Daryn Callinan who pounced when Miltown’s first kickout was intercepted.
Two minutes later the teams were level after Cian Mahoney followed his opening point when he struck for Miltown’s first goal.
Points where then swapped twice before Gearoid Burke applied the finish for the visitor’s second goal but the home side finished the half strongly with points from Martin McMahon, Daryn Callinan and Joe Campbell to leave the sides level at 1-6 to 2-3 when referee John O’Connell sounded the half time whistle.
Points were exchanged twice inside the opening ten minutes of the second half as both sides upped the tempo.
In separate incidents within the space of a minute, both were reduced to fourteen men as Oisin Looney and Andrew Shannon were blackcarded which led to ten minutes on the sideline for each.
The introduction of Keelan Sexton at half time for the home side proved successful and he landed 0-5 in the second half, three from frees.
These scores helped his side to a three point lead which they held as the game drifted towards the final whistle.
Miltown refused to concede and points from Cian O’Mahoney (2) and Enda O’Gorman in as many minutes tied up the contest.
With the game in injury time Kilmurry launched one last attack which ended with a 13m free which Sexton converted for victory.
Shortly before the final whistle Miltown mentor John McDonagh was shown a red card and ordered out of the enclosure by referee John O’Connell.
Kilmurry Ibrickane: Tom Sexton; Shea Gleeson, Diarmuid King, Diarmuid Comber; Conor Kearney, Michael Comber (0-1), Martin McMahon (0-1); Evan Cahill, Andrew Shannon (0-1); Colin Considine, Shane Hickey, Oisin Sexton; Joe Campbell (0-1), Daryn Callinan (1-2) Cathal Talty (0-1);
Subs; Keelan Sexton (0-5) for O. Sexton; Paudie Murrihy for S. Gleeson; Maurice Donnellan for D. Comber; Jason Cussen for C. Considine;
St Joseph’s Miltown: Sean O’Brien; Eoin O’Brien, Seanie Malone, Cormac Devitt; Cian Mahoney (1-6), Enda O’Gorman (0-1), Jamesie O’Connor; Darragh McDonagh, Micheál Murray; Oisin Looney, Brian Curtin, Gearoid Burke (1-0); Oisin Meade, Euan Lineen (0-1), Paul Keane;
Subs: Paul Frawley for C. Devitt; Gavin Twomey for G. Burke; for Malone for E. Lineen
Referee: John O’Connell (Cooraclare)
Strong third quarter from Doora/Barefield
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 2-10
St Breckan’s 1-10
Venue: Lisdoonvarna
A strong third quarter which saw them score 1-5 without reply played a big part as St. Josephs Doora/Barefield recorded their second win in this season’s Cusack cup campaign when accounting for St. Breckans at Lisdoonvarna on Saturday.
The North Clare men had the better of the early exchanges and they opened a 1-4 to 0-3 lead, the goal coming from Colm O’Brien. A goal from Joe Rafferty sparked a response from the visitors and they went on to lead at the break, 1-5 to 1-4.
The Doora/Barefield men dominated the third quarter and scored 1-5 without reply, the goal coming from Nikki Hardiman and at the three quarter stage they led 2-10 to 1-4.
St. Breckans stepped up a gear and they landed six unanswered points but time wasn’t on their side an St Josephs held on for victory.
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Tom O’Brien; Eoin Boyle, Conor O’Brien, Charlie Hannan; Cian McDonagh, Fionn Kelleher. Kieran Thynne; Conal Kelleher, Joe Keane; Odhran O’Connell, Joe Rafferty, Eoghan Thynne; Tom Curran, Michael Nash, Paddy Bugler;
Subs: Jack Hannan for C Kelleher; Nicki Hardiman for Boyle; Conor Daly for O’Connell; Peter Collins for F. Kelleher; Ben McDonagh for Keane
St. Breckan’s: Conor O’Neill; Conor Burke, Raphael Considine, Padraig O’Dwyer; Eoin Kelly, Paddy Doherty, Conor Shannon; Liam Tierney, Dale Masterson; Shane Fitzpatrick, Rowan Danaher, Maccon Byrne; Cathal Morgan, Padraig Kelly, Colm O’Brien.
Subs: Thomas O’Dwyer for R Considine; Robert O’Connell for C.Morgan; Denis O’Callaghan for E. Kelly
Referee: Barry Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown)
Lissycasey lay foundation in first half
Lissycasey 0-12
Kildysart 0-7
Venue: Lissycasey
Playing with the aid of the breeze in the opening half, Lissycasey made this advantage count when scoring 0-10 while holding their opponents scoreless at Lissycasey on Sunday morning.
The home side had a number of changes to the team with Darren Keane, back from duty with the Clare under 20’s and goalkeeper Thomas Collins back from injury, having their first starts of the season. Collins’ recovery came at a good time as Killian Normoyle was unavailable due to injury.
The winners made a great start shooting seven points in the opening ten minutes through five different scorers.
Kildysart stormed into the game on the resumption and fired over four points inside the first ten minutes.
As the midpoint of the half approached the visitors were awarded a penalty but Conor Hassett saw his effort go over the bar. They had the gap down to four with ten minutes remaining but a brace of points from their captain Conor Finnucane saw Lissycasey seal their second victory of the campaign.
Lissycasey: Thomas Collins (0-1); Daire Hill, Niall McCarthy, Enda Meaney; Cyril Sheehan, Darragh Killeen, Fionn Cotter; Darren Keane (0-2), Connor Meaney (0-1); Michael Meaney, Daire Culligan (0-1), Luke Griffin; Enda Finnucane (0-2), Ben Skerritt (0-1), Conor Finnucane (0-4)
Subs; Kevin Shivers for Cotter (inj); Niall Kelly for M. Meaney; Francis Hayes for Skerritt;
Kildysart; Kieran Eyers; Rory McMahon, Kieran Leahy, Stevie Sheehan; Michael Eustace, Conor Moloney, Ryan Casey; Keith O’Connnor (0-1), Kieran O’Brien; Oisin Coyle (0-1), Seamus Casey (0-1), Michael Donnellan; Conor Hassett (0-1), Conor Cusack (0-1), Luke McGrath (0-2)
Subs: Mark Moloney for R. Casey (inj); Jack Cotter for R. McMahon (inj); Colin Finnucane for C. Hassett;
Refere: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)
Holders Ennistymon go marching on
Ennistymon 1-8
Clondegad 2-3
Venue: Páirc Mhichil Ui Eithir, Ballynacally
Ennnistymon maintained their winning form in this season’s league when they accounted for Clondegad at Ballynacally on Saturday evening.
Overall it was a disappointing contest with the winners holding a three point lead at half time when the score was 1-4 to 1-1, their goal having come from Gearoid Barry.
The second half improved although scores were at a premium and while Clondegad outscored the visitors by a point, they were unable to get back on terms and the title holders held on to make it four wins from four outings on a day when five players shared in their final tally.
Ennistymon: Noel Sexton; Conor Rynne, Lawrence Healy, John Murphy; Liam Cotter, Joey Rouine, Tiernan Hogan; Dara Rouine, Ciaran McMahon; Ryan Barry, Niall Canavan (0-3), Darren McNamara (0-1); Joe Dowling (0-1), Darragh Conneally, Gearoid Barry (1-2);
Subs; Eoin Rouine for C. McMahon; David McNamara for D. Rouine; Éanna Rouine (0-1) for J. Dowling; Brian McNamara for Darren McNamara
Clondegad: Darren Cleary; Conor Gavin, Sean McAllister, Niall Lynch; Cormac Reidy, Tadhg O hUallachain, Evan Flynn; Diarmuid O’Neill, Eoghan Gavin; Colm Meaney (0-1), Ryan Jennings, Cillian Gavin (0-1); Sean O’Leary (1-0), Thomas Gavin (1-1), Eoghan Donnellan;
Subs; Mossy Gavin for D. O’Neill; Colin McNeilis for C. Reidy; Kieran McDonnell for E. Donnellan; Niall Carigg for N. Lynch; Robbie Markham for S. O’Leary;
Referee: Barry Keating (Lissycasey)
Cahill points the way
Corofin 0-13
Éire Óg 1-4
Venue: Páirc Finne, Corofin
Gearoid Cahill contributed 0-7 as Corofin accounted for Éire Óg in round 4 of the Garry Cup at Corofin on Saturday.
They confined an understrength Éire Óg to just one score in the opening half, a goal from Clare under 20 player Luke Pyne as the home side led 0-6 to 1-0 at the break.
The absence of the experienced Ciaran Russell, Aaron Fitzgerald, Dean Ryan and Darren O’Neill meant that the visitors were without a very experienced quartet
Corofin continued to hold he upperhand in the second half on a day when six players shared in their final tally.
Corofin: Luke Neylon; Colin Fitzgerald, Colm Rice, Marc O’Loughlin; Damien O’Loughlin, Kevin Keane (0-1), John Rees (0-1); Cillian McGroary, Gearoid Kelly; Evan Doolin (0-1), Gearoid Cahill (0-7), Sean O’Brien (0-2); Diarmuid Cahill, Cathal Flanagan.. Cillian Clancy;
Subs: Josh Ryan for E Doolin; Josh O’Brien for C. Flanagan; Cian Doolin (0-1) for D Cahill;
Éire Óg; Shane Daniels; Gearoid Collis, Eoin Guilfoyle, Mark Collins; Dean D’Auria, Aidan McGrath, Luke Pyne; (1-0); Oran Cahill, Jarlath Collins; Niall McMahon, Jack Joyce, Gavin D’Auria; Luke Moore (0-3), Sean Perrill (0-1), Andrew McElwee.
Subs: Stephen Dolan for J. Joyce; Philip Talty for S. Perrill; Evan Casey for G Collins;
Referee: Niall Quinn (St Joseph’s Miltown)
Magpies keep up strong challenge
Doonbeg 1-12
Cooraclare 0-11
Venue: Cooraclare
An early goal from Mikie Tubridy sent Doonbeg on the way to victory over neighbours and great rivals Cooraclare at the latter’s venue on Saturday evening.
The goal was a big score in a well contested tie from which the Magpies emerged as deserving winners but they were made battle all the way by the home side.
It was 1-7 to 0-6 at the interval and the winners maintained that four point margin to the end as they kept up their strong challenge for a quick return to the Cusack cup.
The game marked the return to action for Tadhg Lillis who has been out of action due to injury for the past two seasons. Mikie Tubridy top scored with 1-3 to his credit while full forward Darragh Burns scored 0-5 with David Tubridy contributing 0-3.
John Lillis, Colin McNamara and Jake Garry were amongst the scorers for Cooraclare.
Doonbeg: Eamonn Tubridy; Cian Clancy, James Killeen, Jason Linnane; Gavin O’Shea, Cian O’Mahoey, Cillian Blake; Kevin McInerney, Mikey Tubridy; Cathal Killeen, David Tubridy, Eoin Conway; Eoin Killeen, Darragh Burns, Luke Conway;
Subs; Tadhg Lillis for G. O’Shea; Eoghan Tubridy for E. Conway; Shane Bermingham for L Conway; Brian Behan for C. Blake
Cooraclare: Mark Lillis; Gearoid Lillis, Robert Ryan, Ciaran Chambers; James Gallagher, Fergal Donnellan, Thomas Downes; James Burke, Jake Garry; Kevin Marrinan, John Lillis, Sean Browne; Colin McNamara, James Chambers, Rory Lillis
Subs: Sean Molloy for R. Lillis; Aaron Townsend for J. Gallagher; Padraic O’Donoghue for C. McNamara; Noel Gavin for T.Downes
Referee: Martin Downes (Naomh Eoin)
Strong second half from Kilrush
Kilrush Shamrocks 0-12
Kilmihil 2-5
Venue: Captain Tubridy Park, Kilrush
Trailing by two goals at half time, Kilrush looked to be in trouble when they faced Kilmihil on Saturday but they turned in a strong second half to take home the points and register their third win in a row.
Goals from Sean Crowley and Mark Normoyle had Kilmihil 2-2 to 0-2 in front at the halfway point but they could only manage three second half points from Martin O’Leary as Kilrush took control with Conor Fennell leading the scoring with 0-5 to his credit while Gearoid O’Brien, Tadhg Lysaght and Ross Phelan each added 0-2 with Matthew Moloney contributing 0-1.
Kilrush’s winning margin might have been greater but Gearoid O’Brien failed to find the net from a second half penalty on a day when Dylan and Gearoid O’Brien, Sean Canny and Ross Phelan played well.
Kilrush Shamrocks; James Harding; Niall Brennan, Ciaran Bermingham, Padraig Browne; Billy Clancy, Dylan O’Brien, Sean Canny; Sean Madigan, Callum Bond; Gearoid O’Brien (0-2), Tadhg Lysaght (0-2), Ben McKiernan; Conor Fennell (0-5, 4f), Ross Phelan (0-2), Matthew Moloney (0-1);
Sub: Sean Purtill for C. Bond
Kilmihil; Damian Lineen; Padraig O’Grady, John Finnucane, Mikey Keating; David Coughlan, Fionn Febrarro, Gavin Downes; Conor Finucane, Jack Keating; Cathal Murray, Sean Crowley (1-0), Shane Downes; Martin O’Leary (0-5, 3f), Dan Keating, Mark Normoyle (1-0)
Sub: Padraig Lynch for Febrarro (inj)
Referee: Joe Kelly (Cooraclare)
First points for O’Currys
O’Currys 6-16
Ballyvaughan 1-11
Venue: Ballyvaughan
O’Currys made the long journey from Doonaha and Carrigaholt to Ballyvaughan worthwhile on Saturday as they recorded their first win in this season’s Garry Cup.
First half goals from Jim Marrinan and Danny Downes helped them to lead 2-10 to 1-3 at the break with the home side’s goal coming from John Martyn.
Ballyvaughan have struggled in this division this season and remain rooted to the bottom of the table
Ballyvaughan team captain Noah McNamara kicked 0-4 from play, two in each half, from wing back on a day when the visitors had second half goals from Danny Downes, Thomas Clancy (2) and Shane Browne.
Ian Woods, James Costello, Philip Queally and McNamara were best for the North Clare outfit.
O’Currys: Damian Clohessy; Patrick Clancy, Stephen Kelly, Jonathan Clancy; Eoin Brew, Sean Haugh, Seamus Keane; Eoin Troy, Thomas Clancy; Eoin Kelly, Michael Foran, Cathal Downes; Danny Downes, Shane Browne, Jim Marrinan;
Subs: Luke Murray for J. Clancy; Seamus Marrinan for S. Haugh
Ballyvaughan: Damien McNamara; James Costello, Philip Queally, Scion Flanagan; Mark Walsh, James Hynes, Noah McNamara; Phelim Kyne, Cian Walsh; Lorcan Doolin, John Martyn, Cormac McGann; Joseph Flanagan, Dermot Costello, Ian Woods.
Subs: John McCormack for Damien McNamara; Matthew Irwin for Cormac McGann
Referee: Chris Maguire (Wolfe Tones)
