Seanie Malone in defence. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
RESULTS from the final round of games in Divisions 1(Cusack Cup) and 2 (Garry Cup) have confirmed who will compete in the play offs while also confirming who will be dropping to division 2 for next season.
Despite suffering their second successive loss, holders Ennistymon are through to the Cusack Cup (final. They and Lissycasey have both finished on ten points but Ennistymon take top spot as they defeated Lissycasey when the teams clashed in the second round.
An eight point win over Clondegad has seen Lissycasey finish in second place which gives them a home semi-final.
St Joseph’s Miltown suffered a heavy 22 point defeat from St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield in Monday’s last round but remain in third spot which sees them through to the semi-final when they will travel to play Lissycasey.
Despite their win, their first of this campaign on Monday, St. Breckan’s drop down to Division 2 for next season along with bottom of the table Clondegad.
In the Garry Cup, O’Currys caused a big surprise when they defeated Corofin, a result which sees the West Clare side save their Division 2 status, confining Cooraclare to a drop to division 3 on score difference.
Eire Og have finished top of their group and are through to the final with Kilmihil having home advantage in the semi-final against Corofin. Despite a big w n over their neighbours Kilrush, Doonbeg have just failed to make the play offs. Corofin were already relegated prior to their game with Eire Og.
A major talking point after the final round of games in football was the decision of Michael Cusacks to concede a walkover to Naomh Eoin.
Wolfe Tones have topped the table with 12 points with Cratloe, Naomh Eoin and Cusacks all on 10 points. Two of that three will qualify for the semi-final and a meeting later this week will determine how the semi-finalists will be confirmed following the walkover.
Culligan sparkles as Lissycasey seal semi-final spot
Lissycasey 2-14
Clondegad 1-9
Venue: Ballynacally
Lining out at full forward Daire Culligan was in sparkling form, contributing 1-6 as Lissycasey sealed a place in the semi-final of the Cusack Cup when accounting for Clondegad at Ballynacally on Monday.
The home side opened the scoring but four in a row from Culligan followed by a goal from Conor Meaney with Culligan playing a part in the impressive move, saw the visitors take control.
Clondegad who needed to win to have any chance of avoiding relegation, hit back and Eoghan Donnellan struck for their goal but a like score from Culligan helped his side to a seven point lead at half time when the score was 2-9 to 1-5.
The home side hit a couple of early second half points but but the winners who lined out without their exam contingent, responded with like scores from Shane Griffin, Conor Finnucane and a brace from frees by goalkeeper Thomas Collins on their way to a merited win.
Clondegad were down to fourteen men for ten minutes in the second half after Brian Casey picked up a black card.
Lissycasey: Thomas Collins (0-2,); Enda Meaney, Niall McCarthy, Michael Meaney; Darragh Killeen, Conor Meaney (1-0), Cyril Sheehan; Luke Griffin, Shane Griffin (0-2); Fionn Cotter, Enda Finnucane, Kevin Shivers; Conor Finnucane (0-4), Daire Culligan (1-6), Niall Kelly;
Subs: Shane Culligan for Sheehan; Ronan McCarthy for Shivers; Evan O’Haire for M. Meaney; Francie Hayes for C. Finnucane; Niall Meere for E. Finnucane;
Clondegad; Darren Cleary; Brian Casey, Brian Murphy, Niall Lynch (0-1); Niall Carigg, Cormac Reidy, Conor Gavin; Sean McAllister (0-1), Diarmuid O’Neill; Cillian Gavin (0-5), Mark Crowe, Eoghan Gavin; Mossy Gavin, Ryan Jennings (0-2), Eoghan Donnellan (1-0);
Subs; Podge McMahon for M. Crowe; Dara O’Neill for E. Gavin; Mossy Neylon for C. Gavin
Referee; Barry Kelly, Miltown St. Josephs;
First victory for St Breckan’s
St. Breckan’s 0-13
Kilmurry Ibrickane 1-8
Venue: Lisdoonvarna
Without a win to their credit in this campaign, St Breckan’s knew that relegation was staring them in the face as they lined out against Kilmurry Ibrickane at Lisdoonvarna on Monday.
However, despite recording their first victory in this campaign, other results didn’t go their way and they will be in division 2 net season.
It was also a disappointing outcome for the visitors who would have progressed to the semi-final had they managed a victory.
The home side started well and raced 0-3 clear but a Daryn Callinan goal from the penalty spot left just the minimum between the sides at half time when the score was 0-6 to 1-2.
The visitors started the second half well and opened a o ne point lead but it could have been greater. Joe Campbell saw his effort with a goal at his mercy go over the bar shortly after the resumption.
With midfielder Padraig Kelly in scoring form he fired over eight points, the home side responded to earn a narrow victory
St. Breckan’s: Tristan O’Callaghan; Conor Burke, Maccon Byrne, Paddy Haugh; Patrick O’Dwyer, Cian Burke, Thomas O’Dwyer; Padraig Kelly (0-8), Liam Tierney; Rowan Danaher (0-1), Denis O’Callaghan, Colm O’Brien; Conor Shannon, Joe McGann (0-2), Dale Masterson (0-2);
Subs: Robert O’Connell for D. O’Callaghan; Rowan Fitzpatrick for P. Haugh; Cathal Morgan for C. Shannon
Kilmurry Ibrickane: David Sexton; Mark Killeen, Michael Comber, Conor Kearney; Diarmuid Comber, Evan Cahill, Daire Sexton; Diarmuid King, Andrew Shannon; Colin Considine, Caoilfhinn O’Dea (0-1), Oisin Sexton; Joe Campbell (0-2), Daryn Callinan (1-3), Jason Cussen;
Subs: Michael O’Dwyer (0-2) for Cussen; Shay Gleeson for O. Sexton; David O’Donoghue for D. Comber
Referee: John O’Connell (Cooraclare)
All so easy for St Josephs
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 3-16
St Joseph’s Miltown 0-3
Venue: Gurteen
Whatever about predicting who might win this tie at Gurteen on Monday, it’s fair to say that few, if indeed any, would have forecast the margin that would be between the sides at the final whistle.
St. Josephs Doora/Barefield dominated this tie from the outset and they were well on the road to the points at the half way stage when they led by fourteen points, 2-9 to 0-1.
Kieran Thynne from the penalty spot and Nikki Hardiman were the team’s first half goalscorers.
They continued where they had left off when the second half got underway and they struck for their third goal through substitute Conor Brannock.
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Tom O’Brien; Sam Costelloe, Conor O’Brien, Eoin Boyle; Kieran Thynne (1-0), Cian McDonagh, Cathal O’Brien; Dara O’Shea, James Curran (0-5); Odhran O’Connell (0-2), Eoghan Thynne (0-1), Conor Daly; Tom McDonald (0-4), Michael Nash (0-2), Nikki Hardiman (1-1).
Subs; Fionn Kelleher for E Boyle; Joe Rafferty (0-1) for Costelloe; Comor Brannock (1-0) for Hardiman, Joe Keane for D. O’Shea; Conal Kelleher for C. Daly.
St Joseph’s Miltown; Sean O’Brien; Eoin O’Brien, Seanie Malone; Cormac Devitt; Jamesie O’Connor, Sean Neylon, Cian O’Mahoney (0-2); Oisin Looney, Darragh McDonagh (0-1); Gavin Twomey, Kieran Malone Gearoid Burke; Dominick Griffin, Euan Lineen, Cillian Keavey.
Subs: Paul Frawley for Keavey Eanna O’Connor for G. Burke; Brendan O’Brien for S. Malone; Ger Malone for E. Lineen; Dermot O’Sullivan for D. Griffin.
Referee: Barry Keating (Lissycasey)
Narrow win for Kildysart
Kildysart 2-10
Ennistymon 1-12
Venue: Kildysart
Going into this tie at Kildysart on Saturday, the possibility of relegation existed for the home side. They were clearly determined to hold on to their division 1 status and they got a great start when Jack Cotter struck for a goal.
Ennistymon hit back strongly and when the half time whistle sounded there was just a point between the sides with the score at 1-4 to 0-6.
The teams continued to trade scores in the second half with Diarmuid O’Donnell kicking some impressive scores for the home side.
The second half goals came from Keith White for Ennistymon and Rory McMahon who converted a penalty for the winners. Kieran O’Brien kicked the winning point for the home side.
Kildysart: Kieran Eyers; Mark Moloney, Kieran Leahy, Stevie Sheehan; Rory McMahon (1-1), Conor Moloney, Oisin Coyle; Conor Cusack, Kieran O’Brien (0-1); Conor Hassett (0-1), Seamus Casey (0-1), Mikey Donnellan; Diarmuid O’Donnell (0-4), Keith Murphy (0-1), Jack Cotter (1-0);
Subs: Conal Casey for Cotter; Michael Eustace (0-1) for C. Cusack;
Ennistymon; Noel Sexton; Joe Casey, Conor Rynne, John Murphy; Liam Cotter, Josh Guyler, Tiernan Hogan; Eoin Rouine, Josh Vaughan (0-1); Darren McNamara (0-2), Niall Canavan (0-2), Ciaran McMahon (0-1); Eanna Rouine, Keelan Guyler (0-3), Gearoid Barry (0-1);
Subs; Mark Kelleher (0-1) for G.Barry; Keith White (1-1) for Eoin Rouine; David McNamara for L. Cotter; Joe Dowling for K. Goyler
Referee: Fergal O’Brien (Broadford)
Battling O’Currys save Division 2 status
O’Currys 2-10
Corofin 0-12
Venue: Doonaha
O’Currys have struggled in this season’s league and they were second from bottom and heading for Division 3 going into this tie against Corofin who were sure of a place in the play offs.
The West Clare side have been in this position before and have shown their battling qualities when avoiding relegation and they did just that again this time around.
A point separated the sides at half time when the score was 0-5 to 0-4, Corofin having failed to convert from the penalty spot when Damian Clohessy saved from Damian O’Loughlin.
As the game wore on the home side grew in confidence and second half goals from Danny Downes and a Thomas Clancy penalty after Shane Browne had been fouled proved decisive.
They went six points clear going into the final quarter and while
Corofin cut it back to three, time wasn’t on their side.
Gearoid Cahill kicked all but a point of his side’s total on a day when they were short a number of regulars and only had fifteen players available, similar to their opponents.
O’Currys: Damian Clohessy; Jonathan Clancy, Stephen Kelly, Paddy Clancy; Eoin Brew, Sean Haugh, Seamus Keane (0-1); Eoin Troy Thomas Clancy (1-3); Cathal Downes (0-1), Michael Foran, Eoin Kelly; Shane Browne (0-3), Danny Downes (1-2), Jim Marrinan.
Corofin: Eoin Davoran; Marc O’Loughlin, Damian O’Loughlin, Colin Fitzgerald; John Rees, Kevin Keane, Evan Doolin; Gearoid Kelly (0-1), Caoimhin O’Donovan; Sean O’Brien, Gearoid Cahill (0-11), Cian Doolin; Cillian Clancy, Cathal Flanagan, Cillian McGroary;
Referee: Barry Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown)
Kilmihil seal semi-final spot
Kilmihil 1-11
Coorclare 0-8
Venue: Cooraclare
Martin O’Leary top scored for Kilmihil as they accounted for their neighbours Cooraclare, a result which relegates the Milesians.
The dual star contributed 1-6 to his side’s tally as they sealed their place in the semi-final when they will have home advantage against Corofin.
Kilmihil made their intentions known from the start and they had opened a six point led by half time when the score was 0-7 to 0-1 against their neighbours who were short quite a number of their regular squad.
Kilmihil: Damian Lineen; Padraig Lynch, John Finnucane, Padraig O’Grady; David Coughlan, Fionn Febbraro, Gavin Downes; Dan Keating, Stan Lineen; Colm Pender, Jack Keating, Cathal Murray; Martin O’Leary, Shane Downes, Mark Normoyle.
Subs: Alan Normoyle for Colm Pender; Shane Egan for Padraig Lynch
Cooraclare; Oisin Morrissey; Ciaran Chambers, Robert Ryan, Gearoid Lillis; Micheál Garry, Fergal Donnellan, Thomas Downes; Jake Garry, James Burke; Noel Gavin, Cathal O’Gorman, Sean Browne; Gary Cunningham, James Chambers, Colin McNamara
Subs: Shane Lillis for Gary Cunningham; Colm Carroll for O’Gorman; Jimmy Gallagher for N. Gavin;
Referee: Pat Healy (Kilmaley)
Doonbeg in scoring form
Doonbeg 6-13
Kilrush 2-4
Venue: Shanahan McNamara Memorial Park, Doonbeg
Despite running up an impressive tally of 6-13, Doonbeg failed narrowly to qualify for the Division 2 league play offs.
The Magpies were always on top in this tie against their neighbours and they had the points in the bag long before the final whistle.
They were 5-5 to 1-1 in front at the interval in a tie in which former Clare star David Tubridy top scored with 3-6 to his credit.
To be fair, Kilrush were short a number of first choice players but the day belonged to Doonbeg.
Doonbeg: Eamonn Tubridy; Conor O’Mahoney, James Killeen, Jason Linnane; Cian O’Mahoney (1-0) Kevin Pender, Coin Conway (0-1); Sean Conway, Mikie Tubridy (1-0); Cathal Killeen, David Tubridy (3-6), Gavin O’Shea (0-2); Eoin Killeen, Paul Dillon (1-0), Darragh Burns (0-4);
Subs: Eamonn O’Dea for E. Tubridy; Cian Clancy for J. Killeen; Luke Conway for P. Dillon; Jamie Russell for E. Killeen; Rory Walshe for M. Tubridy
Kilrush Shamrocks: David Jones; Niall Brennan, Paudie Browne, Evan Power; Sean Purtill, Dylan O’Brien, Harry Looney; Sean Madigan (1-0), Calum Bond; Tadhg Lysaght, Ross Phelan (0-2) Ben McKiernan; Cathal Carigg, Dale O’Neill (1-2), Sean Keane
Subs: Joe Miniter for Looney; Damian Carey for C. Carigg; Tommy Dullaghan for Keane.
Referee: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)
Éire Óg through to Garry Cup final
Éire Óg 1-14
Ballyvaughan 0-7
Venue: Ballyvaughan
Éire Óg sealed their place in the Garry Cup final and with it promotion back to the Cusack Cup with this victory over Ballyvaughan at the latter’s venue on Monday afternoon.
Helped by a goal from Philip Talty who shone on the day with 1-6 to his credit, the Ennis side led 1-7 to 0-5 at the interval against an already relegated Ballyvaughan.
Paul Madden’s side had the greater experience and it proved too much on the say and they emerged as deserving winners.
On the day James Howard and Phelim Kyne at midfield, Philip Queally at full back and Ian Woods in the forward division.tried hardest for the home side.
Éire Óg; Shane Daniels; Eoin Guilfoyle, Aaron Fitzgerald, Dean D’Auria; Ciaran Russell (0-1), Aidan McGrath, Jarlath Collins; Niall McMahon, Darren O’Neill (0-3); Oran Cahill (0-1), Dean Ryan, Gavin D’Auria (0-1); Jack Joyce Darren O’Brien (0-2) Philip Talty (1-6).
Subs: Gearoid Collins for D. D’ Auria; Sam Power for D. Ryan; Mark Collins for J. Joyce;
Ballyvaughan; John McCormack; James Costello, Philip Queally , Joseph Flanagan; Mark Walsh (0-1), Jamie Hynes. Noah McNamara (0-1); James Howard (0-5), Phelim Kyne, Ian Woods, John Martyn, Scion Flanagan; Darragh O’Brien, Cian Walsh, Martin Howard
Sub: Oisín Casasín for O’Brien
Referee: Joe Kelly (Cooraclare)
