*Cillian Gavin claims the ball in the air for Clondegad. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
SEVEN of the eight quarter final places in the TUS Clare intermediate football championship have been filled with the remaining spot resting between O’Currys and Coolmeen who will meet on September 14/15.
Kilrush Shamrocks, Naomh Eoin and Wolfe Tones have topped their groups with the runners up spots filled by Banner, Clondegad and Cooraclare respectively.
Shannon Gaels have qualified in third spot behind Naomh Eoin and Clondegad. Score difference saw the ‘Gaels edge out Ennistymon.
Liscannor, Ennistymon and Killimer will battle it out to determine who will drop down to junior A
Another win for Kilrush
Kilrush Shamrocks 4-11
Liscannor 1-7
Venue: Páirc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty
Kilrush continued their winning run in this year’s TUS intermediate football championship when proving too strong for a Liscannor side who were without a number of players due to injury
Two goals in each half helped the Shams to this latest victory which had helped them to top their group and seal a quarter final place.
It was 2-3 to 0-5 at the interval and the winners continued to dominate in the second period.
While pleased with the win they will be concerned that they wasted a number of good scoring chances and this could well prove costly further on in the campaign.
Liscannor lost goalkeeper John Kerin to injury during the course of the game and this further disrupted the team on a day when long serving Alan Clohessy again led the attack strongly and contributed 0-4 to their tally.
Substitute Shane Curtin took over the goalkeeping duties after Kerin’s injury and Cobhan Phillipson returned to the action up front.
Kilrush Shamrocks: David Jones; Niall Brennan, Padraig Browne, Jimmy Browne; Sean Canny, Dylan O’Brien, Evan Power; Ewan Kelly, Kieran Bermingham (1-0); Tadhg Lysaght, Gearoid O’Brien (0-4), Dean Neary; Don O’Driscoll (2-3), Conor Fennell (1-4), Tommy Dullaghan;
Subs: Sean Purtill for N Brennan; Cathal Carigg for T. Lysaght; Dale O’Neill for K. Bermingham; Keith Crowley for D. Neary
Liscannor: John Kerin; Paul McLoughlin, Robert Lucas, Tom Hanrahan; Francesco Bonito, Darren Nagle, Brian Leyden; Padraig Haugh (0-1), Stephen Murray (0-1); Michael Foley, Alan Clohessy (0-4), Dara Blake; Dan White, Sean McDonagh, Cobhan Phillipson (1-1)
Subs: Diarmuid Commane for B. Leyden; Shane Curtin for C. Phillipson; Phillipson for J. Kerin (inj)
Referee: Niall Quinn (St Joseph’s Miltown)
Meehan’s goals send Banner into quarter final
Banner 4-8
Coolmeen 0-7
Venue: Lissycasey
Four goals from the talented Shane Meehan helped Banner to a comfortable win over Coolmeen in this round 3 intermediate football championship game at Lissycasey on Sunday afternoon.
The victory confirms Banner as second in their group and safely through to the quarter finals while Coolmeen will now face O’Currys in a play off for the last quarter final place.
Neill
A hat trick of goals in the opening half from Meehan, the All-Ireland senior hurling medal winner with Clare, helped the Ennis based side to an eleven point interval lead when the score was 3-4 to 0-2.
They continued to hold the upperhand in the second half but it was a much tighter affair. Meehan’s fourth goal left Coolmeen with a big hill to climb but they battled to the end helped by some good scores Dylan Power, Cathal O’Connor and Ronan Murphy.
Banner: Mark Cleary; Niall Walsh, James Coakley, Cian Rynne; Justin McGrath, Eoin Walsh, Mufana Flynn; Thomas Meeneghan (0-2), Brian McDonald (0-1); Conor Dennehy, Shane Meehan (4-1), Johnny Martyn; Ronan Kilroy (0-1), Matthew McGrath, Sean McMahon (0-3).
Subs: Kenneth Higgins for M. McGrath; Aaron Kelly for J. Coakley; Diarmuid Toner for J. Martyn; Darren Meehan for C. Rynne; Conor O’Toole for R. Kilroy
Coolmeen: J.J. Carigg; Adam Wallace, Gary Meaney, Alan Normoyle; Thomas Coffey, Brian Markham, Rian Meaney; Eoin O’Connor, Cathal O’Connor (0-1); Dylan Power (0-5), Cian Murphy, Dylan O’Halloran; Aidan Corry, Ben Cleary, Jamie Brooks
Subs: Jack Hanrahan for R. Meaney; David Hehir for B. Cleary; Ronan Murphy (0-1) for A. Corry; Eoghan Corry for J. Brooks;
Referee: Pat Keane (Lissycasey)
Scoring confusion but Clondegad still come out on top
Clondegad 0-12
Shannon Gaels 1-6
Venue: Kildysart
By Páraic McMahon
Officially the final score is 0-12 1-6 in favour of Clondegad but by right it should be 0-13 1-6 as a Podge McMahon score in the opening half on sixteen minutes was not noted by the referee nor was there a signal from the match official Joe Kelly that this point was disallowed despite his protestations that it was made clear to all in attendance.
At half time the score was 0-8 1-3 in favour of the winners, this was even accepted by some of those involved with Shannon Gaels but the referee advised his linesman Pat Keane to inform this reporter that the score tweeted was incorrect, the linesman was unable to point out which of the eight scores put between the posts was now null and void.
In fact a day later, the referee was unable to recall which of the points he supposedly disallowed when questioned on the matter, instead he suggested that this reporter attend more football matches to get a better understanding of the rules while one of his umpires pointed out that the absence of a scoreboard in Kildysart should have been the focus of queries. Given that the video of the game also fails to show the referee disallowing the score, one can speculate that the official may have made a mistake but is slow to admit to this.
As Kelly himself pointed out the referee’s score is final, luckily for him the blunder didn’t end up getting closer inspection as Shannon Gaels had Ennistymon on more than a point on scoring difference to claim the third spot in the table. The referee also did nothing over the course of sixty minutes to instruct Jack Reidy, an injured Shannon Gaels player on crutches off the field, he stood well over the sideline for the entire game and indeed obstructed runs by Clondegad’s Cormac Reidy on more than one occasion, even someone from ‘a hurling background’ as Mr Kelly might put it is able to see that the rules were not adhered to here.
Overall, Clondegad were deserving winners, of that there can be no arguments. They seemed to be on their way to totally obliterating the Gaels based on their first quarter but they took their foot off the gas and certainly made things more difficult than they needed to be.
Barry Toner with a free, Cillian Gavin from play and two well-taken Eoghan Donnellan points had Clondegad in control, they added to their tally with a well-taken Podge McMahon effort, a small tussle involving players in the aftermath of this may have distracted the referee from noting this score though.
Rising tensions on the field seemed to ignite Shannon Gaels who then kicked three points without reply to make it a one score game. They were level when John Ryan struck for goal after Thomas Kelly was the creator.
Suddenly despite playing all the football, Clondegad found themselves on level terms but they kicked two more points from McMahon and Toner to go in leading by two points or so we thought.
Dylan Kenny and Toner traded scores on the restart but the Gaels’ challenge appeared to fade away with Clondegad certainly not turning up any trees but they kept their account ticking with McMahon adding two scores and another Toner effort, this time from play.
A twenty six minute spell without a score for Shannon Gaels ended when Matthew Reidy split the posts, it was followed by a Dylan Kenny free until Toner produced the final score of the afternoon from a placed ball.
It’s rare in sport to see teams celebrate a loss but it was witnessed in Kildysart as Shannon Gaels knew the outcome of Naomh Eoin versus Ennistymon and their calculations had the side managed by Fergie O’Loughlin and coached by Derek Dormer advance to the knockout stages, this despite winning a game but largely due to the precious seven minutes played when six were signalled which gave them the time to score an equaliser versus Ennistymon in the first round.
Minus Darragh Bohannon amongst others, Shannon Gaels’ challenge is greatly weakened but in Dylan Kenny they have one of the best kickers in the club championship in Clare. Kenny again led by example with Thomas Kelly showing moments of what he can do.
For Clondegad it’s two wins in a row and if James Murrihy and his management can utilise the month effectively until the quarter-final then they can approach the knockout stages with confidence. For them, Sean McAllister, Eoghan Donnellan, Podge McMahon and Brian Casey stood out.
Scorers Clondegad: B Toner (0-5 4f), P McMahon (0-4 2f but he technically scored 0-5), E Donnellan (0-2), C Gavin (0-1)
Scorers Shannon Gaels: D Kenny (0-3 2f 1’45), J Ryan (1-0), F Kenny (0-1), D Bannigan (0-1), M Reidy (0-1).
Clondegad: Darren Cleary; Niall Lynch, Peter Casey, Tadhg Ó hUallacháin; Kieran McDonnell, Brian Casey, Ryan Jennings; Sean McAllister, Cillian Brennan; Cillian Gavin, Barry Toner, Eoghan Gavin; Podge McMahon, Mossy Gavin, Eoghan Donnellan.
Subs: Eoin Kennedy for Donnellan (52), Colm Meaney for M Gavin (54), Diarmuid O’Neill for McMahon (58), Brian Murphy for Lynch (58)
Shannon Gaels: David Neylon; Eoin Keane, Matthew Reidy, Fergal Kenny; Thomas Kenny, Dylan Kenny, Damien Downes; Thomas Kelly, Tadhg Kelly; Cormac Moloney, David Bannigan, Jack McCarthy; John Ryan, Niall Ellis, Tomás Cleary.
Subs: Aaron Lee McMahon for Moloney (44), Martin Tubridy for Ryan (50).
Referee: Joe Kelly (Cooraclare)
Naomh Eoin seal quarter final spot
Naomh Eoin 1-11
Ennistymon 0-8
Venue: Shanahan McNamara Memorial Park, Doonbeg
Fifty years since their formation Naomh Eoin from the parish of Cross and Kilbaha in the Loop Head Peninsula are riding the crest of a wave.
A merited six point win over Ennistymon on Saturday evening has seen them seal top spot in their group and book a quarter final spot in the intermediate championship.
In a tie in which they were never behind, Odhran Lynch’s goal a minute before the half time whistle played a key part in their latest victory.
He brilliantly found the roof of the net when finishing a move started by the outstanding Niall Bonfil whose movement and pace caused a lot of problems for Ennistymon and led to a number of his team’s scores.
The game’s only goal saw the winners go to the break with a four point advantage, 1-4 to 0-3.
There was a strong response from Ennistymon at the start of the second half when they landed 0-3 without reply in five minutes to move to within a point of the winners.
Points were then exchanged and there was still the minimum separating the sides at the three quarter stage.
Naomh Eoin turned in a strong final quarter and landed the next six points to lead by seven entering ‘injury time’.
Adam Haugh, Conor and Gavin Magner, Owen Lynch, Tomas and Niall Bonfil were prominent for the winners while Lawrence Healy John Murphy, Dara Rouine, Paudie Considine and Darren McNamara did well for the losers.
Naomh Eoin; Sean Roche; Adam Foley (0-1), Tomas Bonfil, Declan Keniry; Adam Haugh (0-1), Conor Magner (0-1), Conor Tevlin; Andrew Naughton, Gavin Magner; Fergal Keane, Odhran Lynch (1-0), Eoin Hanrahan; Gearoid Lynch (0-2), Niall Bonfil (0-1), Owen Lynch (0-5);
Sub: Seamus Boland for G. Lynch
Ennistymon; Conor Gallagher; Alex Leyden, Lawrence Healy, Michael Vaughan; Joe Casey, John Murphy, Seanie Conneally; Mark Kelleher, Dara Rouine; Eoin Marrinan, Niall Canavan (0-1) Joe Dowling (0-1); Paudie Considine (0-3), Darren McNamara (0-2), Ryan Barry (0-1)
Sub: Cathal McConigley. For Marrinan
Referee: Brian Shanahan (Doonbeg)
Cooraclare come good in second half to claim quarter-final berth
Cooraclare 1-14
O’Currys 1-9
Venue: Kilkee
By Páraic McMahon
Glorious sunshine made Kilkee a perfect venue for the third round tie of O’Currys and Cooraclare on Friday evening where the greater depth of the Milesians made the difference plus they had more oil in the tank when push came to shove.
O’Currys had the aid of a slight breeze in the opening half, one which died down on the resumption, it helped them carve out a strong opening quarter but their decision to deploy Jim Marrinan as a support man to their defence rather than an extra man in attack weakened what they could do on the ball.
Danny Downes was involved in their first two scores, kicking the first and winning the free for the second which Thomas Clancy converted. Brian McNamara opened Cooraclare’s account on five minutes but it was cancelled out by Clancy’s second free, this time the foul was committed on Cathal Downes.
Two more Clancy frees along with Downes’ second point coupled with another McNamara white flag had O’Currys 0-6 0-2 ahead by the sixteenth minute with Cooraclare really struggling to get into the game.
They managed to claw back with a very opportunistic goal. Robert Ryan didn’t connect properly with his attempt and the ball spilled to Colin McNamara who was the quickest to react and he struck to the net to reduce the deficit to a single point and undo all of O’Currys positive work heretofore.
Clancy and Sean Browne swapped scores before Micheál Garry spurned a goal chance which would have given Cooraclare the lead for the first time. Cathal O’Gorman produced a composed effort to put them on level terms with twenty seven minutes played.
Right before the break, O’Currys put themselves in a commanding position. Cathal Downes gathered possession and ran towards goal where he distributed the ball across which Eoin Troy palmed to the net to have them 1-7 1-4 in front and raiding for goal at a sublime time.
There were three changes in attack to Cooraclare’s team from the second round to the third round and management were not afraid to make changes in the third quarter. One of those introduced, Jack Carey had their first score of the second half which was followed by a Micheál Garry free to bring them within a point.
Sean Haugh broke the line to set up Eoin Kelly for O’Currys first score of the half on forty three minutes but it was cancelled out by a James Burke effort from distance. They drew level on forty seven minutes with Garry converting a free and they took the lead when goalkeeper Oisin Morrisey landed a placed ball on fifty three minutes.
Cooraclare were growing in confidence while O’Currys were beginning to tire. The roars got louder and the celebrations more dramatic when they went three points in front, Burke and Garry again adding to their tallies.
Eoin Troy had a chance to get a second goal but had to settle for a point when his effort was stopped but he reacted to the rebound. The Doora/Barefield coach finished the game on one leg after a suspected hamstring tear.
Troy’s point had the gap at two points but Cooraclare kicked three points in the final four minutes of the game to record a five point win.
Sixty percent of O’Currys final tally was all scored inside the first sixteen minutes of the tie. The men from Carrigaholt and Doonaha always bring great spirit but were caught by their lack of fresh legs and tiring bodies on the field. Thomas Clancy and Paddy Clancy tried hard throughout. Dinny McMahon’s side will wear the favourites tag for their play off with Coolmeen and should take the more scenic route to the quarter-finals.
Over their last two championship games, Cooraclare have missed seven scoreable placed balls. As they enter the knockout stages they will need to have a more clinical approach here and also find a way for their main men Brian McNamara and Micheál Garry to have more prominent roles over sixty minutes.
Scorers Cooraclare: M Garry (0-4 2f), C McNamara (1-0), B McNamara (0-3), J Burke (0-2), J Carey (0-2), S Browne (0-1), C O’Gorman (0-1), O Morrissey (0-1 1f).
Scorers O’Currys: T Clancy (0-5 4f), E Troy (1-1), D Downes (0-2 1f), E Kelly (0-1).
Cooraclare: Oisin Morrissey; Gearoid Lillis, Jake Garry, Aaron Townsend; Micheál Garry, Fergal Donnellan, Tom Downes; James Burke; Brian McNamara, Robert Ryan; Sean Browne, Cathal O’Gorman, Kevin Marrinan; Colin McNamara, Rory Lillis.
Subs: Jack Carey for C McNamara (32), John Lillis for R Lillis (38), Padraic O’Donoghue for O’Gorman (48), James Chambers for J Lillis (52), Ciaran Chambers for Browne (62)
O’Currys: Damien Clohessy; Paddy Clancy, Stephen Kelly, Jonathan Clancy; Jim Marrinan, Seamus Keane, Seán Haugh, Eoin Brew; Eoin Troy, Thomas Clancy; Eoin Kelly, Michael Foran, Cathal Downes; Ian Roche, Danny Downes.
Subs: David Byrne for Roche (40).
Referee: Barry Keating (Lissycasey)
Second half goals help Wolfe Tones extend winning run
Wolfe Tones 3-11
Killimer 0-12
Venue: Lissycasey
Goals from Colin Riordan and Jack Ryan in the space of a minute early in the second half were key to Wolfe Tones’ victory over Killimer in this round 3 intermediate championship game at Lissycasey on Friday evening.
The win has seen the Shannon side complete their group schedule of three games undefeated and top the group and they are now eagerly looking forward to the championship quarter final draw.
They carried the favourites tag into this game but they played second fiddle for much of the opening half to competition first timers Killimer who won the junior A title last season.
In fact the West Clare men led at the break, 0-7 to 0-6 and they were a little unlucky not to have been further ahead at this time.
Five minutes into the second half the winners struck for their first goal which came from Colin Riordan and within a minute Killimer were picking the ball from the net again after Jack Ryan had struck.
The winners third goal came in the closing minutes when Riordan struck for his second major of the evening.
For Wolfe Tones now it’s onto the quarter final whereas Killimer will compete in the relegation play off seeking to avoid a return to junior A
Wolfe Tones; Shane Russell; Shane Nihill, Aaron Kelly, Niall Fitzgerald (0-2); Jason McAuley, Jamye O’Sullivan (0-1), Conor Carigg; Joe McGauley, Brian Murphy; Tadhg Fitzgerald, Craig Riordan, Jack Ryan (1-0); Cody Wallers, Gary Leahy (0-5), Colin Riordan (2-1)
Subs: Fionn McInerney for S. Russell; Chris Dunning for Colin Riordan; Brian (0-1) for Waller; Eoghan Gough (0-1) for J. McGauley; Aaron Rudd for G Leany;
Killimer: Cian Corry; Fiachra McKeown, Declan Pyne, Martin Crowe; Odhran Cunningham, Joe Hassett, Sean Kelly; Sean Reynolds, Bryan Grogan; Stephen Grogan, Aidan Reynolds (0-5), Kevin Hassett; Mikey Kelleher (0-4), Jack Browne, Jack Kelleher (0-3)
Subs: Owen Meaney for M. Crowe; Joe Meehan for A Reynolds; Sean Grogan for J. Kelleher
Referee: Barry Kelly (St. Joseph’s Miltown)
