*Seamus Casey on the attack. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

Kildysart finally broke their intermediate final hoodoo when edging out Cooraclare by the bare minimum in a dramatic finale in Cusack Park Ennis on Sunday evening.

Kildysart 0-10
Cooraclare 1-06
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

Following the heartbreak of four final reverses in just six years, a determined Kildysart ensured that they made their own luck this time around when taking the game to Cooraclare from the outset and fully merited their long-awaited return to senior.

Unfortunately, their superior intensity and physicality wasn’t initially matched on the scoreboard as despite scoring the first three points through Jamie Evans (2) and Seamus Casey by the sixth minute, all their good early work was undone in the 19th minute when Sean O’Donoghue palmed a high James Chambers delivery to the net at 1-1 to 0-4.

Kildysart had an immediate opportunity to cancel it out but Luke McGrath’s shot would be repelled by goalkeeper Mark Lillis. To their credit, Kildysart did rebuild their three point advantage thanks to points from Evans, Emmet McMahon and Fergal Ginnane by the 28th minute.

However, Kildysart’s fortunes appeared to turn as a subequent black card for county senior McMahon allied to a nine wide tally only provided the estuary side with a 0-7 to 1-2 half-time cushion.

The only way was up for Cooraclare who did up the ante to finally regain parity with a superb Ciaran O’Donoghue point by the two-thirds mark at 1-5 to 0-8.

However, the Milesians were never able to inch in front at any stage and received a telling blow entering the final quarter when Sean O’Donoghue was sent to the sinbin.

Kildysart capitalised with two of the next three points through Emmet McMahon and Seamus Casey to nudge themselves 0-10 to 1-6 in front by the 54th minute.

However, an eventful final few minutes saw Sean O’Donoghue’s premature return greeted by a yellow and red card, only to see it rescinded when it was realised that he had been given permission to come back on by the fourth official.

And within 30 seconds, Emmet McMahon was instead dismissed for a trip to ensure that instead Kildysart would finish with only 14 men.

Cooraclare pressed for an elusive equaliser but only had a hopeful last gasp effort drift wide of the target as Kildysart held on to finally bridge a 19 year gap to their last Intermediate crown amidst unbridled elation in Clare Headquarters.

Scorers for Kildysart: Jamie Evans (0-3); Seamus Casey, Emmet McMahon (f), Conor Hassett (m) (0-2 each); Fergal Ginnane (0-1)

Scorers for Cooraclare: Ciaran O’Donoghue (0-3, 1f, 1s/l); Sean O’Donoghue (1-0); Mark Tubridy, Micheál Garry (f), Damien Burke (0-1 each)

Cooraclare:
1: Mark Lillis

4: Niall Kelly
26: Thomas Downes
3: Gearoid Looney

7: Micheál Garry
6: Pearse Lillis
2: Gary Donnellan

8: James Chambers
9: Sean O’Donoghue

5: Padraic O’Donoghue
12: Damien Burke
22: Sean Browne

11: Mark Tubridy
10: Brian McNamara
14: Ciaran O’Donoghue

Subs:
18: Keith Marrinan for Browne (HT)
19: John Lillis for Tubridy (HT)
23: Jack Morrissey for J. Lillis (48, inj)
13: Colin McNamara for Marrinan (59)

Kildysart:
1: Conor Cusack

4: Stephen Sheehan
3: Brian Eyres
2: Michael Eustace

5: Rory McMahon
6: Kieran Leahy
7: Fergal Ginnane

8: Keith O’Connor
9: Kieran O’Brien

12: Luke McGrath
10: Seamus Casey
14: Conor Moloney

11: Emmet McMahon
15: Conor Hassett
13: Jamie Evans

Sub:
17: Oisin Coyle for Hassett (63)

Referee: Barry Keating (Lissycasey)

Related News

34_CCC - Boat Launch_250625
Addition of €28k rescue boat a major upgrade to fleet of Clare Civil Defence
madden furniture 1
Landmark Ennis business Madden Furniture to close this month
tablet smartphone laptop 1
Man (58) in South-East Clare charged with having 1544 images of child sex abuse
alan o'callaghan conor ryan tony o'brien pat burke pat hayes 1
'We are the envy of the county' - Hayes says Killaloe MD Cllrs have best working relationship

Advertisement

Latest News
galway greyhound stadium
Double feature win for Long & Collins
micheál murray 1
Mint performance from the Murrays helps Miltown win O'Gorman Cup for second time
tablet smartphone laptop 1
Man (58) in South-East Clare charged with having 1544 images of child sex abuse
waterford v clare camogie 05-07-25 jennifer daly orla hickey 2
Waterford relievedly Rockett to last four following Clare scare
alan o'callaghan conor ryan tony o'brien pat burke pat hayes 1
'We are the envy of the county' - Hayes says Killaloe MD Cllrs have best working relationship
Premium
éire óg vs ballyea 04-07-25 david reidy paddy smyth 1
Éire Óg retain Division 2 League title in derby decider
killaloe canal 1-2
Teenage girl 'scared & angry' after boy (14) 'humped' her from behind in Killaloe
1 DSC_9129
Clare will have 'one hell of a shot' in quarter-final with Waterford - Carmody
inagh kilnamona v clonlara 05-09-21 30 kevin hehir paraic o'loughlin
Inagh/Kilnamona chase first senior title & Clonlara aim to regain silverware
east clare memorial pat hayes
Hayes accusses Tipperary councillor of spreading 'misinformation' on Killaloe to Ballina pedestrianisation

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Advertisement