*Fergal Ginnane celebrates scoring Kildysart’s goal. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
KILDYSART came out on top against St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield to tee up a preliminary quarter-final with rivals Lissycasey.
Kildysart 1-12
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 1-11
Venue: Clarecastle
Tight from start to finish, the sides were level on eight occasions over the hour but it was Luke McGrath’s score on fifty five minutes which made all the difference as Doora/Barefield spurned four scoreable opportunities subsequent to this to get level for the ninth time.
With the inside line threat of Emmet McMahon and Diarmuid O’Donnell accounting for 0-9 of Kildysart’s total 1-12 tally, they were the danger man but it was Fergal Ginnane who operated in a free role that popped up for their goal in the last attack of the first half to swing the lead in their favour heading for the dressing rooms.
Prior to this, Nicki Hardiman had goaled for The Parish on twenty eight minutes, Tom Hannan providing a delivery from distance which Kildysart goalkeeper Kieran Eyres fumbled and allowed Hardiman a handy finish.
Seamus Casey responded with a well-taken point and then Ginnane supplied the goal, both men making fine runs off the ball to make themselves available for each score.
To lose an unbeaten streak will hurt Doora/Barefield but they appear to have taken more hits in terms of personnel which is a greater worry. Teak tough defender Fionn Kelleher went off injured on sixteen minutes and he was followed by wing back Cian McDonough and midfielder Darragh O’Shea. A growing injury list will make Donagh Vaughan and his management appreciative of a month’s wait until their next outing in the quarter-finals.
Emmet McMahon was Kildysart’s only scorer in the first quarter, chipping in with three points while James Curran opened Doora/Barefield’s account on nine minutes. Tom Curran had a chance to goal for Doora/Barefield but his effort was blocked by Eyres on eighteen minutes, the subsequent 45 was converted by Tom O’Brien before an Eoghan Thynne free had them on level terms.
McMahon and Tom Curran swapped points as did O’Donnell and Tom McDonald before Hardiman pounced for goal but Kildysart responded with an unanswered 1-1 to lead 1-6 1-5 at the half-time break.
O’Donnell made that a three point lead with the first two scores on the restart while Eyres saved from Nicki Hardiman on thirty two minutes. McDonald kicked Doora/Barefield’s first score of the half on their next attack but Kildysart hit back with the McMahon brothers, Emmet and Rory splitting the posts.
Doora/Barefield’s dominaint spell saw them kick the next three scores, Joe Rafferty adding the first before McDonald showed the damage he can do when running at defences with the next two. They had chances during this spell to nudge ahead but took on shots when better options were in sight.
A twelve minute scoring drought for Kildysart ended when O’Donnell converted a free but Doora/Barefield drew level with two Tom Curran efforts, one from play and another from a free.
Luke McGrath’s only contribution to the scoreboard turned out to be the winning point on fifty five minutes as further chances for Doora/Barefield from Tom Curran, Odhran O’Connell and Eoghan Thynne tailed wide, had this been a do or die contest they would certainly have questioned why goalkeeper Tom O’Brien wasn’t brought up field to kick either of the two missed placed balls in this spell.
Poor scoring difference based on their concession of four goals against St Breckan’s meant Kildysart were aware their chances of going directly to the quarter-finals were slim before round three. They’ll relish a chance at their neighbours Lissycasey in the preliminary quarter-final and given that their opponents have suffered successive defeats will certainly be confident for that tie.
They did very well in retaining Kieran Eyres’ kickouts and are not restricted at having to go short to do given the physical players they possess in the middle third. Opposiing defences will struggle to handle both Emmet McMahon and Diarmuid O’Donnell while the industrious showing from Fergal Ginnane is what’s needed from a player in his role.
Direct running from Doora/Barefield, particularly from Tom McDonald saw them at their most effective. He hit 0-4 from play in a fine showing over the hour but once again they will be disappointed with how they finished the game, coughing up missed chances and allowing their opponents to come out on top. They have plenty of time to prepare for their next game and kick on.
Scorers Kildysart: E McMahon (0-5 2f), D O’Donnell (0-4 1f), F Ginnane (1-0), S Casey (0-1), R McMahon (0-1), L McGrath (0-1).
Scorers St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: T McDonald (0-4), T Curran (0-3 1f), N Hardiman (1-0), J Curran (0-1), T O’Brien (0-1 1’45), E Thynne (0-1 1f), J Rafferty (0-1).
Kildysart:
1: Kieran Eyres
7: Oisin Coyle
3: Kieran Leahy
4: Stephen Sheehan
2: Fergal Ginnane
5: Rory McMahon
6: Conor Moloney
12: Mikey Donnellan
8: Keith O’Connor
9: Kieran O’Brien
22: Conall Casey
11: Luke McGrath
10: Seamus Casey
15: Emmet McMahon
13: Diarmuid O’Donnell
Subs:
20: Keith Murphy for S Casey (56)
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield:
1: Tom O’Brien
2: Fionn Kelleher
3: Conor O’Brien
4: Eoghan Boyle
5: Jack Hannan
6: Tom Hannan
7: Cian McDonough
8: James Curran
9: Darragh O’Shea
10: Nicki Hardiman
12: Eoghan Thynne
11: Joseph Rafferty
15: Tom Curran
14: Michael Nash
13: Tom McDonald
Subs:
18: Kieran Thynne for Kelleher (16) (inj)
21: Cathal O’Brien for McDonough (36) (inj)
17: Odhran O’Connell for J Curran (39)
19: Paddy Bugler for Nash (43)
James Curran for O’Shea (53)
Referee: John O’Connell (Cooraclare)
