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*Shane Griffin scores Lissycasey’s first goal. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
FRESH FROM WINNING THE CUSACK CUP LISSYCASEY laid down a marker in the opening round of the TUS Clare senior football championship when dispatching of neighbours Kilmihil.
Lissycasey 2-16
Kilmihil 0-7
Venue: Captain Tubridy Park, Kilrush
Running with a purpose with options off the shoulder, Lissycasey gave Kilmihil a welcome back to the top tier of the Clare football championship by recording a fifteen point win.
Within ninety seconds, Lissycasey had 1-1 on the board and Kilmihil began to fear the worst. They began to settle and with that had a greater involvement in proceedings, bringing it back to a three point game on three different occasions in the first half.
Before a ball was kicked, Lissycasey entered the game as favourites and when they left Kilrush that tag was fully justified but the potential of what they can do in the championship has increased, aided greatly by the fact that they possess a high amount of scoring forwards.
Sweepers were in operation at either end of the field, Niall Kelly fulfilling the role as he has done since Aiden ‘Horse’ Moloney took the reins with Lissycasey and Mikey Keating in the equivalent spot for Kilmihil.
Connor Meaney’s move to centre back from attack has been another transition during Moloney’s two seasons in charge, Meaney a former Clare minor has grown into the role and was tasked with shackling Clare forward Ciaran Downes on this occasion. He has brought a bite to the position and this edge resulted in him receiving a black card right before the half-time whistle after he threw Downes to the ground off the ball.
Their pace troubled Kilmihil at the other end of the field, it’s how they were in for 1-1 before the intermediate champions realised it. Daire Culligan fisted over the opening point before Conor Finnucane had the pass across goal which was palmed to the net by Shane Griffin.
Aaron Griffin had their next score on four minutes before Kilmihil got going thanks to Ciaran Downes with a free and a nice Cathal Murray score from distance.
Freetakers Conor Finnucane and Ciaran Downes traded scores as Kilmihil kept the gap at three points, this remained the distance after Griffin kicked his second point and Martin O’Leary fired over a well-taken point.
O’Leary’s score was their last of the half as Lissycasey powered on with white flags from Conor Finnucane, Shane Griffin, Niall Kelly and Daire Culligan, their return of four points in a row gave them a seven point margin at the half-time whistle.
Scores were far from plentiful for Kilmihil on the restart, they in fact went thirty nine minutes without a score until Conor Finucane stopped the rot, this was quickly followed by a free from O’Leary.
In between they had conceded 1-6 in the second half, this coupled with the end of the first half saw them ship 1-10 in succession. Again it was Shane Griffin who goaled in the second half, Aaron Griffin offloaded to substitute Darragh Killeen who spotted Shane on his right shoulder, he made no mistake with the opportunity put before him.
Overall, Lissycasey were better in all sectors. They possess a fine spread of scoring forwards which strengthens their credentials, the quartet of Daire Culligan, Shane Griffin, Aaron Griffin and Conor Finnucane kicking 2-12 between them.
Although it is only round one, Kilmihil seemed destined to once again be fighting for their senior status.
Scorers Lissycasey: S Griffin (2-1), D Culligan (0-5 3f), A Griffin (0-3), C Finnucane (0-3 2f), N Kelly (0-1), K Normoyle (0-1 1f), L Griffin (0-1), D Killeen (0-1)
Scorers Kilmihil: M O’Leary (0-3 1f), C Downes (0-2 2f), C Murray (0-1), C Finucane (0-1).
Lissycasey:
1: Killian Normoyle
3: Michael Kelly
29: Ryan Griffin
12: Niall Kelly
5: Daire Hill
6: Connor Meaney
7: Cyril Sheehan
8: Darren Keane
11: Enda Finnucane
10: Luke Griffin
24: Cian Meaney
9: Shane Griffin
13: Daire Culligan
14: Aaron Griffin
15: Conor Finnucane
Subs:
20: Darragh Killeen for Meaney (41)
21: Fionn Cotter for L Griffin (48)
4: Niall McCarthy for E Finnucane (49)
19: Francie Hayes for S Griffin (52)
22: Kevin Shivers for Sheehan (54)
Kilmihil:
1: Damien Lineen
2: Fionn Febbraro
3: John Finucane
4: Padraig O’Grady
11: Mikey Keating
5: Gavin Downes
6: Stan Lineen
7: David Coughlan
8: Conor Finucane
9: Jack Keating
10: Shane Downes
15: Ciaran Downes
12: Cathal Murray
14: Martin O’Leary
13: Sean Crowley
Subs:
17: Mark Normoyle for J Keating (47)
18: Micheál Cotter for S Downes (51).
Referee: Barry Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown)
