*Gordon Kelly. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
ST JOSEPH’S Miltown have become the first side to defeat Ennistymon this year, overcoming the previously unbeaten North Clare side on Monday evening.
There is now a clearer picture as to what will be at stake when teams line out in the final round of games in the FutureTicketing Cusack Cup and Garry Cup this weekend after the penultimate round took place.
Title holders Ennistymon are through to the knockout phase in the Cusack Cup, St Joseph’s Miltown, Lissycasey, Kilmurry Ibrickane and St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield remain in the running for semi-final places while two from Clondegad, St. Breckan’s and Kildysart will be relegated. Currently Kildysart are on four points, two more than Clondegad and St. Breckans.
Corofin lead the way in the Garry Cup, they are safely through to the play-offs while Éire Óg are a point adrift with Kilmihil a further point back and the play off places look to be between these three but Doonbeg are still in with a chance as are Kilrush Shamrocks.
Ballyvaughan are relegated to Division 3 with the second relegation spot between O’Currys and Cooraclare. To avoid the drop O’Currys must beat leaders Corofin this week and then hope that Cooraclare are well beaten by Kilmihil.
A first defeat for Ennistymon
St Joseph’s Miltown 2-9
Ennistymon 0-10
Venue: Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown Malbay
Drawn in the same group in the 2024 senior championship, there was added interest in the meeting of St Joseph’s Miltown and Ennistymon on Monday evening when the home side inflicted a first defeat of the season on their opponents.
Despite the loss Ennistymon, the current league champions, remain top of the league table heading into this weekend’s final round of games when they will travel to play Kildysart while Miltown, who are now in second place, will be away to St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield.
At the end of an evenly contested first half Miltown held a one point advantage, 0-5 to 0-4. The teams continued to be evenly matched throughout the third quarter. Ten minutes from the end the winners got through for the game’s first goal, wing forward Dominick Griffin finding the net.
With the game in the final minute of ‘added time’ they struck for a second goal, substitute Paul Frawley the scorer.
While they deserved the victory on the night, the final scoreline is a little flattering.
St Joseph’s Miltown; Sean O’Brien; Eoin O’Brien, Seanie Malone, Enda O’Gorman; Cian O’Mahoney (0-3), Gordon Kelly, Jamesie O’Connor; Oisin Looney (0-1), Darragh McDonagh; Sean Neylon, Kieran Malone (0-1), Dominick Griffin (1-2); Paul Keane (0-1), Euan Lineen (0-1), Oisin Meade;
Subs: Paul Frawley (1-0) for O.Meade; Gary Twomey for S. Neylon; Niall Twomey for E. O’Gorman; Cormac Devitt for E. O’Brien
Ennistymon: Noel Sexton; Joe Casey, Dara Conneally (0-2), John Murphy; Liam Cotter, Conor Rynne, Tiernan Hogan; Eoin Rouine, Josh Vaughan; Ciaran McMahon (0-1), Niall Canavan (0-2), Darren McNamara (0-1); Keelan Guyler (0-1), Joe Dowling, Eanna Rouine (0-3);
Subs: Ryan Barry for Dowling; Gearoid Barry for Guyler;
Referee: John O’Connell (Cooraclare)
Bright start not enough for Kildysart
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 1-10
Kildysart 2-5
Venue: Kildysart
Despite conceding two early goals, St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield thanks to a strong second quarter, emerged with the points from this tie played at Kildysart on Saturday.
The win keeps the Doora/Barefzeld side in with a chance of making the play offs and banishes any worries of relegation.
Two early goals from Keith Murphy had the home side 2-1 to 0-2 in front after ten minutes. The visitors had rallied to within two points with eight minutes remaining in the opening half.
Five minutes from the break, St Josephs hit the front thanks to a goal from Paddy Bugler who top scored on the day with 1-5 to his credit.
Throughout the second half the winners held the lead despite the best efforts of a home side that clearly missed the services of team captain Keith O’Connor while Luke McGrath was also missed along, of course, with inter county players Emmett McMahon and Diarmuid O’Donnell.
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Tom O’Brien; Charlie Hannan, Conor O’Brien, Eoin Boyle; Cathal O’Brien, Cian McDonagh, Kieran Thynne; Joe Keane, Dara O’Shea; Odhran O’Connell, Tom Hannan, Conor Daly; Nikki Hardiman, Michael Nash, Paddy Bugler;
Subs: Conal Kelleher for Keane; Eoin Talty for Hardiman; Sam Costello for Thynne
Kildysart; Kieran Eyers; Michael Eustace, Kieran Leahy, Stevie Sheehan; Rory McMahon, Conor Moloney, Oisin Coyle; Conor Cusack, Kieran O’Brien; Ryan Casey, Conor Hassett, Mikey Donnellan, Jack Cotter, Keith Murphy, Conal Casey;
Subs: Mark Moloney for R. Casey (inj); Colm Finnucane for C. Cusack; Seamus Casey for C. Casey;
Referee: Barry Kelly (St. Joseph’s Miltown)
Lissycasey keep play-off hopes alive
Lissycasey 1-10
St. Breckans 1-9
Venue: Lissycasey
Lissycasey kept up their push for a place in the play offs with a one-point win over St. Breckan’s at Lissycasey on Saturday evening.
The result has pushed St. Breckans closer to relegation and to have a chance of avoiding the drop they must win their remaining game which is against Kilmurry Ibrickane and also hope that other results go their way.
While Lissycasey were never behind in this tie they had to survive a strong finish from the visitors. This was made all the harder by the fact that the home side finished with thirteen players after both Conor Meaney in the 50th minute and Darren Keane five minutes later were shown black cards.
Lissycasey got off to a great start with 1-2 in the opening eleven minutes, all from Luke Griffin. Daire Culligan’s point at the turn of the second quarter put the home side six clear.
Rowan Danaher opened the visitor’s account and he struck for their goal just before the break when he converted from the penalty spot. It was 1-5 to 1-2 in the winner’s favour at the break.
The visitors landed the opening three points of the second half to level the tie but four in a row, two from play, from team captain Conor Finnucane pushed the winners clear again.
Padraig Kelly (2) and Danaher replied for the visitors to leave the minimum between the sides but Conor Finnucane doubled the home side’s lead as the game went into injury time.
St Breckans kept pressing but could only manage one further point which came from Padraic Kelly leaving Lissycasey ahead by the minimum margin when the full-time whistle sounded.
Lissycasey; Thomas Collins; Michael Kelly, Niall McCarthy, Enda Meaney; Cyril Sheehan, Conor Meaney, Daire Hill; Ben Skerritt, Darren Keane; Luke Griffin (1-2), Daire Culligan (0-2), Michael Meaney; Fionn Cotter, Conor Finnucane (0-6), Cian Meaney;
Subs: Francie Hayes for Cian Meaney; Niall Kelly for M. Meaney;
St. Breckan’s; Conor O’Neill; Paddy Haugh, Conor Burke, Thomas O’Dwyer; Patrick O’Dwyer, Liam Tierney, Colm O’Brien; Robert O’Connell, Denis O’Callaghan (0-1); Maccon Byrne, Dale Masterson, Conor Shannon (0-1); Rowan Danaher (1-2), Padraig Kelly (0-5), Ronan Fitzpatrick;
Subs: Cathal Morgan for R. Fitzpatrick; Fitzpatrick for R. O’Connell
Referee: Chris Maguire (Wolfe Tones)
Kilmurry Ibrickane lay foundation in opening half
Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-11
Clondegad 0-7
Venue: Páirc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty
A strong first half showing which saw them build a five point lead, steered Kilmurry Ibrickane to a merited win over Clondegad at Quilty on Saturday evening.
At the midway point the home side held a five point advantage with the score at 0-7 to 0-2 and while there was little between the sides in the second half, the visitors failed to close the gap and, as a result, remain in the relegation area with just one game remaining when they will face neighbours Lissycasey.
The Ballynacally based outfit struggled for scores and only managed one from play over the course of the game and this came from Morgan Garry.
Long serving Shane Hickey continues to impress for Kilmurry Ibrickane and he emerged from Saturday’s game as the side’s top scorer with 0-4 to his credit.
The game saw another experienced player, Michael O’Dwyer, see action for the first time this season.
The winners finished with fourteen men as Andrew Shannon picked up a second yellow card while earlier they had lost Mark Killeen for a spell as he was shown a black card.
Kilmurry Ibrickane; David Sexton; Diarmuid Comber, Michael Comber, Conor Kearney; Martin McMahon, Mark Killeen, Daragh Sexton (0-1); Andrew Shannon, Diarmuid King (0-1); Colin Considine, Jason Cussen, Shane Hickey (0-4, 1f); Daryn Callinan (0-3, 2f), Cathal Talty (0-1), Joe Campbell (0-1)
Subs: Caoilfhinn O’Dea for Talty (inj.); Michael O’Dwyer for Cussen; Oisin Sexton for Considine;
Clondegad: Declan O’Loughin; Brian Casey, Conor Gavin, Niall Lynch; Sean McAllister, Barry Toner, Colin McNeilis; Brandon O’Connell (0-1), Morgan Garry (0-1); Thomas Gavin, Sean O’Leary (0-4, frees), Eoghan Gavin; Cillian Gavin, Ryan Jennings (0-1), Diarmuid O’Neill;
Subs: Cormac Reidy for McNeilis (inj); Podge McMahon for O’Leary; Eoghan Donnellan for Eoghan Gavin; Mark Crowe for Cillian Gavin;
Referee: John O’Connell (Cooraclare)
Éire Óg in control
Éire Óg 0-23
O’Curry’s 0-7
Venue: Ennis
Éire Óg continued their march towards a place in the knock out stage of the Garry cup (division 2) with a comfortable victory over O’Curry’s on Friday evening.
The West Clare side conceded home advantage and travelled to Ennis for the tie which was brought forward from Saturday to Friday evening.
Éire Óg took a grip on proceedings from the off and had opened a seven point lead by the halfway point.
Twelve players shared in the Ennis side’s impressive final scoreline with Philip Talty leading the way with 0-6.
Danny Downes top scored for the West Clare side with 0-3 on the evening. With just one game to play, they have a battle on their hands if they are to avoid relegation to division 3.
Éire Óg; Peadar O’Keeffe; Eoin Guilfoyle, Aaron Fitzgerald (0-1), Dean D’Auria; Ciaran Russell (0-2), Aidan McGrath, Jarlath Collins (0-1); Darren O’Neill (0-2), Darren O’Brien (0-2); Luke Pyne (0-1), Dean Ryan (0-1), Niall McMahon (0-1); Gavin D’Auria (0-2), Philip Talty (0-6), Jack Joyce (0-1);
Subs; Mark Collins for Guilfoyle; Gearoid Collins for Pyne; Luke Moore (0-2) for Talty;
O’Currys; Damian Clohessy; Jonathan Clancy, Stephen Kelly, Luke Murray; Paddy Clancy, Sean Haugh, Eoin Brew; Eoin Troy (0-2), Thomas Clancy (0-1); Eoin Kelly (0-1), Shane Browne, Michael Foran; Jim Marrinan, Ian Roche, Danny Downes (0-3)
Sub: Sean Marrinan for Roche;
Referee: Niall Quinn (St Joseph’s Miltown)
Cooraclare ease relegation worries
Cooraclare 1-10
Kilrush Shamrocks 1-8
Venue: Captain Tubridy Park, Kilrush
Cooraclare eased their relegation worries a little when they defeated neighbours Kilrush in this Garry Cup tie on Saturday evening while the result dented the home side’s prospects of advancing to the play offs.
A Sean Molloy goal helped the visitors to lead 1-4 to 0-4 at the break and they managed to hold the lead throughout the second period.
A goal from substitute Dale O’Neill, a Cork native who recently transferred to the Shams and who was introduced at half time gave Kilrush hope of getting back into contention and while they pushed their opponents all the way, Cooraclare held the lead throughout the second half.
Kilrush weren’t helped by the absence of a number of players including Gearoid O’Brien, and they will be hoping to have some of those available this week when they make the short journey to Doonbeg.
Cooraclare: Oisin Morrissey (0-1); Thomas Downes, Robert Ryan, Gearoid Lillis; Aaron Townsend, Fergal Donnellan, Ciaran Chambers; Jake Garry, James Burke; Sean Browne (0-1), John Lillis (0-1), Kevin Marrinan (0-1); Sean Molloy (1-0) James Chambers (0-3), Colin McNamara (0-2);
Subs; Cathal O’Gorman (0-1) for J. Lillis (inj); Noel Gavin for Molloy; Sean O’Neill for Browne; Browne for Townsend (inj);
Kilrush Shamrocks: David Jones; Sean Purtill, Ciaran Bermingham, Euan Power; Sean Canny, Callum Bond, Padraig Browne; Sean Madigan, Dylan O’Brien; Ben McKiernan (0-1), Conor Fennell (0-2), Dean Neary; Tadhg Lysght, Matthew Moloney (0-2), Ross Phelan (0-2);
Subs: Dale O’Neill (1-1) for Lysaght; Damian Carey for Neary; Jimmy Browne for P Browne;
Referee: Martin Downes (Naomh Eoin)
Kilmihil keep up challenge for play off place
Kilmihil 1-12
Doonbeg 1-8
Venue: St Michael’s Park, Kilmihil
Martin O’Leary and Cathal Murray were in good scoring form as Kilmihil overcame Doonbeg in this Garry cup tie played at Kilmihil on Saturday.
O’Leary top scored with 1-4 while Murray fired over 0-5 as the home side kept up their challenge for a place in the play offs and, in the process, dented Doonbeg’s hopes of doing the same.
David Tubridy kicked 0-5 for the magpies while Eoin Killeen was their goalscorer but overall Kilmihil were that bit sharper and this proved crucial.
They will conclude their programme this week with a home tie against neighbours Kilrush, a game they must win to keep their hopes of being in the play offs alive.
Kilmihil; Damian Lineen; Padraig Lynch, John Finnucane, Fionn Febrarro; David Coughlan, Stan Lineen, Gavin Downes; Conor Finnucane, Dan Keating; Cathal Murray (0-5), Sean Crowley (0-2), Shane Downes; Martin O’Leary (1-4), Mikey Keating (0-1), Mark Normoyle.
Sub: Jack Keating for Lynch;
Doonbeg; Eamonn Tubridy; Jason Linnane, Kevin Pender, Conor O’Mahoney; Cian O’Mahoney, Eoin Conway, Sean Conway; Kevin McInerney, Cathal Killeen (0-1); Gavin O’Shea (0-1), David Tubridy (0-5), Mikie Tubrdy; Eoin Killeen (1-0), Eoghan Tubridy, Darragh Burns (0-1).
Subs: Tadhg Lillis for K. McInerney; Paul Dillon for Eoghan Tubridy; Luke Conway for G. O’Shea
Referee: Niall Quinn (St Joseph’s Miltown)
Corofin remain in top spot
Corofin 0-22
Ballyvaughan 0-4
Venue: Páirc Finne, Corofin
Corofin continued their march towards a place in the Cusack Cup for next season with this easy win over Ballyvaughan at Corofin on Saturday.
The result confirms Ballyvaughan’s relegation to division 3 for next season.
On a day when ten players shared in their impressive tally, Josh Ryan top scored for the winners with 0-5 while the Cahill brothers Diarmuid and Gearoid each scored 0-4.
It took the winners a while to establish dominance in this tie in which they led 0-6 to 0-3 at the interval.
In the second half their greater experience shone through and the picked off some impressive points.
Corofin; Luke Neylon; Colin Fitzgerald, Cilléin Mullins, Marc O’Loughlin; John Rees (0-1), Damien O’Loughlin, Evan Doolin (0-2); Gearoid Kelly (0-2), Caoimhin O’Donovan; Josh Ryan (0-5), Gearoid Cahill (0-4), Cian Doolin (0-1); Diarmuid Cahill (0-4), Cathal Flanagan, Josh O’Brien;
Subs: Aidan O’Loughlin for D O’Loughlin; Enda Collins (0-1) for J O’Brien; Gearoid Hanrahan (0-1) for G. Cahill; Eoin Davoran (0-1) for D. Cahill;
Ballyvaughan; John McCormack; James Costello, Philip Queally, Joseph Flanagan; Mark Walsh, Jamie Hynes, Noah McNamara; James Howard (0-1), Phelim Kyne; Ian Woods, Lorcan Doolin (0-2), Tomas Francis; Darragh O’Brien, John Martyn (0-1), Martin Howard;
Subs: Dermot Costello for O’Brien; Oisín Casasín for M Howard
Referee: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)
