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*Ciaran Russell is held back. Photograph: Ruth Griffin
Once bitten, twice shy for Éire Óg who were much more ruthless to avoid any neighbourly ambush this time around in their second successive Clare SFC quarter-final derby.
Éire Óg 2-14
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 0-06
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
Far from being dragged into an anxious extra-time pressure-cooker, this was actually its antithesis as not only were there no Parish panic stations but it couldn’t have been much more straight-forward for a rampant Éire Óg who justified their favourites tag for the new Jack Daly.
With conditions extremely difficult, Colm Walsh O’Loghlen’s 13th minute goal proved the defining score as the Townies defied the storm in the opening period.
Seven clear at one stage, thanks in the main to Mark McInerney and Darren O’Brien, Paul Madden’s side were eventually thankful to hold a five point margin by the break at 1-6 to 0-4 after goalkeeper Shane Daniels produced a superb point blank save to deny Tom Curran a lifeline goal.
Clare Under 20 Curran was one of the few highlights of the first half but typifying their afternoon, the Parish even lost their scorer-in-chief to injury at the break as they set to face the gale.
It would get progressively worse for Doora/Barefeld as the tie developed with Éire Óg raiding for eight unanswered points by the hour mark whereas the Parish were reduced to 14 with a second yellow for Fionn Kelleher by the two-thirds mark.
At 1-14 to 0-4, Doora/Barefield did finally open their second half account through Eoghan Thynne, quickly followed by a Nicki Hardiman free. However, it only seemed to anger the Ennis side who answered immediately with a devastating back-to-front move that saw Colm Walsh O’Loghlen, Mark McInerney and substitute Luke Pyne combine to tee up Manus Doherty for a tap in crowning goal.
There would be some fireworks afterwards but for Doora/Barefield at least the fight came too late whereas after Éire Óg know that there will be bigger fights to come as they return to a fourth successive semi-final.
Scorers for Éire Óg: Mark McInerney 0-5 (3f), Colm Walsh O’Loghlen 1-2, Darren O’Brien 0-4, Manus Doherty 1-1, Darren O’Neill 0-1 (f), David McNamara 0-1
Scorers for St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Tom Curran 0-3, Tom McDonald 0-1 (f), Eoghan Thynne 0-1, Nicki Hardiman 0-1 (f)
Éire Óg
1: Shane Daniels
2: Ronan Lanigan
3: Aaron Fitzgerald
4: Dean Ryan
5: Ciaran Russell
11: Ikem Ugwueru
24: Manus Doherty
8: Darren O’Neill
9: David McNamara
10: Niall McMahon
15: Darren O’Brien
12: Oran Cahill
20: Mark McInerney
14: Gavin Cooney
18: Colm Walsh O’Loghlen
Subs
28: Gavin Murray for McMahon (47)
19: Luke Pyne for Cooney (49)
7: Einne O’Connor for Ryan (54)
6: Aidan McGrath for Ugwueru (54)
17: Jarlath Collins for Russell (56)
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield
1: Tom O’Brien
4: Eoghan Boyle
2: Fionn Kelleher
3: Conor O’Brien
21: Cathal O’Brien
6: Tom Hannan
5: Jack Hannan
9: Darragh O’Shea
17: Odhran Ó Conaill
8: James Curran
11: Joseph Rafferty
14: Michael Nash
12: Eoghan Thynne
13: Tom McDonald
15: Tom Curran
Subs
7: Cian McDonough for Curran (HT, inj)
24: Conall Dorgan for Nash (42)
10: Nicki Hardiman for Rafferty (44)
18: Kieran Thynne for Conor O’Brien (51)
26: Conor Daly for Cathal O’Brien (56)
Referee: Martin Downes (Naomh Eoin)
