*Stan Lineen gets past Eoghan Casey. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Following the final round of group games in the intermediate football championship they eight quarter finalists have been confirmed as have the three teams who will battle it out to avoid dropping down to junior A level for next season.
Kilmihil, Naomh Eoin and Kilrush Shamrocks have finished top of their respective groups with Shannon Gaels, Ennistymon and Kilfenora now battling to retain their status.
Of the twelve teams that set out in search of the Talty Stores cup, O’Currys are the only side whose season ended on Sunday when they recorded their only win of the campagn. However, it wasn’t enough to give them one of the best two third placed slots which have been taken by Liscannor and Cooraclare
Naomh Eoin maintain unbeaten run
Naomh Eoin 2-5
Ennistymon 1-8
Venue: Páirc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty
Naomh Eoin maintained their unbeaten run in this season’s intermediate football championship when they shared the spoils with Ennistymon at Quilty on Saturday.
When the quarter final draw takes place they will be in the drum as group winners. Behind by a point at half time, they edged the second half to keep their unbeaten run going.
The Cross based outfit made a little piece of history with father and son Patrick and Adam Foley lining out on the day, both filling positions in the team’s forward line.
Owen Lynch scored both of his sides goals in the first half at the end of which they trailed by the minimum margin, 2-0 to 1-4, the Ennistymon goal having come from Niall Canavan.
Naomh Eoin; Sean Roche; Tomas Bonfil, Conor Tevlin, Andrew Naughton; Conor Magner, Sean Bonfil, Mark McQuaid; Fergal Keane, Adam Haugh; Adam Foley, Niall Bonfil, Kevin Roche; Odhran Lynch, Patrick Foley, Owen Lynch.
Subs: Gearoid Lynch for T. Bonfil; Gavin Magner for K. Roche; Eoin Hanrahan for A. Naughton
Ennistymon: Darren Torpey; Micheál Vaughan, Lawrence Healy, Dara Rouine; James Cullinan, Gerry Coote, John Murphy; Ciaran Devitt, Mark Kelleher; Joe Dowling, Cathal McConigley, Sean Conneally; Niall Canavan, Darren McNamara, Paudie Considine.
Subs; Oisin Vaughan for Coote; Dan ny Rouine for Considine; Shane Woods for Devitt
Referee: Joe Kelly (Cooraclare)
Determined O’Currys avoid relegation battle
O’Curry’s 0-13
Shannon Gaels 1-8
Venue: Shanahan McNamara Park, Doonbeg
Pointless after two rounds. O’Currys overcame a fancied Shannon Gaels outfit in this vital tie at Shanahan McNamara Park in Doonbeg on Sunday, a result that has sent the Gaels, last year’s semi-finalists, into the relegation play-off.
The Doonaha outfit’s determination was evident from the off and by half time they had opened s four point lead with the score at 0-7 to 0-3.
The Gaels fought back after the break helped by a goal from Niall Ellis but injuries to Matthew Reidy and Ellis proved costly and the better balanced and hungrier O’Currys outfit emerged as worthy winners in a tie in which seven players shared their final tally with Danny Downes and Shane Browne each contributing 0-3. Dylan Kenny top scored for the Gaels with 0-5.
O’Currys: Damian Clohessy; Gearoid Lynch, Darragh Keane, Paddy Clancy; Jim Marrinan, Cathal Downes, Seamus Keane; Eoin Brew, Thomas Clancy; Michael Foran, Shane Keane, Sean Haugh; Danny Downes, Eoin Troy, Jim Downes;
Shannon Gaels: Michael O’Donoghue; Eoin Keane, Jack Reidy, Fergal Kenny; Damian Downes, Matthew Reidy, Tomas Cleary; Darragh Bohannon, Thomas Kelly; Tadhg Kelly, Niall Ellis, Dylan Kenny; Barry Crehan, Thomas Kenny, Jack McCarthy.
Subs: Aaron Lee-McMahon for M. Reidy (inj.); Darren Crehan for J. McCarthy; Tom O’Gorman for N. Ellis (inj);
Referee: Robert Harte (St. Senans, Kilkee)
Runaway win for Kilrush
Kilrush 6-19
Kilfenora 0-8
Venue: Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown Malbay
Favourites Kilrush were never in trouble as they recorded a runaway win over pointless Kilfenora.
They had the points well and truly wrapped up by the half time whistle when they led 5-10 to 0-3 helped by goals from Ross Phelan, Sean Madigan, Conor Fennell and a brace from Gearoid O’Brien who added a third in the second half.
Drawing from a small panel, Kilfenora were further weakened by the loss of a few regulars due to injury but to their credit they battled to the end.
The North Clare outfit must now prepare for a relegation battle with neighbours Ennistymon and Shannon Gaels while Kilrush will be turning their attention to the championship quarter finals.
Kilrush Shamrocks: Stephen Ryan; Padraig Browne, Evan Power, Sean Purtill; Ciaran Bermingham,. Ross Cullinan, Sean Canny; Sean Madigan, Dylan O’Brien; Tadhg Lysaght, Billy Clancy, Dean Neary; Ross Phelan, Conor Fennell, Gearoid O’Brien
Subs: Damian Carey for G. O’Brien; Keith Crowley for R. Phelan; Darragh Bolton for C. Fennell; Ben Cody for D. Neary;
Kilfenora: Declan Brennan; Niall Hegarty, Cathal O’Halloran, Patrick Collins; Micheál Duffy, Cronan Howley, Nathan Brody; Paul Carkill, Pat Connole; Matthew Egan, John Nea, Peter Collins; David Nagle, Karl O’Connor, Eoin O’Leary;
Referee: Michael Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
Another great win for Coolmeen
Coolmeen 1-13
Liscannor 2-9
Venue: Páirc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty
Coolmeen recorded their second win of the campaign when they accounted for Liscannor at Quilty on Sunday afternoon but the North Claremen will also be in the quarter final draw as one of the best third place group finishers.
Coolmeen had the better of the first half exchanges and they led by five points at half time when the score was 1-8 to 1-3, Liscannor’s goal having come from Oisin Leyden.
Liscannor fought back strongly in the second half and levelled but Coolmeen launched a final attack which led to their winning score.
Aidan Corry top scored for the winners with 0-6 while Dylan Power was the team’s goal scorer.
During Coolmeen’s period of dominance, Liscannor goalkeeper John Kerin came to his side’s aid with some excellent saves.
Coolmeen; Jason O’Leary; Daniel Forde, Gary Meaney, Alan Normoyle; Dylan O’Halloran, Brian Markham, Rian Meaney; Eoin O’Connor, Cathal O’Connor; Ronan Murphy, Dylan Power, Mark Meaney; Aidan Corry, Cian Murphy, Ben Cleary;
Subs: Adam Wallace for Markham (inj.) Joe Corry for R. Murphy; Jamie Brooks for M. Meaney (inj.); Thomas Coffey for B. Cleary
Liscannor: John Kerin; Tom Hanrahan, Robert Lucas, Michael Foley; Francesco Bonito, Brian Considine, Padraig Haugh; Stephen Murray, Gavin Duffy; Alan Clohessy, Kevin Scales Brian Leyden; Joe Hanrahan, Cian Guerin, Oisin Leyden;
Subs: Dara Blake for Scales; Niall Considine for C. Guerin
Referee: Martin Downes (Naomh Eoin)
Banner’s upward curve continues
Banner 2-7
Cooraclare 1-5
Venue: Lissycasey
Ennis based Banner GAA continued their upward curve when they overcame a fancied Cooraclare side in this intermediate championship tie played at Lissycasey on Sunday.
Both went into this tie with one win each under their belts and while Cooraclare were down a couple of key players Pearse Lillis and Brian McNamara, they still carried the farourites tag.
At the end of a hard fought first half they remained on course for victory as they led by two points, 1-4 to 0-5, their goal having come from Jack Morrissey.
However they could only manage a point in the second half as the Bnner got on top and fired home goals from Matthew McGrath and James Coakley on their way to a merited win.
Cooraclare, last year’s beaten finalists will be disappointed with the outcome but they have progressed to the quarter finals as one of the two best third paced teams.
Banner: Mark Cleary; Cian Rynne, Kenneth Higgins, Eoin Walsh; Mufana Flynn, James Coakley, Justin McGrath; Niall Walsh, Matthew McGrath; Conor Dennehy, Shane Meehan, Brian McDonald; Sean McMahon, Thomas Meenaghan, Oisin McMahon;
Subs; Diarmuid Toner for Mcdnald; Fawhad Akinwale for S. McMahon
Cooraclare: Mark Lillis; Gary Donnellan, Fergal Donnellan, Ronan Donnellan; Robert Ryan, James Burke, Noel Gavin; Jake Garry, James Chambers; Sean Browne, John Lillis, Ciaran O’Donoghue; Paraic O’Donoghue, Jack Morrissey, Finn O’Driscoll.
Subs: Jack Carey for J. Lillis; Kevin O’Gorman for P. O’donoghue;
Referee: Fearghal Gray (Feakle)
Kilmihil take top spot
Kilmihil 1-9
Wolfe Tones 1-7
Venue: Ballynacally
In this top of the table clash played at Ballynacally between two teams already through to the quarter finals, Kilmihil came out on top in a hard fought contest in which the result was in doubt to the finish.
In a contest in which they were evenly matched, Kilmihil led by the minimum at half time, 1-5 to 1-4, their goal having come from David Evan while Jack Ryan found the net for the Shannon men.
They continued to be evenly matched in the second half with Kilmihil keeping their narrow advantage throughout.
Ciaran Downes contributed 0-4 for the winners and this proved to be key to their victory which sees them go into the quarter finals as group winners.
Kilmihil; Sean Scott Cafferky; Fionn Febrarro, John Finnucne, David Coughlan; Gearoid O’Grady, Dan Keating, Gavin Downes; David Lernihan, Stan Lineen; Jack Keating, Martin O’Leary, Ciaran Downes; David Egan, Sean Crowley, Shane Downes;
Sub: Conor Crowley for S. Downes.
Wolfe Tones: Shane Russell; Robert Cahill, Jayme O’Sullivan, Aaron Brennan; Jason McAuley, Sean Brennan, Eoghan Casey; Joe McGuley, Daithi Lohan; Jack Ryan, Craig Riordan, Chris Dunning; Cian O’Rourke, Billy Connors, Cody Waller;
Subs: Rory Hayes for Dunning; Darragh Lohan for Joe McGauley; Dean Devanney for C.Riordan; Brian Murphy for J. Ryan; Conor Carigg for Waller;
Referee: Fergal O’Brien (Broadford)
