*Wolfe Tones captain Dean Devanney. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
WOLFE TONES, Naomh Eoin and Kilrush Shamrocks have qualified for the quarter-finals of the TUS Clare intermediate football championship.
Successive wins in the Clare IFC saw the trio guarantee their spot in the knockout stages and they currently occupy top spot in their respective groups.
Wins for O’Currys, Clondegad and the Banner have given their chances of reaching the quarter-finals a considerable lift, all three had lost out in the opening round and should they put back to back wins together they’ll take the second quarter-final spot on offer in each of their groups.
TUS Clare IFC Group 1:
Successive wins for the Kilrush Shams
Kilrush Shamrocks 2-9
Coolmeen 0-12
Venue: Shanahan McNamara Memorial Park, Doonbeg
Kilrush Shamrocks looked to be on courser to record a comfortable second round win but they were made work for their victory in the second half against Coolmeen on Saturday evening.
Leading by five points at the break, last year’s finalists were in a commanding spot but they received a stern fightback from Coolmeen on the restart to ensure their passage to the knockout stages was far from straight forward.
It’s a second win on the bounce for Daniel Ryan’s side but they’ll be well aware they had a scare against the Banner in round one and while it was not as tight this time, improvements are required if they are to go one step further than 2023.
They had a goal inside the first seven minutes thanks to Ross Phelan, he had 1-2 by the half-time whistle with Don O’Driscoll also chipping in with a point while Conor Fennell had 0-4 to his credit.
Coolmeen came out swinging in the second half and managed to put a dent in the difference between the sides. Their cause took a blow when Aidan Corry, their top scorer from play was forced off with injury.
Phelan raided for his second goal in the final minute of normal time, the gap had been reduced to two points prior to this green flag.
With a couple of injuries sustained, Kilrush will hoping they can get to full health by the time the quarter-finals come around.
Scorers Kilrush Shamrocks: R Phelan (2-3), C Fennell (0-5 4f), D O’Driscoll (0-1)
Scorers Coolmeen: D Power (0-6 4f), A Corry (0-3), C O’Connor (0-1), R Murphy (0-1), D O’Halloran (0-1)
Kilrush Shamrocks: Dale O’Neill; Jimmy Browne, Ross Cullinan, Padraig Browne; Sean Canny, Dylan O’Brien, Joe Miniter; Ciaran Bermingham, Seán Madigan; Tadhg Lysaght, Conor Fennell, Dean Neary; Gearoid O’Brien, Ross Phelan, Don O’Driscoll.
Subs: Evan Power for O’Brien, Niall Brennan for Cullinan, Ewan Kelly for Madigan, Sean Purtill for Canny, Tommy Dullaghan for Miniter.
Coolmeen: JJ Carrig; Adam Wallace, Gary Meaney, Dylan O’Halloran; Rian Meaney, Thomas Coffey, Alan Normoyle; Eoin O’Connor, Cathal O’Connor; Aidan Corry, Brian Markham, Jamie Brooks; Dylan Power, Ben Cleary, Cian Murphy.
Subs: Ronan Murphy for A Corry (inj), David Neenan for Cleary.
Referee: Martin Downes (Naomh Eoin)
Banner bounce back
Banner 2-9
Liscannor 0-8
Venue: Páirc Finne, Corofin
A blistering first half paved the way for the Banner to pick up their first points in this year’s Clare IFC.
Having run Kilrush Shamrocks close in the opening round, Tom Meehan’s charges were eager to prove a point from the get-go and that they did.
They had all but one of their final tally amassed in the first half as they held a 2-8 0-3 advantage over their North Clare opponents.
First half goals from captain Thomas Meenaghan and wing back Justin McGrath had the result sewn up by the interval but Liscannor managed to outscore their Ennis opponents 0-5 0-1 in the second half, however it was insufficient to overturn the damage of the first half.
Scorers Banner: T Meenaghan (1-1), J McGrath (1-0), S McMahon (0-3 2f), B McDonald (0-2), S Meehan (0-1), J Coakley (0-1), A Kelly (0-1)
Scorers Liscannor: Cian Guerin (0-2), Brian Considine (0-2), Alan Clohessy (0-2), Darren Nagle (0-1), Francesco Bonito (0-1)
Banner: Mark Cleary; Finn White, Kenneth Higgins, Cian Rynne; Justin McGrath, Eoin Walsh, Mufana Flynn; James Coakley, Niall Walsh; Matthew McGrath, Thomas Meenaghan, Brian McDonald; Ronan Kilroy, Shane Meehan, Sean McMahon.
Subs: Johnny Martin for McMahon (inj), Aaron Kelly for McGrath, Conor Dennehy for Coakley, Conor O’Toole for Kilroy.
Liscannor: John Kerin; Paul McLoughlin, Darren Nagle, Tom Hanrahan, Padraig Haugh, Robert Lucas, Brian Considine; Stephen Murray, Gavan Duffy; Kieran Roche, Cian Guerin, Francesco Bonito; Dan White, Sean McDonagh, Alan Clohessy
Subs used: Dara Blake, Cobhan Philipson, Diarmuid Commane, Michael Foley.
Referee: Fearghal Gray (Feakle)
TUS Clare IFC Group 2:
Naomh Eoin navigate their way to the knockout stages
Naomh Eoin 1-10
Shannon Gaels 1-7
Venue: Shanahan McNamara Memorial Park, Doonbeg
Naomh Eoin are back in the knockout stages for the second year in a row after a successive victory put them top of Group 2 and safely through to the quarter-finals.
While not as prolific as their four goal return in round one, Naomh Eoin still raided for what proved to be a vital goal on the edge of half time, Owen Lynch’s palmed effort to the net had them leading 1-6 0-4 at half-time.
Prior to this, Shannon Gaels were dealt a major blow when losing Clare midfielder Darragh Bohannon to injury. Fergie O’Loughlin’s side had the rub of the green to snatch a draw against Ennistymon in round one but their luck certainly ran dry as Bohannon was joined on the injured list by Darren Crehan.
Jack McCarthy goaled for the Gales on the restart to bring them right back into proceedings but their return of 1-1 from play was a real hindrance to their chances of picking up their first win in this year’s championship.
Barry Harte’s Naomh Eoin steadied themselves to ensure they would come out on top, kicking four second half points as Dylan Kenny once again produced a fine display of executing frees from all angles for the Gaels.
Scorers Naomh Eoin: Owen Lynch (1-4), M McQuaid (0-2), N Bonfil (0-2), C Magner (0-1), G Lynch (0-1),
Scorers Shannon Gaels: D Kenny (0-6 6f), J McCarthy (1-0), M O’Donoghue (0-1)
Naomh Eoin: Sean Roche; Adam Foley, Tomas Bonfil, Conor Tevlin; Adam Haugh, Conor Magner, Mark McQuaid; Sean Bonfil, Fergal Keane; Gavin Magner, Odhran Lynch, Niall Bonfil; Gearoid Lynch, Owen Lynch, Eoin Hanrahan.
Subs: Seamus Boland for G Lynch
Shannon Gaels: Ciaran McCarthy; Eoin Keane, Tadhg Kelly, Damien Downes; Fergal Kenny, Dylan Kenny, Thomas Kenny; Jack McCarthy, Darragh Bohannon; Michael O’Donoghue, Thomas Kelly, Niall Ellis; Darren Crehan, David Bannigan, John Ryan.
Subs: Cormac Moloney for Bohannon (15) (inj), Tomás Cleary for Crehan (20), Gearoid Kenny for Ryan (50).
Referee: Pat Keane (Lissycasey)
Clondegad come good at the finish to pip Ennistymon
Clondegad 1-7
Ennistymon 0-9
Venue: Cooraclare
Clondegad came within inches of suffering a shock defeat for the second championship encounter on the bounce.
Certainly a team in transition, last year’s senior side are taking their time to adjust to the intermediate grade. This could be the spark to light the flame as James Murrihy’s charges still have ample opportunity to make the knockout stages, a win over Shannon Gaels would see them qualify directly for the quarter-finals, whether they graded first or second won’t matter much to them provided they get there.
Cillian Gavin’s goal on forty three minutes saved their blushes as they produced another low-scoring return. Ennistymon responded to the green flag with two Paudie Considine frees.
However when the pressure began to mount, Clondegad kicked the final two points of the tie to come out victorious by the smallest of margins. Having conceded four goals in round one, Declan O’Loughlin keeping a clean sheet and the Estuary side tightening up in defence was critical to them coming out on top.
For Ennistymon, once again they have come within minutes of causing an upset. They were unlucky in round one not to overcome Shannon Gaels and here they struggled to see out the game against Clondegad.
Scorers Clondegad: Cillian Gavin (1-0), B Toner (0-3), T Ó hÚallacháin (0-2), S McAllister (0-1), E Donnellan (0-1).
Scorers Ennistymon: P Considine (0-6 5f), D McNamara (0-2 2f), R Barry (0-1).
Clondegad: Declan O’Loughlin; Conor Gavin, Brian Murphy, Brian Casey; Barry Toner, Tadhg Ó hÚallacháin, Evan Flynn; Diarmuid O’Neill, Sean McAllister; Eoghan Gavin, Ryan Jennings, Colin McNeilis; Mossy Gavin, Cillian Brennan, Cillian Gavin.
Subs: Cormac Reidy for McNeilis (40), Eoghan Donnellan for M Gavin (45), Podge McMahon for Cillian Gavin (45), Peter Casey for Conor Gavin (47), Sean O’Leary for E Gavin (55)
Ennistymon: Conor Gallagher; Dara Rouine, Alex Leydon, Michael Vaughan; John Murphy, Sean O’Driscoll, Seanie Conneely; Mark Kelleher, Joe Casey; Eoin Marrinan, Paudie Considine, Joe Dowling; Darren McNamara, Ryan Barry, Niall Canavan.
Subs: Cathal McConigley for Dowling (50)
Referee: Joe Kelly (Cooraclare)
TUS Clare IFC Group 3:
First half foundations pave the way for Wolfe Tones
Wolfe Tones 2-6
Cooraclare 0-10
Venue: Clarecastle
Wolfe Tones kicked a single score in the second half but it didn’t stop them from recording their second win of the championship and advancing to the quarter-finals.
Captain Dean Devanney had the all important second goal for the Shannon side on forty four minutes, he made an excellent dive to the ball coming across the square to palm it beyond Oisin Morrissey.
Devanney’s goal came in response to three Cooraclare points in succession which had brought them to within two points of the Tones.
It was all one way traffic in the opening half as Wolfe Tones with the aid of the conditions built up a seven point lead by the eleventh minute. The experienced Gary Leahy opened their account while Jack Ryan a recent addition for Avenue Utd kicked the goal after he was teed up by Colin Riordan but Ryan still produced an excellent finish.
Eventually Cooraclare got going with a free from goalkeeper Oisin Morrissey on fourteen minutes and they had another with Micheál Garry pointing from play off his left boot, two minutes later.
Cooraclare managed to outscore Wolfe Tones 0-3 0-2 in the second quarter to leave a gap of five points by half time.
Martin Daly’s side began to get going on the restart but their progress was interrupted by Devanney’s goal.
Three wides, two from placed balls from Micheál Garry really hurt Cooraclare’s chances of getting in front but matters were made much worse when Garry was dismissed on a straight red card alongside Devanney after a melee delayed proceedings for over four minutes.
Although Cooraclare kicked the final three points of the clash, the second goal ultimately was the difference.
Scorers Wolfe Tones: J Ryan (1-1), G Leahy (0-3 2f), D Devanney (1-0), C Riordan (0-1 1f), J O’Sullivan (0-1 1f).
Scorers Cooraclare: M Garry (0-3 2f), O Morrissey (0-2 2f), B McNamara (0-2 1f), J Lillis (0-1), R Lillis (0-1), T Downes (0-1)
Wolfe Tones: Fionn McInerney; Shane Nihill, Aaron Kelly, Niall Fitzgerald; Jason McAuley, Jayme O’Sullivan, Conor Carrig; Brian Murphy, Joe McGauley; Jack Ryan, Craig Riordan, Dean Devanney; Cody Waller, Gary Leahy, Eoghan Gough.
Subs: Colin Riordan for Gough (45), Shane Russell for McInerney (49) (inj), Chris Dunning for Ryan (54).
Cooraclare: Oisin Morrissey; Gearoid Lillis, Jake Garry, Aaron Townsend; James Burke; Robert Ryan, Tom Downes, Fergal Donnellan; Brian McNamara, Micheál Garry; Padraic O’Donoghue, John Lillis, Ciaran Chambers; Rory Lillis, Sean Browne.
Subs: Jack Carey for O’Donoghue (40), Kevin Marrinan for Chambers (40), Colin McNamara for R Lillis (58), Noel Gavin for Burke (60)
Referee: Pat Healy (Kilmaley)
O’Currys’ championship campaign comes to life
O’Currys 3-10
Killimer 1-5
Venue: Kilkee
An eleven point winning margin over Killimer has sprung O’Currys right into contention and sixty minutes away from bagging a place in the quarter-finals of the Clare IFC.
Dinny McMahon’s side have the chance to go directly through to the last eight if they can overcome Cooraclare in the third round and they will be a lot more optimistic off the back of a dominant display against last year’s Junior A champions.
Even if they don’t overcome the Milesians, there is still the chance to qualify for the knockout stages but they will be eager to grasp the opportunity of the direct route.
Thomas Clancy has been a key figure for the Peninsula side all year and he came up trumps in round two alongside Danny Downes with the duo both kicking 1-3 each as they made a swift recovery from their first round loss to Wolfe Tones.
Killimer are now gearing themselves up for a relegation battle and they will use the Wolfe Tones tie as preparation for this.
Scorers O’Currys: T Clancy (1-3), D Downes (1-3), J Marrinan (1-0), C Downes (0-1), E Kelly (0-1), E Troy (0-1), E Brew (0-1)
Scorers Killimer: K Hassett (1-1), M Kelleher (0-2), L Culligan (0-1), J Kelleher (0-1).
O’Currys: Damien Clohessy; Paddy Clancy, Stephen Kelly, Jonathan Clancy; Seamus Keane, Séan Haugh, Eoin Brew; Eoin Troy, Thomas Clancy; Eoin Kelly, Michael Foran, Cathal Downes; Danny Downes, Ian Roche, Jim Marrinan.
Killimer: Cian Corry; Fiachra McKeown, Declan Pyne, Sean Kelly; Odhran Cunningham, Josh Hassett, Paul Browne; Sean Reynolds, Aidan Reynolds; Stephen Grogan, Liam Culligan, Kevin Hassett; Mikey Kelleher, Bryan Grogan, Jack Kelleher.
Subs: Daniel Moloney for M Kelleher, Mikey Kelleher for S Grogan.
