*Kilmurry Ibrickane’s Michael O’Dwyer. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Last year’s beaten finalists Kilmurry Ibrickane justified the favourites tag when opening their campaign on a winning note with a merited win over Doonbeg at a well appointed Hennessy Park in Miltown this Sunday afternoon.
Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-13
Doonbeg 1-07
Venue: Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown Malbay
Four points down with ten minutes to go, Doonbeg’s cause wasn’t helped when they were reduced to fourteen men as Mikie Tubridy picked up a black card which put him out of the game for ten minutes.
Overall Kilmurry Ibrickane were a sharper and better balanced outfit and their use of possession caused problems for the magpies throughout.
That said Doonbeg created some good chances but they struggled to convert chances when in good positions..
In typical Doonbeg style, however, they refused to give in and they were rewarded with a goal from Jason Linnane following a good move initiated by captain Paraic Ahearne.
Kilmurry Ibrickane responded with points from Daryn Callinan and Michael O’Dwyer to seal their victory.
Kilmurry Ibrickane deservingly took a three point lead, 0-8 to 0-5, to the interval break. They dominated the possession stakes in the opening period but a hard working Doonbeg defence had denied them scores on a number of occasions.
Last year’s finalists were forced into a change as early as the fourth minute when Mark Killeen replaced the injured Caoilfhinn O’Dea who had started at midfield.
The Kilmurry Ibrickane team showed four changes in personnel from that which was on the programme. Amongst those coming into the starting line up were Shane Hickey, returning after a long lay off due to injury and Dermot Coughlan, who had been in the U.S. for the past number of weeks.
Incidentally, former Clare coach and current Dublin ladies football manager, Mick Bohan who has seen conducting a number of sessions with Kilmurry Ibrickane, was part of their sideline team at Hennessy Park
Scorers Kilmurry Ibrickane: Dermot Coughlan (0-5, 2f 1’45) Michael O’Dwyer (0-2); Shane Hickey, Aiden McCarthy, Daniel Walsh (free), Andrew Shannon, Niall Hickey, Daryn Callinan (0-1) each
Scorers Doonbeg: David Tubridy (0-5, frees); Jason Linnane (1-0), Darragh Burns, Kevin Pender (0-1) each
Kilmurry Ibrickane
1: David Sexton
17: Shane Hickey
3: Darren Hickey
4: Martin McMahon
25: Josh Moloney
5: Ciaran Morrissey
8: Aidan McCarthy
14: Caoilfhinn O’Dea
9: Daniel Walsh
10: Andrew Shannon
17: Dermot Coughlan
23: Paudie Murrihy
12: Niall Hickey
11: Michael O’Dwyer
15: Enda Coughlan
Subs:
6: Mark Killeen for C. O’Dea (4)
29: Colin Brigdale for Murrihy (half time)
2: Jason McCarthy for S. Hickey (44)
26: Mark McCarthy for E. Coughlan (44)
13: Daryn Callinan for N. Hickey (inj) (47)
Doonbeg
1: Eamonn Tubridy
19: Joe Blake
3: Conor O’Mahoney
4: Jason Linnane
5: Paraic Ahearne
6: Cian O’Mahoney
7: James Killeen
8: Kevin McInerney
9: Eoin Conway
10: Cathal Killeen
11: David Tubridy
12: Mikie Tubridy
13: Darragh Burns
14: Kevin Pender
15: Eoin Killeen
Subs:
24: Shane Ryan for K. Pender (50)
22: Tadhg Lillis for K. McInerney (50)
17: Paul Dillon for E. Cponway (55)
21: Brian Behan for C Killeen (57)
Referee: Chris Maguire (Wolfe Tones)
