*Cooraclare’s Pearse Lillis. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
QUARTER-FINAL places have been sorted in the Clare intermediate football championship (IFC).
Kildysart, Kilrush Shamrocks, Cooraclare, Ennistymon, Wolfe Tones and O’Currys all finished in first and second position of their respective groups granting them automatic qualification with the final two spots to be filled by Naomh Eoin and Shannon Gaels, they finished in third position but had a better scoring difference than the Banner.
With the league format concluded, the race for the intermediate, junior A and junior B football championships has resched knock out and quarter finals will take place in two weeks time with all of the favourites still in the hunt for honours.
The race for the final positions went right down to the wire and everything points to some very exciting contests in the coming weeks.
Kildysart have topped group 1 after they made it three wins from three when defeating Kilrush on Saturday. Relegated last year along with another long standing senior club, Cooraclare, the Shamrocks have struggled in this campaign and they will need to show a big improvement if they are to make a quick return to the top flight.
Following the group stage, Cooraclare, Kildysart and Wolfe Tones are the fancied teams for honours.
McMahon top scores as Kildysart march on
Kildysart 1-7
Kilrush Shamrocks 0-4
Venue: St Michael’s Park, Kilmihil
Starting his first game in the campaign, inter county ma, Emmett McMahon contributed 1-4 as Kildysart kept up their strong challenge for intermediate honours when overcoming Kilrush at Kilmihil on Saturday evening.
McMahon’s goal separated the sides at the interval when the score was 1-4 to 0-4, the winners having made better use of the chances created in that period.
They continued to hold the upperhand in the second half when they held Kilrush scoreless.
Kildysart; Conor Cusack; Brian Eyers, Conor Donnellan, Stephen Sheehan; Rory McMahon, Kieran Leahy, Conor Moloney; Keith O’Connor, Kieran O’Brien; Oisin Coyle, Jamie Evans, Fergal Guinnane; Seamus Casey Emmett McMahon, Luke McGrath
Subs: Keith Murphy for Coyle; Conor Hassett for McGrath; Ryan Casey for R. McMahon
Kilrush Shamrocks: Stephen Ryan; Niall Brennan, Kieran Bermingham, Cathal McMahon; Sean Purtill Sean Canny, Euan Kelly; Don O’Driscoll, Sean Madigan; Ross Phelan, Dylan O’Brien, Gearoid O’Brien; Cathal Carigg, Liam Madigan, Keith Crowley;
Sub; Mark Shannon for Carigg
Referee: Joe Kelly (Cooraclare)
Downes lands the winner for Naomh Eoin
Naomh Eoin 0-13
Coolmeen 0-12
Venue: Cooraclare
All the predictions were for a close contest and so it was when Naomh Eoin and Coolmeen clashed at Cooraclare on Saturday evening.
Naomh Eoin emerged with a narrow victory and this was enough to see them into the quarter finals.
The men from the peninsula led by the minimum margin, 0-8 to 0-7, at the interval
Coolmeen opened a four point gap in the first half but three in a row for Naomh Eoin saw them battle back.
From an early stage it was clear that little would separate the sides and a share of the spoils looked the likely outcome for much of this game.
With the sides locked together at 0-12 each Naomh Eoun attacked and Conor Downes landed what proved to be the winning point.
Naomh Eoin: Sean Roche; Declan Keniry, Sean Bonfil, Conor Tevlin; Fergal Keane, Mark McQuaid, Tomas Bonfil; Odhran Lynch, Gavinr Magner; Conor Magner, Niall Bonfil, Owen Lynch; Seamus Boland, Conor Downes, Owen Hanrahan;
Sub: Michael Liddane for Boland
Coolmeen: Adam Carigg; Gary Meaney, Daniel Forde, David Hehir; Dylan O’Halloran, Mark Meaney, Alan Normoyle; Eoin O’Connor, Thomas Coffey; Joe Corry, Cathal O’Connor, Brian Markham; Aidan Corry, Cian Murphy Dylan Power;
Subs; Ronan Murphy for D. Power; Adam Wallace for J. Corry
Referee; Michael Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
Cooraclare always in control
Cooraclare 2-12
Kilfenora 0-4
Venue: Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown Malbay
Cooraclare remain on course for a quick return to senior football after making it three wins from three outings to top their group.
At Hennessy Memorial Park on Saturday, they had little trouble in disposing of Kilfenora whom they held scoreless in the second half.
Assured of qualification prior to this game, Cooraclare availed of the opportunity to have a look at some players in different positions.
They dominated from the off and had victory secured by half time when the score was 2-9 to 0-4, the goals coming from Ciaran O’Donoghue and Robert Ryan.
Cooraclare; Mark Lillis; Niall Kelly Mark Tubridy, Robert Ryan; Micheal Garry, Pearse Lillis, Ronan Donnellan; James Chambers, Brian McNamara; Padraic O’Donoghue, Damian Burke, Sean Browne; Ciaran O’Donoghue, Jack Morrissey, Finn O’Driscoll;
Subs; Cillian Burke for Chambers; Keith Marrinan for P O’Donoghue; Fergal Donnellan for R. Ryan; Gary Donnellan for R. Donnellan; Caoimhin Donnellan for F. O’Driscoll
Kilfenora: Declan Brennan; Cian O’Conchuir, Gearoid Howley, Nathan Brody; Joseph O’Gorman, Cronan Howley, Patrick Collins, Jack O’Dea, Paul Carkill; Patrick Connole, Cian O’Dea, Paudie Ireland, Micheal Duffy, Peter Collins, Matthew Egan.
Subs; David Nagle for Peter Collins; Eoghan O’Leary for O’Gorman;
Referee: Barry Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown)
Impressive point scoring by Ennistymon
Ennistymon 0-16
Banner 0-11
Venue: Pairc Finne, Corofin
A strong second half showing when some impressive points were kicked by Niall Canavan, Danny and Eanna Rouine and Joe Dowling to mention some, steered Ennistymon to this victory which guarantees them a place in the quarter finals of the Clare IFC.
They trailed by the minimum margin, 0-6 to 0-7 at half time before dictating matters in the second period.
Experience was a key factor in the North Clare side’s victory over a Banner outfit competing at this level for just the second time.
Ennistymon; Darren Torpey; Cathal Frawley, Lawrence Healy. Dara Rouine; Niall Hogan, Brian McNamara, Ciaran Vaughan; Michael Houlihan Josh Ryan; Eanna Rouine, Cathal McConigley, Darren McNamara; Niall Canavan, Eanna Rouine, Joe Dowling,
Sub: Ruairi Murphy for E. Rouine (inj);
Banner: Mark Cleary; Finn White, Oran Rynne, Shane Garrihy; Oisin McMahon, Ronan O’Halloran, Cian Rynne; Niall Walsh, James Coakley; Matthew McGrath Shane Meehan, Johnny Martin; Dara Walsh, Thomas Meeneghan, Danny O’Halloran;
Subs: Diarmuid Toner for McGrath; Tola Coote for Martin; Darren Meehan for Garrihy;
Referee: Feargal Gray (Feakle)
Strong finish from never say die O’Currys
O’Currys 1-12
Shannon Gaels 1-10
Venue: Shanahan McNamara Memorial Park, Doonbeg
Battle hardened O’Curry’s showed their fighting qualities once again when they overcame Shannon Gaels at Doonbeg on Saturday evening.
Behind by five points at half time 0-4 to 1-6, they found themselves seven points in arrears, 0-5 to 1-9 with twenty minutes to play.
In that period the men from Carrigaholt and Doonaha dominated and outscored their opponents 1-7 to 0-1, the goal coming from Seamus Keane and this victory sealed their place in the last eight of the championship.
Team captain Darragh Bohannon top scored for the Gaels with 1-4 to his credit
O’Currys: Eoin Troy; Darragh Keane, Michael O’Shea, Stephen Kelly; Seamus Keane (1-0), Sean Haugh, Eoin Brew; Cathal Downes (0-2) Thomas Clancy (0-4);Jim Marrinan, Michael Foran, Sean Murphy; Danny Downes (0-4), Gearoid Lynch, Shane Browne (0-2).
Shannon Gaels: Michael O’Donoghue; Tadhg Kelly, Jack Reidy, Eoin Keane; Tomas Cleary(0-1), Matthew Reidy(0-1), Aaron Malone-Smyth; Darragh Bohannon (1-4)), Darren Crehan; Barry Crehan (0-1), Thomas Kelly (0-2), Michael O’Malley; Fergal Kenny, Dylan Kenny (0-1), Gearoid Kenny
Subs: Tom O’Gorman for G. Kenny; Thomas Kenny for Cleary
Referee: Barry Keating (Lissycasey)
Wolfe Tones go marching on
Wolfe Tones 1-19
Michael Cusacks 1-3
Venue: Gurteen
A strong first half at the end of which they held a ten point advantage saw Wolfe Tones record a comfortable win over Michael Cusacks.
The Shannon outfit caused huge problems for Michael Cusacks from the off and, helped by a goal from Darragh Leahy, they were 1-11 to 1-1 in front when the half time whistle sounded.
Cusack’s goal came from their captain Aidan Forde.
Scores weren’t as plentiful in the second half but the Tones maintained their dominance and emerged as worth winners.
Wolfe Tones: Shane Russell; Aaron Kelly, Jayme O’Sullican. Shane Nihill; Eoghan Casey, Aaron Brennan, Jason McAuley; Dean Devanney, Darragh Lohan; Cian O’Rourke, Chris Dunning, Jack Ryan; Brian Monaghan, Billy Connors, Darragh Leahy
Subs: Craig Riordan for Monaghan; Sean Brennan for A. Brennan; Liam Murphy for Dunning; Conor Casey for Leahy; Sean Costelloe for A. Kelly.
Michael Cusacks; John Fawle; Ruaidhri McMahon, Danny O’Connor, Conor Fahy; Lorcan O’Grady, Ronan Monahan, Diarmuid Tobin; Hugh Kelly, Jack McGann; Cathal Droney, Sean McNamara, Senan Dunford; Thomas Roche Aidan McNamara, Aidan Forde;
Subs: Pappy Taaffe for O’Grady; Seaghan Brosnan for Forde; Joey Droney for Dunford
Referee: Fergal O’Brien (Broadford)
