*Conall Casey gets away from Stan Lineen. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
KILDYSART sealed their senior status in dramatic fashion kicking a two pointer and a last-minute winner to defeat Kilmihil by a single point.
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Kildysart 1-14
Kilmihil 2-10
Venue: Páirc Cuar an Chláir, Cooraclare
By finding an extra edge in additional time, Kildysart managed to kick four points in the space of three minutes to ensure they remain in the top tier for 2026 and send Kilmihil into a second successive relegation final, this time where they will face reigning intermediate champions Wolfe Tones.
Gavin Downes bagged a goal on fifty nine mintues to give Kilmihil a three point advantage entering additional time but they were unable to defend this lead and instead Kildysart landed scores including a Luke McGrath free, a two pointer from McGrath and the match-winner from Diarmuid O’Donnell to maintain their place in the senior ranks for what will be a fourth year running.
As is to be expected in relegation battles, it was a cagey affair with very little separating the teams throughout.
Martin O’Leary struck for goal to give Kilmihil a glorious start. Jack Keating’s delivery to Cathal Murray saw the full-forward go for goal but Conor Cusack produced a fine save, the ball falling in the path of O’Leary who gladly collected and fired to the net with the game a mere seventy seconds old. Keating added to their lead on the next attack.
Conall Casey opened Kildysart’s account on six minutes and Kilmihil goalkeeper Damien Lineen was then forced to make a nice save from Jamie Evans to stop the umpires reaching for the green flag.
Diarmuid O’Donnell kicked two frees sandwiched between Ciaran Downes’ first of the evening and then Ryan Casey fisted the ball between the posts lowering the deficit to a single point on thirteen minutes.
Downes converted another free as the game entered the second quarter but then Kildysart went ahead for the first time. A Keith O’Connor dropping ball was palmed to the back of the net by his trusted midfield partner Kieran O’Brien on seventeen minutes.
They added frees via O’Donnell and McGrath as did Kilmihil with two Downes placed balls to leave the minimum between the teams at the interval.
On the restart, the first two scores fell to Kildysart, Jamie Evans pointing after they won back possession when Dan Keating seemed to harshly pulled for charging, Conall Casey kicked over his second score of the day to have Maurice Walsh’s men 1-8 1-5 in front on thirty three minutes.
Throughout the third quarter, Kilmihil only made one contribution to the scoreboard, a free from Ciaran Downes but as they entered the final quarter the Clare attacker had them back on level terms when he landed a two pointer.
Two McGrath frees in a row saw Kildysart regain the lead only for a spirited Kilmihil to reply via Downes and O’Leary. Conor Cusack’s kickout from the O’Leary point went astray and it allowed Kilmihil to get an overload, they kicked the ball into the danger zone with Gavin Downes putting his body on the line to get a vital flick to nudge the ball past Cusack and into the net, putting them 2-10 1-10 in front as four minutes of additional time were signalled.
It was enough time for Kildysart to mount a successful comeback with McGrath converting a free and then a two pointer before O’Donnell stood tallest when the need was greatest, pointing from an acute angle to guarantee their place in the top tier for 2026.
Scores from play were scarce for Kilmihil who didn’t do enough to get danger man Ciaran Downes on the ball in positions where he was able to penetrate from play. Their ability in the air winning primary possession has become apparent in this year’s championship and it seemed Kildysart focused on punching the ball away from them and being there to clean up the breaks.
Dan Keating fought manfully for Michael Doran’s side and needed more assistance in the middle third, Mikey Keating, Ciaran Downes, Martin O’Leary, John Finucane and Gavin Downers were their other influential players. They were moments away from claiming a victory and can definitely take pride from their performance, it was most definitely a game they could have won, while they head into a second relegation final in as many years they are in a much better place considering the improved performances they are displaying this season.
In a year where they were relegated from the Cusack Cup, Kildysart find themselves tracing back to the O’Gorman Cup to remember their last taste of victory. By the Shannon Estuary, they might say it was a year to forget it needs to be a campaign to remember and be used as a springboard to drive on in 2026 when hopefully they will welcome Emmet McMahon and Oisin Coyle back from injury.
They had more men capable of scoring and kicked six points from play compared to Kilmihil’s two. On breaks in the middle third, they were superior, nerves are arguably the reason they took time to settle but they did better in the second and third quarter to put themselves in a strong position, their finish when the stakes were highest and everything was on the line is something they will savour for the months ahead. Those to impress for the winenrs were, Conall Casey, Jamie Evans, Diarmuid O’Donnell, Luke McGrath, Kieran O’Brien, Keith O’Connor and Fergal Ginnane.
Scorers Kildysart: L McGrath (0-6 3f 1TPf), D O’Donnell (0-4 3f), K O’Brien (1-0), C Casey (0-2), R Casey (0-1), J Evans (0-1).
Scorers Kilmihil: C Downes (0-8 6f 1TPf), M O’Leary (1-1), G Downes (1-0), J Keating (0-1).
Kildysart:
1: Conor Cusack
2: Cillian Kelly
4: Stephen Sheehan
5: Rory McMahon
3: Fergal Ginnane
6: Conor Moloney
13: Jamie Evans
9: Kieran O’Brien
8: Keith O’Connor
22: Conall Casey
11: Luke McGrath
15: Seamus Casey
20: Ryan Casey
12: Diarmuid O’Donnell
14: Mikey Donnellan
Subs:
21: Jack Cotter for Donnellan (48)
17: Jamie Sheehan for R Casey (54)
24: Keith Murphy for S Casey (55)
Kilmihil:
1: Damien Lineen
6: Mikey Keating
4: Padraig O’Grady
2: David Coughlan
15: Stan Lineen
3: John Finucane
11: Sean Crowley
8: Dan Keating
9: Jack Keating
5: Shane Downes
12: Gavin Downes
7: Michael Cotter
10: Ciaran Downes
14: Cathal Murray
13: Marty O’Leary
Subs:
29: Niall Pender for J Keating (51)
18: Mark Normoyle for Murray (53)
Referee: Niall Quinn (St Joseph’s Miltown)
