*Cooraclare’s Kevin Marrinan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
IN THE first major shock in this year’s Clare football championship across all grades, raging hot favourites Kilrush have been dumped out of the race for intermediate honours by Cooraclare.
Cooraclare 3-14
Kilrush Shamrocks 0-13
Venue: Shanahan McNamara Memorial Park, Doonbeg
Having gone through the league without suffering a defeat, they had been installed as the hot favourites for the intermediate double.
Before a very big attendance at Shanahan McNamara Park in Doonbeg on Saturday evening, Cooraclare delivered their best performance of the season to date to claim a merited victory.
Confidence had been growing throughout the week amongst football supporters across the county that Cooraclare would make matters difficult for the Shams but whatever about believing that the Sky Blues might win, nobody would have predicted a margin of ten points in their favour.
Having lost Fergal Donnellan to emigration and Darragh Townsend and James Burke to injury from their last outing, there were concerns amongst Cooraclare supporters.
A blistering start which yielded 1-3 without reply in the opening six minutes gave their followers plenty to shout about.
Inter county man Brian McNamara played his part in the move which sent Sean Browne through for the opening goal of the game after just twenty five seconds.
Simon Culligan, Shane Lillis and Browne followed with points before Kilrush launched their first attack which yielded a two pointer from Conor Fennell.
Fennell’s brother Sean followed with another two pointer before Ross Phelan kicked a point and after eleven minutes just a point separated the teams, 1-3 to 0-5 in favour of the winners.
Cooraclare goalkeeper, Harry O’Gorman who had an excellent game, came up field to convert a 50m free for a two pointer.
As the opening half reached he midpoint the winners struck for their second major and, once again, Brian McNamara played a key role with Kevin Marrinan providing the finish.
Points were exchanged twice before two pointers from both Gearoid O’Brien and Don O’Driscoll left four between the sides at the break, 2-9 to 0-11 in Cooraclare’s favour.
Scores were less frequent on the resumption with each side managing just one score in twenty minutes. Cooraclare’s score proved to be crucial.
A mis hit free from goalkeeper Harry O’Gorman who was chasing a two pointer saw the ball break loos on the 13m line and in a flash Simon Culligan’s first time effort shook the net.
It was a blow from which Kilrush never really recovered and they had to wait until the sixteenth minute of the half to add to their half time tally, Conor Fennell converting a 20m free.
Inside the final ten minutes Cooraclare rung the changes and Tadhg Lillis (0-1) and Colin McNamara (0-2, 1tp) certainly made their presence felt.
Kilrush battled to the end but could only manage one more point which came from Sean Fennell.
Pearse Lillis, Brian McNamara, Sean Browne, Jack Carey, Gearoid Lillis, Harry O’Gorman and Simon Culligan were all prominent for the winners who delivered an impressive all round team performance.
For Kilrush who failed the match the hunger of their opponents, Ross Cullinan, Tadhg Lysaght, Sean and Conor Fennell did best.
Cooraclare played the last three minutes with fourteen after Gary Donnellan picked up a black card.
Scorers Cooraclare: Sean Browne, Simon Culligan (0-1f), Kevin Marrinan (1-1) each; Harry O’Gorman (0-3, f, TP) Colin McNamara (0-3, 0-1f, 1TP); Shane Lillis (frees), Brian McNamara (0-2) each; Tadhg Lillis (0-1)
Scorers Kilrush Shamrocks: Conor Fennell (0-5, 3f, 1TP); Sean Fennell (0-3, 1 f, 1TP); Gearoid O’Brien, Don O’Driscoll (0-2 each, 1tp each) Ross Phelan (0-1);
Cooraclare:
1: Harry O’Gorman
2: Gary Donnellan
3: Gearoid Lillis
18: Ronan Donnellan
5: Ciaran Chambers
6: Pearse Lillis
7: Jake Garry
8: Sean O’Dea,
9: Brian McNamara
12: Darragh Townsend
11: Sean Browne
10: Jack Carey
13: Simon Culligan
19: Kevin Marrinan
15: Shane Lillis.
Subs:
17: Tadhg Lillis for J Garry (47)
14: Colin McNamara for S. Lillis (49)
22: Aidan Considine for J. Carey (49)
21: James Burke for S. Browne (57)
Kilrush Shamrocks:
1: Stephen Ryan
2: James Blunnie
3: Ross Cullinan
4: Sean Canny
5: Tadhg Lysaght
6: Ciaran Bermingham
7: Dylan O’Brien
8: Sean Fennell
9: Darragh Bolton
10: Dean Neary
11: Gearoid O’Brien
12: Ben McKiernan
13: Conor Fennell
14: Don O’Driscoll
15: Ross Phelan
Sub:
21: Keith Crowley for D. Neary(40)
Referee: Gary Twomey (Ennistymon)
