Kilmurry Ibrickane keep winning streak despite Corofin challenge

*Evan Cahill drives forward for Kilmurry Ibrickane. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.

KILMURRY IBRICKANE maintained their one hundred percent winning record in the Clare SFC, advancing to the quarter-finals for the eleventh year in succession.

Kilmurry Ibrickane 3-9
Corofin 0-14
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, Ennis

Annual quarter-finalists since 2016, Kilmurry Ibrickane for the second year in a row have got through the group stages with three wins out of three.

They were assured of a place in the knockout stages before Barry Kelly commenced proceedings in Cusack Park on Sunday afternoon and the Bricks wisely used the opportunity to get game time into Andrew Shannon and Aidan McCarthy, both of whom missed the Cusack Cup campaign.

Though not pushed to their absolute optimum, the Bricks were put under pressure by Corofin in the second half, the reigning intermediate champions coming within a single point before the West Clare side raided for their third goal which was finished to the net by Evan Cahill.

Beating St Breckans in round two ensured Corofin wouldn’t be fretting over a relegation battle and they headed into this tie with no little expectations. Jamie Malone has returned to the Middle East, depriving them of physicality and an attacking threat but the ex Clare footballer hasn’t finished up with the club for 2026 just yet. It was a first championship start of the year for Cilléin Mullins and Damien O’Loughlin, the duo remain central cogs in their wheel.

Malone’s absence left Gearoid Cahill as the main attacking threat for Corofin, he accounted for all but one of their five point tally in the first half. Seanán Kibry continued to be a threat up front with Colm Breen also splitting the posts. Cillian McGroary showed his ability to convert two pointers on the restart, landing four in the second half and his prowess with orange flags is certainly strengthening their cause.

At the other end, they had far too many fires to contend with. Cathal Talty and Conor Burke helped Kilmurry Ibrickane to a 1-1 0-1 advantage by the seventh minute, Evan Cahill breaking the line to tee up Talty while it was a run from McCarthy that paved the way for Burke’s green flag.

Moving the ball from one side of the field to the other, Kilmurry Ibrickane didn’t panic in possession, as evident from their third score of the day which was scored by Conor Burke. They extended the lead further when Josh Moloney was fouled and Keelan Sexton scored the first of his three frees of the afternoon.

Three missed chances from the Bricks followed, Sexton kicking a free off the upright, Cillian McGroary blocking a Cathal Talty shot and the subsequent Dermot Coughlan 45 trailing wide. Points were traded at either end with Gearoid Cahill and Colm Breen pointing for Corofin while Ajay Daly and another Sexton free kept the Kilmurry Ibrickane account ticking.

An excellent one-two combination between Dermot Coughlan and Evan Cahill was finished to the bottom left corner of the net by Coughlan to power the Bricks eight points in front on twenty three minutes. They could have had another major but Luke Neylon saved from Cathal Talty with two points added by Gearoid Cahill before the first half’s conclusion to make it 2-5 0-5.

On the restart, Corofin five points without reply, including two McGroary two pointers narrowing the deficit to a single point with thirty eight minutes on the clock.

It took Kilmurry Ibrickane thirteen minutes to score in the second half and it was a significant one, Sexton feeding the ball to Daniel Walsh who carried forward before passing across goal to the on-rushing Evan Cahill to palm to the net. Burke and Sexton chipped over points to restore a six point lead by the forty sixth minute.

Up stepped McGroary with another brace of two pointers to narrow the gap to two points but his fifty third minute orange flag was their last contribution to the scoreboard with Daryn Callinan kicking a point from play and a free to seal the four point victory.

Concession of two pointers remains an issue for the Bricks. Across their three group games, they have shipped fourteen orange flags but crucially they have kept clean sheets in each of their championship outings this year. On the flip side, their ability to raise green flags is a strength, they have scored eight goals in their three games.

Offering huge strength for Enda Coughlan’s side is Evan Cahill who is excelling in the middle of the park both in securing possession and creating scoring opportunities. Others to impress for the winners included Joshua Moloney, Conor Burke and Dermot Coughlan.

Showing their worth as a second half team underlines the spirit within the Corofin side. On this occasion, they outscored Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-9 1-4 in the second half but in order for them to progress in the campaign, they need to produce a sixty minute performance. Peadar O’Brien’s side had solid displays from Colm Breen, Cillian McGroary, Gearoid Cahill and Marc O’Loughlin. They have little time to remedy any errors with their preliminary quarter-final taking place on Friday evening against St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield.

All photographs by Gerard O’Neill.