CLARE IFC: Banner, Clondegad, Cooraclare, Tones, Kilrush, Gaels & Killimer seal quarter-final spots

*James Coakley, Brian McDonald and Seán McMahon of the Banner try to claim the ball back from Kilrush Shamrocks’ James Blunnie. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.

Seven of the quarter final places in this season’s TUS intermediate football championship have been filled after the weekend’s games in round 3 of the competition.

The remaining position rests between Naomh Eoin and Ennistymon who will play off this coming Sunday.

Top spot in the respective groups were claimed by Clondegad, Banner and Cooraclare with Wolfe Tones, Shannon Gaels, Kilrush Shamrocks and Killimer also advancing to the knockout stages.

Coolmeen, Liscannor and Michael Cusacks will battle it out in the relegation contest with the eventual loser dropping down to junior A.

All three lost their final round games at the weekend ending their hopes of championship glory this season.

Gaels push Clondegad all the way

Clondegad 0-21
Shannon Gaels 0-18
Venue: Páirc Cuar an Chláir, Cooraclare

By Seamus Hayes

Garry Cup champions Clondegad were made fight all the way for this victory when they faced Shannon Gaels in their final group game at Cooraclare on Sunday afternoon.

The winners had the better of the opening half exchanges and they led 0-13 to 0-6 when the half time whistle sounded.

The Gaels came storming back in the second half and would not have been flattered had they snatched a share of the spoils.

Shortly before the final whistle Dylan Kenny failed to hit the target with a two point attempt at a time when the margin between the teams was just two points.

From the resumption of play, Clondegad attacked and scored the final point of the tie.

Interestingly, three players accounted for the winners first half total of 0-13, Cian McAllister landed three two pointers and a single point also while Eoin Kennedy and Eoghan Gavin each landed a two pointer, Kennedy and Cian Kirby had the remaining two scores.

Jack Reidy excelled at centre back for Shannon Gaels while Darren Crehan also impressed at midfield. Morgan Garry, Cillian Brennan and Cian McAllister were to the fore for the winners.

Gallery of photographs by Gerard O’Neill.

Scorers Clondegad: Cian McAllister (0-9, 3TP); Eoin Kennedy (0-3, 1TP); Eoghan Gavin (0-2 TP); Cian Kirby, Diarmuid O’Neill, Daniel Costelloe, Morgan Garry, Cillian Gavin, Fiachra Kirby, Cillian Brennan (0-1) each

Scorers Shannon Gaels: Dylan Kenny (0-5); Julian Linnane (0-4, 2TP); Tadhg Kelly (0-2 TP); Darren Crehan (0-2); Dylan O’Neill (0-2), Thomas Kelly (0-2); Damian Downes (0-1)

Clondegad;
1: Danel Kelly;

2: Cormac Reidy
3: Brian Casey
17: Niall Carigg

10: Paddy Sweeney,
6: Morgan Garry,
7: Cillian Gavin;

8: Cillian Brennan,
9: Diarmuid O’Neill;

11: Eoin O’Connor,
18: Eoin Kennedy,
22: Cian Kirby;

14: Eoin Glynn,
21: Eoghan Gavin,
15: Cian McAllister;

Subs:
26: Fiachra Kirby for E. Kennedy;
12: Sean McAllister for C. Kirby;
4: Peter Casey for N. Carigg;
5: Daniel Costelloe for E. Glynn
13: Colm Meaney for E. O’ Connor

Shannon Gaels;
1: Ciarán McCarthy;

2: Eoin Keane,
3: Fergal Kenny,
4: Aaron Lee McMahon;

5: Daman Downes,
6: Jack Reidy,
7: Julian Linnane;

8: Tadhg Kelly,
9: Darren Crehan;

10: Colm Downes,
11: Thomas Kelly,
12: Dylan Kenny;

13: Dave Bannigan,
14: Dylan O’Neill,
15: Thomas Kenny;

Subs:
18; Michael O’Donoghue for D. Bannigan;
27: Matthew Reidy for T. Kenny;
22: Peadar Kelly for Downes

Referee: Joe Kelly (Cooraclare)

Wolfe Tones lower Liscannor into relegation battle

Wolfe Tones 2-18
Liscannor 3-7
Venue: Clarecastle

By Páraic McMahon

An eight point winning margin is flattering to Wolfe Tones but it sealed second spot in Group 1 where three teams advance to the quarter-finals.

Of the seven confirmed quarter-finalists in the intermediate championship, Wolfe Tones are a far cry from resembling a senior outfit which is puzzling considering it was the Shannon side that were relegated from the top tier last season.

Blessed to have been in the seeded group where three of the four teams automatically qualify for the knockout stages, Wolfe Tones despite their shaky form are in the business end of the championship and on the same footing as all of their opponents.

Just a single point separated the sides at the half-time whistle but a second half showing where they outscored Liscannor 2-9 1-2 sealed second spot in the group for the Tones and ensured the North Clare men would be battling relegation for the second year in a row.

Daithí Lohan excelled in midfield for Wolfe Tones, his strength and fielding ability often kickstarting their attacks. He is one of only two dual-players in their first fifteen and John Riordan’s side would certainly be a stronger force if more of their hurlers did both codes.

Colin Riordan who made a difference when brought off the bench for their hurlers last week finished as top scorer for the footballers and kicked them into an early 0-3 0-0 lead.

Eoghan Gough. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.

Sandwiched between this was a Tom Hanrahan bullet for Liscannor which was denied only by the crossbar, this and a block on Seán McDonagh prevented them from having three goals in the opening half.

Cian Guerin did score from a penalty on twenty four minutes after Jayme O’Sullivan was penalised. They managed to reduce a five point lead to a single score by half time when kicking four of the last five efforts.

On the restart, Tones custodian Shane Russell was forced to make a save from danger man Cian Guerin though Liscannor managed to rescue a score with Alan Clohessy levelling matters for the first and only time.

An unanswered blitz of 1-7 across fourteen minutes saw Wolfe Tones take control of the game, Darragh Leahy bagging the goal on forty three minutes with a tidy finish.

Guerin raised a second green flag at the other end with seven minutes of normal time remaining, making it a seven point game but Liscannor became the walking wounded with the trio of Padraig Haugh, Ultan McDonagh and Darren Nagle all exiting with injuries at the same period, right after substitute Craig Riordan fired home Wolfe Tones’ second goal.

Oisin Leyden was among the cavalry introduced for Liscannor and he struck a powerful shot past Russell to put a fairer reflection on the scoreline.

Even though it all comes back to round one for where Liscannor let a chance of making the knockout stages slip from their grasp when losing to Shannon Gaels by three when they could have easily won, they managed to put themselves in a position of causing an upset in this one but ultimately ran out of steam and legs. Cian Guerin excelled and continues to be their main attacking option, Tom Hanrahan, Francesco Bonito and Joe Hanrahan brought great energy again while Seán McDonagh proved to be a handful but was unable to create sufficient scoring opportunities when in possession.

Best for the Tones were Daithí Lohan, Colin Riordan, Tan Greene, Aaron Brennan and Niall Fitzgerald.

Scorers Wolfe Tones: Colin Riordan (0-8 2TP 2f), D Leahy (1-2), E Gough (0-4 2TP), Colin Riordan (1-1), N Fitzgerald (0-1), E Casey (0-1), T Fitzgerald (0-1).

Scorers Liscannor: C Guerin (2-3), A Clohessy (0-3 1f), O Leyden (1-0), T Hanrahan (0-1)

Wolfe Tones:
1: Shane Russell

27: Jason McAuley
3: Jayme O’Sullivan
2: Tan Greene

18: Liam Divilley
6: Conor Carrig
5: Aaron Brennan

8: Daithí Lohan
9: Damien Lyne

7: Niall Fitzgerald
15: Eoghan Casey
11: Colin Riordan

10: Aaron Kelly
13: Darragh Leahy
24: Eoghan Gough

Subs:
17: Tadhg Fitzgerald for Divilley (HT)
22: Craig Riordan for McAuley (43)
12: Cody Waller for O’Sullivan (49) (inj)
4: Jack Ryan for Gough (52)
19: Kevin Hanley for Leahy (56)

Liscannor:
1: John Kerin

4: Paul McLoughlin
3: Padraig Haugh
7: Joe Hanrahan

20: Ultan McDonagh
6: Dara Blake
2: Tom Hanrahan

17: Michael Foley
9: Darren Nagle

5: Francesco Bonito
11: Cian Guerin
13: Alan Clohessy

10: Daithi Fitzgerald
8: Seán McDonagh
15: Daniel White

Subs:
19: Stephen Murray for White (37)
18: Cathal Finucane for Fitzgerald (52)
14: Oisin Leyden for Haugh (57) (inj)
23: Cobhan Philipson for McDonagh (57) (inj)
25: Michael Finn for Nagle (57) (inj)

Referee: Ian Daly (Newmarket-on-Fergus)

Banner bounce into quarter-finals in top spot

Banner 1-22
Kilrush Shamrocks 2-13
Venue: Páirc Mícheál Ó hEithir, Ballynacally

By Páraic McMahon

Ennis lays claim to the two most impressive sides in the top two football grades with Éire Óg justifying their favourites tag in the senior ranks while the Banner will have a big say in who secures promotion to the top tier.

Three wins from three saw them seal top spot in Group 2 of the Clare IFC and a seeded quarter-final. Given that this was the most competitive of the three groups, their impressive victories over Naomh Eoin and Kilrush Shamrocks who are ranked among the top teams in the championship coupled with their eighteen point victory over Coolmeen, has them as one of the form teams in the intermediate championship.

With firepower aplenty in their attack, they have racked up 8-54 in three games. Ronan Kilroy’s ability to kick two pointers was evident in last year’s run, he has continued in this vein, bringing with him immense physicality and sublime fielding skills.

Thomas Meenaghan has pace to burn at full forward which Ross Cullinan and his compatriots in the Kilrush full-back line discovered. The ex Clare U20 attacker kicked five points from play and caused problems while Shane Meehan’s precision passing and composure on the ball links it all together in the heart of their forward line. Seán McMahon was their top scorer while Cian O’Connor had a well-taken goal with Seán Hegarty not afraid to have a pop at goal.

To separate them from contenders to champions, Banner need to be more clinical and ruthless. They could have made their job much easier had they taken all the chances that came their way, Of their final thirteen scoring opportunities in the second quarter, they converted just three and headed in at the break leading by just a single score when the gap between the sides in reality was far greater.

With six minutes played, they raced into a four point lead with Hegarty, McMahon, Kilroy and Meenaghan on target. They were five clear with eighteen minutes on the clock only to concede a goal to Mark Bonfield in the last act of the half and a two pointer from Conor Fennell making it a one point game at half time. The goal arising from the break of a Stephen Ryan kickout when two Banner players collided with each other, allowing Kilrush to cut through the middle before popping to Bonfield.

Kilroy started off the second half with a two pointer but Kilrush hit back with a goal from Don O’Driscoll who showed excellent handling skills to keep the ball in his control before finishing to the net which levelled matters for the very first time.

Shane Meehan and Conor Fennell traded two pointers before Brian Wallace nudged Kilrush in front for the first time on thirty five minutes which was followed by a Fennell 45.

Stephen Ryan pulled off an excellent save from Seán McMahon before he converted their next effort from a free and then on forty minutes, they managed to beat Ryan for the one and only time when Cian O’Connor had a nice finish to the net, restoring a three point advantage.

Meenaghan continued to shoot and score, adding another white flag and they added to this with a Kilroy orange flag and a McMahon free, rounding out a run of 1-5 without reply. They continued to keep their account ticking until the finish to emerge as deserving winners by a margin of six points.

Qualification to the quarter-finals was also achieved by Kilrush, their round one hammering of Coolmeen helping them stay ahead of Naomh Eoin on scoring difference. A big improvement is needed from John Fennell’s side to avoid successive eliminations in the quarter-finals where for their sake they will hope to miss out on drawing Clondegad or Cooraclare.

Powering in the right direction, Banner gave one of the football performances of the weekend but know they need to tidy up on the blunders which allowed Kilrush raid for two goals and also work on their shooting efficiency. Both Clare senior manager Paul Madden and U20 boss Dermot Coughlan were among the spectators in Ballynacally with plenty of players from the Ennis side grabbing their attention.

Leading the way for Shane Mernagh’s charges were Thomas Meenaghan, Ronan Kilroy, Fuhwad Akinwale, Brian McDonald, Eoin Walsh, Shane Meehan and Seán McMahon.

Gallery of photographs by Gerard O’Neill.

Scorers Banner: S McMahon (0-7 6f), R Kilroy (0-6 2TP), T Meenaghan (0-5), S Meehan (0-3 1TP), C O’Connor (1-0), S Hegarty (0-1).

Scorers Kilrush Shamrocks: C Fennell (0-8 2TPf 3f 1’45), M Bonfield (1-1 1’45), D O’Driscoll (1-0), S Fennell (0-3), B Wallace (0-1).

Banner:
1: Mark Cleary

2: Cian Ruane
3: Cian Rynne
4: Conor O’Toole

5: James Coakley
6: Eoin Walsh
7: Conor Dennehy

8: Fuwhad Akinwale
9: Brian McDonald

11: Seán McMahon
19: Shane Meehan
18: Ronan Kilroy

15: Cian O’Connor
14: Thomas Meenaghan
13: Seán Hegarty

Subs:
27: Liam Hughes for Hegarty (40)
28: Matthew McGrath for Hughes (42) (inj)
21: Justin McGrath for Dennehy (58)
20: Oisin McMahon for O’Connor (61)

Kilrush Shamrocks:
1: Stephen Ryan

2: Padraig Browne
3: Ross Cullinan
4: Jimmy Browne

5: Dean Neary
22: Sean Canny
7: James Blunnie

11: Seán Fennell
10: Darragh Bolton

18: Brian Wallace
13: Dylan O’Brien
19: Ben McKiernan

15: Mark Bonfield
8: Conor Fennell
17: Keith Crowley

Subs:
20: Don O’Driscoll for Crowley (HT)
21: Tadhg Lysaght for Wallace (47)
26: Matthew Moloney for O’Brien (53)
12: Jack Flavin for McKiernan (53)
9: Darragh Blunnie for Bonfield (53)

Referee: Pat Healy (Kilmaley)

Naomh Eoin still in the race for championship honours

Naomh Eoin 1-14
Coolmeen 0-11
Venue: Páirc Cuar an Chláir, Cooraclare

By Seamus Hayes

Naomh Eoin and Coolmeen provided an entertaining contest when they clashed at Cooraclare on Saturday in round three of the intermediate football championship.

Survival in the race for championship honours was the target of both sides and when the final whistle sounded Naomh Eoin had sealed a place in the play off for the last quarter final spot.

Coolmeen must now prepare for the relegation battle and on the evidence of this display, their best in the campaign to date, they will be hoping that they can avid the drop to junior level.

They got a great start with Aidan Corry landed a two pointer free in the opening minute.

Naomh Eoin’s response was strong and they hit back with five points from Owen Lynch (2), Niall Bonfil, Conor Magner and Fionn Doherty.

A two pointer from Brian Markham and a pointed free by Aidan Corry had the sides level at 0-5 each after twenty minutes but Naomh Eoin finished the half strongly with three unanswered points to lead 0-8 to 0-5 at the interval.

Coolmeen scored first when the second half resumed but two pointers from Tomas Bonfil and Conor Magner saw the winners extend their lead to double scores, 0-12 to 0-6 and after each side had added a point this was the margin between the sides at the three quarter stage.

In between Bonfil’s and Magner’s two pointers Coolmeen had a Cathal O’Connor goal disallowed, referee Robert Harte ruling that the former Clare star was in the square.

Following pints from Aidan Corry and Michael Kennedy, the margin was down to four when Conor Magner picked up a second yellow card which ended his involvement in the game with ten minutes to play.

It was 0-14 to 0-11 as the game went into additional time and with the game in the third minute of additional time Naomh Eoin closed out the contest with a goal from Ciaran Bonfil.

Gallery of photographs by Liam Keating.

CLARE IFC: Naomh Eoin vs Coolmeen
5 Images

Scorers Naomh Eoin: Owen Lynch (0-4, 2f); Conor Magner (0-4, 1f, 1TP); Ciaran Bonfil (1-0); Tomas Bonfil (0-2 TP) Fionn Doherty (0-2); Niall Bonfil (0-1)

Scorers Coolmeen; Aidan Corry (0-7, 1TP, 5f); Brian Markham (0-2, TP); Michael Kennedy (0-1), Jamie Brooks (0-1) each;

Naomh Eoin;
1: Eoin Daly

4: Adam Foley
3: Mark McQuaid
19: Paddy Donnellan

6: Conor Magner,
12: Conor Downes,
5: Tomás Bonfil;

8: Fergal Keane,
9: Gavin Magner;

7: Adam Haugh,
15: Owen Lynch
22: Finn Doherty;

14: Joseph Roche
11: Niall Bonfil,
10: Eoin Hanrahan;

Subs:
21: Odhran Lynch for J. Roche
17: Ciaran Bonfil for A. Haugh

Coolmeen:
1: Adam Carigg;

2: Colm McGrath
3: Mark Meaney
20: Alan Normoyle

19: Gary Meaney
6: Rian Meaney
7: Dylan O’Halloran

8: Eoin O’Connor
5: Brian Markham;

18: Michael Kennedy
11: Dylan Power
10: Joe Corry

12: Jamie Brooks,
15: Cathal O’Connor
14: Aidan Corry

Subs:
24: Adam Wallace for C. McGrath;
21: Ben Cleary for J. Corry
4: David Hehir for A. Corry
23: Ronan Murphy for M. Kennedy (inj)
10: Joe Corry for R. Meaney (inj)

Referee: Robert Harte (St. Senan’s Kilkee)

Cooraclare seal top spot

Cooraclare 2-20
Killimer 0-16
Venue: Captain Tubridy Park, Kilrush

By Seamus Hayes

A blistering start to both halves saw Cooraclare lay the foundation for their third win from as many starts in this season’s championship campaign when they accounted for Killimer on Sunday evening.

The game was just four minutes old when inter county star Brian McNamara was on the end of a Padraic O’Donoghue delivery to flick the ball to the net. They quickly added points from Jack Morrissey (2 pointer), McNamara and Simon Culligan to open a seven point leads.

Inspired by the outstanding Colm Pyne and the impressive Jack Kelleher, Killimer fought back and when the half time whistle sounded the score was 1-9 to 0-7 in the winner’s favour.

Determined not to let their advantage slip, Cooraclare made a strong start to the second half. In the opening minute Aidan Considine sent a low drive to the corner of the net and he quickly followed with a point while points also came from Darragh Townsend, Sean O’Dea, Simon Culligan and Brian McNamara.

Now thirteen points behind with twenty minutes remaining, Killimer were determined. Mikey Kelleher landed a two pointer free which was quickly cancelled out by a similar score from Brian McNamara from play.

In a two minute spell at the mid point of the half, Killimer landed 0-4 which included a Jack Kelleher two pointer and he followed with a point from play to leave the score at 2-16 to 0-14 in the winner’s favour.

Scores were exchanged in the remaining time but Cooraclare held on for victory sealing their place as group winners.

Gallery of photographs by Gerard O’Neill.

Scorers Cooraclare: Brian McNamara (1-4, 1TP); Simon Culligan (0-6 2f); Aaron Considine (1-1); Jack Morrissey (0-3, 1TP); Kevin Marrinan (0-2); Darragh Townsend, Sean O’Dea, Tadhg Lillis, Micheal Garry (0-1) each;

Scorers Killimer; Jack Kelleher (0-10, 3 tp); Colm Pyne (0-3), Mikey Kelleher (0-2, tp); Luke Callinan (0-1);

Cooraclare:
16: Harry O’Gorman

7: Ciaran Chambers
27: Niall Kelly
4: Eoin Murphy

5: Aaron Townsend,
6: Pearse Lillis,
8: Darragh Townsend;

29: Brian McNamara;
3: Sean O’Dea;

24: Aidan Considine,
10: Gabriel Fennell,
12: Padraic O’Donoghue;

11: Simon Culligan,
14: Jack Morrissey,
15: Shane O’Connell

Subs:
26: Micheál Garry for S. O’Connell (43)
30: Gary Donnellan for A. Considine (43);
20: Tadhg Lillis for S. Culligan (46);
21: Kevin Marrinan for P. O’Donoghue (56)
9: Robert Ryan for C. Chambers;

Killimer;
1: Cian Corry;

2: Paul Browne,
24: Daniel Moloney,
4: Declan Pyne;

3: Fiachra McKeown,
6: Josh Hassett,
7: Colm Pyne;

25: Bryan Grogan
5: Sean Kelly;

13: Alan Behan
11: Odhran Cunningham,
12: Luke Callinan;

10: Mikey Kelleher,
14: David Foran
17: Jack Kelleher;

Subs:
26: Stephen Grogan for M. Kelleher (43)
15: Joseph Meehan for A. Behan (46)
19: James Browne for C. Pyne (inj, 22)

Referee: Eoin Keane (Corofin)

Ennistymon retain intermediate status and put Michael Cusacks battling for survival

Ennistymon 0-18
Michael Cusacks 2-8
Venue: Páirc Finne, Corofin

A four point win over Michael Cusacks on Sunday ensured that Ennistymon will be fielding teams in the senior and intermediate football championship for six years in succession.

Ennistymon remain the only football club in Clare that have their second string competing in the second tier and they were deserving winners over Michael Cusacks to send the 2024 Junior A champions into a first relegation battle at intermediate level since their latest promotion.

Unlike their senior side who suffered a humbling eleven point loss to Kildysart, the Ennistymon intermediates had no shortage of scorers and clocked up an impressive eighteen points, fourteen from play with Ryan Barry landing five points from wing forward.

In what was their first win of this year’s campaign, the result puts Ennistymon into a preliminary quarter-final where they face Naomh Eoin on Sunday (12:00). A second round draw with Killimer came back to bite Cusacks who end up bottom of the group and now face a relegation battle.

Cusacks through the lively Robert Cassidy took the lead after forty five seconds, they created five attacks compared to Ennistymon’s one in the opening ten minutes and their last in this period saw them raid for goal via Seaghan Brosnan.

Brosnan had an effort saved earlier on from Conor Morrissey but he made no mistake with a strong shot on ten minutes, the move stemming from a line ball which included one of the championship’s most humorous moments when linesman Paul Howard accidentally kicked the ball off a supporter, nearly knocking them from their perch in Páirc Finne.

Ryan Barry opened his account on eleven minutes after Ennistymon responded to the green flag, Daniel Brody making a turnover in the middle third to set up Barry.

With three of the next four scores, one from Barry, Niall Canavan and John Barry, Ennistymon levelled matters for the second time on fifteen minutes and they went in front for the first time thanks to Fred Hegarty on the nineteenth minute.

Domhnall McMahon who was struggling with a hamstring injury before the game showed no ill effects in terms of movement but had questionable counting skills when he appeared to overcarry the ball but play was let to continue and he rifled the net for their second goal to regain the lead.

A strong finish to the opening half saw Ennistymon via the Barrys and Seán Conneally kick three points on the bounce, cancelling out McMahon’s major and leaving them 0-9 2-2 in front at the interval.

Cusacks settled on the restart with points from Aidan McNamara and Joey Droney to go in front but Ennistymon replied with two of their own via Paudie Considine and Fred Hegarty where the assists were made by Daniel Brody, Seán Conneally and Joe Casey.

Level a further three times across the third and final quarter, Ennistymon popped up with the big scores via Ryan Barry and Paudie Considine while Seán Conneally made a vital block on Taidgh Geoghegan as momentum shifted towards Ennistymon.

Sealing the win was a Considine free awarded after Cusacks mentor Tomás Kerin was punished for dissent and shown a red card.

Competing in the relegation play-offs await Michael Cusacks, if they can reproduce the energy evident in their start to the contest for a far longer period of time they will be well able to hold their own. The absence of the McNamara, Seán and Oisin also dented their cause. For Colm Clancy’s side, Joey Droney, Robert Cassidy, Aidan McNamara and Jack McGann were prominent.

Looking up instead of down, Ennistymon head into Sunday’s preliminary quarter-final with nothing to lose and everything to gain. Cutting down on Naomh Eoin’s ability to land two pointers will be key to how they fare while also remaining accurate between the posts. Beano Rouine’s charges had solid displays from Ryan Barry, Daniel Brody, Joe Casey, Seán Conneally, John Barry, Louis Griffin and Paudie Considine.

Gallery of photographs by Burren Eye Photography