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*Eoin Lahiffe of St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
STAYING senior is “hugely important” for St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield as they turn their attention to a relegation final with O’Callaghans Mills to determine who plays intermediate hurling in 2027.
Successive defeats to Clonlara, Inagh/Kilnamona and Ballyea in the group stages was followed by their latest loss to Newmarket-on-Fergus in the relegation semi-final which has The Parish lining out in the relegation final for the second year running.
Conceding two goals in the space of two minutes of the opening half was a real blow for Doora/Barefield during the 3-19 1-17 defeat, manager Damien Kennedy acknowledged.
He said, “Newmarket’s two goals in the first half came at a vital time. It was fairly even up to then, no one was getting away from the other. The first goal, he did well to be fair, the second we would consider soft from our own perspective. Then we struggled and to be honest we never got to the intensity required and we were coming out second on too many of the battles and that won’t wash in a game like this”.
Kennedy told The Clare Echo, “the third goal was a killer and from our perspective we were disappointed with how we conceded it, another tough one to take and we trying to get back into the game. In fairness to the lads they rallied after this and we played probably some of our best hurling of what we can play. The bottom line is Newmarket were ahead of us today, they worked harder and we have no complaints. They got their scores at crucial times. Goals win games and they got three”.
O’Callaghans Mills are up next for The Parish in the relegation final. “We have to regroup and we have to come with more intensity and aggression and if we don’t we will find ourselves in the exact same position. It’s as simple as that. This is where we are at the moment”.
A hamstring injury ruled out David Conroy for the Newmarket-on-Fergus game while Eoin Lahiffe played through the pain barrier to line out in their attack, Kennedy confirmed. “We lost Davy Conroy to a hamstring injury last Sunday morning and he won’t be back. In fairness to Eoin Lahiffe he played all the game today and he dislocated his shoulder last Tuesday evening, a fair performance from the man”.
Maintaining their senior status is key for the youthful Doora/Barefield, “It’s all about how we turn up and about our attitude. it’s a massive battle. Nobody wants to be in this position. We have been there before and we got it done. Its hugely important for this group that we stay up”.
