Kilmurry Ibrickane outclass Cooraclare to make first U21A final in ten years

*Cathal Talty of Kilmurry Ibrickane. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.

U21A roll of honour leaders Kilmurry Ibrickane are sixty minutes from claiming a fourteenth title after overcoming Cooraclare at the penultimate stage.

Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-17
Cooraclare 0-13
Venue: Shanahan McNamara Park, Doonbeg

Through to their first U21A decider since their last success in 2016, Kilmurry Ibrickane have moved a step closer to bridging a ten year gap.

The under 21 footballers completed a great weekend for Kilmurry Ibrickane as their victory over neighbours Cooraclare in the championship semi-final came just twenty four hours after their under 16’s defeated St. Josephs, Doora/Barefield in their semi-final.

In the final they will face Lissycasey, the club they defeated to win the 2016 title, a game played in Corofin.

Talented forwards Cathal Talty and Conor Burke, both members of their club’s senior team, contributed all but two points of the side’s tally, Talty with one more than Burke on the day.

In a game in which they were never headed, the winners raced into a 0-3 lead before their neighbours got on the scoresheet.

Early in the second quarter Cooraclare, who had wind assistance in the opening half, drew level at 0-7 each but the winners closed out the half with points from Cathal Talty and Conor Burke to lead 0-9 to 0-7 at the break.

Cooraclare’s final tally included five two pointers, three of which came in the opening half.

When the second half got underway Kilmurry Ibrickane took up where they had left off and they quickly stretched their lead to six, 0-13 to 0-7.

That lead could have been greater but Cathal Talty’s penalty attempt just went over the bar. Just as in their quarter final win over Kilrush/Killimer, a foul on wing forward Aaron O’Connor resulted in the penalty.

The full back trio of Matthew Campbell, Ajay Daly and Rory Lafferty did well throughout for the winners while elsewhere Conor Kearney, Shane Cahill, Talty and Burke were prominent.

Cooraclare struggled to re-produce the form of their opening round win over last year’s finalists Clondegad and they had difficulty in breaking down a well marshalled Kilmurry Ibrickane defence

Scorers; Kilmurry-Ibrickane; Cathal Talty (0-8, 1f, 1 pen, 1TP); Conor Burke (0-7, 3 frees, 1TP); Reuban Fallon, Evan Cahill (0-1) each;

Scorers Cooraclare: Simon Culligan (0-6, 3TP); Jack Carey (0-3, 1TP); Harry O’Gorman (0-2, 1TPf); Sean O’Dea, Shane O’Connell (0-1) each;

Kilmurry Ibrickane;
1: Tomás Sexton

2: Matthew Campbell,
3: Ajay Daly
4: Rory Lafferty;

5: Leo Switzer,
6: Conor Kearney
7: Shane Cahill;

8: Cillian Darcy
9: Evan Cahill;

10: Aaron O’Connor,
11: Reuban Fallon,
12: Davy O’Donoghue;

13: Cathal Talty
14: Aaron Considine
15: Conor Burke;

Subs:
Colin O’Neill for A. Considine (inj.)
Ryan Whelan for A. O’Connor;

Cooraclare:
1: Harry O Gorman

2: Cian Corry,
3: Fionn Burke,
4: Jake Garry;

5: Eoin Murphy,
6: Aaron Townsend,
7: Aidan Considine;