*Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
Last year’s beaten Under 14 Football Championship finalists Ennistymon have blazed an early trail in the Under 15 equivalent over the past week with successive opening victories over Clondegad and Kilrush/Killimer.
Goals in either half through James Hegarty and Jack Mescall began their campaign with a 2-18 to 0-05 victory over Clondegad while on Monday evening in Kilrush, an impressive 2-3 haul from Seanie McMahon helped the North Clare side to a 2-12 to 2-02 win over their hosts.
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield are also unbeaten after shading a compelling opener away to 2020 Under 14 Division 1 champions Lissycasey by 2-11 to 1-10.
Ogie Fanning’s nine point tally proved a consistent guiding force for the Parish who finally put daylight between the sides with goals from Padraic O’Donovan and Darragh Ball midway through the opening half on their way to a 2-5 to 0-6 interval advantage.
Lissycasey inevitably fought back and through the leadership of Daire Culligan and Diarmuid McMahon actually reel their opponents in until late braces for Fanning and Niall Talty completed a rousing Doora/Barefield win.
The Parish had a bye in Round 2 but in their absence, Lissycasey demonstrated their bouncebackability with a 6-12 to 1-04 triumph over neighbours Clondegad on Monday evening.
The Under 15 Division 2 Championship is just as goal hungry with group leaders Corofin (12 goals) and Clooney-Quin (13 goals) setting a scorching pace after only two rounds while in Division 3, St Breckan’s and Kilmurry Ibrickane are the only sides with a perfect record thus far.
The Under 13 Hurling Championships also got underway last week, with a first ever taste of competitive action along with a full sized pitch a new novelty that will take time to become fully accustomed to.
Ballyea are certainly relishing the increased space after racking up a superb total of 13 goals in opening Under 13A wins over St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield (6-12 to 1-04) and Clonlara (7-9 to 2-1) in just four days.
Clonlara had previously earned a merited draw with Newmarket-on-Fergus in Friday’s opening round at 5-06 to 3-12 while 24 hours earlier, Éire Óg claimed the early local spoils as centre-forward Luke Vaughan helped them to a 3-08 to 1-10 triumph over Clarecastle at Clonroadmore.
The leadership and accuracy of Rory Chaplin (1-10) along with a first half hat-trick of goals for Zak Phelan teed up hosts Sixmilebridge to an encouraging start to the Under 13A campaign when overcoming an Odhran Murphy-led Kilmaley by 5-10 to 0-04.
In the Under 13B Championship, Clooney-Quin, Bodyke/O’Callaghan’s Mills, Crusheen/Tubber and Cratloe all recorded first round victories while in the Under 13C Championship, a more clinical Wolfe Tones eventually got the better of Ennistymon by 6-2 to 2-9 in Shannon.
