*Corofin’s Darragh McGroary with Cooraclare’s Darragh Townsend. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
There’s a three way tie at the top of the group standings as the Under 15 Division 1 Football Championship moved past the halfway stage last Monday evening.
With a bye for leaders Ennistymon, St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield maintained their perfect start with a 1-12 to 0-04 victory over Clondegad while last year’s Under 14 champions Lissycasey also got themselves back in contention for that solitary semi-final spot after a 5-5 to 0-9 win over Kilrush/Killimer.
Bouncing back from an opening defeat to the Parish, Lissycasey have since kicked eleven goals in just two matches, four of which came in the first half on Monday as Ben Skerritt (2), Daire Culligan and Noah Halpin helped the home side to an unassailable 4-4 to 0-5 interval advantage. Stephen Davoran added a fifth major after half-time while Diarmuid McMahon (3) and Aaron Clohessy also got in on the scoring action as Lissycasey now prepare for a crucial final round clash with Ennistymon in a fortnight’s time which is a repeat of last year’s under 14 Division 1 decider.
In the Under 15 Division 2 Championship, 4-5 from the dynamic duo of Kevin Marrinan and Rory Lillis ensured that Cooraclare seized control of Group 1 following a 5-11 to 1-08 away victory over previously unbeaten Corofin while a first defeat for Clooney-Quin at the hands of Wolfe Tones by 3-15 to 5-03 has blown Group 2 wide open for closest rivals Parteen and possibly Cratloe.
Meanwhile, seven goals per game is Kilmurry Ibrickane’s average so far as they blaze a trail at the summit of the Division 3 table.
In Division 1 of the U13 football competition, four teams are still unbeaten after Clondegad and St Breckan’s played out a thrilling 3-13 to 4-10 draw as did neighbours St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield and Éire Óg in a real seesaw battle in Gurteen at 1-14 to 3-08.
With two automatic semi-final places on offer, Kilrush/Killimer also threw their hat in the ring after opening with a commanding 3-17 to 2-08 triumph over Lissycasey.
In the Under 15 Division 2&3 Football Championship, West Clare trio Doonbeg, Kilmurry Ibrickane and Naomh Eoin/O’Curry’s/St Senan’s Kilkee are the forerunners in Group 1 while Clarecastle, Banner and Cratloe have began with back-to-back wins in Group 2.
In the Under 13 hurling equivalent, Sixmilebridge and Inagh-Kilnamona kept pace with Ballyea at the top of the A Championship thanks to victories over neighbours Newmarket-on-Fergus (10-16 to 2-03) and Éire Óg (3-18 to 3-10) respectively while St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield and Kilmaley also kickstarted their campaigns after sobering opening round reverses.
Clooney-Quin, Crusheen/Tubber, Broadford and Scariff-Ogonnelloe have created a potential bottleneck in the Under 13B Championship while Parteen, Wolfe Tones and Ennistymon laid down the early markers at the C grade.
