*Ronan Kilroy. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
AN all-round better balanced Banner were eleven point winners over Coolmeen to progress to the Clare IFC semi-finals for the very first time.
Banner 0-21
Coolmeen 0-10
Venue: St Michael’s Park, Kilmihil
While they took a while to establish their dominance, the Banner were a sharper side throughout and deserved their victory on an excellent pitch in Kilmihil.
Having bowed out at the quarter final stage last year they made their intentions clear from the off that they were determined to progress further this year and they led 0-3 to 0-0 after six minutes.
As the end of the first quarter approached the Ennis based side were 0-6 to 0-1 ahead and Coolmeen were struggling to win possession.
Cathal O’Connor who had opened his side’s account in the ninth minute, then struck for a two pointer which he quickly followed with a point which should have been a goal but his piledriver just went over the bar with only goalie Mark Cleary to beat.
Aidan Corry then landed a two pointer and the sides were level at 0-6 each with nine minutes remaining in the half.
The winners finished out the half strongly with points from Sean McMahon (0-2) and Shane Meehan to lead at the break on a scoreline of 0-9 to 0-6.
Shortly before the break the winners had introduced Conor Dennehy and moved Niall Walsh to full back in an effort to curb the influence of Cathal O’Connor.
Facing into the wind for the second half Coolmeen made three changes at half time. Adam Carigg replaced Barry Vaughan in goals while up front Ben Cleary and Joe Corry came in for Jamie Brooks and Thomas Flynn.
Banner landed the opening three points of the new half through Conor Dennehy, Shane Meehan and Sean McMahon and they went on to lead by five, 0-13 to 0-8 at the end of the third quarter.
Coolmeen struggled to break down the winner’s defence in this half and only managed four points, all of which came from frees by Aidan Corry.
Corry and Cathal O’Connor were their only scorers on the day.
While 0-21 is an impressive score, the bulk of the Banner’s tally came from three players and they will need a greater spread of scorers if they are to progress further in competition.
Sean McMahon with 0-9, Shane Meehan and Ronan Kilroy with 0-5 each were the chief marksmen for the winners and each of them landed a two pointer.
Eoin Walsh, Cian Rynne and substitute Conor Dennehy were others to impress for the winners.
For Coolmeen who finished the game with fourteen men following the sending off of Brian Markham on a straight red card five minutes from the end, Cathal O’Connor was their stand out performer.
Scorers; Banner; Sean McMahon (0-9, 5 frees, 1 tp) ; Ronan Kilroy (1 tp free), Shane Meehan (0-5, 1tp free) each; Thomas Meeneghan, Conor Dennehy (0-1) each
Coolmeen; Aidan Corry (0-6, 4 frees, 1tp) Cathal O’Connor (0-4, 1tp)
Banner;
1: Mark Cleary;
2: Conor O’Toole
3: Kenneth Higgins
4: Cian Rynne
7: Justin McGrath,
6: Eoin Walsh
5: Fuwhad Akinwae;
8: Brian McDonald
22: Niall Walsh
10: Matthew McGrath
11: Shane Meehan
18: Eoin Fitzpatrick
14: Sean McMahon;
15: Thomas Meeneghan
9: Ronan Kilroy
Subs:
20: Conor Dennehy for K. Higgins (23);
17: Thomas O’Halloran for B. McDonald (54)
25: Diarmuid Toner for M. McGrath \(54)
26: Ben O’Halloran for F. Akinwale|(58)
23: Caleb Walsh for S. McMahon (58)
Coolmeen;
1: Barry Vaughan;
2: Gary Meaney
3: Thomas Coffey
4: Dylan O’Haloran
5: Rian Meaney
6: Brian Markham
7: Adam Wallace
14: Mark Meaney
9: Eoin O’Connor
10: Thomas Flynn,
11: Dylan Power
12: Michael Kennedy;
13: Aidan Corry
8: Cathal O’Connor
15: Jamie Brooks
Subs:
26: Adam Carigg for B. Vaughan (half time)
17: Ben Cleary for J. Brooks (half time)
18: Joe Corry for T. Flynn (half time)
19: Micheal Brooks for D. Power (55)
Referee: Barry Kelly (St. Joseph’s Miltown)
