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A nail-biting finale to Group 3 on Sunday afternoon saw the top three contenders only separated by scoring difference as Ennistymon and Kilmurry Ibrickane cemented quarter-final places while previously unbeaten Clondegad enter a play-off.
Kilmurry Ibrickane 1-11
Clondegad 1-9
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
Kilmurry Ibrickane looked to have done enough to top the group, only for a last gasp Cillian Brennan goal to clinch it for Ennistymon. However, the 2020 champions will still be satisfied after completing an eight point turnaround to topple Clondegad in Cusack Park on Sunday afternoon.
Four in arrears by the break, 1-6 without reply put the ‘Bricks into the driving seat as they edged out their opponent by two points on the scoreboard and one in overall scoring difference to garner a last eight spot.
It took wind-assisted Clondegad 13 minutes to get off the mark through Gary Brennan but they quickly warmed to their task as Gearoid O’Connell, Shane Brennan and Morgan Garry sandwiched a second Keelan Sexton free to move 0-4 to 0-2 clear by the one-third mark.
Kilmurry Ibrickane goalkeeper David Sexton ensured that there would be no additional damage as he made a point blank save from Shane Brennan to keep his side within touching distance.
However, needing to make the most of the wind, inevitably it was Clondegad’s talisman Gary Brennan that stood up to the mark, with four of the last five points to secure an 0-8 to 0-4 interval lead.
There was a complete sea-change on the turnover however as an early goal through a flicked back post finish by Dermot Coughlan following good work from Aidan McCarthy and Keelan Sexton not only levelled the tie but ignited Kilmurry Ibrickane’s challenge.
With Clondegad failing to have a single shot at the posts until the 58th minute, the 2020 champions capitalised with further points through Sexton, Niall Hickey and substitute Daryn Callinan (3) helping their side to a 1-11 to 0-9 cushion by the 64th minute.
A spectacular Cillian Brennan goal put a major spanner in the works but Kilmurry Ibrickane relievedly held out by the barest of margins.
Scorers for Kilmurry Ibrickane: Dermot Coughlan (1-1); Niall Hickey, Keelan Sexton (3f), Daryn Callinan (3f) (0-3 each); Darragh Sexton (0-1)
Scorers for Clondegad: Gary Brennan (0-6, 2f); Cillian Brennan (1-0); Gearoid O’Connell, Shane Brennan, Morgan Garry (0-1 each)
Kilmurry Ibrickane:
1: David Sexton
2: Jason McCarthy
22: Diarmuid King
6: Shane Hickey
5: Ciaran Morrissey
4: Martin McMahon
7: Darragh Sexton
8: Aidan McCarthy
9: Daniel Walsh
13: Joe Campbell
23: Paudie Murrihy
10: Andrew Shannon
12: Niall Hickey
14: keen Sexton
15: Dermot Coughlan
Subs:
17: Enda Coughlan for Murrihy (HT)
19: Daryn Callinan for Campbell (40)
25: Josh Moloney for King (48)
20: Oisin Sexton for E. Coughlan (51, inj)
Clondegad:
1: Declan O’Loughlin
2: Brian Casey
3: Brian Murphy
4: Niall Lynch
7: Gearoid O’Connell
6: Peter Casey
5: Conor Gavin
8: James Murphy
9: Brandon O’Connell
17: Cillian Brennan
14: Shane Brennan
15: Barry Toner
12: Podge McMahon
11: Gary Brennan
10: Morgan Garry
Subs:
18: Eoghan Donnellan for McMahon (41)
23: Eoghan Gavin for J. Murphy (51)
28: Sean O’Leary for G. O’Connell (56)
Referee: Niall Quinn (St Joseph’s Miltown)
