*David Conroy clears his lines. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
A strong second half showing proved decisive as St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield deservingly advanced to the Munster intermediate hurling championship semi-final when accounting for Causeway, Kerry on Saturday afternoon.
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 1-23
Causeway (Kerry) 1-16
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
The Kerry senior champions presented a strong challenge and had the better of the first half exchanges and led by two points at half time, 0-12 to 1-7.
The superior fitness of the Clare champions allied to the impact their substitutes made in the second half proved too much for the visitors.
In the middle ten minutes of the second half the home side took control and hit five unanswered points while outscoring the visitors, 0-8 to 0-1 between the tenth and twentieth minutes of the half.
A Brandon Barrett goal from a 20m free in the final minute of normal time came too late to deny the Doora/Barefield men this impressive victory which sends them through to a provincial semi-final date against the Limerick champions Monaleen in two weeks time at a Limerick venue.
After the teams had exchanged points twice in the opening five minutes, Causeway, playing with the aid of the fresh wind, hit three unanswered points and they led 0-7 to 0-4 after eighteen minutes when Cathal Ruane struck for a goal for the winners. Alan O’Neill followed with a point and the home side led for the first time.
Causeway finished the half strongly with three unanswered points and they led 0-12 to 1-7 when the half time whistle sounded.
As was the case in the first half, points were swapped twice in the early minutes of the new half before like scored from David Conroy from a ‘65 and team captain Tom Hannan from play levelled the contest for the seventh and final time.
St. Joseph’s then hit five unanswered points and after Causeway responded with one, The Parish hit a further three to lead 1-19 to 0-15 with ten minutes to play.
Mike Guilfoyle’s charges were very much in control at this stage and they stretched their lead to nine points with two from David Conroy frees with just five minutes remaining.
To their credit Causeway battled to the end and their top scorer Brandon Barrett blasted a 20 m free to the net just as three minutes of additional time were being signalled.
In that time Conroy brought his tally for the afternoon to 0-10 when he converted a 20m free to seal his side’s passage to the Munster semi-final.
Jarlath Colleran, Alan O’Neill Adam Mungovan, David Conroy, Tom Hannan and Cathal Ruane were prominent for the winners while Jason Diggins, Keith Carmody and Brandon Barrett did best for the visitors who finished with fourteen men after their full back Muiris Delaney saw red ten minutes from time following a challenge on Alan O’Neill.
Scorers; St. Josephs; David Conroy (0-10, 6 frees, 1 ‘65); Cathal Ruane (1-4), Alan O’Neill (0-3, 1 free); Adam Mungovan, Tom Hannan (0-2) each; Donal O’Halloran, Senan Crosbie (0-1) each;
Causeway; Brandon Barrett (1-7, 1-4 frees); Keith Carmody (0-3),Joseph Diggins (0-2); Evan Murphy (line ball), Colm Harty, Gavin Dooley, Daniel Goggin(0-1) each.
St. Josephs; Paul Madden; Fionn Kelleher, Jarlath Colleran, Brian Clancy; Alan O’Neill, Darragh McMahon, Adam Mungovan; Brian Guilfoyle, Darragh O’Shea; Jack Hannan, David Conroy, Tom Hannan; Cathal Ruane, Eoin Hanrahan, Cian Barron;
Subs; Dara Nagle for Clancy (half time);Donal O’Halloran for Guilfoyle (37); Senan Crosbie for Hanrahan (49); Matthew Power for Barron (57); Cian Lahiffe for Colleran (60)
Causeway; John Mike Dooley; Anthony Fealy, Muiris Delaney, Gerard Leen; Tommy Barrett, Billy Lyons, Evan Murphy; Daniel Mahony, Jason Diggins; Joseph Diggins, Brandon Barrett, Gavin Dooley; Keith Carmody, Colm Harty, Daniel Goggin
Subs; Mark Murphy for Mahony (41); Paul McGrath for E. Murphy (51); Gary Carey for D. Goggin (59);
Referee: Kevin Jordan (Tipperary)
