Doora/Barefield dig deep to keep senior status & relegate Corofin

*David Conroy delivered a big performance for Doora/Barefield. Photograph: Ruth Griffin

FIVE-TIME Clare SHC champions St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield have secured their senior status for 2026 after consigning 2023 intermediate champions Corofin to the second tier.

St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 0-21
Corofin 2-14
Venue: Dr Daly Park, Tulla

The Clare Echo’s coverage of the Clare SHC is with thanks to The Temple Gate Hotel.

A one point win was enough for The Parish to prevail in what was a very tight contest. The game produced its share of talking points, and one in particular will certainly be debated in Corofin for some time. A minute after Conor Leen had levelled he tie with his side’s first goal, Cian Barron’s effort from the right wing was signalled as a point but to many in the stand the ball had drifted wide.

Doora/Barefield were forced into a number of changes with Fionn Kelleher and Eoin Fanning ruled out due to injury.

Corofin had first use of the wind and they took the lead in the opening minute through Gearoid Kelly.

Pádraic O’Donovan levelled in the third minute converting a 70m free but Corofin landed the next three points.

St Joseph’s then did likewise and the sides sere level at 0-4 each after thirteen minutes

At the end of a first half in which the sides were level on five occasions, Corofin led by two, 0-12 to 0-10 having landed five points in succession in a five minute spell shortly before the half time whistle.

Sensing danger St Joseph’s stepped up a gear on the resumption and they landed the first five points to opened a three point lead with twenty minutes remaining.

Gearoid Kelly kept Corofin in touch with a brace but Doora/Barefield hit back with like scores from Cian Barron and David Conroy to stay two in front with ten minutes to go.

A minute later Corofin substitute Seanan Kirby delivered a pass to Conor Leen, now operating at full forward and he rounded the defence and fired to the net to tie up the scores for the seventh time in the contest.

Barron and O’Donovan then registered points for the winners and David Conroy followed with another to put them three clear as the game went into ‘added time’.

When substitute Senan Crosbie pointed in the second minute of ‘added time’, it looked all over but Corofin weren’t going to go down easily and they were right back in the game a minute later when Diarmuid Cahill drilled he ball low to the corner of the net.

The North Clare side won possession from the puckout and quickly, launched another attack but Diarmuid Cahill’s effort for a point drifted wide of the right-hand post at the last second and with it went his side’s last chance.

Darragh O’Shea had a great tussle with Conor Leen on the day and others to do well for the winners were Adam Mungovan, Darragh McMahon, Pádraic O’Donovan while David Conroy who returned from the U.S. on Saturday for this tie, turned in an excellent half.

Damian O’Loughlin, Sean O’Brien, Gearoid Kelly, Diarmuid Cahill and Conor Leen were prominent for Corofin,

Scorers; St. Josephs; Pádraic O’Donovan (0-9, 7 f) David Conroy (0-4); Thomas O’Connor, Michael Nash, Cian Barron (0-2) each; Darragh Ball, Senan Crosbie (0-1) each;

Corofin; Geearoid Kelly (0-9, 8f) Diarmuid Cahill (1-2); Conor Leen (1-0); James Organ (0-2); Gearoid Cahill (0-1).

St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield:
1: Aaron Landy

19: Ian Williams
6: Darragh O’Shea
18: Ciaran O’Driscoll

7: Eoin McMahon
8: Darragh McMahon
5: Adam Mungovan

11: David Conroy
2: Conor Daly

9: Darragh Ball
14: Eoin Burke
13: Pádraic O’Donovan

25: Thomas O’Connor
30: Cian Barron
15: Michael Nash

Subs:
17: Brian Guilfoyle for O’Connor (45)
10: Senan Crosbie for Ball (59)
24: Mark O’Connor for Daly (64)

Corofin:
1: Liam Corbett

2: Marc O’Loughlin
3: Damien O’Loughlin
4: Evan Doolin

7: Seán O’Brien
6: Killian O’Connor
5: Cillian McGroary

11: Micheál Duffy
12: Gearoid Kelly