Kildysart, St Josephs Doora/Barefield and Shannon Gaels have qualified for the semi-finals of the intermediate football championship following their second round victories over O’Currys, Michael Cusacks and Kilfenora respectively at the weekend.
The remaining semi-final spot will be filled by either Wolfe Tones, Corofin or Éire Óg who will play off next weekend.
It was a particularly good weekend for Shannon Gaels as, in addition to qualifying for the semi-final, they celebrated the 50th anniversary of their second senior championship win. Having won the title for the first time in 1969, they retained the crown in 1970.
The Gaels sealed their semi-final spot on Sunday when they accounted for Kilfenora on a 2-11 to 2-6 scoreline, a game watched by some members of their 1970 senior title winning side. Darragh Bohannon converted a first half penalty for the winners while Niall Ellis scored their second half goal.
Favourites Kildysart had their expected win over O’Currys at Doonbeg on Saturday but they were made fight all the way for the victory. The Doonaha based outfit led at the break on a scoreline of 2-2 to 0-7 with both goals scored by Danny Downes. The crucial period came early in the final quarter when O’Currys failed to capitalise on a couple of great chances while Kildysart converted their opportunities at the other end. Victory was sealed in the final minutes when Seamus Casey goaled for last year’s finalists.
Tadhg Geoghegan races with Alan Killeen for possession. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography 
Photograph: Burren Eye Photography Domhnall McMahon tries to get past Alan Killeen and Darragh O’Shea. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography 
Conor O’Brien tries to get out of defence. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography 
Robbie Cassidy holds off Tom Hannan. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography 
Photograph: Burren Eye Photography Conor Brannock in possession. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
St. Josephs Doora-Barefield had to come from behind to overcome the challenge of the 2019 junior A winners Michael Cusacks at Corofin on Saturday. The Carron based outfit got a great start and raced 0-4 to 0-0 clear. The Doora-Barefield men had a bright start to the second half and a goal from the penalty spot by Kieran Thynne helped them to get back on level terms. Michael Cusacks battled to the end and struck for their goal late in the game when Domhnall McMahon found the net
Wolfe Tones got back into contention when they scored a three point win over Coolmeen at the Eire Og grounds. A strong second half from the Shannon side was enough to see them keep their chances of making the semi-finals alive with Cian O’Rourke contributing four points from play and county senior panellist Jayme O’Sullivan kicking three frees.
Corofin justified favouritism with a big 1-15 to 0-3 win over their North Clare neighbours Liscannor at Gleann Chiosog. The winners led at the break on a score of 0-7 to 0-2 and continued to dominate after the break.
Gearoid Cahill top scored with 1-4, the goal coming from the penalty spot while his younger brother Diarmuid, introduced at half time, chipped in with 0-4 with inter county man Jamie Malone scoring 0-3. Veterans Alan Clohessy and Ronan Slattery along with Shane Canavan did well for Liscannor who managed just one point from open play.
Éire Óg kept their hopes of championship glory alive with a one point win over Naomh Eoin at Miltown. Owen Lynch’s first half goal had the Peninsula side 1-1 to 0-2 ahead at the first water break. An Alan O’Neill goal helped the Ennis side to get back level and the sides were at 1-5 each at the break. It was point for point in the second half with Billy Woods’ outfit edging ahead shortly before the final whistle.
