*Éire Óg’s Rian Mulcahy. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
CLOONEY/QUIN claimed the last of the quarter-final places in the Clare Cup while Éire Óg and Corofin have been relegated from the top tier.
Going into the final round of games in the round robin stage of the Clare Cup on Saturday, just one quarter final position remained to be filled.
After a couple of disappointing results in recent weeks, Clooney/Quin bounced back to winning ways when they turned in a strong second half display to overcome Newmarket-on-Fergus, a result that has seen them claim that remaining quarter final spot.
Their reward is a meeting with the only unbeaten side in the competition, O’Callaghans Mills who defeated Éire Óg on Saturday, a result which sends the Ennis side back down to Division 2 which they won last year.
Elsewhere Scariff continued their good form with an easy win over already relegated Corofin and the East Clare side claim top spot in the group and will meet Crusheen in the quarter-final.
Newmarket-on-Fergus finished second in their group despite losing to Clooney/Quin and they will face Feakle who went down to Clarecastle, a result which has left them in third place in the group. The remaining quarter final will see neighbours and great rivals Kilmaley and Inagh/Kilnamona in opposition.
O’Brien’s goals send Clooney/Quin into last eight
Clooney/Quin 2-16
Newmarket-on-Fergus 0-13
Venue; Fr. Murphy Memorial Park, Newmarket-on-Fergus
Two goals from full forward Eoghan O’Brien inside four minutes early in the second half sent Clooney/Quin on the road to victory over neighbouring rivals Newmarket at Fr. Murphy park on Saturday.
The first half of this tie was played in a downpour but things brightened for the second half as the rain gave way and the sun appeared.
Points were exchanged three times before the home side opened a two point advantage by the end of the first quarter.
The visitors landed five of the next six scores on their was to a two point interval lead when the score was 0-9 to 0-7.
Clooney showed the greater determination throughout the second half and after landing the opening two points Eoghan O’Brien was on hand to fire home the first goal after good work by Ulick O’Sullivan.
Peter Power gave the home side some hope with a pointed free but Clooney/Quin responded with 1-3 without reply and at the three quarter stage they were 2-16 to 0-9 in front and they went on to seal a merited win and claim their place in the last eight.
Clooney/Quin; Cillian Duggan; Donnacha O’Donovan, Evan Maxted, David Considine; Darragh Keogh (0-4, 3f), Conor Grogan, P.J. McCarthy (0-1); Sam Scanlan, Callum Hassett (0-6, 4f); Trevor Lee (0-1), Jimmy Corry (0-1), Michael McNamara (0-1); Dylan Cunningham, Eoghan O’Brien (2-1), Ulick O’Sullivan (0-1);
Subs: Donal Cahill for Scanlan; Colm Cassidy for O’Brien; Fionn O’Gara for Cunningham;
Newmarket-on-Fergus: Adam Enright; Dara McInerney (0-1), Jack Enright, Paudie McMahon; Shane Lynch, Éanna Crimmins, Mark Delaney; Liam O’Connor, Mikey McInerney; John Feehily, Colin Guilfoyle (0-1), Peter Power (0-9, 7f); Conor McCarthy, James Freeman (0-1), Eoin Guilfoyle (0-1).
Subs; John Hogan for Lynch; Padraic Guilfoyle for Freeman; James Power for C. Guilfoyle; James McInerney for Crimmins (inj.);
Referee: Gus Callaghan (Feakle)
Clonlara lay foundation in first half
Clonlara 2-20
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 0-16
Venue: Clonlara
A strong first half showing from Clonlara laid the foundation for this comfortable win over St. Josephs.
In a tie where both sides were very much understrength, goals from Eoin Begley and Brian McLeish helped the home side to a ten point lead at the break when the score was 2-11 to 0-7.
The result ended St. Josephs’ hopes of contesting the play offs
Micheál O’Loughlin once again top scored for the winners ending this tie with 0-10 to his credit, five points in each half. He was one of seven players that got on the scoresheet for the side.
Seven players also got on the scoresheet for the Doora-Barefield outfit with Padraic O’Donovan leading the way with 0-6.
Gallery of photographs by Gerard O’Neill.
Clonlara: Alan Murnane; Michael Clancy, Padraig Reddan, Cian Begley; Sam Barrett, Aidan Moriarty, Kieran Howard; Colm Galvin (0-1), Jamie O’Connell (0-1); Daniel Moloney (0-2), Micheál O’Loughlin (0-10), Jathan McMahon; Eoin Begley (1-2), Brian McLeish (1-2), Gearoid O’Brien (0-1);
Subs; Jamie McMahon for K. Howard; Luke Collins for A. Murnane; Mark Hogan for C. Galvin;
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Aaron Landy; Ciaran O’Driscoll, Paddy Nagle, Cormac Maher; Fionn Kelleher, Conor Daly, Francie Meaney; Adam Mungovan (0-2), Senan Crosbie; Mark O’Connor (0-1), Eoin Burke (0-1), Padraic O’Donovan (0-6); Niall Talty (0-1), Eoin Lahiffe (0-4), Brian Guilfoyle (0-1).
Subs: Conor Murphy for C. Maher; Leon Talty for A. Landy
Referee: Kieran Liddane (Sixmilebridge)
Broadford’s late rally not enough
Inagh/Kilnamona 1-25
Broadford 2-19
Venue: Glenomra Park, Broadford
Inagh/Kilnamona looked to be heading for a comfortable victory as the full time whistle approached in this tie at Broadford but the home side struck for two goals, both from 20m frees, to close the gap.
Time wasn’t on their side and when the final whistle sounded Inagh-Kilnamona were deserving winners and safely into the quarter finals.
Four points separated the sides at the interval when the score was 1-14 to 0-13, the goal having come from Tom Barry.
The visitors pulled well clear in the second half before Cathal Chaplin blasted two 20m frees to the net in quick succession.
The scores were too late to deny the visitors the points on a day when Keelan Guyler was their top scorer with 0-12 to his name, eight coming from placed balls.
Already through to the quarter finals prior to this tie, Inagh/Kilnamona for whom Clare substitute goalie Eamonn Foudy was allowed to play on Saturday, are now preparing for a date with their neighbours and great rivals, Kilmaley.
Inagh-Kilnamona: Eamonn Foudy (0-1); Cathal Ryan (0-1), Kevin Hehir, Jamie Wynne; Brian Foudy, Jason McCarthy (0-1), Darren Cullinan (0-1); Keith Barry (0-1), Ronan Mescall (0-2); Tom Barry (1-1), Keelan Guyler (0-12), David Mescall; Jack Cullinan (0-1), Niall Mullins (0-1), Gearoid Barry (0-3);
Subs: Shane McInerney for D. Mescall; Josh Guyler for K. Barry; Ricky Wynne for B. Foudy
Broadford: Jack Lovett; T.J. Dillon, Paddy Donnellan, Damien Keniry; Darren Chaplin, Cathal Chaplin (2-1, 2-0 f), Cormac Gunning; Cian Mulqueen (0-1), Diarmuid O’Brien (0-1); Oisin Kavanagh (0-2), Darragh Whelan, Sam Cooper; Diarmuid Moloney (0-9, 7f), Donie Whelan (0-4), Mark Gunning.
Sub: John Moran (0-1) for M. Gunning
Referee: Eoghan O’Leary (Whitegate)
Scariff cruise past depleted Corofin
Scariff 5-23
Corofin 0-13
Venue: Páirc Finne, Corofin
By Gearóid Howley
With their quarter-final place already secured, Scariff eased past an already relegated Corofin with a dominant display on Saturday.
The visitors struck five goals and threatened several more, with Corofin goalkeeper Oisín Tierney called into action within moments of the throw-in to deny an early green flag.
Scariff’s first goal arrived at the end of the opening quarter when Tierney spilled the sliotar, which Patrick Nugent punished after reacting quickest to roll the ball to the net. Four minutes later, Patrick Ryan doubled their goal tally with a superb finish to the top corner.
Gearóid Cahill responded with an excellent long-range point for Corofin, but Scariff remained firmly in control. Keelan Hartigan was in outstanding form, firing over eight first-half points as the visitors surged into a commanding 2-16 to 0-6 lead by the break.
Scariff wasted little time extending that advantage after the restart, with Patrick Nugent becoming the third and final member of their full-forward line to find the net. Substitute Ben Sweeney then added a fourth goal following a slick passing move, leaving the scoreboard reading 4-20 to 0-10 entering the final quarter.
There was a sense of inevitability about the final major as the influential Keelan Hartigan got in on the goal scoring act with just over five minutes remaining. A shrewd dummy created the opening before he blasted to the net.
Keelan Hartigan was the standout performer for the winners, finishing with 1-13, 1-6 of which came from play. Patrick Ryan and Patrick Nugent were a constant threat inside, while Shane Kavanagh impressed at wing-back.
For Corofin, midfield duo Gearóid Cahill and Gearóid Kelly battled commendably throughout on what was a difficult afternoon for the home side.
Scariff: Sean Treacy; Sean Hartigan, Michael Scanlan, Seamus McCaul; Sean Collins (0-1), Matthew Crotty, Shane Kavanagh (0-4, 2f, 1 ‘65); Conor Downes, Patrick Crotty; Michael Barrett (0-1), Keelan Hartigan (1-13, 7f), Diarmuid Nash (0-1); Rory Ryan (1-0), Patrick Ryan (1-1), Patrick Nugent (1-1)
Subs: Ben Sweeney (1-1, 1f) for C Downes, Michael Vaughan for S Hartigan, Jack Ryan for S Collins, Tadhg Kavanagh for S McCaul, Cathal McCaul for P Nugent
Corofin: Oisín Tierney; Cian O’Loughlin, Fionn Clancy, Marc O’Loughlin; Michael Cahill, Damien O’Loughlin (0-2), Cathal Flanagan; Gearóid Cahill (0-2), Gearóid Kelly (0-8, 6f); Evan Doolin, Micheál Duffy (0-1), Colm Breen; Eoin Davoren, David Corbett, Cian Doolin
Subs: Colin Fitzgerald for E Davoren, Kevin Keane for C Breen, Adam O’Loughlin for C Flanagan, Aidan Moloney for D O’Loughlin
Referee: Brendan Hannon (O’Callaghan’s Mills)
Bridge surprise fancied Kilmaley
Sixmilebridge 1-26
Kilmaley 0-23
Venue: O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge
Relegation to division 2 was on the cards for Sixmilebridge if they lost this one and if Éire Óg scored their first win of the campaign against table toppers O’Callaghans Mills.
Neither result materialised but Sixmilebridge weren’t to know for certain that Éire Óg would not win their game.
The home side were well up for this one against a side managed by their clubman and former player Brian Culbert.
An own goal proved to be a key scored in this tie with Luke McMahon’s back pass to goalkeeper Ryan Murphy ending up in the net, giving the Bridge a lead that proved crucial.
At the end of an evenly contested first half the visitors led by the odd point in twenty five (0-13 to 0-12).
On the day Luke O’Halloran was their top scorer with 0-10, 0-8 coming from placed balls.
Both sides will be meeting in the third round of the Clare SHC when they will be fielding much stronger lineouts.
Gallery of photographs by Gerard O’Neill.
Sixmilebridge: Derek Fahy; Noel Purcell, Fiachra Ó Braoin, Mark Mullins; Pa Mulready, Seadna Morey, Paidi Fitzpatrick (0-1); Oisin Breen, Brian Carey; Lorcan Fitzpatrick (0-3), Shane Golden (0-3), Callum Phelan (0-5); Sean McNamara (0-2), Luke O’Halloran (0-10, 8f), Cathal Lynch.
Sub: Brian Corry (0-2) for Lynch; O.G. (1-0);
Kilmaley; Ryan Murphy; Colin McGuane, Colin Carmody (0-2), Luke McMahon; Aidan McGuane (0-1), Michael O’Malley (0-1), Padraig Healy; Tommy Barry, Joe Carmody (0-5, 3f); James Fitzpatrick, Jason Keane-Hayes, Cian Neylon (0-4); James Doherty (0-1), Colm Killeen (0-6), Sean Ronan (0-2);
Subs; Daire Keane (0-1) for J. Fitzpatrick; Cian Moloney for A. McGuane; Braonain Falvey for C McGuane; Dylan Killeen for J. Carmody; Conor Lynch for R. Murphy
Referee: John Bugler (Whitegate)
Mills maintain unbeaten run & relegate Éire Óg
O’Callaghans Mills 4-16
Éire Óg 2-15
Venue: Éire Óg GAA Grounds, Ennis
O’Callaghans Mills completed their round robin programme of games in the Clare Cup without suffering defeat when they accounted for a very much understrength Éire Óg side at the Ennis club’s venue on Saturday afternoon.
At the end of a fairly tight opening half they visitors were 1-11 to 0-6 ahead and they went on to maintain the upperhand in the second period on a day when they welcomed Jacob Loughnane back from injury and he contributed 1-4 of their tally.
Their other goalscorers on the day were Colin Crehan, Bryan Donnellan and substitute Kevin O’Callaghan while the home side’s goals came from Oran Cahill and Danny Russell, with Cahill emerging as his side’s top scorer.
O’Callaghans Mills: Killian Nugent; Keith Donnellan, Conor Cooney, Cathal McNamara; Niall Melody (0-1), Aidan O’Gorman, Sean Cotter; Fionn Hickey, Cormac Murphy (0-2); Jacob Loughnane (1-4), Darragh Moroney (0-2), Stephen Donnellan; Mark Pewter (0-1), Bryan Donnellan (1-2), Colin Crehan (1-4).
Subs: Sean O’Gorman for Conor Cooney; Kevin O’Callaghan (1-0) for Stephen Donnellan; Mike McGrath for Mark Pewter; Alan O’Dea for Bryan Donnellan; John O’Brien for Colin Crehan.
Éire Óg: Philly Walsh, Roan McDermott, Ciaran Russell, Niall McMahon; Rian Mulcahy (0-2), Cillian Moroney, Harry Kavanagh (0-2); Kevin Brennan, Oran Cahill (1-7), Luke Pyne, Conor Perrill, Marc O Donnell (0-1); James O Dwyer, Danny Russell (1-2), Luke Vaughan (0-1).
Subs: Adam Gleeson for Moroney; Fionn McMurragh for McMahon.
Referee: Ian Daly (Newmarket-on-Fergus)
Ballyea ensure Division 1 status
Ballyea 0-24
Crusheen 1-11
Venue: Ballyea
Heading into the final round, Ballyea needed a win to guarantee a second season in a row in the top tier and they delivered a ten point victory to do just that.
Ballyea made a good start scoring the opening three points before Conor O’Donnell converted a free for the Crusheen men.
Midway through the half Rian O’Donnell struck for a Crusheen goal but Ballyea were five points clear at the half time whistle when the score was 0-13 to 1-5.
Points were exchanged early in the second half but Ballyea powered on and at the three quarter stage they were nine clear.
Crusheen landed three in a row but time wasn’t on their side and Ballyea held on for a merited win and sealed their place in the division for next season.
Nine players shared in the winners tally with Mossy Gavin and Eoin O’Connor each scoring 0-5, a similar tally to Crusheen’s leading scorer, Conor O’Donnell.
Ballyea: Barry Coote; Fergal Guinnane, Eoin Kennedy, Tadhg Ó hUallachain; Morgan Garry (0-2), Jack Browne (0-3), Thomas Kelly (0-1); Gearoid O’Connell (0-2), Dylan Killoughery (0-2); Daniel Kelly, Mossy Gavin (0-5), Martin O’Leary (0-1); Eoin O’Connor (0-5), Cian Kirby (0-3), Kieran McDonnell.
Subs: Cillian Gavin for Ó hUallachain; Diarmuid O’Donnell for McDonnell; Cian O’Callaghan for Kelly; Eoin Coote for O’Connor; Dara Coote for Garry.
Crusheen: Donal Tuohy; James O’Sullivan, Gavin O’Brien, Ciaran O’Doherty; Kyle Scanlon, Diarmuid Mullins (0-1), John O’Sullivan; Sean Hanrahan, Éanna McMahon; Luke Ketelaar (0-1), Conor
O’Donnell (0-5, 3f, 1’65), Glen O’Sullivan (0-1); Riain O’Donnell (1-1), Darragh O’Doherty, Jamie Fitzgibbon (0-2)
Subs: Cathal Dillon for Ketelaar; Niall Kearney for Scanlon, Denis Whelan for Hanrahan; Stephan O’Brien for D O’Doherty.
Referee: Jarlath Donnellan (Wolfe Tones)
Magpies fly back to winning ways
Clarecastle 0-21
Feakle 1-16
Venue: Clarecastle;
After four defeats in a row, Clarecastle returned to winning ways when accounting for Feakle on Saturday evening.
There was nothing at stake in terms of the next phase of the competition, Feakle having already qualified for the quarter-finals and Clarecastle assured of their place in the top tier for next season.
This didn’t stop the sides from producing a committed performance in which the result was in doubt right to the final whistle.
It was a hard physical contest in which referee Kevin Corry issued a number of yellow cards.
Feakle got off to a blistering start racing 1-4 to 0-0 clear after eight minutes, the goal coming from Patrick Daly.
They had two points on the board when they were dealt a blow with centre back Con Smyth picking up a leg injury in the third minute which ended his involvement in the game
Clarecastle hit back strongly with four unanswered points and after Shane McGrath had landed one for the visitors the magpies landed six in a row to open a two point lead, 0-10 to 1-5 with ten minutes still to play in the half.
The margin was down to one when the half time whistle sounded with the score at 0-14 to 1-10 in favour of the home outfit.
Scores were a little harder to come by in the second half and at the three quarter stage the teams were level for the fourth time.
Two Shane McGrath scores pushed Feakle ahead but Clarecastle responded with scores from Jack Murphy and Lee Brack to level for the fifth time. They were level again as the game went into four minutes of added time in which Clarecastle had points from Evan Price and Oisin Whelan to seal victory.
Clarecastle: Cian Broderick; Stephen O’Halloran, Darragh Healy, Filip Wiechinski; Eoghan Wallace, Aaron Hayes (0-1), Conor Griffin; Evan Price (0-4, 3f), Colin Brigdale (0-1); Rory O’Connell (0-2), Conor Halpin, Conor Whelan (0-3); Paul O’Connell (0-1), Oisin Whelan (0-6, 5f), Lee Brack (0-2).
Subs: David Tuohy for C. Griffin;; Jack Murphy (0-1) for D. Healy (inj.) Cian O’Dell for R. O’Connell (inj) Tom Slattery for A. Hayes (inj).
Feakle: Liam O’Connor; Conor McGann, Killian Bane, Enda Madden; Oisin Clune, Conn Smyth, Eoin Tuohy; Gary Guilfoyle (0-1), Enda Noonan; Martin Daly (0-1), Shane McGrath (0-10, 5f), Diarmuid Bane; Oisin O’Connor (0-1), Patrick Daly (1-0), Owen McGann (0-3);
Subs: Justin Nelson for C. Smyth (inj); Ray Bane for O. Clune; Tom Moloney for M. Daly; Austin McMahon for P. Daly; Tom Walsh for E. Madden;
Referee: Kevin Corry (Sixmilebridge)
