*Gearoid Barry secured a draw for Ennistymon to send them into the semi-finals. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
ALL FOUR semi-final places in the Berwick Callinan Murphy Solicitors under 21 A football championship have been confirmed following the final round of games this weekend with both of last year’s finalists now out of the race.
Confirmation as to who would qualify was in doubt right to the final whistle in Saturday’s games and this was definitely the case in Group B. Ennistymon and Clondegad shared the spoils here and this means that both go through with Ennistymon claiming top spot on score difference.
When this game was deep in injury time, Clondegad led by the minimum margin and with Lissycasey holding a ten point advantage in their game against St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield at the same time, had those scorelines held to the finish Lissycasey would have qualified with Ennistymon losing out.
The North Clare side struck for the last score which ensured they would go through along with Clondegad.
Score difference has decided first and second places in both groups, Ennisymon, as group winners, will play Kilmurrry Ibrickane while Cooraclare, winners in Group A will face Clondegad.
Corofin have qualified for the U21B semi-finals with the remainder of group games in the B and C to be completed on Sunday and Monday.
Strong finish sees Cooraclare through
Cooraclare 0-17
Kilrush/Killimer 1-12
Venue: Páirc Cuar an Chláir, Cooraclare
A place in the semi-final was up for grabs when neighbours Cooraclare and Kilrush/Killimer clashed in this under 21 A round 2 football championship tie at Cooraclare on Friday night.
Despite the very inclement weather of heavy rain which fell throughout, there was great intensity in the contest in which the lead changed hands on a number of occasions leaving he result in doubt right to the end.
The home side went into the game knowing that a draw would suffice to send them through to the semi-finals whereas the visitors needed a victory
Cooraclare’s overall greater fitness proved key as they opened a four point led inside the final ten minutes and while the visitors battled to the end their efforts to get in for the scores they needed to re-take the lead failed.
Kilrush/Killimer made the better start and they raced 0-3 clear after eight minutes. By the end of the first quarter they were 0-5 to 0-1 in front. Three unanswered points from the home side saw them move to within a point of their opponents and that was the position at half time after both sides had struck for a two pointer.
Kilrush/Killimer goalkeeper Cian Corry converting for his side only for Sean Molloy to reply just before the short whistle leaving the score at 0-7 to 0-6 in favour of the visitors at the interval.
Just before the half time whistle Kilrush/Killimer were dealt a big blow when Ben McKiernan picked up a black card which resulted in the team being down to fourteen for ten minutes.
Kilrush/Killimer had a great start to the second half when they were awarded a penalty in the third minute. Jack Kelleher’s effort was saved by Harry O’Gorman but Kelleher was following up and he found the net putting his side clear by four for the second time in the game.
Cooraclare’s response was impressive as they hit points from Simon Culligan (free), Jack Carey (a two pointer) and Sean Molloy (‘45) to level the contest.
Points were swapped twice after this before Darragh Townsend put the winners into the lead for the first time with ten minutes to play.
Substitute Dylan O’Brien tied up the contest for the fourth and final time but, again, Cooraclare’s response was impressive. Sean Molloy converted another ‘45 followed by another two pointer from Carey and a free from Culligan to open a four point gap again.
Kilrush/Killimer piled on the pressure in the final five minutes but all they could manage was a pointed free from Conor Fennell who was struggling with a leg injury throughout, and a converted ‘45 from Cian Corry.
Noel Gavin, Jack Carey, who was named at centre back but played the majority of the game in the half forward line, Gabriel Fennell, who picked up a black card in the 60th minute, Gary Donnellan, Simon Culligan and Sean Molloy were prominent throughout for the winners.
Fiachra McKeown, Tadhg Lysaght, Jack Kelleher and Sean Canny worked hard for the losers.
Cooraclare: Harry O’Gorman; Aaron Townsend, Noel Gavin, Fionn Burke; Gary Donnellan, Jack Carey (0-6, 2TP), Aidan Considine; Gabriel Fennell, Sean O’Dea; Darragh Townsend (0-1), Jake Garry, Jimmy Gallagher; Kevin Marrinan, Sean Molloy (0-5, 1 TP, 2’45’s) Simon Culligan (0-5, all frees);
Subs; Eoin Murphy for Marrinan; Cian Corry for Gallagher;
Kilrush/Killlimer; Cian Corry (0-3, 1TP, 1’45); Josh Hassett, Fiachra McKeown, James Blunnie; Sean Kelly Sean Canny, Odhran Cunningham; Kieran Bermigham, Tadhg Lysagh (0-1); Brian Wallace, Conor Fennell (0-3, fees), Ben McKiernan (0-1); Mark Bonfield (0-1), Sean Fennell (0-2), Jack Kelleher (1-0).
Subs; Dylan O’Brien (0-1) for B. Wallace; Darragh Blunnie for Bonfield; Jimmy Browne for S. Kelly.
Referee: Chris Maguire (Wolfe Tones)
Burke points the way for Kilmurry Ibrickane
Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-17
Wolfe Tones 0-7
Venue: Páirc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty
A ten point haul from Conor Burke helped Kilmurry Ibrickane to this win over Wolfe Tones on Friday night.
An understrength Wolfe Tones outfit got the opening score but Kilmurry Ibrickane soon got the upperhand and when the half time whistle sounded they were 0-7 to 0-2 ahead.
The visitors rallied in the third quarter and going into the final quarter of the game had moved to within three points of their opponents.
Kilmurry then struck for three two pointers in a matter of minutes and this killed off the Shannon club’s challenge.
Colin Riordan was his side’s only scorer kicking four from play and his tally included one two pointer.
Full back Conor Kearney was in sparkling form for the winners while others to impress were Josh Moloney, Conor Burke and substitute Aaron Considine.
Kilmurry Ibrickane; Colin O’Neill; Matthew Campbell, Conor Kearney, Ajay Daly; Diarmuid Comber, Josh Moloney (0-1), Shay Gleeson; Killian Darcy, Evan Cahill; Leo Switzer, Reuban Fallon, Colin Considine; Jason Cushen (0-3), Cathal Talty (0-2, TP), Conor Burke (0-10, 2TP).
Subs; Aaron Considine (0-1) for Switzer; Cian Coughlan for S Gleeson; David O‘Donoghue for M. Cambpbell
Wolfe Tones; Evan O’Brien; Shane Moloney, Brian Murphy, Tan Greene; Sam Meaney, Niall Fitzgerald, Aaron Shinners; Aaron Kelly, Damien Lyne; Shay Waller, Colin Riordan (0-7, 1TP), Tadhg Fitzgerald; Ben O’Carroll, Lee Cregan, Kevin Hanley.
Sub; Daithi Lenihan for S Waller (inj).
Referee: Barry Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown)
Barry’s point keeps Ennisymon in the race
Ennistymon 1-12
Clondegad 1-12
Venue: Ennistymon
Deep in injury time in this tie played at Ennistymon the home side went a point behind, a result that at that time put them out of the championship.
From the resultant kick out they won possession and mounted an attack along the left wing which ended with Gearoid Barry fisting the equaliser, a score that put them through to the championship semi-final.
The share of the spoils has ensured that both go through to the knock out stage of the competition but there were times when each side looked to be on the way out of the championship.
Both went into this tie without key players. Ennistymon were short Seán and Conor Rynne and James Cullinan while Clondegad’s absentees included Cian and Fiachra Kirby, Dara Kennedy and Kieran McDonnell
Two Eoin Kennedy pointed frees gave the visitors an early lead but the home side responded with points from Paudie Considine and Gearoid Barry to level matters after ten minutes.
A two pointer from Considine followed by a Brian McNamara goal helped the home side to open a four point lead by the twentieth minute. They went on to lead by six, 1-8 to 0-5 at the halfway point.
With the assistance of the breeze Clondegad got off to a great start in the second half when Thomas Hehir applied the finish for their goal.
Daniel Costelloe and Eoin Kennedy followed with points to leave the minimum between the teams.
Considine and Eoin O’Connor exchanged points before an Eoin Kennedy two pointer gave his side a one point advantage at the three quarter stage.
Gearoid Barry levelled and with five minutes remaining Paudie Considine had the home side back in front.
The game had ticked into injury time when Eoin Kennedy converted a ‘45 for the visitors and two minutes later Ennistymon hearts sank as Eoin O’Connor put Clondegad ahead.
There was time for one more play which ended with Gearoid Barry fisting the leveller to keep his side in the championship.
Ennistymon; Conor Morrissey; Fionn McMahon, Joe Casey, Louis Griffin; Daniel Brody, Brian McNamara (1-0), Alex Leyden; Mark Kelleher (0-1), Josh Vaughan; Michael Cotter, Paudie Considine (0-6, 0-2f, 1TP), Sean Conneally; Gearoid Barry (0-3), Joe Concannon, Fred Hegarty (0-2, 1TP)
Sub: John Barry for Cotter;
Clondegad; Sean O’Malley; Dylan Killoughery, Niall Carigg, Alan Sheehan; Daniel Costello (0-2) Sean McAllister (0-1). Kieran Connolly; Sam Garry, Colm Meaney; Cormac Ó Muineachain, Eoin Kennedy (0-7, 4 frees, 1 TP), Eoin O’Connor (0-2); Luke Minogue, Robbie Markham, Thomas Hehir (1-0).
Subs; Dara O’Neill for D. Killoughery (inj); Eoin Coote for Markham; Sean O’Neill for L. Minogue; David O’Sullivan for E. Costelloe
Referee: Eoin Keane (Corofin)
Lissycasey left lamenting first round loss
Lissycasey 1-16
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 1-6
Venue: Páirc na Muintire, Lissycasey
In a repeat of last year’s final which St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield won by the minimum margin after extra time, Lissycasey recorded a comfortable victory but the talk after his one wasn’t about how they had turned the tables on the champions but their poor first round performance against Clondegad who deservingly won that one by two points.
That result left Lissycasey not just needing to beat Doora/Barefield but needing other results to go their way and while Lissycasey did record a comfortable win the rest didn’t materialise.
Lissycasey, playing with the aid of the wind, led from the off at their home pitch, on Saturday and when the half time whistle sounded they were 0-10 to 1-0 in front and they would not have been flattered if their lead was greater at this stage.
In fairness to the Doora/Barefield side, it must be pointed out that they were minus the services of a number of their more experienced players. They fielded a much changed team from that which lost to Ennistymon in the opening round.
Lissycasey were minus the services of inter county player Conor Meaney due to injury while Michael Kelly was also ruled out because of injury.
Michael Nash landed a couple of points, including a two pointer, early in the second half but Lissycasey maintained the upperhand and deservingly emerged with the victory
Lissycasey: David King; Aaron Killeen, Conor Hill, Colin O’Shea; Aidan Weaver (0-1), Euan Wragg (0-1), Michael Meaney (0-1); Daire Hill (0-1), Daire Killeen; Daire Culligan (0-1), Diarmuid McMahon (0-2), Cian O’Callaghan (0-3); Shane Culligan (0-2), Darren Keane (0-4, 1TP), Ben Skerritt (1-0).
Sub: Aaron Clohessy for Skerritt;
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Liam Flynn; Killian McElroy, Oran Flynn, James Rafferty; Charlie Hannan, Conal Dorgan, Sean McMahon; Joe Keane, Diarmuid Boyle; Conor Price, Michael Nash (0-6, 1TP), Odhran O’Connell; Jack Dillon, Eoin Talty (1-0), Jack McAllister.
Subs; Conor Byrne for J. Dillon; T. J. Moore for C. Price; Eoin Monaghan for J. Keane; Ciaran O’Driscoll for S. McMahon; Joseph Kelly for J. McAllister
Referee: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)
Gallery of photographs by Gerard O’Neill.
