*Captain Adam Ralph impressed at full-back for Ennistymon. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
ENNISTYMON AND ST Joseph’s Doora/Barefield have qualified for the Cusack Cup and Garry Cup finals respectively.
They won out in semi-finals over Clondegad and Cooraclare on Tuesday evening to confirm the line-up for this season’s finals.
An all North Clare affair awaits in the Cusack Cup decider with Ennistymon facing title holders St Breckan’s while it’s a battle of the Saints in the Garry Cup decider with St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield meeting St Joseph’s Miltown.
Ennistymon take control in second half
Ennistymon 3-17
Clondegad 2-11
Venue: Páirc Mhichil Ui Eithir, Ballynacally
A point separated the sides at half time in this division 1 semi-final at Ballynacally but the visitors stepped up a gear and dominated the second half inspired by impressive performances from central defenders inter county man Cillian Rouine and full back Adam Ralph.
A goal from full forward Keelan Guyler helped the Ennistymon men to a 1-7 to 1-6 lead at the interval, the home side’s first half goal coming from Shane Brennan.
Guyler and Cillian Rouine struck for second half goals as Ennistymon took control of proceedings on their way to a merited comfortable victory.
Full forward Shane Brennan struck for the home side’s second goal at the three quarter stage but they lacked the all-round balance of their opponents on the evening.
Ennistymon; Noel Sexton; Joey Rouine, Adam Ralph, John Murphy; Liam Cotter, Cillian Rouine, Ciaran McMahon; Josh Vaughan. Liam Devitt; Brian McNamara, Sean Rouine, Ryan Barry; Paudie Considine, Keelan Guyler, Eanna Rouine;
Subs; Niall Canavan for Considine; Eoin Rouine for S. Rouine; Mark Kelleher for Murphy.
Clondegad: Patrick Coffey; Brian Casey, Conor Gavin, Niall Lynch; Ryan Jennings, Brian Long, Tadhg O hUallachain; Gary Brennan, Evan Flynn; Diarmuid O’Neill, Cillian Gavin, Eoghan Gavin; Mossy Gavin, Shane Brennan, Sean O’Leary;
Subs: Joe Neylon for O’Neill; Podge McMahon for O’Leary; James Murphy for E. Gavin; Cormac O’Muineachain for N. Lynch; Robbie Markham for G. Brennan (inj)
Referee: Barry Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown)
Strong finish from Doora/Barefield
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 2-10
Cooraclare 1-11
Venue: Gurteen
When Cooraclare opened a five point lead early in the second hslf of this Garry cup semi-final in Gurteen on Tuesday evening they looked to be on the way to the final of a competition which commemorates their former player and officer, the late Michael Garry.
Doora/Barefield however, had other ideas and less than a minute after Jack Carey had scored the visitors goal, Nikki Hardiman had the ball in the net at the other end to bring his side right back into the contest.
Cooraclare led by a point at half time, 0-9 to 1-5, the home side’s goal having come from midfielder James Curran.
The visitors had the better of the early exchanges in the second half but St. Josephs refused to yield and the win sees them promoted to Division 1 for next season and into the league final against Miltown who they defeated in the final round in the league series.
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Tom O’Brien; Sam Costelloe, Conor O’Brien, Conal Dorgan; Jack Hannan, Dara O’Shea, Dara Whelan; James Curran, Tom McDonald; Conal Kelleher, Eoghan Thynne, Kieran Thynne; Nikki Hardiman, Joe Rafferty, Dara Nagle.
Subs: Cian Moloney for Kelleher; Odhran O’Connell for Moloney; Paddy Bugler for K. Thynne
Cooraclare; Mark Lillis; Niall Kelly, Fergal Donnellan, Ronan Donnellan; Jake Garry, Micheal Garry, James Burke; Brian McNamara, James Chambers; Gearoid Lillis, Jack Carey, Sean Browne; Jack Morrissey, Colin McNamara, John Lillis;
Subs: Padraic O’Donoghue for G. Lillis; Kevin O’Gorman for C. McNamara; Ciaran Chambers for R Donnellan; Dave Foran for Browne; Ciaran Ryan for J. Lillis;
Referee: Chris Maguire (Wolfe Tones)
