*Eoin Rouine, Ennistymon captain accepts the O’Gorman Cup from Michael Neenan. Photograph: Seamus McQuaid.
ENNISTYMON bridged an eleven year gap capturing the O’Gorman Cup with an eight point win over Kildysart.
Ennistymon 0-18
Kildysart 0-10
Venue: Shanahan McNamara Memorial Park, Doonbeg
Friday’s win marked only the second time that Ennistymon have won the competition which commemorates the memory of former Doonbeg and Clare GAA official John O’Gorman.
Inaugurated in 2006 when Lissycasey became the first winners, this was the 21st running of the competition which is organised and run by Doonbeg GAA member Michael Neenan.
The competition is played without inter county senior players who featured in the championship which meant that Ennistymon were without Cillian and Brendy Rouine and Josh Vaughan while Kildysart lined out without Emmet McMahon.
A combination of injuries and holidays meant that Kildysart were also without a number of players that will be expected to be in their championship line up. These included Fergal Guinnane, Keith O’Connor and Luke McGrath to mention a few.
Both sides will be facing off in the third round of the Clare SFC on August 29th in Cooraclare, a showdown which is lively to have a big bearing on who qualifies from Group 2.
For Kildysart this final came just seven days after their narrow loss to Clondegad in the Garry Cup final.
The first half proved to be an evenly contested affair and just the minimum separated the sides at the break with the winners leading on a scoreline of 0-7 to 0-6.
Joe Concannon led the scoring honours and he finished the game with 0-8 to his name, a tally that included one two pointer and three frees.
Midfielder Mark Kelleher produced a strong performance which led to him being awarded the man of the match. He contributed 0-2 of their tally while Michael Davenport landed 0-3 for Declan Downes’ side.
After the game Doonbeg official Michael Neenan presented the O’Gorman cup to the winning captain, Eoin Rouine and he also presented the man of the match award to Mark Kelleher.
Ennistymon: Noel Sexton; Brian McNamara, Darragh Conneally, Sean O’Driscoll; Daniel Brody, Sean Conneally, Tiernan Hogan (0-2, 1tp); Mark Kelleher (0-2), Eoin Rouine; Sean Rouine, Eoin Marrinan, Joe Concannon (0-8, 1tp, 3f); Michael Davenport (0-3), Darren McNamara (0-1), Niall Canavan (0-2, tp);
Subs: Joe Casey for S. O’Driscoll; Paudie Considine for N. Canavan; Conor Morrissey for N. Sexton; Jody McMahon for E. Marrinan; John Murphy for D. Brody;
Kildysart: Aidan O’Loughlin; Shane Casey, Shane McNeilis, Cillian Kelly; Darragh Murtagh, Conor Moloney, Oisin Coyle; Danny Moloney, Kieran O’Brien (0-1); Diarmuid O’Donnell (0-3, 1tp), Jamie Evans (0-2) Jack Cotter (0-1); Conal Casey (0-1), Conor Cusack, Colm Finnucane;
Subs: Harrison Scanlan for C. Kelly (inj); Rory McMahon for S. McNeilis; James Casey for O. Coyle; Liam Casey (0-2, tp ) for C. Casey; T. J. O’Donoghue for A. O’Loughlin;
Referee: Pat Keane (Lissycasey)
