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*Ennistymon’s Cillian Rouine breaks the challenge of Rowan Danaher. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
ENNISTYMON are adamant they are the underdogs of the final four teams remaining in the Clare senior football championship.
A second semi-final in three seasons awaits Ger Quinlan’s charges after they once again had the upperhand on St Breckan’s.
To be one of the last four teams standing in the race to lift the Jack Daly is where the youthful Ennistymon want to be where they join the three most recent winners, Cratloe (2023), Éire Óg (2021 and 2022) and Kilmury Ibrickane (2020). “That is where we want to be in the last four, we’re under no illusions as to who we will be up against all those three teams have Jack Daly medals so we will be the out and out underdog no matter who we meet but we’re there which is the main thing,” Quinlan said.
Quinlan added, “We’ll be the fourth of the semi-finalists absolutely whoever we’re going to be playing but we’ll give it a shot, we’ll knuckle down for the next two weeks, we’ve the Inagh/Kilnamona contingent in action next weekend, we’ll deal with that they’ll be fine and they’ll be back with us the weekend after”. Their dual players vying to appear in both finals include the Rynne brothers, Sean and Conor, the Guyler brothers Josh and Keelan plus midfielder Keith White.
They have a repeat of the 2022 final to look forward when they meet Éire Óg in championship for the first time since their 0-9 0-6 loss in the decider. Last year they ended up in the relegation semi-final and have been determined to prove they are of the top teams in the county. “These guys are great footballers, they have won a lot underage and want to prove their ability, I’m just delighted for them”.
A member of the Clare senior football panel from 1997 to 2013, the retired midfielder was very pleased with how side adapted to the conditions in the opening half of Sunday’s quarter-final where they managed to lead St Breckan’s after seventeen minutes despite being against the elements. “We knew that the first half was going to be tricky to get a score but the lads worked it well in for our three scores in the first half, they were earned but we took them well”.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, he heralded their workrate as they kicked 1-4 without reply in the second half while keeping their opponents to a single score to earn the two point win. “That was good, our lads showed a savage amount of workrate and a bit of desire to win today, that was the difference, you can have all the gameplans and tactics but it came down to who wanted it the most, St Breckan’s wanted it too of course they did but maybe when it came down to the melting pot we wanted it a bit more, it stood to us”.
As he arrived in Hennessy Memorial Park on Sunday afternoon, Quinlan himself had to battle the conditions as he walked towards the dressing rooms, arms filled with gear including cones and a flipchart but he admitted the weather forced a rethink of all plans. “There was a crazy gale here, gameplans and tactics had to go out the window, it came down to who wanted the ball more, with or against the wind our lads fought very well in both halves, they were a credit and I’m very proud of them”. Tensions boiled over on occasion between the sides in Sunday’s clash but Ger noted, “There is respect there between the two clubs”.
