*Darren McNamara holds off Darren Nagle. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
ENNISTYMON’s second team ensured they will remain in the intermediate ranks for 2025 after overcoming the challenge of North Clare rivals Liscannor.
Ennistymon 0-10
Liscannor 0-8
Venue: Hennesy Memorial Park, Miltown Malbay
Although there was a lot at stake in this tie, there was a sense of lifelessness to it in what was an overall poor encounter.
Without question Ennistymon were deserving winners but they made hard work of their victory and the two point margin underlines just how difficult they made matters.
Nine first half wides meant Ennistymon only led by two points at half time when they could and definitely should have been further in front.
Brian Considine with a free put Liscannor on the board first in a sunny Miltown Malbay before Ennistymon worked good scores via Ryan Barry and Mark Kelleher. A Paudie Considine free and Barry’s second of the afternoon saw them push 0-4 0-1 ahead by the eleventh minute.
Joe Dowling kicked their fifth point in succession, the assist coming from centre forward Ryan Barry. Liscannor hit back with scores from Darren Nagle and Francisco Bonito while two frees from Considine were spurned to leave it at 0-5 0-3 when half time arrived.
It took six minutes for the sides to register a score in the second half, Niall Canavan splitting the posts in what was only the second scoring opportunity on the restart. Alan Clohessy converted a free on forty two minutes to reduce the deficit back to two points.
Eighteen minutes into the second half, Eoin Marrinan kicked a fine score, that it was only the third score of the half gives an inkling that this was not an affair for the ages. They added another nice point through Darren McNamara, both me producing fist pumps following their contributions to the scoreboard which indicated that Ennistymon knew they had weathered the storm.
Once again Darren Nagle was effective when moving up the field, adding his second score of the day on fifty one minutes.
Two points on the bounce through McNamara and the experienced Joe Dowling ensured that the rally of three points without reply at the finish from Nagle and Clohessy meant Liscannor’s fightback would only bring them to within two points at the final whistle.
Remarkably Ennistymon are the only football club in Clare that have their second team competing in the intermediate grade. The violins will sound from other clubs as they point to population and player retention as their excuses so for Ennistymon it is worth applauding the fact they are distinct in this regard.
Regrading players such as Ryan Barry has certainly strengthened the Brendan Rouine managed side. Given that they reached the semi-finals two seasons ago, inward reflection from Ennistymon regarding their second team will point out that they are certainly not reaching their potential and they should have the ambition to be reaching the knockout stages of this competition. Lawrence Healy again stood out, the ex Clare footballer would not be out of place with a role in their senior defence with Ryan Barry lively in the opening half particularly, both Seanie Conneely and Dara Rouine were productive over the hour.
Liscannor now have a relegation final with Killimer to prepare for. They may admit that they expected this to be their feat after losing out to Coolmeen in the group stages but it is their reality now. They were helped by their neighbours in this outing but they never looked like threatening for a goal or nudging in front as the game wore on, that said they finished the better and the manner of producing a fight at the finish is a positive omen ahead of the relegation decider.
Scorers Ennistymon: R Barry (0-2), J Dowling (0-2), D McNamara (0-2), M Kelleher (0-1), P Considine (0-1 1f), N Canavan (0-1), E Marrinan (0-1).
Scorers Liscannor: D Nagle (0-3), A Clohessy (0-3 3f), B Considine (0-1 1f), F Bonito (0-1)
Ennistymon:
1: Conor Gallagher
4: Michael Vaughan
3: Lawrence Healy
27: Alex Leydon
9: Joe Casey
5: John Murphy
7: Seanie Conneely
2: Dara Rouine
8: Mark Kelleher
13: Darren McNamara
14: Ryan Barry
10: Eoin Marrinan
15: Niall Canavan
17: Paudie Considine
12: Joe Dowling
Subs:
11: Cathal McConigley for Considine (51)
6: Gerry Coote for Marrinan (59)
Liscannor:
16: Shane Curtin
2: Paul McLoughlin
4: Tom Hanrahan
3: Robert Lucas
10: Francesco Bonito
6: Darren Nagle
7: Brian Considine
5: Padraig Haugh
8: Gavan Duffy
20: Brian Leyden
11: Alan Clohessy
19: Diarmuid Commane
15: Cian Guerin
14: Sean McDonagh
9: Stephen Murray
Subs:
18: Michael Foley for Commande (19)
17: Dara Blake for Leyden (26)
13: Daniel White for Bonito (38)
22: Oisin Leyden for McDonagh (57)
12: Cobhan Philpson for Duffy (59)
Referee: Barry Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown)
