*Joe McGann. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Four green flags were the difference between the sides as St. Breckanโs got their Clare SFC bid back on track.
St. Breckanโs 4-9
Kildysart 0-9
Venue: Gurteen
Kildysart were competitive throughout the game but will need to learn some lessons if theyโre get over St. Josephโs Doora/Barefield in two weeksโ time.
St. Breckanโs manager Declan OโKeeffe said hunger may have been a factor in his sideโs Round 1 defeat. Boosted by the return of captain Cian Burke to the starting line-up, there was plenty of desire on show in the first half.
Kildysart started the game with the wind at their backs and kept their kickouts short. They hustled in midfield and were direct in attack. Luke McGrath kicked their first two scores of the game and Emmet McMahon put them in front after twelve minutes.
St. Breckanโs looked to get into their shape early with Robert OโConnell and Rowan Danaher hugging the wings to create space inside. They had plenty of movement on their kickout, but not every gamble into the wind paid off.
Both sides were over-ambitious at times in attack. Breckanโs were overworking the ball inside while Kildysart were taking shooting options from too far outside. David Butlerโs men were creating plenty of chances, but seven wides in thirty minutes put their scoring effectiveness at 36%.
Simple as it sounds, this game really did come down to goals. Joseph McGann linked well with Jamie Stack to shoot for goal. His effort was well saved by Kieran Eyres but the rebound fell kindly for the tap in after 22 minutes.
Oisin Coyle was alert to snuff out Breckanโs next attack and it led to Diarmuid OโDonnell pulling one back for Kildysart, calling the mark and swinging one over off his left. They had a goal chance of their own too, Conor Cusack fisted a half-chance wide.
For Breckanโs, Jamie Stack was growing into the game and they used the space in front of the full-back line to attack with tempo. Dale Masterson broke through and played a one-two with Joseph McGann. He drilled it left-footed into the far corner for the last score of the half and a five-point advantage at the break.
Kildysart tweaked their attack into the breeze. They had plenty of bodies in attack and four points in the first ten minutes of the second half. Fergal Ginnane got one from an attempt on goal. OโDonnell converted after a quick free. Keith OโConnorโs point make them look like a team on top and Luke McGrath curled an absolute beauty off the outside of his right foot.
But for all their efforts, they werenโt reeling in St. Breckanโs. The North Clare men opened the scoring for the second half when Jamie Stack took a diagonal ball inside off Robert OโConnell for a goal on the break. Stackโs next point broke up Kildysartโs scoring run and they took over the scoreboard altogether after 40 minutes with a run of 1-5.
On a day when St. Breckanโs were good enough not to need any luck, they got it all the same. Dale Mastersonโs long-range effort looked good when it left his boot but the Gurteen breeze had other ideas. Kieran Eyres couldnโt gather it under his cross bar and Breckanโs fourth goal had them well in the clear.
Kildysart had to go for goal. Substitute Keith Murphy was a good target man but the high ball inside just wasnโt working and Breckanโs had men back to snuff out the room to shoot.
Jamie Stack finished the eveningโs scoring with a point in added time, taking his tally to 1-7. The flick- up of the ball into his hands for the point outlined his class.
Kildysart had kept faith with the same starting fifteen from their Round 1 win over Corofin for this game and David Butler will have faith his side can pull it together for a round three outing against St. Josephโs Doora Barefield. St. Breckanโs face Corofin knowing their fate is back in their own hands.
Scorers:
St. Breckanโs: J Stack (1-7 3f), D Masterson (1-2), M Byrne (1-00) J McGann (1-00),
Kildysart: L McGrath (0-3), E McMahon (0-1), D OโDonnell (0-02), F Ginnane (0-1) K OโConnor (0-01), K Leahy (0-1)
St. Breckanโs:
1. Tristan OโCallaghan
2. Paddy Doherty
3: Cian Burke (cap)
4. Conor Burke
5. Pรกdraig OโDwyer
6. Alan Sweeney
7. Colm OโBrien
8. Liam Tierney
9. Denis OโCallaghan
10. Maccon Byrne
11. Dale Masterson
12. Robert OโConnell
13: Jamie Stack
22. Joseph McGann
15. Rowan Danagher
Subs:
19. Conor Shannon for M Byrne (50)
17. Thomas OโDwyer for D Masterson (55)
18. Cathal Morgan for L Tierney (56)
Kildysart:
1. Kieran Eyres
2. Fergal Ginnane
3. Kieran Leahy
4. Stephen Sheehan
5. Rory McMahon
6. Conor Moloney
7. Oisรญn Coyle
8. Keith OโConnor (cap)
9. Kieran OโBrien
10. Seamus Casey
11. Luke McGrath
12. Mikey Donnellan
13: Diarmuid OโDonnell
14. Conor Cusack
15. Emmet McMahon
SUBS:
20. Keith Murphy for C Cusack (HT)
21. Jack Cotter for D OโDonnell (56)
Referee: Niall Quinn (St Josephโs Miltown)
