Goals decisive as Miltown secure second spot in Group of Death

*Micheál Murray of St Josephs Miltown. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

In wet and windy conditions, St. Josephs Miltown justified favouritism and accounted for Cooraclare to seal second place in Group 1 of the Clare SFC.

St. Josephs Miltown 3-6
Cooraclare 0-7
Venue: Pairc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty

It’s been said many times but it’s worth repeating ‘goals win games’ and so it proved in this final group game.

Two early strikes allied to one inside the final ten minutes gave Miltown the advantage in a tie which they played without Clare captain Eoin Cleary while they lost Graham Kelly to injury five minutes into the tie.

Cormac Murray who top scored with 1-5 to his credit, opened the scoring in the fifth minute when he converted a 20m free and two minutes later Darragh McDonagh struck for the opening goal when he flicked a delivery past the advancing Mark Lillis.

In a first half which failed to produce a point from play, Cooraclare, already consigned to the relegation play off prior to this tie, opened their account in the ninth minute when Michael Garry converted a 20m free.

Two minutes later they found themselves two goals in arrears after Conor Cleary shot low to the net.

Cooraclare goalkeeper Mark Lillis came up field to convert a 45 just before the first water break. The second quarter yielded just two pointed frees to each side and this left the half time score at 2-3 to 0-4.

There was much more urgency about the Cooraclare performance in the second half and they dominated the third quarter. Garry converted another free before Pearse Lillis had their first score from play four minutes into the half to leave the score at 2-3 to 0-6.

Just before the second waterbreak, Michael Garry’s side had a great chance to level the tie but Ciaran O’Donoghue’s effort for a goal was superbly turned behind for a ‘45 by Miltown goalie and captain Sean O’Brien. Miltown then launched an attack and Darragh Mcdonagh kicked a fine point.

Pearse Lillis continued to take the game to Miltown and he fisted a point but the Michael Neylon managed outfit responded and Cormac Murray drilled the ball low to the net to kill off the Cooraclare challenge. Murray pointed two frees to seal a merited victory, on a day when Eoin O’Brien, Aidan McGuane, Gordon Kelly, Darragh McDonagh and Cormac Murray were prominent.

Michael Garry, Thomas Donnellan, Ciaran O’Donoghue and team captain Pearse Lillis did well for Cooraclare.

Scorers Miltown; Cormac Murray (1-5, 0-5f) Darragh McDonagh (1-1); Conor Cleary (1-0)

Scorers Cooraclare; Michael Garry (frees), Mark Lillis (1f, 1 ‘45), Pearce Lillis (0-2) each, Ciaran O’Donoghue (0-1,1f)

St Josephs Miltown:
1: Sean O’Brien

26: Enda O’Gorman
6: Gordon Kelly
3: Eoin O’Brien

5: Micheal Murray
12: Gearoid Curtin
7: Colin Hehir

8: Oisin Looney
9: Conor Cleary

10: Cian Mahoney
17: Graham Kelly
4: Aidan McGuane

13: Brian Curtin
14: Darragh McDonagh
15: Cormac Murray

Subs:
31: Kieran Malone for Graham Kelly (5, inj)
2: Euan Reidy for C. Hehir (40)
22: Kevin Keavey for O’Mahoney (46)
20: Joe Carmody for K. Malone;
18: Cian Flanagan for G. Curtin (54)

Cooraclare
1: Mark Lillis

2: Robert Ryan
4: Fergal Donnellan
17: Conor Marrinan

5: Ronan Donnellan
6: Thomas Donnellan
7: Michael Garry

8: Brian McNamara
9: Pearse Lillis

10: EoinO’Driscoll
19: Damian Burke
12: Ciaran O’Donoghue

13: Tadhg Lillis
14: Colin McNamara
15: John Lillis

Subs:
22 James Chambeers for R. Donnellan (half time)
21: Fergal Nolan for J. Lillis (inj)

Referee: Chris Maguire (Wolfe Tones)