*Kilmurry Ibrickane’s Dermot Coughlan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
KILMURRY IBRICKANE MADE it three wins from three outings to move forward to the Clare SFC quarter-finals unbeaten.
Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-17
St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield 0-12
Venue: St Michael’s Park, Kilmihil
By Peter O’Connell
On a perfect autumnal Saturday evening in Kilmihil, Kilmurry Ibrickane’s greater know how was more than enough to hold off the challenge of their mid Clare opponents.
Their third successive group win secured their spot at the top of Group 1 and guarantees them a seeded spot in the last eight draw.
It wasn’t the perfect performance from James Murrihy’s team but the fact was that they had qualified for the quarter-finals prior to this game and sometimes it’s hard to bring a complete performance when the result is not critical.
St Joseph’s settled a lot quicker and early points from Tom McDonald, who played well and Cian McDonagh helped them into an early lead.
However five first half points from Dermot Coughlan, including one particularly superb effort from play, left Kilmurry 0-9 to 0-5 ahead at half-time.
Caolfhinn O’Dea, who displayed his class at times and Daniel Walsh twice pointed lovely scores from play in that half.
Tom Curran, one of St Joseph’s most industrious forwards, pointed two of his tally of four points in the opening period.
Kilmurry featured Aiden McCarthy at midfield while his brother Jason was introduced late in the second half. They were without Mark Killeen and Andrew Shannon in the full back line but were able to call upon the considerable experience and class of Michael O’Dwyer off the bench. O’Dwyer kicked a brace of sublime points, one off his left. He clearly still has it.
While St Joseph’s never completely lost heart, neither did they ever look like winning this one.
They were reduced to 14 men when Cian Barron received a second yellow card 13 minutes into the second half and that really definitely curtailed any chance they had of winning this one.
Tom Curran, James Curran and McDonald kicked some good second half points and once or twice when they ran at Kilmurry they nearly got through for a goal chance.
They needed to lift a green flag to have any chance of making a real contest of this.
However, St Joseph’s are a young, evolving team and will make a game of it against whoever the draw in their upcoming playoff.
Ciaran Morrissey was rock solid in the Kilmurry full-back line, while elsewhere Daniel Walsh, Dermot Coughlan in the first half and Caolfhinn O’Dea all played well.
Coughlan missed a couple of chances in the second half, including a goal opportunity but you sense that when it really counts from now on he’ll deliver.
Tom Curran, Jack Hannan and Tom McDonald did well for St Joseph’s who are still a young team but they know that sometime soon they must win a championship game that they are not expected to. Until then their potential will remain just that.
Scorers Kilmurry Ibrickane: Dermot Coughlan 0-5, (3f), Daniel Walsh, Caolfhinn O’Dea, Cathal Talty, Michael O’Dwyer 0-2 each, Ciaran Morrissey, Jason Cushen, Aidan McCarthy, Josh Moloney 0-1 each.
Scorers St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Tom Curran 0-4, (2f), Tom McDonald 0-3, (1f), James Curran 0-2, Jack Hannan, Cian McDonagh, Nicky Hardiman 0-1 each.
Kilmurry Ibrickane:
1: David Sexton
5: Diarmuid Comber
4: Ciaran Morrissey
18: Michael Comber
8: Daniel Walsh
6: Martin McMahon
7: Daragh Sexton
23: Aidan McCarthy
9: Diarmuid King
10: Shane Hickey (capt)
12: Dermot Coughlan
11: Josh Moloney
15: Cathal Talty
22: Jason Cushen
19: Caolfhinn O’Dea
Subs:
Michael O’Dwyer for Cathal Talty (46),
Jason McCarthy for Michael Comber (56)
Daryn Callinan for Jason Cushen (57).
St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield:
1: Tom O’Brien
20: Oisin O’Donnell
3: Conor O’Brien
4: Conal Dorgan
12: Kieran Thynne
6: Darragh O’Shea
5: Jack Hannan (capt)
30: Cian Barron
9: Tom McDonald
10: Cian McDonagh
11: Eoin Thynne
8: James Curran
17: Tom Curran
14: Joe Rafferty
15: Darragh Nagle
Subs:
Nicky Hardiman for Joe Rafferty (41),
Sam Costelloe for Conal Dorgan (45),
Conal Kelleher for Darragh Nagle (48).
Referee: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)
