*Martin McMahon and Kilmurry Ibrickane began their campaign with a win. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
The race for this season’s Cusack Cup got underway at the weekend when there were wins for Kilmurry Ibrickane, Clondegad and Lissycasey while last season’s finalists, St. Breckans, who are the holders of the title and Kildysart shared the spoils.
A number of players were introduced to competition at this level with Kilmurry- Ibrickane fielding a lot of newcomers as they opened their campaign with a two point win over Ennistymon.
Lissycasey marked their return to this division with a five point win over Corofin who had defeated them in the division 2 league final last season while Clondegad continued their recent good form against Doonbeg when they got on top in the second half on their way to a seven point win.
O’Dea’s goals steer Bricks to victory
Kilmurry Ibrickane 2-7
Ennistymon 1-8
Venue: Páirc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty
Two goals from Caoilfhlinn O’Dea, one from the penalty spot, steered a youthful and new look Kilmurry Ibrickane to victory over Ennistymon in the opening round of the Cusack cup at Quilty on St. Patrick’s Day.
Both sides were short a lot of regulars, mainly due to their involvement with the Clare under 20’s who have a Munster championship quarter final game in a few weeks time.
Scores were scarce in the opening half at the end of which the winners held a two point advantage with the score at 1-4 to 1-2.
The opening goal came from the penalty spot and it pushed the winners into a five point advantage, 1-4 to 0-2.
Ennistymon’s response was impressive and in the next play they struck for their goal which was finished by Niall Canavan.
The teams continued to be evenly matched in the second period with O’Dea striking for an excellent goal from play which proved decisive.
Kilmurry Ibrickane; Tomás Sexton; Andrew Shannon, Michael Comber, Diarmuid Comber; Ciaran Morrissey, Martin McMahon, Conor Kearney; Diarmuid King, Caoilfhlinn O’Dea; Colin Considine, Shane Hickey, Joe Cambell; Cathal Talty, Oisin Sexton, Niall Hickey;
Subs; Shay Gleeson for D. Comber; Jason Cussen for Campbell (inj); Damian Lynch for O. Sexton; Tom Flaherty for Considine; Thomas Lernihn for N. Hickey;
Ennistymon: Noel Sexton; Ciaran McMahon, Lawrence Healy, Joey Rouine; Micheal Vaughan. Oisin Vaughan, John Murphy; Eoin Rouine, Cathal Frawley; Ryan Barry, Sean Rouine, Dara Conneally; Joe Dowling, Niall Canavan, Eanna Rouine;
Subs; Darren McNamara for M. Vaughan; Paudie Considine for Dowling; Sean Conneally for Frawley; Mark Kelleher for Eanna Rouine;
Referee: John O’Connell (Cooraclare)
Clondegad get on top in second half
Clondegad 3-8
Doonbeg 0-10
Venue: Páirc Mhichil Ui Eithir, Ballynacally
Goals proved crucial when Clondegad and Doonbeg clashed in this Cusack Cup opening round game at Ballynacally on St. Patricks Day.
The home side struck for three majors which were key to their seven point win over the Magpies.
The first half was evenly fought and the teams went to the break on level terms, 0-5 to 1-2, the winner’s first half goal coming from Podge McMahon.
Second half goals from Mossy Gavin and Niall Carigg saw the home side in Ballynacally get on top in a tie in which Gary Brennan kicked 0-3 while Paul Dillon and David Tubridy each kicked 0-3 for the visitors.
Clondegad: Darren Cleary; Niall Lynch, Brian Murphy Brian Casey; Cormac Gavin, Peter Casey, Ryan Jennings; Diarmuid O’Neill, Eoghan Gavin; Morgan Garry, Barry Toner, Fiachra Kirby; Paudge McMahon, Gary Brennan, Mossy Gavin;
Subs; Niall Carigg for Jennings; Shane Brennan for O’Neill; Daniel Kelly for M. Gavin; Joe Neylon for E. Gavin; Sean O’Leary for Kirby
Doonbeg; Eamonn Tubridy; Cillian Blake, Joe Blake, Jason Linnane; Conor O’Mahoney, Cian O’Mahoney, Sean Conway; Kevin Pender, Kevin McInerney;
Mikie Tubridy, Cathal Killeen, Cian Clancy; Eoin Killeen, Paul Dillon, David Tubridy;
Sub; Rory Walsh for C. Clancy.
Referee: Barry Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown)
Finnucane brothers lead the way for Lissycasey
Lissycasey 0-11
Corofin 0-6
Venue: Páirc Finne, Corofin
It was very much a family affair when Lissycasey and Corofin met in the opening round of the Cusack Cup at Corofin on Saturday afternoon.
The Finnucanes, Enda and Conor led the way for Lissycasey, kicking 0-9 of their tally while the Cahill brothers, Gearoid and Diarmuid, landed all six points for Corofin. Ironically, the Finnucanes and the Cahills are first cousins.
The home side played with the aid of a strong breeze in the first half but Lissycasey showed the greater hunger for victory and led by the minimum margin, 0-5 to 0-4, when the half time whistle sounded.
The visitors stretched their lead to three early in the second half and they held that advantage throughout in a tie in which Ian Griffin, Michael Meaney, Niall McCarthy, Matt O’Shea, and Enda Finnucane were particularly impressive.
These sides met on a couple of occasions last year when Corofin held the upperhand, beating their opponents in the Division 2 (Garry cup) league final and also in the senior championship quarter final.
Lissycasey: Killian Normoyle; Tom Collins, Matt O’Shea, Michael Meaney; Ian Griffin, Niall McCarthy, Daire Hill (0-1); Enda Finnucane (0-5), Cian Meaney; Fionn Cotter, Shane Griffin, Michael Madigan (0-1); Shane Culligan, Conor Finnucane (0-4). Niall Kelly;
Subs: Kevin Shivers for Madigan; Francis Hayes for Culligan; Harry Keane for C. Meaney;
Corofin: Luke Neylon; Ross Hayes, Cilléin Mullins, Colin Fitzgerald; Adrian Shannon, Colm Rice, Michael Cahill; Sean O’Brien, Eoin Clancy; Damian Ryan, Gearoid Cahill (0-4) Gearoid Kelly; Cian Doolin, Kevin Keane, Diarmuid Cahill (0-2);
Subs: Shay Malone for Shannon; Shane Punch for Clancy; Eoin Davoran for Doolin; John Rees for Fitzgerald; Shane O’Brien for D. Cahill.
Referee: John O’Connell (Cooraclare)
Strong finish earns St; Breckans a point
Kildysart 2-2
St.Breckans 0-8
Venue: Ryan’s Field, Clarecastle
St. Breckans staged a strong finish to earn a share of the spoils with Kildysart in this Cusack Cup game played at Ryan’s field in Clarecastle on Saturday.
The Lisdoonvarna outfit kicked four points in the last eight minutes as they played a draw with Kildysart in a repeat of last year’s Cusack cup final which St. Breckans won.
Kildysart got off to a great start with Kieran O’Brien finding the net in the early minutes. This goal helped them to a one point lead at the break when the score was 1-1 to 0-3.
In the early minutes of the second half Kildysart struck for their second goal, Conor Hassett’s close in free catching the St. Breckans defence off guard and ending up in the net.
To their credit St. Breckans put in a strong finish and helped by points from Joe McGann, Colm O’Brien and Padraig Kelly they drew level.
St. Breckans; Conor O’Neill; Jack Sheedy, Maccon Byrne, Conor Burke; Rowan Danaher, Cian Burke, Eoin Guerin; Mark O’Donnell, Padraig Kelly; Eoin Fitzpatrick, Dens O’Callaghan, Shane Fitzpatrick; Colm O’Brien. Joe McGann, Cian ‘Jimmy’ Burke.
Subs; Cathal Guerin for E. Fitzpatrick; Conor Shannon for E. Guerin; Paddy Doherty for S. Fitzpatrick; Owen O’Loughlin for O’Neill
Kildysart; Conor Cusack; Oisin Coyle, Brian Eyers, Stevie Sheehan; Rory McMahon, Kieran Leahy, Michael Eustace; Keith O’Connor, Luke McGrath; Jack Cotter, Kieran O’Brien, Conor Moloney; Seamus Casey, Conor Hassett Mikey Donnellan;
Sub: Keith Murphy for Cotter
Referee: Jim Hickey, Cratloe
