*Kilmurry Ibrickane’s Darren Hickey. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

Reigning Clare SHC champions Kilmurry Ibrickane picked up their first win of the 2021 campaign when they accounted for the challenge of Ennistymon on Saturday evening.

Kilmurry Ibrickane 1-10
Ennistymon 0-07
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

Weather conditions were not too pleasant and neither was the football as Kilmurry Ibrickane proved much too strong for a lacklustre Ennistymon in the second round of the Clare SFC.

Granted it was Ennistymon’s first championship outing of the year but they will need a considerable improvement if their aspirations of qualifying from the very difficult Group 1 are to materialise. Absence of an attacking threat greatly diluted their impact on proceedings.

Experienced heads once again stood up for Aiden Moloney’s side with Enda Coughlan netting their second half goal while Martin McMahon was the anchor of their defence.

A one point margin separated the sides at the first water break but the gap would enhance as the contest progressed. Indeed Ennistymon’s inability to register a score in the second quarter was central to this, coming at a spell where Kilmurry Ibrickane tapped on five white flags.

Tiernan Hogan had Ennistymon’s first score from play on thirty five minutes but Kilmurry Ibrickane replied with a 1-01 brace from Enda Coughlan.

Coughlan’s goal on thirty seven minutes showcased excellent reactions, Michael O’Dwyer was denied by the posts and the Clare selector pounced on the rebound to palm it to the net and effectively confirm the result, even though the North Clare side outscored them in the final quarter.

For Ennistymon, David McNamara tried hard while the positioning of county defender Cillian Rouine in the inside line for the entire opening half when they played against the elements will have raised eyebrows.

Scorers Kilmurry Ibrickane: K Sexton (0-05 4f), D Callinan (0-04 1f 1M), E Coughlan (1-01).

Scorers Ennistymon: K Malone (0-05 4f), T Hogan (0-02).

Kilmurry Ibrickane:
1: David Sexton

4: Mark Killeen
3: Darren Hickey
24: Colin Brigdale

15: Martin McMahon

7: Daragh Sexton
6: Ciaran Morrissey
12: Andrew Shannon

9: Aidan McCarthy
5: Daniel Walsh

19: Michael O’Dwyer
11: Enda Coughlan
20: Joe Campbell

13: Keelan Sexton
14: Daryn Callinan

Subs:
25: Jason McCarthy for Brigdale (38)
17: Paudie Murrihy for Coughlan (57)

Ennistymon:
1: Noel Sexton

2: Darragh Conneely
24: Cathal Reilly
4: Adam Ralph

7: Sean Rouine
5: Sean O’Driscoll
12: Liam Devitt

9: Mattie Kinch
11: Eoin Rouine

8: Michael McDonagh
18: Killian Malone
10: David McNamara

15: Tiernan Hogan
14: Joe Dowling
6: Cillian Rouine

Subs:
20: David Fitzgerald for McDonagh (HT)
13: Sean McConigley for Dowling (41)
17: Ciaran McMahon for Devitt (51)
23: John Murphy for S Rouine (51)
25: Brendan Rouine for E Rouine (52)

Referee: Chris Maguire (Wolfe Tones)