*Kilrush Shamrocks’ Dean Neary in possession. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
SEVEN of the eight quarter finalists in this season’s TUS intermediate football championship have been confirmed after the completion of the group games at the weekend.
As predicted at the outset, Kilrush Shamrocks, Corofin and Clondegad have topped their respective groups with Banner, Cooraclare and Shannon Gaels filling the runner up spots.
Naomh Eoin have qualified as the third team in their group behind Corofin and Cooraclare.
The remaining quarter final position will be filled by Coolmeen or Michael Cusacks who must play off for that spot.
That leaves the bottom teams in each group, Liscannor, Ennistymon and O’Curry’s to battle it out with the losing side dropping down to junior A for 2026.
Cooraclare show big improvement
Cooraclare 0-17
Naomh Eoin 0-13
Venue: Kilkee
Cooraclare showed a big improvement on recent form when accounting for Naomh Eoin in this third round intermediate championship game, played at Kilkee on Saturday evening.
Ahead of this game both knew that they would be progressing to the knock out stage of the competition as three teams qualify for the quarter finals from the group.
That said both were eager to win and secure second place and many had tipped last year’s finalists Naomh Eoin to be ahead at the end but on the day Cooraclare deservingly emerged with the points.
The winners were given a massive boost with the availability of inter county man Brian McNamara who missed the opening two games as he was in the US. He returned during the week and played a key role in this win.
Naomh Eoin started well and took an early lead but Niall Bonfil was shown a black card early in the second quarter and this helped Cooraclare to get the upperhand and they went on to have a three point advantage at half time.
On returning for the second half Cooraclare took up where they had left off and scored the opening three points to push their advantage to six.
Conor Magner then landed a two pointer and the men from the Peninsula brought it back to three but try as they did, they couldn’t get any closer despite the fact that Cooraclare were reduced to fourteen at the three quarter stage when Fergal Donnellan picked up a black card.
In what was a good team performance for the winners, Gary Donnellan Brian McNamara, Sean O’Dea, James Burke and Shane Lilllis led the way.
Cooraclare: Harry O’Gorman (0-3, 1TP); Gary Donnellan, Gearoid Lillis, Aaron Townsend; Ciaran Chambers, Fergal Donnellan, Jake Garry; Brian McNamara (0-1), Sean O’Dea; Jack Carey (0-1), James Burke, Darragh Townsend (0-2); Simon Culligan (0-4, 3f), Pearse Lillis (0-1), Shane Lillis (0-5, 2f).
Subs: Ronan Donnellan for J. Garry; Kevin Marrinan for J. Burke; Tadhg Lillis for S. Lillis;
Naomh Eoin; Eoin Daly; Declan Keniry, Tomas Bonfil, Conor Tevlin; Adam Haugh, Conor Magner (0-5, 2tp, 1’45), Mark McQuaid; Sean Bonfil, Gavin Magner; Fergal Keane, Conor Downes (0-3), Joseph Roche (0-1); Gearoid Lynch, Owen Lynch (0-3), Niall Bonfil;
Subs; Odhran Lynch (0-1) for G. Lynch; Adam Foley for M. McQuaid; Seamus Boland for G. Magner;
Referee; Barry Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown)
All so easy for Corofin
Corofin 3-22
Liscannor 0-4
Venue: Lisdoonvarna
Corofin justified favouritism with an easy twenty seven point win in the clash of the North Clare sides on Sunday afternoon.
As the scoreline suggests the winners were in control throughout and were eleven points clear at half time when the score was 2-7 to 0-2, John Ryan and Seanán Kirby with the goals.
Back home in Corofin after a number of years living in Australia, Diarmuid Daly, lined out at centre back for his native Corofin.
Another plus for the winners was the first appearance of the Clare IFC of Diarmuid Cahill who contributed 0-2 to the team’s tally
Liscannor were short a number of regulars due to injury and they will be keeping their fingers crossed that they will be fit for the relegation lay off.
Cillein Mullins (injured) and Jamie Malone were unavailable for this tie for Peadar O’Brien’s side. Teenager Seanán Kirby top scored for them with 2-2 followed by Josh Ryan with 1-4 on a day when twelve players shared in the team’s impressive tally.
Corofin; Luke Neylon; John Reeves, Colin Fitzgerald, Caoimhin O’Donovan; Cathal Flanagan, Diarmuid Daly, Kevin Keane (0-1); Cillian McGroary (0-3), Colm Breen (0-1); Cian Doolin (0-1), Sean O’Brien (0-1), Evan Doolin (0-1); Seanán Kirby (2-2), Gearoid Cahill (0-4), Josh Ryan (1-4);
Subs: Diarmuid Cahill (0-2) for Gearoid Cahill; Gearoid Kelly (0-1) for Kevin Keane; Damien O’Loughlin (0-1) for Diarmuid Daly
Liscannor; Alan Clohessy (0-1 f); Paul McLoughlin, Robert Lucas, Tom Hanrahan; Francesco Bonito, Padraig Haugh, Dara Blake; Brian Considine, Stephen Murray; Ultan McDonagh, Michael Foley (0-1), Cian Guerin (0-1); Dan White (0-1), Sean McDonagh, Daithi Fitzgerald;
Sub; Pa Nagle for P. Haugh
Referee: Ian Daly (Newmarket-on-Fergus)
Kilrush go marching on
Kilrush Shamrocks 4-15
Michael Cusacks 2-16
Venue: Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown Malbay
Kilrush Shamrocks justified favouritism and sealed top spot in the group and a place in the quarter finals of the intermediate football championship when accounting for Michael Cusacks on Saturday.
Ahead by six points at half time, 2-8 to 1-5, they were made battle throughout the second half by a determined North Clare outfit.
This latest win maintains the shamrocks’ unbeaten run in competition this season. Earlier in the year they won the Garry Cup (division 2), sealing a return to the Cusack Cup for 2026.
Lining out without the experienced Stephen Ryan (goalkeeper) and Gearoid O’Brien, both of whom are expected to be back from injury for the quarter finals, the too control early in the game and had opened a six point lead by half time which proved crucial.
They held the lead throughout the second half despite strong pressure from the North Clare side who had he experienced Domhnall McMahon in their line up for the first time in this campaign. He had missed the earlier rounds due to injury. On a day when nine players shared in the winner’s impressive tally, Conor Fennell led the way with 1-5 to his credit.
Gallery of photographs by Burren Eye Photography
For the third game in a row, Sean McNamara top scored for Cusacks with 1-5 while their other goalscorer was Domhnall McMahon
Kilrush Shamrocks; Bobby Carey; James Blunnie, Ross Cullinan, Evan Power; Tadhg Lysaght (0-1), Ciaran Bermingham Sean Canny; Sean Fennell (0-3, 1tp), Darragh Blunnie; ; Dean Neary (1-0), Conor Fennell (1-5), Ben McKiernan (0-1); Dylan O’Brien (0-1), Don O’Driscoll (1-2), Ross Phelan (0-2);
Subs; Keith Crowley (1-0) for E. Power; Padraic Browne for D. Nea
Michael Cusacks; Shane Lee; Darragh Cassidy, Pappy Taaffe, Kevin Fawle, Ruaidhri McMahon, Conor McGann, Thomas Roche (0-2); John Fawle, Jack McGann; Tadhg Geoghegan (0-3), Neil O’Loughllin, Sean McNamara (1-5); Oisin McNamara, Domhnaill McMahon (1-1), Noel Hynes (0-5);
Subs; Joe Clancy for John Fawle; Joey Droney for N. O’Loughlin; Padraig Fahy for C. McGann;
Referee; Jim HIckey, Cratloe
Banner batter Ennistymon’s second string
Banner 4-21
Ennistymon 0-9
Venue: Clareabbey
By Páraic McMahon
Conditions were beautiful in Clareabbey but it was an incredibly long hour for Ennistymon’s faithful as their second string were torn apart by a lively Banner outfit who didn’t ease up when picking off their opponents by a whopping twenty two points.
It was two teams that are likely to be in opposing semi-finals, Banner in the championship and Ennistymon in the relegation semi-finals.
As has been written before, Ennistymon are to be commended as the only football club in Clare to have a second team competing in the second tier. Their fortunes at this level have been greatly hampered by the misfortune and high amount of injuries sustained by their seniors which saw five of the intermediates join the senior ranks.
This is a third of their team and such a figure would greatly reduce the chances of the top three, Clondegad, Corofin and Kilrush Shamrocks never mind a side battling to consolidate their status as the primary aim.
Sharper, fitter and more clinical, the Banner were the supreme outfit in this one by a long shot. Their attack will ask questions of any team in the grade while they finished the hour with ten different scorers.
Racing 1-3 0-0 inside the opening ten minutes, there was no need to squint or remove the sunglasses to ascertain what was going on as the outcome of this one was clear from a long way out.
If you wanted to keep track on the score, you’d have had a tough job as the Clare GAA headquarters of Clareabbey didn’t have a functioning scoreboard. It gets better, there was no orange flags so when Ronan Kilroy landed a two pointer on forty seven minutes, one of Martin Downes’ umpires had to wave an orange bib which was provided by the Banner.
Downes and his officials had to show a bit of ingenuity off the field too as they had no access to the changing rooms so instead the referee had to get changed in the toilets.
This sequence of events would lead to a hosting club coming under fire so Clare GAA itself should certainly have orange flags and access to the referee changing rooms in place for fixtures. Clareabbey is itself a wonderful venue with one of the best surfaces in the county.
It wasn’t an easy hour for Ennistymon to endure but they most renew their focus in keeping their status. On the bright side they didn’t lose any additional bodies while they were also without defender Conor Rynne who would have quietened one of the Banner forwards, the problem was they had too many fires to quench and not enough firemen on duty.
There was a lot to like from the Banner’s display but it is all prefaced with the question on how much can be read into it. They had a great chance to defeat Kilrush in the first round but let it slip and the real litmus test for them will arrive in the knockout stages. Thomas Meenaghan, Seán McMahon, Ronan Kilroy, Fuwhad Akinwale, Johnny Martin, Matthew McGrath and Shane Meehan all stood out for the Tom Meehan managed side.
Gallery of photographs by Gerard O’Neill.
Scorers Banner: S McMahon (1-7 2f), T Meenaghan (1-3), R Kilroy (0-3 1TP), M McGrath (1-0), E Fitzpatrick (1-0), J Martin (0-2), S Meehan (0-2), T O’Halloran (0-2), E Walsh (0-1), C Dennehy (0-1).
Scorers Ennistymon: P Considine (0-3 2f), R Barry (0-2), J Dowling (0-1), M Kinch (0-1), F Hegarty (0-1).
Banner: Mark Cleary; Cian Rynne, Kenneth Higgins, Conor O’Toole; Justin McGrath, Ronan Kilroy, Fuwhad Akinwale; Johnny Martin, Eoin Walsh; Shane Meehan, Brian McDonald, Matthew McGrath; Cian O’Connor, Thomas Meenaghan, Seán McMahon.
Subs: Thomas O’Halloran for Meenaghan (42), Conor Dennehy for Martin (42), Eoin Fitzpatrick for Walsh (48), Caleb Walsh for O’Connor (52), Oisin McMahon for M McGrath (52)
Ennistymon: Conor Morrissey; John Murphy, Lawrence Healy, Cathal Frawley; Ryan Barry, Gerry Coote, Joe Casey; Dara Rouine, Mattie Kinch; Ruairí Murphy, Daniel Brody, Joe Dowling; Danny Rouine, Paudie Considine, Niall Canavan.
Subs: Fred Hegarty for R Murphy (HT), Ruairí Murphy for Considine (42), Paudie Considine for Kinch (52) (inj)
Referee: Martin Downes (Naomh Eoin)
Bohannon’s return inspires Shannon Gaels
Shannon Gaels 1-8
Coolmeen 0-5
Venue: Páirc na Muintire, Lissycasey
Shannon Gaels and Coolmeen went into this TUS Clare intermediate football championship third round tie on Saturday afternoon knowing that the outcome could see them advance to the play offs or be involved in the dreaded relegation battle.
Taking this and the outcome of the tie between Clondegad and O’Currys into consideration both the Gaels and Coolmeen have avoided the relegation battle which will now see O’Currys playing to retain intermediate status.
Saturday’s game in Lissycasey won’t live long in the memory but there is no doubting the merit of Shannon Gaels’ victory. They were the livelier side throughout but they will be concerned with their wides tally which came to eleven.
With Darragh Bohannon in the side at midfield for his first game in this season ‘s campaign having returned from the U.S. earlier in the week they got the upperhand from the off. He gave them the lead in the first minute which they held until Aidan Corry converted a free in the eighth minute.
Bohannon struck again in the tenth minute and his side led 0-3 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter. Coolmeen had levelled by the twentieth minute and everything pointed to the sides going to the break on level terms but the Gaels captain Thomas Kelly had other things on his mind. Two minutes into ‘injury time’ he weaved his way through the Coolmeen defence and despite the best efforts of Coolmeen goalie Adam Carrig, Kelly’s effort ended up in the net to give his side a 1-3 to 0-3 half time lead.
Incidentally Coolmeen’s cause wasn’t helped by the loss of their captain and full back J.J. Carigg to injury shortly before the half time whistle
The third quarter produced just three pointed frees from Thomas Kelly for the winners. Three efforts for two pointers from Dylan Kenny were wide of the target but ten minutes from time he managed to point from play which pushed his side 1-7 to 0-3 in front.
The Gaels were reduced to fourteen when Matthew Reidy picked up a black card with eight minutes of normal time remaining.
Five minutes from the end Joe Corry’s kicked a two pointer for Coolmeen, their only score of the half.
There were a couple of flash points in the second half and a couple of players were fortunate to escape seeing red.
Gallery of photographs by Gerard O’Neill.
Shannon Gaels; Keith Ryan; Jack McCarthy, Tadhg Kelly, Fergal Kenny; Julian Linnane (0-1), Matthew Reidy Dylan Kenny (0-1); Darragh Bohannon (0-2), Jack Reidy; Eoin Keane, Dave Bannigan, Michael O’Donoghue; Dylan O’Neill, Thomas Kelly (1-3, 0-3f), Darren Crehan (0-1)
Sub; Cormac Moloney for D. Bannigan;
Coolmeen; Adam Carigg; David Hehir, J.J. Carigg, Adam Wallace; Rian Meaney, Thomas Coffey Dylan O’Halloran; Eoin O’Connor, Brian Markham (0-1); Michael Kennedy, Cathal O’Connor, Thomas Flynn; Aidan Corry (0-2, f), Gary Meaney, Dylan Power;
Subs; Joe Corry (0-2, tp) for J.J. Carigg (inj.); Ben Cleary for G Meaney; Ronan Murphy for A. Corry; Micheal Brooks for M. Meaney;
Referee: Barry Keating (Lissycasey)
Unbeaten Clondegad catch O’Currys in final quarter
Clondegad 2-15
O’Currys 0-16
Venue: Páirc Cuar an Chláir, Cooraclare
By Páraic McMahon
Already top of the group regardless of the final round panned out, Clondegad maintained their unbeaten status but not without receiving a stern test from O’Currys, the sides were tied on ten occasions over the hour.
Showing six changes from the side which overcame Shannon Gaels to seal their place in the knockout stages, Clondegad did field a somewhat weakened side but their first fifteen also included Podge McMahon making his first championship start and players determined to put their hand up for selection for the quarter-finals.
Teams that will be in the business end of this championship will have strong panels and to his credit Clondegad manager James Murrihy has done his bit to strengthen the squad of the Ballynacally club. Those involved with Ballyea’s hurlers such as Fiachra Kirby, Tadhg Ó hÚallacháin and Morgan Garry were rested for the tie.
With their championship on the line, O’Currys were always going to throw the kitchen sink at this game, they did but the final quarter was their downfall. They were level entering the final fifteen minutes but they missed 1-2, scored a single point via Eoin Kelly and conceded 1-4.
Tight on bodies, O’Currys ran out of steam after a commendable effort and the most frustrating aspect for them is the knowledge that they had produced this type of display two weeks ago it would have been enough to beat Coolmeen and they would be preparing for a preliminary quarter-final whereas they are now in a relegation play off.
Fire and passion which is ever-present with O’Currys was evident from the get-go when they went two points clear inside three minutes, Seamus Keane pointing after Cathal Downes put him through while Shane Browne kicked the first of his many scores from a free.
Cillian Gavin who caused plenty of damage with runs from the right-wing provided the assist for Diarmuid O’Neill to find the net and with eight minutes played Clondegad took the lead for the first time. Brian Keane got O’Currys back on level terms but a two pointer from Podge McMahon put the favourites ahead again.
Having managed to get on par on a further two occasions before the interval, O’Currys then went in front with twenty eight minutes played with efforts from Danny Downes and Browne. Daniel Costelloe kicked the final score of the half to level matters.
A two pointer free from Browne which was moved up for dissent put O’Currys leading only for Clondegad to reply with points from Seán McAllister and Eoin Glynn.
This game continued to swing in either direction. Paddy Clancy with a tremendous run to break the line after Cathal Downes won the ball in the air, popped to Seamus Keane who found Liam Griffin and he split the posts, this was followed by a converted free from Danny Downes to have the men from Carrigaholt and Doonaha 0-15 1-11 in front with forty four minutes played.
Everything changed in the final quarter, the gas faded from O’Currys , they began to lose their nerve as the pressure of needing a result seeped into their play, Cathal Downes had a shot on goal saved by Declan O’Loughlin while at the other end O’Neill popped in for his second goal to really swing the game. Although O’Currys replied with an Eoin Kelly point, Clondegad saw out the game with three points on the bounce, two from Eoin Kennedy and one from Eoghan Donnellan to emerge victorious.
Top spot in Group 3 and a place in the quarter-finals await Clondegad who have been playing well but must be mindful they have avoided the top teams in the tier to date. They are using plenty of personnel and have an abundance of options to call upon which will be needed for what lies ahead. Daniel Costelloe was very lively in attack with Cillian Gavin also impressing along with Seán McAllister.
Despite an admirable effort, O’Currys finish bottom of the group. After a very poor showing in round two, they bounced back with a display to leave them knowing they are certainly worthy of being in the preliminary quarter-finals but for the second game in a row their finish cost them, they conceded 0-8 in the final quarter in Coolmeen and only kicked two themselves, whereas as mentioned above it was 1-4 conceded this time round. The move of Michael Foran to centre back added better structure while Seamus Keane, Shane Browne, Paddy Clancy, Cathal Downes, Liam Griffin and Danny Downes were prominent for them. They should have enough to stay up but should be annoyed that this is the play off they are preparing for.
Scorers Clondegad: D O’Neill (2-0), P McMahon (0-3 1TPF 1f), E Glynn (0-3 1f), D Costelloe (0-2), E Kennedy (0-2 1f), C Kirby (0-1), C Gavin (0-1), C Meaney (0-1), S McAllister (0-1), E Donnellan (0-1)
Scorers O’Currys: S Browne (0-8 1TPF 4f), D Downes (0-4 1f), S Keane (0-1), B Keane (0-1), L Griffin (0-1), E Kelly (0-1).
Clondegad: Declan O’Loughlin; Dillon Killoughrey, Brian Casey, Niall Carrigg; Colin McNeilis, Cillian Brennan, Colm Meaney; Seán McAllister, Diarmuid O’Neill; Eoin Glynn, Cian Kirby, Cillian Gavin; Podge McMahon, Daniel Costelloe, Kieran McDonnell.
Subs: Eoin Kennedy for Costelloe (41), Eoghan Gavin for Kirby (45), Eoghan Donnellan for McMahon (52), Niall Lynch for McNeilis (58)
O’Currys: Colin Clohessy; Darragh Keane, Stephen Kelly, Paddy Clancy; Evan Killeen, Michael Foran, Seamus Keane; Cathal Downes, Thomas Clancy; Liam Griffin, Eoin Brew, Eoin Kelly; Danny Downes, Shane Browne, Brian Keane.
Referee: Robert Harte (St Senan’s Kilkee)
