*Éanna Rouine was Ennistymon’s goal scorer. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
There were wins for Kilrush/Killimer, Banner and title holders Ennistymon as the race for the John Marrinan U21 A football championship memorial cup got underway at the weekend.
The remaining two first round games will take place in midweek with Corofin taking on St. Breckan’s and Cill Cul Gaels facing Wolfe Tones
First half goals decisive for Kilrush/Killimer
Kilrush/Killimer 3-13
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 2-11
Venue: Captain Michael Tubridy Memorial Park, Kilrush
Three first half goals played a key part in this first round victory by Kilrush/Killimer in the opening round of the Berwick LP under 21 A football championship.
In a tie played at Tubridy Park in Kilrush, the home side were short a number of regulars as some players from Killimer didn’t play ahead of their involvement in the junior A championship final on this coming Saturday.
Sean Keane (2) and Jamie Griffin were the goelscorers for the winners who led 3-5 to 0-7 at the interval against a fancied St Joseph’s outfit.
The Doora/Barefield side did better in the second half when they had goals from Tom Curran from the penalty spot and Eoghan Talty but that strong first half shoring from the home side was to prove decisive.
Ewan Kelly, Jamie Griffin, David Jones who made some great saves and Daniel Moloney were prominent for the winners.
Kilrush/Killimer (all Kilrush except where otherwise stated); David Jones; Daniel Moloney (Killimer), Evan Power, Harry O’Looney; Sean Canny, Dylan O’Brien Ciaran Cunningham; Conor Fennell, Ewan Kelly; Tadgh Lysght, Jamie Griffin, Colin Wallace; Keith Crowley, Sean Keane, Filip Rzymek.
Sub: Tommy Dulligan for Wallace;
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Liam Flynn; Ciaran O’Driscoll, Dara O’Callaghan, Conal Dorgan; Cian Moloney, Dara Nagle, Sam Costello; Joe Keane, James Curran; Eoghan Talty, Nicki Hardiman, Odhran O’Connell; Joe Rafferty, Michael Nash, Tom Curran;
Subs: Eoin Boyle for Moloney; Ogie Fanning for O’Connell; Charlie Hannan for Dorgan;
Referee: Michael Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
Goals the key to Banner victory
Banner 3-10
Lissycasey 0-13
Venue: Lissycasey
A strong second half showing by the Banner proved too much for Lissycasey in this first round tie played at the Banner grounds on Sunday.
The home side got off to a great start with a Shane Meehan goal in the opening minutes but the visitors fought back with good scores from Darren Keane (4), Shane Culligan (2) and Michael Madigan to lead 0-7 to 1-3 at half time.
With Meehan causing a lot of problems for the Lissycasey defence, the winners capitalised on a number of good scoring opportunities and goals from Diarmuid Toner and Matthew McGrath gave them the upperhand in the second half when Thomas Meenaghan and Eoin Walsh were also prominent.
Banner: Killian Ryan; Ronan Marran, Niall Walsh, Dylan Moroney; Conor Dennehy, Justin McGrath, Mufana Flynn; Eoin Walsh, Thomas Meenaghan; Brian Moloney, Sean McMahon, Diarmuid Toner; Matthew McGrath, Shane Meehan, Oisin McMahon.
Lissycasey; Kieran Daniels; Evan O’Haire, Ian Griffin, Michael Kelly; Kevin Shivers, Daire Hill, Michael Meaney; Darren Keane, Luke Griffin; Michael Madigan, Dara Culligan, Ben Skerritt; Shane Culligan, Shane Griffin, Jack Cahill;
Subs: Darragh Killeen for Skerritt; Jack Meere for Cahill; Stephen Davoran for Madigan
Referee: Chris Maguire (Wolfe Tones)
Champions off to a winning start
Ennistymon 1-8
Western Gaels/Doonbeg 1-6
Venue: Shanahan McNamara Memorial Park, Doonbeg
Title holders Ennistymon got their challenge to retain the title off to a winning start when they recorded a narrow win over the Western Gaels/Doonbeg at Shanahan McNamara Park in Doonbeg on Sunday.
The North Clare side had to survive a strong test from the West Clare combination and one can only speculate as to what the result might have been had all of the combination outfit not been playing their second game in twenty four hours.
Western Gaels and Doonbeg are competing in the B championship and both had games on Saturday.
The combination side held a two point advantage at the interval and they increased this to three early in the second half before the holders struck for a goal from Éanna Rouine which levelled the tie.
Western Gaels/Doonbeg had their goal from Cathal Killeen whose effort from outfield deceived the winner’s defence.
Ennistymon; Conor Gallagher; Dara Rouine, James Cullinan, Sean Conneally; Josh Guyler, Ciaran McMahon, Liam Cotter; Eoin Rouine, Josh Vaughan; Shane Woods, Mark Kelleher, Eanna Rouine; Paudie Considine, Sean Rynne, Darren McNamara;
Subs: Brian McNamara for M. Kelleher; Diarmuid Fahy for P. Considine
Western Gaels/Doonbeg; Eoin Daly (Naomh Eoin); Conor Mahoney (Doonbeg), Dara Keane (O’Currys), Kevin O’Mara (St. Senans, Kilkee); Paddy Clancy (O’Currys), Adam Haugh (Naomh Eoin), Gavin O’Shea (Doonbeg); Cathal Killeen (Doonbeg), Jack McNamara (St. Senans, Kilkee); Jamie O’Shea (Doonbeg), Eoin Killeen (Doonbeg), Fergal Keane (Naomh Eoin); Shane Browne (O’Currys), Darragh Burns (Doonbeg), Daniel McNamara (St. Senans, Kilkee);
Subs: Dylan Conway (Doonbeg) for Clancy; Jonathan Clancy (O’Currys) for Haugh; Shane Bermingham (Doonbeg|) for J. O’Shea; Eoin Kelly (O’Currys) for D. McNamara;
Referee: Barry Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown)
Race for B title underway
Five games were played in the U21B championship when there were wins for Cratloe, Western Gaels, Cooraclare, Clarecastle and St Joseph’s Miltown.
Cratloe scored four goals as they accounted for Kildysart 4-5 to 1-12, in Kildysart.
Western Gaels conceded home advantage and travelled to Kilfenora where they recorded a two point win over the combination of Kilfenora, Michael Cusacks and Liscannor.
Clarecastle had twelve points to spare over Clooney/Quin winning on a scoreline of 3-8 to 0-5 while Cooraclare also scored three goals as they defeated Doonbeg on a 3-11 to 0-9 scoreline.
In a tight affair at Miltown the home side were one point winners, 1-7 to 0-9, over Clondegad.
Round 2 in the A and B championships will take place this Bank Holiday weekend.
