*Connor Meaney kicked the winning score for Lissycasey. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
LISSYCASEY and St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield are to do battle in the U21A football final following their semi-final wins.
The way is clear for a number of finals in this season’s under 21 football competitions following the weekend’s programme of games
Lissycasey and St Joseph’s, Doora/Barefield will contest the A championship decider following their victories over title holders Ennistymon and Clondegad respecively at the weekend.
Kilmurry Ibrickane are through to the B final where they will take on either Wolfe Tones or Cratloe
In the C championship final Western Gaels, a combination of Naomh Eoin, O’Currys and St Senans, Kilkee will take on St Joseph’s Miltown. The Gaels accounted for Kildysart/Coolmeen on a 2-8 to 0-5 scoreline on Friday night while Miltown were comfortable 4-13 to 0-6 winners over St. Breckan’s on Sunday
All finals will take place on the weekend of November 30/December 1 along with the A and B shield finals.
Meanwhile Clann Lir, a combination of Liscannor, Kilfenora and Michael Cusacks captured the C shield title when they defeated Parteen-Meelick 4-8 to 2-9 at Clareabbey on Sunday.
Lissycasey end champions’ reign
Lissycasey 0-8
Ennistymon 0-7
Venue: Cooraclare
Three unanswered points in the final five minutes steered Lissycasey to victory over holders Ennistymon in the first of the under 21 A football championship semi-finals which took place at Cooraclare on Saturday evening
In an evenly matched contest, the sides were level on a number of occasions including half time when they went to the dressing rooms locked together at 0-3 each.
Lissycasey started the second half well and created two goal opportunities but came away with just a point from these chances.
Both teams can point to missed chances over the hour. Midway through the second half Ennistymon looked to be getting a grip on the tie and they edged two points clear with ten minutes remaining.
They created a goal chance but the ball whisked across the face of the goal and went just inches wide. A goal at that stage would have put them in a strong position.
Lissycasey produced a strong finish which yielded three good points from Daire Killeen, Darren Keane who levelled the tie and Connor Meaney who fired over what proved to be the winner.
Lissycasey’s defence was strong on the evening with Daire Hill, Ian Griffin , Michael Kelly and Aaron Killeen prominent. Connor Meaney, Darren Keane, Daire Culligan and Darragh Killeen were others who stood out.
Brendy Rouine’s absence due to a broken cheek bone sustained in a colleges match for TUS Midwest was a blow to Ennistymon who had good performances from Sean Conneally, Josh Guyler, Paudie Considine and Diarmuid Fahy. Clare panelist Fahy was struggling with a hamstring injury.
Lissycasey; Thomas Collins; Conor Hill, Daire Hill, Ian Griffin; Aaron Killeen, Euan Wragg, Michael Kelly; Connor Meaney (0-1), Darren Keane (0-1); Luke Griffin, Daire Culligan (0-2), Jack Cahill (0-1); Shane Culligan, (0-1), Daire Killeen (0-2) Diarmuid McMahon;
Subs; Ben Skerritt for Cahill; Cian Neylon for S. Culligan
Ennistymon; Conor Morrissey; Sean Conneally, James Cullinan, Conor Rynne; Brian McNamara, Josh Guyler, Liam Cotter; Josh Vaughan, Sean Rynne (0-1); Dara Rouine, Mark Kelleher, Daniel Brody; Paudie Considine (0-4), Diarmuid Fahy (0-2), Eanna Rouine;
Subs; Fred Hegarty for D. Rouine; Joe Casey for M. Kelleher; Joe Corcoran for Brody;
Referee: Chris Maguire (Wolfe Tones)
First half goals decisive for Doora/Barefield
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 2-8
Clondegad 0-8
Venue: Clarecastle
First half goals from Tom Curran (penalty) and Conor Daly sent St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield through to the under 21 A football championship final when they proved too strong for Clondegad at Clarecastle on Sunday.
Clondegd started well with Eoin Kennedy pointing from play in the opening minute. However, this proved to be their only score from play and Kennedy proved to be their only scorer, adding the remainder seven from frees.
A foul on Joe Rafferty led to the penalty after seventeen minutes which Curran converted. Seven minutes later Daly soloed through from midfield and drilled the ball low to the corner of the net.
The winners held a six point advantage at the interval when the score was 2-6 to 0-4.
While delighted with the win, the Doora/Barefield men will be concerned with the fact that they only managed two points in the second half, both coming from frees.
Clondegad started the second half well but they struggled to break down a strong St. Josephs backline.
Conal Dorgan, Fionn Kelleher, Conor Daly and Tom Curran did well for the winners while Cillian Gavin, Evan Flynn, Daniel Costello and Eoin Kennedy were best for the losers.
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Ben McDonagh; Conal Dorgan, Eoin Boyle, Ian Williams; Charlie Hannan, Fionn Kelleher, Diarmuid Boyle (0-1); James Curran, Joe Keane; Conor Daly (1-0), Odhran O’Connell, Ógie Fanning; Nikki Hardiman (0-1), Joe Rafferty (0-3, 2f), Tom Curran (1-3, 0-1f);
Subs: Sam Costelloe for Williams (inj) (5); Padraic O’Donovan for Hardiman (half time) Oisin O’Donnell for Keane (42); Cian Moloney for Fanning (49); Ciaran O’Driscoll for E. Boyle (54)
Clondegad: Dara O’Neill; Dylan Killoughery, Niall Carigg, Cillian Gavin; Sam Garry, Evan Flynn, Daniel Costelloe; Sean McAllister, David Meaney; Colm Meaney, Michael Meaney, Eoin Kennedy (0-8, 7f); Luke Minogue, Kieran McDonnell, Cian Kirby;
Subs; Ciaran Connolly for Minogue (half time); Dara Coote for M. Meaney (half time); Eoin Coote for C. Meaney (57); Dean Brassil for N. Carigg (57)
Referee: Niall Quinn (St. Joseph’s Miltown)
Talty points the way for Kilmurry Ibrickane
Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-12
Éire Óg 0-9
Venue: Lissycasey
A haul of 0-7 by Cathal Talty helped Kilmurry-Ibrickane qualify for the under 21 B championship when they defeated Éire Óg at Lissycasey on Sunday.
Interestingly, all of the winners tally came from their full forward trio with Joe Campbell landing 0-3 while Josh Moloney contributed 0-2.
Éire Óg went into this tie without a number of regulars with senior panellists Oran Cahill and Luke Pyne both ruled out due to injury and their loss represented a huge blow to the team’s hopes of qualifying for the final.
The Ennis side got the first score of the game but once the Kilmurry Ibrickane outfit hit the front they held the lead throughout. They were 0-6 to 0-4 ahead at half time.
Kilmurry Ibrickane; Tomas Sexton; Matthew Campbell, Shay Gleeson, Conor Kearney; Cian Coughlan, Diarmuid Comber, Colin Considine; Evan Cahill, Cillian Darcy; David O’Donoghue, Leo Switzer, Jason Cussen; Cathal Talty (0-7, 5f), Joe Campbell (0-3), Josh Moloney (0-2).
Subs; Tom O’Connor for C. Coughlan; Aaron Considine for L. Switzer;
Éire Óg; Cian Howard (0-1); Darren Moroney (0-2), Eoin Guilfoyle, Jack Lynch; Alex McNamara, Jarlath Collins (0-1), Roan McDermott; Sean Mullooly, Peadar O’Keeffe; Darragh Stack, Conor Perrill, Michael Heneghan; Evan Casey, Andrew McElwee (0-2), James O’Dwyer;
Subs; Bernard Keating (0-3) for E Casey; Eoin O’Regan for P. O’Keeffe; David Loftus for R. Mc Dermott; James Lyne for M. Heneghan
Refere: John O’Connell (Cooraclare)
