*Darragh Killeen has been one of Lissycasey’s strong performers so far in the Cusack Cup. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
LISSYCASEY sit top of the table of the Cusack Cup at the halfway stage of the league competition.
Four wins from four outings have Lissycasey with maximum points as the willwego.com Cusack Cup reached the halfway mark over the weekend.
St Breckans and St Joseph’s Miltown share second spot with three wins from four, the Spa outfit fell to their first defeat when last year’s beaten finalists St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield picked up their first win of the campaign.
Kilrush Shamrocks remain rooted to the bottom of the table after their fourth successive loss.
In the Garry cup Corofin moved to the top of the table with their third win from four outings as they overcame Doonbeg on Saturday.
Clondegad suffered their first loss of the campaign when losing to Wolfe Tones on Friday.
Cratloe travelled west to Quilty where they overcame Naomh Eoin and they now share second place with Clondegad and Wolfe Tones each on five points from four outings.
Cooraclare continued their move up the ladder with a second win as they accounted for Kildysart who remain at the bottom of the table.
Lissycasey move clear at top of Cusack Cup table
Lissycasey 2-21
Kirush 0-7
Venue: Páirc na Muintire, Lissycasey
With the score at 1-7 to 0-3 in Lissycasey’s favour at half time after they had played with a strong breeze, things looked good for Kilrush but the home side stepped up a gear in the second half which they dominated on their way to a comfortable win.
Lissycasey got off to a great start with Conor Finnucane kicking a two pointer in the first minute but they had to wait until the tenth minute for their next score which was a Shane Culligan point from a free.
In between, Kilrush Shamrocks had the better of matters and it took a fine save from Thomas Collins in the Lissycasey goal to deny the visitors a goal in the fifth minute
Niall Kelly and Finnucane (free) added points for the home side by the end of the opening quarter putting the winners 0-5 to 0-0 ahead.
Kilrush through a Conor Fennell free got their first score with six minutes remaining and Mark Bonfield followed with two (one free).
Niall Kelly flicked a Conor Finnucane delivery to the net and the home side closed the half with points form Kelly and Darren Keane.
The early minutes of the second half were evenly contested with the sides trading scores, Fennell kicking a two pointer for the visitors.
From here on Lissycasey dominated scoring 1-11 while conceding just a point. Kirush weren’t helped by the loss for ten minutes of Ben McKiernan who picked up a black card.
Conor Finnucane kicked his side’s second half goal while substitute Philip Talty contributed 0-4 on a day when Michael Meaney, Kevin Shivers, Darragh Killeen, Ben Skerritt and Niall Kelly were prominent.
Lissycasey; Thomas Collins (0-3, 1TP); Kevin Shivers, Daire Hill Michael Meaney (0-1); Conor Hill, Darragh Killeen, Euan Wragg; Ben Skerritt, Cian Meaney; Aaron Clohessy, Conor Finnucane (1-5, 1TP), Enda Finnucane; Shane Culligan (0-1), Niall Kelly (1-4) Darren Keane (0-3);
Subs: Philip Talty (0-4) for Culligan; Matthew Culleton for C. Hill; Shane Cotter for Clohessy; Michael O’Neill for E. Finnucane; Adrian Meaney for Wragg;
Killrush Shamrocks: Bobby Carey; Jimmy Browne, Dylan O’Brien, Michael O’Sullivan; Tadhg Lysaght (0-1), Sean Canny, James Blunnie; Conor Fennell (0-3, 1TP), Dara Blunnie; Brian Wallace, Ben McKiernan, Dean Neary; Mark Bonfield (0-2, 1f,), Ross Phelan (0-1), Matthew Moloney.
Subs; Josh Malone for O’Sullivan; Shane Mulqueen for J. Browne; Jack Flavin for M. Moloney; Dara Miniter for T. Lysaght.
Referee: Eoin Keane (Corofin)
Bragging rights for Miltown over Kilmurry Ibrickane
St Joseph’s Miltown 3-9
Kilmurry Ibrickane 2-7
Venue: Páirc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty
St Joseph’s Miltown earned the bragging rights with this merited victory over neighbours and great rivals Kilmurry Ibrickane on Friday evening.
The winners led from he off and were 2-5 to 1-3 in front at the half time break.
On an evening when both sides were guilty of missed chances, the home team will be thankful to goalkeeper Ian McInerney who made a number of outstanding saves in the opening half, keeping his side from going further behind.
Conor Neylon and Euan Lineen were the first half goalscorers for the winner while Conor Burke’s kicked his side’s first half major, his free dropping short before it was carried over the goal line by a defender.
The visitors maintained their lead in the second period when Cian Mahony had their third goal while Burke struck again for the home side’s second goal.
St Joseph’s Miltown; Ger Malone; Cormac Devitt, Enda O’Gorman, Diarmuid O’Sullivan; Cilian Keavey, Seanie Malone, Jamesie O’Connor; Micheál Murray, (0-3) Oisin Looney; Conor Neylon (1-0), Cian Mahoney (1-4, 1TP), Ralph Whelehan; Brian Curtin, Darragh McDonagh, Euan Lineen (1-2)
Subs; Paul Frawley for S. Malone; David Barry for B. Curtin; Eoin O’Brien for D. O’Sullivan; Oisin Meade for M.Murray;
Kilmurry Ibrickane; Ian McInerney; Conor Kearney, Maurice Donnellan, Daragh Sexton; Diarmuid Comber, Ciaran Morrissey, Josh Moloney (0-1); Michael Comber, Diarmuid King; Colin Considine, Shane Hickey (0-2), Tom Flaherty; Jason Cussen. Cathal Talty, Conor Burke (2-3).
Subs; Darren Hickey for D. Comber; Oisin Sexton for T. Flaherty; Cillian Darcy for M. Comber; Tomas Sexton (0-1) for J. Cussen;
Referee: Barry Keating (Lissycasey)
Eight scores in sixty minutes as Éire Óg & Ennistymon draw
Ennistymon 1-3
Éire Óg 1-3
Venue: Ennistymon
The meeting of Ennistymon and Éire Ógg at Ennistymor proved to be a drab affair with few scoring chances created by either side.
Indeed as the game moved towards the half time whistle there was just a point on the scoreboard with the visitors ahead.
Gavin Cooney struck for a goal and this put the Ennis men 1-1 to 0-1 in front at the half time whistle after the home side had played with the aid of the wind.
Cooney later left the action with a suspected serious leg injury.
In a second half in which the sides continued to be evenly matched, Darren McNamara struck for the home side’s goal.
David Davenport landed the equaliser just before full time on an evening when both sides were short a huge amount of their regular senior panellists.
Ennistymon: Conor Gallagher; Lawrence Healy, Brian McNamara, Nathan O’Sullivan; Jody McMahon, Sean Rouine, Tiernan Hogan; Eoin Rouine, Sean Conneally; Darren McNamara (1-0), David Davenport (0-1), Eoin Marrinan; Paudie Considine (0-1, f) Niall Canavan, Joe Concannon (0-1);
Subs; Christy Organ for Considine; John Barry for McMahon;
Éire Óg: Cian Howard; Eoin Guilfoye, Aaron Fitzgerald, Dean Ryan; Ciaran Russell (0-1), Fionán Treacy, Martin Darcy; Oran Cahill, David Loftus; Aidan McGrath, Darren O’Brien, Niall O’Donoghue; Gavin Cooney (1-1), Jack Joyce, Andrew McEhinney (0-1)
Subs; Aidan O’Connell for Darcy; Alex McNamara for McGrath, Bernard Keating for Cooney (inj); Dean D’Auria for O’Donoghue; Charlie O’Doherty for Loftus
Referee: John O’Connell (Cooraclare)
First points for Doora/Barefield
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 1-12
St. Breckans 0-7
Venue: Gurteen
Eoghan Thynne’s goal separated the sides at half time in this Cusack Cup tie played at Gurteen on Friday evening.
The home side went into this game chasing their first win and seeking to move away from the bottom of the table.
Impressive performances from Cian McDonagh at wing back and Darragh O’Shea at midfield played a key part in this win for the side which contested both the league and championship finals last year.
It was a relative low scoring first half, Thynne’s goal was the crucial score.
The Spa side tried hard to get a grip on proceedings in the second half but the home side held the upperhand and good points from Joe Rafferty, Tom McDonald, Conal Kelleher and Thynne saw them hold the upperhand.
St. Breckans will be disappointed that their selected forward line only managed 0-3 on the evening when they suffered their first loss of this campaign. They will be pleased to have welcomed Cian Burke back to their starting side for the first time in over a year.
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Kula Sunivak; Killian McIroy, Oran Flynn, Sam Costelloe; Conor O’Brien, Dara O’Callaghan, Cian McDonagh; Darragh O’Shea, Odhran O’Connell; James Rafferty (0-2), Eoghan Thynne (1-2), Charlie Hannan; Tom McDonald (0-3), Conal Kelleher (0-2), Conor Moloney;
Subs; Liam McAlister (0-1) for C. Kelleher; T.J. Moore for C. Moloney; Sean McMahon for C. Hannan; Conor Price for C. O’Brien;
St. Breckans: James Garrihy; Ronan Fitzpatrick, Patrick Doherty, Maccon Byrne; Colm O’Brien, Cian Burke (0-1), Jack Sheedy (0-1); Padraig Kelly (0-2), Eoghan Garrihy; Rowan Danaher (0-1), Eoin Byrne (0-1), Denis O’Callaghan; Cian Jimmy Burke; Cathal Morgan (0-1), Conor Shannon.
Subs; Mark Healy for M. Byrne; Michael Flanagan for C. Shanno; Mark O’Donnell for R. Fitzpatrick
Referee: Gary Twomey (Ennistymon)
Gallery of photographs by Burren Eye Photography
Corofin too strong for Doonbeg
Corofin 0-16
Doonbeg 0-9
Venue: Páirc Finne, Corofin
Building up a seven point lead in the opening half helped Corofin to a merited win over Doonbeg in this Garry Cup tie at Corofin on Saturday evening.
The result sees the winners move to the top of the Garry cup table with three wins from four outings to their credit.
It was 0-10 to 0-3 at half time and the home side held that advantage to the finish.
Their opening two scores were two pointers from Diarmuid Cahill and Eoin Davoran. Doonbeg’s opening score in the second half was a two pointer which came from Darragh O’Sullivan.
The loss of Cian O’Mahoney for ten minutes as a result of picking up a back card didn’t help the visitor’s cause.
Corofin: Oisin Tierney; Cian O’Loughlin, John Rees, Marc O’Loughlin; Michael Cahill, Damian O’Loughlin, Kevin Keane (0-2); Cillian McGroary (0-2), Dara McGroary; Cian Doolin, Gearoid Kelly (0-2), Evan Doolin (0-1); Diarmuid Cahill (0-4, 1TP, 1f), Eoin Davoran (0-3, 1TP), Seanán Kirby (0-3);
Subs: Christian Cummins for M. Cahill; Caoimhin O’Donovan for C. Doolin; Cillian Clancy for E. Davoran; Josh O’Brien for D O’Loughlin
Doonbeg: Eamonn O’Dea; Shane Bermingham, Tadhg Lillis, David Conway; Conor O’Mahoney, Cian O’Mahoney, Gearoid White; Kevin McInerney, Cathal Killeen; Cillian Blake, Darragh O’Sullivan (0-6, 5f, 1TP), Dylan Conway; Rory Walshe, Gavin O’Shea (0-2), Kian Conway;
Subs: Eoghan Tubridy (0-1) for K. Conway; Eoin Conway for Dylan Conway; Cian Clancy for C. Blake
Referee: Chris Maguire (Wolfe Tones)
O’Hanlon’s goals steer Cratloe to victory
Cratloe 2-10
Naomh Eoin 0-10
Venue: Páirc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty
Two goals from full forward Conal O’Hanlon helped Cratloe to victory in this tie played at Quilty on Saturday, the venue change having come after Pairc Eoin in Cross wasn’t playable.
O’Hanlon’s first half goal helped his side to a two point lead at the halfway mark when the score was 1-4 to 0-5.
The sides continued to be evenly matched in the second half until O’Hanlon’s second major which came in the closing minutes and killed the Naomh Eoin challenge.
Eight players got on the scoresheet for the winners who now share second place on the league table with Clondegad and Wolfe Tones
Owen Lynch was Naomh Eoin’s top scorer with 0-6, four of which came from play.
Cratloe; Cian O’Gorman (0-2, TP); David Colllins, Jake Higgins, Denis Mundy; Enda Boyce, Mike Brennan, Rian McNamara; Conor Ryan (0-1), Brian Browden (0-1); Shane Gleeson (0-1), Tommy Rooney (0-1), Cathal Lohan (0-1); Sean Ryan, Conal O’Hanlon (2-1), Sean Collins (0-2).
Subs; Caimin Deegan for D. Mundy; Emmet Costigan for S. Ryan
Naomh Eoin; Eoin Daly; Conor Tevlin, Tomás Bonfil, Declan Keniry; Mark McQuaid (0-1), Conor Magner, Adam Haugh; Fergal Keane, Gavin Magner; Niall Bonfil (0-2), Conor Downes, Eoin Hanrahan; Gearoid Lynch, Owen Lynch (0-6), Kevin Roche;
Subs: Joseph Roche (0-1) for C. Downes; Ciarán Bonfil for C. Tevlin; Paddy Donnellan for E. Hanrahan
Referee: Gary Twomey (Ennistymon)
Riordan in scoring form
Wolfe Tones 2-13
Clondegad 1-8
Venue: Ballynacally
Colin Riordan with a tally of 1-12 steered Wolfe Tones to a merited if somewhat surprising win over hitherto unbeaten Clondegad on Friday evening.
The Shannon men took control from the throw in and when the half time whistle sounded they were 2-9 to 1-4 in front.
It was a strong response to their defeat in Cooraclare just five days earlier and this result keeps them very much in the hunt for promotion and league honours.
The home side’s goal came from the penalty spot, Eoin Kennedy converting.
Both sides were short quite an amount of players they will expect to be challenging for places come championship time.
Wolfe Tones; Shane Russell; Jason McAuley, Conor Carigg, Robert Cahill; Cody Waller, Jayme O’Sullivan, Aaron Brennan; Liam Divilly, Dara O’Calllaghan; Eoghan Casey (1-0), Ben O’Neill, Dean Devanney; Tadhg Fitzgerald, Colin Riordan (1-12, 2TP, 7f, 1TPf), Kevin Hanley
Subs; Aaron Shinners for B. O’Neil; Mark O’Sullivan for J. McGauley; Darragh O’Neill for T Fitzgerald; Eoghan Gough (0-1) for K. Hanley;
Clondegad: Sean O’Malley; Darragh O’Neill, Brian Casey, Cormac Reidy; Colm Meaney, Tadhg Ó Uallacháin, Paddy Sweeney; Diarmuid O’Neill, Evan Flynn; Eoin Gavin, Eoin O’Connor (0-4), Sam Garry (0-1); Eoghan Glynn, Kieran McDonnell (0-1), Eoin Kennedy (1-2, 1-0 pen);
Subs: Niall Carigg for Darragh O’Neill (inj); Thomas Hehir for E. Gavin; Cillian Gavin for E. Glynn; Cormac O’Muineachain for P. Sweeney
Referee: Noel Meaney (Coolmeen)
Another win for Cooraclare
Cooraclare 1-12
Kildysart 0-11
Venue: Cooraclare
Before a ball was kicked in this season’s Garry Cup Kildysart were tipped for honours, having been relegated from the Cusack cup last season.
Four games in they are without a win and now staring down the barrel of relegation to division 3.
Without the experience of Emmet McMahon (injured) and Rory McMahon, Fergal Guinnane and Diarmuid O’Donnell to mention a few they have struggled to reach the form of recent seasons.
Cooraclare have also struggled without key players but they have won their last two games and have put themselves in a position to challenge for promotion.
The availability of under 21 panelists Simon Culligan and Sean O’Dea for Friday’s game against Kildysart helped matters. Culligan emerged as their top scorer with 0-7 in a tie in which they got the upperhand in the second half.
The sides went to the break locked together at 0-4 each but Aidan Considine’s second half goal was a huge boost and helped steer the side to victory.
Cooraclare: Mark Lillis; Gary Donnellan, Gearoid Lillis, Aaron Townsend; Noel Gavin, Pearce Lillis, Ciarán Chambers; James Burke, Sean O’Dea; Eoin Murphy, Gabriel Fennell (0-1), Aidan Considine (1-0); Simon Culligan (0-7), Sean Molloy (0-3, 1TP), Shane Lillis (0-1);
Subs; Kevin Marrinan for J. Burke; Shane O’Connell for S. Lillis; Colin McNamara for S. Molloy; Gary Cunningham for N. Gavin
Kildysart; Aidan O’Loughlin; James Casey, Shane McNeilis, Jamie Sheehan; Cillian Kelly, Conor Moloney, Dara Murtagh; Keith O’Connor, Kieran O’Brien (0-1); Conal Casey, Luke McGrath (0-1), Seamus Casey; Liam Casey (0-9, 1TP), Danny Moloney, Jack Cotter;
Subs: Oisin Coyle for J. Sheehan, C. McQuaid for L. Casey (inj).
Referee: Barry Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown)
