*Lissycasey’s Darragh Killeen. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
LISSYCASEY have qualified for the final of the Cusack Cup with St Breckans and St Joseph’s Miltown to meet in the semi-finals while Ennistymon relegated St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield.
Three teams are left in the hunt for league honours in the willwego.com Cusack Cup following the final round of games held on Sunday afternoon.
Lissycasey jumped from second to first and into the final thanks to their win over Kilmurry Ibrickane. Leaders going into Sunday’s games were St. Breckans but they went down to Éire Óg resulting in them dropping down to second place. They will have a home semi-final against St Joseph’s Miltown who lost to already relegated Kilrush Shamrocks. The meeting of Ennistymon and St. Josephs decided the second relegation spot with the Doora/Barefield men’s loss seeing them drop to the Garry Cup for next season.
Final standings in the Garry Cup won’t be confirmed until Friday evening when Wolfe Tones and Kildysart face off.
Doonbeg and Clondegad are safely through to the semi-finals. Wolfe Tones will claim the remaining play-off spot if they draw or beat Kildysart on this Friday. A defeat for the Shannon men will leave them level on points with Corofin, Cratloe and Kildysart resulting in scoring difference between the four teams being required to decide which one will go through.
Kildysart also need to win to avoid relegation, should they prevail they will send Cooraclare down to Division 3.
In division 3 Banner are through to the final where they await the winners of the semi-final game between Michael Cusacks and Kilmihil. The finalists will be playing in Division 2 (Garry cup) next season
Kilmurry Ibrickane and Liscannor drop down to division 4 for next season.
Liscannor, Shannon Gaels and O’Currys all finished on 5 points and scoring difference involving just the games between the three left Liscannor at the bottom.
Killimer are in the final of Division 4 and assured of promotion to Division 3. In the final they will play the winners of the semi-final game between Coolmeen and Kilfenora. Corofin and Éire Óg will drop down to Division 5.
Lissycasey pull away in the second half
Lissycasey 4-21
Kilmurry Ibrickane 3-6
Venue: Páirc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty
Eight players shared in Lissycasey’s impressive tally as they accounted for Kilmurry Ibrickane in this Cusack Cup tie at a sun splashed Quilty.
Two Conor Burke points gave the home side an early lead but a Conor Finnucane two pointer had the teams level by the fifth minute.
The winners were a point ahead, 0-4 to 0-3 when Darren Keane was fouled in the penalty area and he converted the resultant penalty.
Kilmurry Ibrickane launched an attack from the kickout and it ended with Reuben Fallon finding the net.
Lissycasey responded and a sweeping movement ended with captain Darragh Killeen finding the Kilmurry net and they went on to lead by double scores, 2-8 to 1-4 when Conor Burke pounced for the home side’s second goal which left the half time score at 2-8 to 2-4 in the winners’ favour.
Kilmurry Ibrickane could have been in front at this stage but for Lissycasey goalkeeper Thomas Collins who had made two excellent saves in the opening quarter.
Few would have predicted at this stage how the second half would turnout. In the opening minute of the new half Conor Finnucane landed a great two pointer and further points followed from Finnucane, Darren Keane (2) and Daire Culligan.
At the turn of the final quarter Conor Burke struck for his second goal but the visitor’s response was strong and they went on to added goals from Culligan and Keane and points from Philip Talty (3) and Finnucane before Conor Meaney kicked the final score of the day.
Kilmurry’s cause wasn’t helped by the fact that they played a big chunk of the second half with fourteen men after Shane Hickey picked up a black card.
Lissycasey; Thomas Collins; Aaron Killeen, Michael Kelly, Euan Wragg; Cian Meaney, Darragh Killeen (1-0), Connor Meaney (0-1); Matt O’Shea, Ben Skerritt; Daire Culligan (1-5, 0-1f), Diarmuid McMahon, Shane Griffin (0-1); Conor Finnucane (0-6, 2TP), Darren Keane (2-4, 1-0 penalty), Niall Kelly (0-1);
Subs; Daire Hill for M. Kelly (inj); Luke Griffin for B Skerritt; Philip Talty (0-3) for N. Kelly; Enda Finnucane for D. McMahon; Michael O’Neill for S. Griffin.
Kilmurry Ibrickane; Tomás Sexton; Daragh Sexton, Diarmuid Comber, Maurice Donnellan; Josh Moloney (0-1), Evan Cahill, Daniel Walsh (0-1); Diarmuid King, Cillian Darcy; Colin Considine, Reuban Fallon (1-0), Ciaran Morrissey; Cathal Talty (0-2, 1f), Shane Hickey, Conor Burke (2-2);
Subs: Andrew Shannon for D. Comber; Jason Cussen for C. Considine; Colin O’Neill for R. Fallon;
Referee: Eoin Keane (Corofin)
Ennistymon seal status & relegate Doora/Barefield
Ennistymon 1-22
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 1-10
Venue: Ennistymon
By Páraic McMahon
In what was effectively a relegation play-off, Ennistymon were emphatic victors, ensuring they will play in the Cusack Cup next season and sending St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield to the Garry Cup for 2027.
Both sides will meet in the first round of the Clare SFC on the August Bank Holiday weekend and while this clash will have little significance on the outcome in just under two months, the importance of competing in the top tier of the league cannot be overlooked, particularly when it comes to assisting in blooding new players at senior level so the fixture and the result certainly had consequences.
Fielding their strongest starting team so far this year, Ennistymon picked up their second win of the Cusack Cup and delivered their best display. Doora/Barefield on the other hand, fell to their fourth defeat of the league and produced a below-par showing and underlines quite clearly that they have a massive amount of work to do in order to be in contention to emerge from Group 2 of the Clare SFC.
Just eight members of the Doora/Barefield team which started last year’s Clare SFC final against Éire Óg were in from the off at a sunny Ennistymon. Joe Rafferty’s absence from attack was missed as they lacked star quality and struggled to create scoreable opportunities from open play, over half of their tally coming from placed balls.
Not since the first round of the Cusack Cup last season, when they scored 3-21 against Corofin have Ennistymon been so prolific in front of goal. On this occasion, they had ten different scorers over the hour, a statistic that has been very rare for the North Clare club in this lifetime.
Both the returns of 3-21 and 1-22 have been achieved in the two seasons of Declan Downes’ tenure. The ex Clare selector has made a visible improvement in allowing Ennistymon bring a style of play that utilises their football skills rather than overly patient build-up play facilitated by linear and lateral runs.
Downes was vocal urging his troops to make “good decisions” on the ball and of the two sides they were smarter in possession.
With thirteen minutes played, Ennistymon led 0-8 0-0, their decision to press on Paddy Bugler’s kickout brought joy and was enabled by strong wins in the air by Eoin Rouine, Josh Vaughan and Mark Kelleher. They also moved the ball well, Liam Cotter was effective getting on breaking ball and driving forward with both pace and power.
Tom McDonald with a two pointer free opened the visitor’s account on eighteen minutes, Eoin Lahiffe followed with a single and with the limited supply of ball he received showed himself as a player that can certainly add to their attack. Keelan Guyler with a free and Gearoid Barry pointed to finish off a team move involving Tiernan Hogan and Rouine to make it 0-10 0-3 at the interval.
Commanding half-time leads have been at Ennistymon’s disposal already in this year’s Cusack Cup. In round five, they were ten ahead of St Joseph’s Miltown but ended up losing by four points. When Charlie Hannan palmed to the net after Eoin Lahiffe played the ball across goal, forty one seconds into the new half, there could have been a sense of dread and panic to seep in.
Instead, the hosts produced a response that killed off their opponents and gave a glimpse that learnings are being put into practice. They kicked 1-4 without reply following Hannan’s major, Josh Vaughan’s long-range effort was bundled into the net by Bugler and then Cillian Rouine stepped up with his first two pointer of the afternoon.
This third quarter response coupled with their blistering start was the winning of the game for Ennistymon, they finished strong as Rouine landed another two pointer and also put together some goal chances that they didn’t finish,
In what was a very disappointing showing from Doora/Barefield, the concession of three scores from frees awarded for breaches was simply inexcusable. This game won’t define their season but they are not at the level they were at this time twelve months ago.
Liam Cotter and Tiernan Hogan were the most consistent players over the hour for Ennistymon. They still have Brendy Rouine, Diarmuid Fahy, Ciaran McMahon and Seán Rynne among others to return to full fitness ahead of the Clare SFC.
Scorers Ennistymon: C Rouine (0-5 2TPf), K Guyler (0-5 3f), J Vaughan (1-1), G Barry (0-3), M Kelleher (0-2), N Canavan (0-2), E Marrinan (0-1), B McNamara (0-1), J Guyler (0-1), S Rouine (0-1 1M).
Scorers St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: T McDonald (0-8 1TPf 4f), C Hannan (1-0), E Lahiffe (0-1), C McDonough (0-1)
Ennistymon: Conor Morrissey; Brian McNamara, Joey Rouine, Darragh Conneely; Liam Cotter, Cillian Rouine, Tiernan Hogan; Josh Vaughan, Mark Kelleher; Josh Guyler, Eoin Rouine, Eoin Marrinan; Gearoid Barry, Keelan Guyler, Niall Canavan.
Subs: Seán O’Driscoll for Conneely (19) (inj), Seán Rouine for Marrinan (35), Seán Conneally for McNamara (40), Daniel Brody for Hogan (44), Joe Concannon for Canavan (48), Hogan for K Guyler (55) (inj)
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Paddy Bugler; Odhran Flynn, Eoghan Boyle, Cillian McElroy; Fionn Kelleher, Conor O’Brien, Cian McDonough; Tom McDonald, Diarmuid Boyle; Charlie Hannan, James Rafferty, Odhran O’Connell; Eoin Lahiffe, Conall Kelleher, Eoghan Thynne.
Subs: Sam Costelloe for Thynne (HT), Darragh Fahy for Flynn (43), TJ Moore for C Kelleher (56), Conor Price for Hannan (56), Liam Clune for O’Connell (56)
Referee: John O’Connell (Cooraclare)
Breckan’s slip to second to set up Miltown semi-final clash
Éire Óg 1-15
St Breckans 1-12
Venue: Éire Óg GAA Grounds, Ennis
By Gearoid Howley
St Breckans surrendered top spot in the Cusack Cup after falling to an Éire Óg side that required a result to remove any lingering relegation concerns.
Entering the contest on ten points and sitting at the top of the table, Breckans were unable to get the better of the Townies, with the defeat seeing them drop to second place and setting up a semi-final meeting with St Joseph’s Miltown.
The Éire Óg side featured just one of their returning Clare senior footballers, Ronan Lanigan, while recent All-Ireland Under-20 Hurling winner Darren Moroney was also included in the starting line-up. St Breckan’s meanwhile welcomed back all three of their county representatives, with Tristan O’Callaghan, Alan Sweeney and Jamie Stack all starting.
The opening ten minutes were evenly contested, with Jamie Stack and Jack Joyce exchanging frees before Oran Cahill registered the first score from play before Cathal Morgan responded for the visitors.
With fourteen minutes on the clock, Ciarán Russell burst through the Breckan’s defence before bundling the ball over the line to hand Éire Óg a 1-2 to 0-2 advantage.
Referee Chris Maguire penalised the Spa for dissent on two occasions during the second quarter, with Niall O’Donoghue slotting over a pair of two-point frees to stretch the home side’s lead to five points.
Breckan’s responded through Jack Sheedy and a Jamie Stack placed ball, which was shortly followed by a point from Aaron Fitzgerald after he marauded forward from full-back to split the posts and ensure Éire Óg carried a four-point lead into the break.
James Garrihy, who was introduced between the posts at half-time for the visitors, was called into action early in the second half, producing an important save to deny Éire Óg a second goal.
On the forty eighth minute mark, Padraig Kelly brought the game back to a single score after intercepting a short Cian Howard kick-out and rifling an effort to the top corner of the net.
Maccon Byrne was shown a straight red card shortly afterwards, leaving Breckans to play the remaining ten minutes with 14 men after Darren O’Brien converted the resulting free.
Kelly almost rampaged through for another green flag moments later, but this time Howard managed to get enough on the effort to divert it over the bar.
With seven minutes remaining, O’Brien landed another crucial free to make it a two-score game. That left Breckan’s requiring a goal in the closing stages, but it never arrived as Éire Óg held on for a third win of the campaign.
Éire Óg: Cian Howard; Aidan O’Connell, Aaron Fitzgerald (0-1), Fionán Treacy; Ciarán Russell (1-0), Ronan Lanigan, Gavin D’Auria; David McNamara, Darren O’Brien (0-4, 3f); Darren Moroney, Aidan McGrath, Oran Cahill (0-3); Niall O’Donohue (0-4, 2tpf), Dean D’Auria (0-1), Jack Joyce (0-2, 1f)
Subs: Shane Gleeson for A McGrath (inj), Andrew McElwee for N O’Donohue, Seán Perrill for C Russell, Alex McNamara for D D’Auria
St Breckans: Tristan O’Callaghan; Alan Sweeney, Patrick Doherty, Maccon Byrne; Padraic O’Dwyer, Rowan Danaher, Jack Sheedy (0-1); Denis O’Callaghan, Padraig Kelly (1-2); Colm O’Brien (0-1), Jamie Stack (0-6, 5f), Donncha O’Dwyer; Conor Shannon, Cian ‘Jimmy’ Burke (0-1), Cathal Morgan (0-1)
Subs: James Garrihy for T O’Callaghan, Micheál Flanagan for C Shannon, Mark Healy for R Danaher (inj), Jack O’Loughlin for D O’Callaghan (inj)
Referee: Chris Maguire (Wolfe Tones na Sionna)
Gallery of photographs by Burren Eye Photography
Ryan’s return inspires Kilrush
Kilrush Shamrocks 3-17
St Joseph’s Miltown 0-22
Venue: Capt Michael Tubridy Park, Kilrush
Kilrush Shamrocks’s fate may have been sealed before this tie but having failed to win a game in the campaign to date, they were clearly determined to change that.
The return of Stephen Ryan was a huge boost and he showed his class with a string of fine saves in the opening half.
Miltown had the aid of the wind in the first half and they led by four points, 0-11 t 0-7 when the half time whistle sounded.
That lead would certainly have been greater but for goalkeeper Ryan and he did more in the second half when his huge kickouts helped set up attacks which led to scores.
Kilrush kicked all but 0-3 of their tally from play and their impressive score didn’t include any two pointer.
Mark Bonfield top scored for them with 3-4 on a day with eight players shared their tally.
Cormac Murray was Miltown’s top marksman with 0-10 to his name and this included three two pointers.
The winners played the closing minutes with fourteen men after Ross Phelan picked up a black card.
Kilrush Shamrocks: Stephen Ryan; Jimmy Browne, Ross Cullinane, Sean Canny; Dean Neary, Don O’Driscoll (0-2), James Blunnie; Conor Fennell (0-1), Dara Blunnie; Tadhg Lysaght (0-1), Sean Fennell (0-4), Ben McKiernan (0-2); Dylan O’Brien (0-1), Mark Bonfield (3-4) Ross Phelan (0-2);
Subs; Padraig Browne for McKiernan; Billy Clancy for D. Blunnie; Keith Crowley for Lysaght; Matthew Moloney for Neary;
St. Joseph’s Miltown: Colin Hayes; Cormac Devitt, Diarmuid O’Sullivan, Eoin O’Brien; Cian Flanagan, Jamesie O’Connor, Cillian Keavey; Paul Frawley, Micheál Murray; Ronan Keavey (0-1), Conor Neylon, Ralph Whealahan (0-3); Cormac Murray (0-10, 3TP), Darragh McDonagh (0-3), Euan Lineen (0-5);
Subs; Brian Curtin for O’Sullivan; Stephen Murphy for Devitt; Seanie Malone for R. Keavey; Gordon Kelly for O’Connor, Tim Lenihan for Curtin.
Referee: Noel Meaney (Coolmeen)
Clondegad seal play off place
Clondegad 0-19
Cooraclare 1-12
Venue: Páirc Cuar an Chláir, Cooraclare
Clondegad made sure of a place in the knock out stages of the Garry Cup with this merited win over Cooraclare at Cooraclare on Sunday afternoon.
Having raced into a four point lead the winners were rocked as the home side responded with 1-2, the goal coming from Jack Morrissey, to take the lead inside ten minutes.
Cian McAllister’s second two pointer restored Clondegad’s lead and after points were exchanged the teams were still level, 0-7 to 1-4 after twenty minutes.
The visitors finished the half strongly adding 0-7 without reply this tally including two pointers from Sean McAllister and Colm Meaney, to lead 0-14 to 1-4 at the break.
Points were exchanged twice early in the second half before a two pointer from Pearse Lillis and a converted free from Simon Culligan left the score at 0-16 to 1-9 at the three quarter stage.
Despite their best efforts the home side failed to get the scores they needed to overhaul their opponents who held on for a merited win.
Clondegad: Daniel Kelly (0-2, 1f, 1’45); Cormac Reidy, Brian Casey, Tadhg Ó hUallachain; Colm Meaney (0-2, TP), Morgan Garry (0-1), Cillian Gavin; Cillian Brennan, Evan Flynn (0-1); Paddy Sweeney (0-1), Eoin O’Connor, Sean McAllister (0-2, TP); Diarmuid O’Neill, Eoin Glynn (0-2), Cian Mc Allister (0-7, 2TP, 1f)
Subs: Cian Kirby for E Flynn; Sam Garry (0-1) for Sweeney;
Cooraclare; Oisin Morrissey; Gearoid Lillis, Sean O’Dea, Aaron Townsend; Micheál Garry, Pearse Lillis (0-2, TP), Jake Garry; Rob Ryan, Tadhg Lillis (0-1); Eoin Murphy (0-1), Padraic O’Donoghue, Aiden Considine (0-1); Simon Culligan (0-3, 2f), Jack Morrissey (1-3, 1TP), Sean Molloy (0-1);
Subs; Gabriel Fennell for Ryan; Kevin Marrinan for O’Donoghue; Ciaran Chambers for M. Garry (inj); Gary Cunningham for Marrinan; Darragh Townsend for J. Garry;
Referee: Niall Quinn (St. Joseph’s Miltown)
Last minute penalty earns Naomh Eoin a draw
Naomh Eoin 2-9
Corofin 1-12
Venue: Páirc Eoin, Cross
Naomh Eoin will play in Division 3 next year, their fate having already been sealed prior to this clash with Corofin on Sunday.
A last minute penalty converted by Owen Lynch gave them a share of the spoils but it wasn’t enough to save their Division 2 status.
The result could prove costly for the visitors as a draw or win for Wolfe Tones on this Friday against Kildysart will mean that the North Clare men can’t get into the play offs.
Corofin had the better of the first half exchanges and they went to the break with a four point lead, 1-6 to 1-2, their goal having come from an Damian O’Loughlin penalty after he had been fouled in the area.
The home side’s first half goal came from Eoin Daly but they were still three point in arrears as the game went into ‘injury time’.
In the last play of the tie they won a penalty and Owen Lynch brought his tally for the afternoon to 1-8 when he converted the resultant free.
Naomh Eoin; Ciaran Magner; Ciaran Bonfil, Mark McQuaid, Conor Tevlin; Joseph Roche, Conor Magner, Fergal Keane; Conor Downes, Gavin Magner; Adam Foley, Owen Lynch (1-8, 1-6 f), Niall Bonfil (0-1); Kevin Roche, Eoin Daly (1-0), Gearoid Lynch;
Sub: Eoin Hanrahan for K. Roche;
Corofin; Oisin Tierney; Cian O’Loughlin, Fionn Clancy, John Rees; Michael Cahill, Damien O’Loughlin (1-0, pen), Kevin Keane (0-3); Gearoid Kelly (0-1), Colm Breen; Josh O’Brien (0-1), Cian Doolin (0-2), Evan Doolin; Diarmuid Cahill (0-4), Gearoid Cahill (0-1), Seanán Kirby.
Subs: Gearoid Hanrahan for Kirby, Colin Fitzgerald for Rees.
Referee: Barry Kelly (St. Joseph’s Miltown)
Doonbeg determined to return to top flight
Doonbeg 0-21
Cratloe 0-9
Venue: Páirc Micheal Ó h-Eithir, Cratloe
Doonbeg’s determination to return to the Cusack Cup was clear in this tie at Cratloe where they recorded a merited win over the home side.
Ahead by three points at the halfway mark they dominated the second half, confining their opponents to 0-2.
Darragh O’Sullivan led the way for the Magpies, contributing 0-8 to their tally which included a two pointer free.
Nine players shared in their impressive tally as they sealed a place in the semi-finals and could well be in the final depending on the outcome of this Friday’s game between Wolfe Tones and Kildysart.
Cratloe will be disappointed with their performance, especially in the second half and they will need to show a big improvement before their first round championship clash with title holders Éire Óg.
Doonbeg: Eamonn Tubridy; Shane Bermingham, Cian Clancy, Jason Linnane; Conor O’Mahoney (0-2), Gearoid White, Cian O’Mahoney (0-1); Kevin McInerney (0-2, TP), Cathal Killeen (0-2); Brian Behan (0-1), Darragh O’Sullivan (0-8, 3f, 1TP free), Gavin O’Shea (0-2); Eoin Killeen (0-2, 1f), David Tubridy (0-1, f), Darragh Burns;
Subs; Dylan Conway for Burns (inj.); David Conway for D. Tubridy; Eoin Conway for Behan; Killian Blake for O’Sullivan;
Cratloe; Cian O’Gorman (0-1, ‘45); David Collins, Kevin Harnett, Marc O’Brien; Enda Boyce, Mike Brennan, Eoin Carey; Conor Ryan (0-1), Shane Gleeson; Rian Considine, Ryan Harkin (0-2), Denis Mundy; Podge Collins (0-3), Sean Collins (0-2, 1f), Emmett Costigan;
Subs; Caimin Deegan for Mundy; Jake Higgins for Costigan;; Jake Moylan for D. Collins (inj.) Sean Ryan for C. Deegan (inj);
Referee: Ian Daly (Newmarket-on-Fergus)
