*Conor Henry of O’Callaghans Mills takes on Clarecastle defender, Stephen O’Halloran. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
O’CALLAGHANS Mills are the only unbeaten side in the county following five rounds of the Clare Cup.
As the race for this year’s willwego.com Clare Cup moved past the halfway at the weekend, county champions Éire Óg finally got off the mark with victory over Ballyea.
Elsewhere O’Callaghans Mills maintained their unbeaten run with victory over Clarecastle in a lively high scoring tie.. They are now the only unbeaten side in the competition after Feakle suffered their first defeat in the campaign when going down to Kilmaley.
Newmarket-on-Fergus continued their winning form when accounting for St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield and move to the top of Division 1A for the first time this season.
Corofin remain pointless at the bottom of Division 1A while Éire Óg, despite their first win, prop up Division 1B with Ballyea and Sixmilebidge both just a point above them.
Round 6 is scheduled for this coming weekend and there will be particular interest in three of the games. Crusheen play Éire Óg, Inagh/Kilnamona take on Clonlara and Scariff face Broadford and these sides will meet later in the season in the group stage of the championship.
Spoils shared in Clonlara
Clonlara 1-24
Scariff 2-21
Venue: Clonlara
The spoils were shared when Clonlara hosted Scariff in this willwego.com Clare Cup game on Monday evening, the game having been brought forward from next weekend.
A Conor Bourke goal in the closing stages tied up the game on an evening when the visitors held an eight point lead at the interval when the score was 2-12 to 0-10 in Scariff’s favour, their goals having come from Ben Sweeney and Patrick Ryan.
The respective freetakers, Eanna O’Brien for the visitors and Micheál O’Loughlin for Clonlara top scored for their sides with 0-11 each.
Clonlara’s John Conlon who lined out at midfield and Keelan Hartigan for the visitors each contributed 0-4 to their side’s impressive tallies.
Both sides have five games played in the competition and they are both in the top half of the table with Scariff two points clear of Clonlara.
Scariff; William Kavanagh; Eoghan Keehan, Michael Scanlan, Scott Cairns; Kian Myles, Matthew Crotty (0-1), Sean Collins (0-2); Conor Downes, Sean Hartigan (0-1); Patrick Nugent, Keelan Hartigan, (0-4), Donnacha Crotty; Éanna O’Brien, (0-11, 9f), Ben Sweeney (1-1), Patrick Ryan (1-0)
Subs: Luke Madden (0-1) for Donnacha Crotty, Michael Vaughan for Kian Myles; Michael Barrett for Ben Sweeney; Seamus McCaul for Patrick Ryan.
Clonlara: Alan Murnane; Michael Clancy, Ger Powell, Tom Power; Jamie O’Connell (0-1), Aidan Moriarty, Kieran Howard; John Conlon (0-4), Padraic Reddan; Michael O’Loughlin (0-11, 8f), Jathan McMahon (0-1), Conor Bourke (1-1); Eoin Begley, Brian McLeish (0-3), Cathal O’Connell (0-3)
Sub: Jamie McMahon for McLeish;
Referee: Fergal O’Brien (Broadford)
Gallery of photographs by Gerard O’Neill.
Double scores win for Inagh/Kilnamona
Inagh/Kilnamona 0-22
Clooney/Quin 0-11
Venue: Clooney
A much sharper Inagh/Kilnamona proved too strong for Clooney/Quin on Thursday evening.
The opening exchanges painted a different picture as the home side raced into a 0-4 to 0-0 lead after just six minutes.
The visitors response was strong and as the opening half passed the halfway mark they had taken a one point lead, 0-5 to 0-4, Aidan McCarthy landing three of those points.
Another five unanswered points followed and when the half time whistle sounded the visitors were 0-11 to 0-6 in front.
The sides exchanged points early in the second half before Inagh- Kilnamona hit four in a row to go 0-16 to 0-7 ahead by the three quarter mark.
The home side pulled two back but another five without reply for the visitors sealed a comfortable win.
A minute’s silence was observed before the game as a mark of respect to the late Brian Kelly, Spancilhill.
Inagh/Kilnamona; Jack O’Connor; Cathal Ryan, Kevin Hehir, Neil Hegarty; Shane Woods, Jason McCarthy, Brian Foudy; Keith White, Mark Callinan; Ronan Mescall (0-2), Keelan Guyler (0-5, 2f) David Mescall (0-2); Gearoid Barry (0-2) Aidan McCarthy (0-6, 5f), Josh Guyler (0-3);
Subs: Conner Hegarty (0-2) for N. Hegarty; Tom Barry for A. McCarthy; Eoin Fitzgerald for B. Foudy; Colin Shannon for M. Callinan.
Clooney/Quin; Cillian Duggan (0-2, f); Fionn O’Gara, Evan Maxted, Bryan McInerney; Donnacha O’Donovan (0-1), Conor Grogan, P.J. McCarthy; Enda O’Halloran, Jimmy Corry (0-3, f); Sam Scanlan, Patrick Finneran, Donnacha Mahon; Ulick O’Sullivan (0-2), Martin Duggan (0-2), Dannan Fox (0-1);
Subs: Michael Corry for Mahon; Cillian O’Gara for McInerney; Eoin O’Brien for O’Halloran
Referee; Brendan Hannon (O’Callaghans Mills)
Gallery of photographs by Gerard O’Neill.
Much needed win for Broadford
Broadford 0-20
Corofin 1-13
Venue: Glenomra Park, Broadford
Despite recording a much needed win on Saturday, Broadford remain in danger of relegation.
In a hard fought contest with Corofin they were two points clear at the halfway point when the score was 0-8 to 0-6 and they went on to double that lead before the final whistle.
Diarmuid Moloney was the winners chief marksman with 0-12 to his name, 0-10 of which came from placed balls while Gearoid Kelly was Corofin’s main marksman with 0-9 to his name.
Broadford goalie Cian O’Brien, defenders Cathal Chaplin and David Boland and forwards Darren Chaplin and Diarmuid Moloney impressed for the winners.
Broadford; Cian O’Brien; Paddy Donnellan, Dara Whelan, Damian Keniry; Cathal Chaplin (0-1), David Boland, Cormac Gunning; Cian Mulqueen, Conor O’Donnell (0-1); Oisin Kavanagh (0-1), Diarmuid O’Brien (0-2), Darren Chaplin (0-2); Aodán O’Driscol, Donie Whelan (0-1), Diarmuid Mooney (0-12);
Subs; Sam Cooper for D. Keniry; David Greene for D. Moroney
Corofin; Oisin Tierney; Marc O’Loughlin (0-1), Fionn Clancy, Evan Doolin; Michael Cahill, Cillian McGroary, Gearóid Hanrahan; Gearóid Kelly (0-9,f), Cian Doolin (0-1); Eoin Davoren, Diarmuid Cahill, Micheál Duffy; Damien O’Loughlin, James Organ (1-0), Seanán Kirby
Subs: Gearóid Cahill (0-2) for Cian Doolin; David Corbett for James Organ (inj.); Caoimhín O’Donovan for Diarmuid Cahill; Cian Doolin for Micheál Duffy.
Referee: Gus Callaghan (Feakle)
Newmarket-on-Fergus move to top of the table
Newmarket-on-Fergus 2-17
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 0-14
Venue: Fr Murphy Memorial Park, Newmarket-on-Fergus
Newmarket-on-Fergus continued their winning run with this victory over St Josephs on Friday evening.
They now hold top spot in Division 1A and are very much in the running for a place in the play offs.
The foundation for this latest win was laid in the opening half at the end of which they held a ten point lead with the score at 2-10 to 0-6.
Eoin Guillfoyle and Dara McInerney were the goalscorers on an evening when Peter Power again emerged as the team’s top scorer with 0-8 to his credit.
Goalscorer Guilfoyle finished the game on the sideline having picked up a second yellow card.
Doora/Barefield are now third from bottom on the table, Eoin Lahiffe top scored for them with 0-7 to his name.
Newmarke-on-Fergus: Padraic Guilfoyle; Stephen Casey, Jack Enright, Paudie McMahon; Evan Crimmins (0-1), Éanna Crimmins (0-2), Mark Delaney, Damien Lyne, Liam O’Connor (0-1); Colin Guilfoyle (0-2), John Feehily (0-2), Shane Lynch; Eoin Guilfoyle (1-1), Peter Power (0-8, 5f), Dara McInerney (1-0).
Subs: Conor McCarthy for S Lynch; Niall O’Connor for M Delaney (inj); J. Hogan for C. Guilfoyle.
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Aaron Landy; Joe Mannion, Paddy Nagle, Ian Willliams; Dara Nagle, Eoghan McMahon, Ogie Fanning (0-3); Adam Mungovan (0-1), Darragh McMahon; Shane Mescall, Eoin Burke, Padraic O’Donovan (0-1); Eoin Lahiffe (0-7), Cathal McMahon, Brian Guilfoyle (0-1);
Subs: Dara O’Shea for D. Nagle; Francie Meaney for O. Fanning; Senan Crosbie (0-1) for P.Donovan; Mark O’Connor for S. Mescall.
Referee: Kevin Corry (Sixmilebridge)
Mills on top in high scoring contest
O’Callaghans Mills 4-24
Clarecastle 1-23
Venue: Clarecastle
Scoring 2-12 in each half O’Callaghans Mills extended their winning run in this season’s Clare Cup when they overcame Clarecastle at the latter’s venue on Friday evening.
In a repeat of last year’s Premier Intermediate hurling final, the winners led from the off and they had a goal to spare at half time when the score was 2-12 to 1-12, the Magpies having finished the half strongly shooting 1-4 without reply in the final five minutes.
Points were swapped four times in the early minutes of the new half before a Colm Cleary goal extended the visitor’s lead.
They struck for their fourth goal at the start of the final quarter, Conor Henry applying the finish on this occasion and this put them three goals clear with the score now at 4-18 to 1-18.
They had stretched the margin to eleven with the game inside the final ten minutes and while the home side battled to the finish, the Mills emerged as deserving winners on the day.
In a strong team performance Conor Cooney, Niall Melody, Fionn Hickey Darragh Moroney and the full forward trio of Liam Murphy, Bryan Donnelllan and Colm Cleary were prominent.
For Clarecastle, Aaron Hayes, Stephen O’Halloran and the O’Connells worked hard.
O’Callaghans Mills; Killian Nugent (0-1, ‘65); Cathal McNamara, Conor Cooney, Keith Donnellan; Niall Melody (0-2), Aidan O’Gorman (0-2), Sean O’Gorman; Fionn Hickey (0-3), Cormac Murphy (0-1); Conor Henry (1-3), Darragh Moroney (0-4), Stephen Donnellan (0-1); Liam Murphy (2-1), Bryan Donnellan (0-1), Colm Cleary (1-5, 0-4f);
Subs; Rory McNamara for S. O’Gorman; John O’Brien for B Donnellan; Mark Pewter for Murphy; Sean Cotter for S. Donnellan; Michael McGrath for C. Henry;
Clarecastle; Cian Broderick; Aaron Hayes, Darragh Healy, Filip Wiechinski; Eoghan Wallace, Stephen O’Halloran, Niall Brigdale; Evan Price (0-4, 1f), Colin Brigdale; Lee Brack (0-1), Oisin Whelan (1-4, 0-3f), Rory O’Connell (0-5); Paul O’Connell (0-4), Patrick Kelly (0-2), Rory Ralph (0-2);
Subs: Conor Griffin for N. Brigdale (inj.); Jack Ellingstad for Kelly; Cian O’Dell for C. Brigdale; Luke Ahern for Price; Tom Slattery for Wiechinski.
Referee: Jarlath Donnellan (Wolfe Tones)
Gallery of photographs by Gerard O’Neill.
A second win for Crusheen
Crusheen 1-20
Sixmilebridge 2-16
Venue: O’Garney Park, Sixmiebridge
Having recorded their first win of the campaign in the previous round Cusheen moved further up the league table when they accounted for Sixmilebidge on Friday evening.
The visitors had to survive a strong finish from the home side before claiming victory with an injury time point from Conor O’Donnell.
Crusheen led by seven with ten minutes remaining but the home side with the help of a goal from Stephen Gavin, drew level as the game went into ‘injury time’.
As they had done in their win over Clarecastle in the previous round, Crusheen finished strongly and Conor O’Donnell fired over what proved to be the winning point from a free.
At the halfway stage Sixmilebridge led by two points with the score at 0-10 to 0-8.
Crusheen dictated matters in the second half and opened a comfortable lead but a rally from the home outfit saw them draw level as the tie entered added time.
Crusheen; Donal Tuohy; Alex Guilfoyle, Ciaran O’Doherty, Tadhg Dean; James O’Sullivan (0-2), Diarmuid Mullins (0-1), Kyle Scanlan (0-1); Eanna McMahon, Jamie Fitzgibbon (0-3); Luke Ketalaar (0-1), Oisin O’Donnell (0-2), Glen O’Sullivan; Conor O’Donnell (0-5), Fergus Kennedy (1-1), Rian O’Donnell (0-3);
Subs: John O’Sullivan (0-1) fo F Kennedy; John Bigdale for Glen Sullivan
Sixmilebridge: Derek Fahy; Noel Purcell, Mark Mullins, Callum Phelan; Pa Mulready, Seadna Morey, Brian Carey (0-1); Zak Phelan (0-1), Lorcan Fitzpatrick (0-2); Luke O’Halloran (0-1), Conor Deasy, Jamie Shanahan (1-8, 1-6f); Rory Chaplin, Stephen Gavin (1-1), Dylan Keogh;
Subs; Cillian Murphy (0-1) for D.Keogh; Oisin Breen for S. Morey; Cathal Lynch (0-1) for R. Chaplin; Colm Flynn for L. O’Hallloran.
Referee; Niall Donovan (O’Callaghans Mills)
Éire Óg get off the mark
Éire Óg 2-19
Ballyea 1-18
Venue; Éire Óg GAA, Ennis
In a repeat of last year’s Division 2 decider, Éire Óg once again claimed the spoils in what was the first win of the year for Gerry O’Connor’s side.
First half goals from Luca Cleary and Luke Vaughan helped the Ennis side to an eight point interval lead after playing with the breeze.
Ballyea had started well and got some good points despite playing against the breeze.
An injury to full forward Niall Deasy early in the second half which ended his involvement in the game, proved a blow to Ballyea hopes.
With Vaughan and Cleary in the Éire Óg full forward line causing problems for the visitors the winners went on to record a merited win.
Éire Óg; Darragh Stack, Jack Lynch, Ciaran Russell, Roan McDermott, Niall McMahon, Cillian Moroney, Rian Mulcahy, James O’Dwyer (0-2), Darren O’Brien (0-4), Eoin O’Regan (0-1), Conor Perrill, Tom Kavanagh (0-1), Danny Russell (0-6), Luke Vaughan (1-3), Luca Cleary (1-2);
Subs: Eoin Guilfoyle for E O’Regan, Luke Malice for L Vaughan
Ballyea; Barry Coote; Cillian Gavin, Paul Flanagan, Evan Flynn; Eoin Kennedy (0-1), Jack Browne (0-1 f), Paddy Sweeney; Gearoid O’Connell (0-1), Dylan Killoughery; Daniel Kelly, Mossy Gavin (1-8, 0-7f), Cian Kirby (0-2); Eoghan Gavin (0-1), Niall Deasy (0-4), Kieran McDonnell;
Subs; Niall Carrig for C. Gavin; Martin O’Leary for N, Deasy; Cian O’Callaghan for C. Kirby; Diarmuid O’Neill for D. Kelly; Cillian Gavin for E. Flynn.
Referee: Chris Maguire (Wolfe Tones)
Comfortable win for Kilmaley
Kilmaley 2-20
Feakle 0-14
Venue: Feakle
A strong first half showing which included goals from Dylan Keane Hayes and James Murphy helped Kilmaley to this comfortable win over group leaders Feakle at the latter’s venue on Saturday evening.
The winners who suffered a heavy defeat from O’Callaghans Mills in the previous round, were well on top in this one and when the half time whistle sounded they were eight points clear with the score at 2-11 to 0-9.
Inter county commitments, injuries and suspensions meant that they were without a number of regulars but despite this they dominated a Feakle side that was also without a number of their key players.
Once again Shane McGrath was their main marksman and he was the only member of the starting fifteen to get on the scoresheet.
This win has moved Kilmaley back near the top of the table and very much in contention for a place in the play-offs.
Kilmaley: Bryan O’Loughlin (0-1); Conor Cahill, Colin McGuane, Colin Carmody; Aidan McGuane (0-1), Tommy Barry (0-1) Daire Keane (0-1); Éanna McMahon, Sean Kennedy; James Fitzpatrick (0-1), Tom O’Rourke (0-9), Dylan Keane Hayes (1-1); Colm Killeen (0-1), Michael O’Neill (0-4), James Murphy (1-0)
Subs; Stephen Murphy for Cahill; Padraig Healy for Fitzpatrick; Luke McMahon for J. Murphy
Feakle; Liam O’Connor; Enda Madden, Killian Bane, Conor McGann; Eoin McGuinness, Eoghan Daly, Gary Guilfoyle; Conor Tuohy, Enda Noonan; Oisin O’Connor, Seven Conway, Martin Daly; Tom Moloney, Shane McGrath (0-12), Owen McGann.
Subs: Evan McMahon for C. McGann; Eoin Tuohy (0-1) for E. McGuinness; Ronan O’Connor (0-1) for C. Tuohy; Ray Bane for Conway; Diarmuid Bane for O O’Connor
Referee; Eoghan O’Leary (Whitegate)
Gallery of photographs by Gerard O’Neill.
