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*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
ST JOSEPH’s Miltown are through to the semi-finals of the Clare SFC for the first time since 2023, overcoming Ennistymon in a real knockout battle.
St Joseph’s Miltown 3-18
Ennistymon 1-17
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, Ennis
Level four times across sixty minutes, it was an evenly fought contest between the neighbours on Saturday evening but crucially St Joseph’s Miltown led throughout extra time as they marched into the last four.
For Ennistymon it is the second year running where they have been knocked out in the quarter-finals after extra time. Once again, missed chances proved costly, they had ten wides in the second half of last year’s quarter-final loss to Cratloe whereas this time round the total wide count was seventeen, eight of which arrived in the opening half when they had the breeze.
Starting with the aid of the elements, Ennistymon led 0-9 1-4 at the interval and they needed to be further ahead. Indeed it was Miltown playing against the wind that went 0-2 0-0 in front with points from Eoin Cleary and Cormac Murray.
Keelan Guyler settled Ennistymon when landing a two pointer on twelve minutes, this followed four missed chances for the North Clare side who were thankful to goalkeeper Noel Sexton for making a brilliant save from Darragh McDonagh on seven minutes.
Sexton was beaten from the penalty spot with Seanie Malone firing an excellent effort to the top rigtht corner of the net on fourteen minutes.
Captain Eoin Rouine, Guyler and Gearoid Barry all kicked two pointers to give Ennistymon the lead, they first went ahead on eighteen minutes. They kicked three wides in as many minutes between Guyler and Barry’s orange flags. Two Cormac Murray white flags reduced the deficit to a single point before Brendy Rouine converted a free in the last act of the half.
It looked to be a golden start for Ennistymon on resumption but Seán Rouine bearing down on goal handpassed to the net when attempting to fist over the bar. From the subsequent free, Miltown worked the ball up field, held possession and fired for a legitimate goal of their own when Darragh McDonagh played Eoin Cleary through and he made no mistake when tucking to the bottom of the net.
Micheál Murray made it a two point lead for Miltown only for Ennistymon to hit back with three points on the bounce, Brendy, Diarmuid Fahy and Barry all on target, these three scores were well worked for Ennistymon, Barry was involved in the whole lot with Eoin Rouine and Josh Vaughan getting the ball into the danger area.
A brace of two pointers saw Miltown regain the advantage, Cleary and Murray splitting the posts. Cleary added to his tally with forty five minutes played but they went the next twelve minutes without a score.
During this spell, Ennistymon built momentum, scoring 1-4 without reply to put themselves in the driving seat. Substitute Darren McNamara in his first act, combined with Gearoid Barry before palming to the net on forty eight minutes, Cillian Rouine, Brendy, Barry and Mark Kelleher all added scores to leave them three clear.
Substitute Euan Lineen made an impact at the other end, ending that eleven minute scoring drought but fellow substitute Josh Guyler cancelled out his effort leaving Ennistymon three in front.
That three point gap remained with sixty one minutes played but Miltown with a Darragh McDonagh two pointer and an Eoin Cleary free sent the game to extra time.
Here it was Miltown that provided more energy, Paul Frawley scoring two points but the match-winning score proved to be Oisin Looney’s goal on seventy four minutes. A Cormac Murray effort dropped short, both Noel Sexton and Joey Rouine were unable to clear the danger and Looney pounced to drive the ball to the net, sending his side into the last four.
Truly a game that ebbed and flowed, Miltown were beginning to look comfortable even though it was only a four point advantage entering the final quarter. Darren McNamara’s green flag was the spark needed to ignite Ennistymon and their unanswered tally of 1-4 put them in the driving seat.
Somehow as injury time was reaching its conclusion, Ennistymon let the game slip from their grasp and while twelve months ago they were the side to force extra time in the last eight, this time it was Miltown that forced the draw.
Evidently Miltown gained huge momentum from the late burst of McDonagh’s two pointer and Cleary’s equaliser, it was clear to see from manager Seán O’Brien’s reaction with his subtle fist pump to himself that his belief levels soared that they would be the side advancing to the last four.
This confidence stemmed from O’Brien’s knowledge on the calibre of men in his dressing room having won three championships with them during his goalkeeping career. When leaders were needed, Miltown stood tall and they had the experienced heads to not alone step up but steady the ship.
An honest reflection from Miltown would admit that this performance would not be sufficient to win a semi-final, particularly their eleven minute spell in the final quarter where they didn’t score. They received a huge impact off the bench from Paul Frawley and Euan Lineen.
Oisin Looney’s superior fitness saw him always find a way to get a yard whether it be at the start of the game or in the midst of extra time, he even popped up at the edge of the square to seal the deal. Seán Neylon served as an excellent anchor at centre-back with Conor Cleary continuing to provide immense leadership in the middle of the park.
Despite raiding for 1-14 between them and acquitting themselves well, there is still more in the inside line of Eoin Cleary, Cormac Murray and Darragh McDonagh. All three catching fire on the one day is what’s needed for Miltown to return to the big day for the first time since 2019.
A month without a win in the championship following their second round win over Kilmihil and eleven point drubbing to Kildysart, a response was needed from Ennistymon, by and large they issued one but not to the desired level. Prior to the quarter-final, they had kicked one two pointer in this year’s championship, they scored four in this knockout tie, they had the breeze when it was at its peak in the first half and didn’t build enough of an advantage when only ahead by two.
Though the wind died, they fell behind immediately on the restart when instead of going three up, they fell one down. Declan Downes’ side didn’t panic and after conceding 1-1, hit three points in a row, similarly after shipping 0-5 without reply they produced their strongest spell with 1-4 on the bounce which put the game in their hands but to their regret they let it slip through their fingers in additional time when they should have put the game to bed.
Given the quality and calibre of players within their set-up, Ennistymon rightly have lofty ambitions of lifting the Jack Daly. Missed chances did drain momentum but arguably the bigger issue on this day was too many players didn’t perform to the level they are capable of. The lack of a goal threat needs to be addressed if they are to scale the summit in the near future which potentially strengthens an argument to move Cillian Rouine further up the field but such a move weakens the spine of their defence. Gearoid Barry was their standout player while at different stages Seán Rynne, Mark Kelleher and Eoin Rouine came to the fore.
Gallery of photographs by Gerard O’Neill.
Scorers St Joseph’s Miltown: E Cleary (1-5 1TPf), C Murray (0-6 1TP 1f), D McDonagh (0-3 1TP), S Malone (1-0 1’Pen), O Looney (1-0), P Frawley (0-2), M Murray (0-1), E Lineen (0-1).
Scorers Ennistymon: K Guyler (0-4 2TP), G Barry (0-4 1TP), D McNamara (1-0), B Rouine (0-3 1f), E Rouine (0-2 1TP), C Rouine (0-2), J Guyler (0-2), D Fahy (0-1), S Rynne (0-1), M Kelleher (0-1)
St Joseph’s Miltown:
1: Coilín Hayes
2: Eoin O’Brien
3: Cormac Devitt
6: Seanie Malone
21: Stephen Murphy
23: Seán Neylon
7: Gordon Kelly
9: Conor Cleary
8: Micheál Murray
10: Oisin Looney
11: Cian Mahony
12: Ralph Whelehan
15: Eoin Cleary
13: Cormac Murra6
14: Darragh McDonagh
Subs:
24: Conor Neylon for O’Brien (HT)
5: Paul Frawley for Malone (44) (inj)
4: Jamesie O’Connor for Kelly (52)
25: Euan Lineen for Whelehan (56)
30: David Barry for Mahony (61)
Gordon Kelly for Devitt (64) (inj)
Ralph Whelehan for M Murray (HT ET) (inj)
18: Brian Curtin for Barry (78)
Ennistymon:
1: Noel Sexton
4: Joey Rouine
3: Darragh Conneely
27: James Cullinan
6: Liam Cotter
8: Cillian Rouine
10: Mark Kelleher
11: Joshua Vaughan
9: Eoin Rouine
14: Seán Rouine
12: Brendy Rouine
25: Seán Rynne
20: Diarmuid Fahy
13: Gearoid Barry
24: Keelan Guyler
Subs:
7: Josh Guyler for Conneely (HT)
15: Darren McNamara for S Rouine (44)
35: Cathal Malone for Fahy (59)
5: Tiernan Hogan for E Rouine (69) (inj)
19: Daniel Brody for Kelleher (71)
23: Joe Concannon for B Rouine (77) (inj)
Referee: Fergal O’Brien (Broadford)
