*Shane O’Donnell controls the ball ahead of two Inagh/Kilnamona defenders. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Éire Óg exacted full revenge for last year’s semi-final defeat when brushing aside the crestfallen challenge of Inagh-Kilnamona in Cusack Park on Sunday afternoon.
Éire Óg 2-21
Inagh/Kilnamona 0-16
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
On a day that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons as a serious ankle injury to Clare senior Jason McCarthy halted play for an hour at the start of the second half, even by that early stage the Ennis side were effectively safely through to their third consecutive semi-final.
All to do with yet another devastating performance from Shane O’Donnell whose awe-inspiring first half scoring feat of 1-7 from play was accentuated by teeing up 1-2 for others along with hitting the crossbar as the Townies dismantled a shellshocked Inagh-Kilnamona by 2-15 to 0-7 by the break.
Tactically naive in allowing O’Donnell the freedom of the inside line, the current All-Star nominee duly obliged with four early points before collecting a Darren O’Brien pass to strike to the net for a tenth minute goal at 1-5 to 0-3.
Aidan McCarthy did his utmost to stem the tide but if anything Éire Óg should have been further ahead as additional goal attempts for Darren O’Brien and David Reidy were passed up before O’Donnell turned provider for Danny Russell to cleverly bat first time to the net in the 20th minute.
David Fitzgerald did have a shot saved at the other end before Ronan Mescall just struck the rebound wide but that was cancelled out only minutes later when O’Donnell hit the woodwork on Éire Óg’s way to a 14 point interval cushion.
To their credit, Inagh-Kilnamona did come out fighting on the restart with three of the first four points, two from Aidan McCarthy. However, his elder brother’s hammerblow ensured that an already difficult afternoon was only made infinitely harder to stomach.
Finding themselves 14 points in arrears by the two-thirds mark, Inagh-Kilnamona did score six of the last nine points including two for newcomer Sean Rynne.
However, O’Donnell’s scintillating form and his latest 1-9 haul sends out a huge statement of intent as Éire Óg join Ballyea, Cratloe and Sixmilebridge at the penultimate stage.
Scorers for Éire Óg: Shane O’Donnell (1-9); Danny Russell (1-7, 4f); David Reidy (0-2, 1f); Aaron Fitzgerald, Darren O’Brien, David McNamara (0-1 each)
Scorers for Inagh-Kilnamona: Aidan McCarthy (0-10, 8f); Sean Rynne (0-2); Niall Mullins, Eamonn Foudy (f), Conner Hegarty, Conor Tierney (0-1 each)
Éire Óg:
1: Philly Walsh
2: Jarlath Collins
7: Liam Corry
5: Niall McMahon
3: Ciaran Russell
6: Aaron Fitzgerald
12: Oran Cahill
8: David Reidy
9: Cian O’Dea
10: David McNamara
13: Gavin Cooney
22: Mikey Moloney
15: Darren O’Brien
14: Danny Russell
11: Shane O’Donnell
Subs:
4: Aidan McGrath for C. Russell (52, Inj)
23: Michael Heneghan for D. Russell (55, inj)
19: Tom Downes for Cooney (57)
18: Kevin Brennan for McNamara (59)
21: Conor O’Halloran for McMahon (60)
Inagh-Kilnamona:
1: Eamonn Foudy
21: Keith White
3: Damien Lafferty
2: Cathal McConigley
5: Shane Woods
6: Jason McCarthy
11: Sean Rynne
7: Darren Cullinan
9: Niall Mullins
10: Shane Vaughan
8: David Fitzgerald
12: Aidan McCarthy
13: Josh Guyler
20: Shane McInerney
24: Ronan Mescall
Subs:
15: Conner Hegarty for Vaughan (26)
17: Kevin Hehir for Lafferty (26)
14: David Mescall for McInerney (HT)
25: Conor Tierney for J. McCarthy (35, inj)
18: Evan McNamara for Guyler (57)
Referee: Rory McGann (Newmarket-on-Fergus)
