*Diarmuid Boyle of St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield is tackled by Cathal Talty from Kilmurry Ibrickane. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
FOURTEEN of the sixteen teams involved in the Cusack and Garry cup leagues have something to play for in the final round of games as the race for places in the play offs along with the battle to avoid relegation continues.
Kilrush Shamrocks with six defeats in as many games have been relegated from the Cusack Cup.
Dropping down alongside them will be either Éire Óg, Ennistymon or St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield. Reigning champions Éire Óg will stay up if they secure a win in the final round against St Breckan’s.
Ennistymon and St. Joseph’s meet in the final round and this is effectively a knockout tie with the loser likely to drop down to the Garry Cup. Should the sides draw and Éire Óg lose to Breckans then scoring difference between Ennistymon and Éire Óg will decide who is relegated.
Results in the penultimate round of games in both leagues means that there are a number of places to be filled in the play-offs in both leagues all of which points to some exciting games in the final round.
Ahead of that final round in the Cusack Cup St. Breckans lead the way with 10 points from Lissycasey with 9 with St Joseph’s Miltown in third spot with 8. Kilmurry Ibrickane with 7 points are still very much in the hunt for a place in the play-offs and depending on other results they can achieve this if they overcome Lissycasey in their final group game.
In the Garry Cup, seven of the eight teams are still in contention for the three play-off places, Naomh Eoin being the ones that can’t make the next phase. They are currently bottom of the table and likely to be relegated but a win in their final game along with other results could see them survive.
Clondegad, Wolfe Tones, Doonbeg and Cratloe each have 7 points, one more than Corofin and Cooraclare who are locked together on 6 points. Kildysart have 5 points with Naomh Eoin on 3 points.
Final round fixtures are as follows(first named team with home advantage;
Cusack Cup: St Breckans vs Éire Óg, St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield vs Ennistymon, Kilmurry Ibrickane vs Lissycasey, Kilrush Shamrocks vs St Joseph’s Miltown.
Garry Cup: Clondegad vs Cooraclare; Cratloe v Doonbeg; Kildysart v Wolfe Tones; Naomh Eoin v Corofin.
Finnucane saves the day for Lissycasey as Ennistymon let 10 point lead slip
Ennistymon 1-12
Lissycasey 0-15
Venue: Ennistymon
An injury time free converted by Enda Finnucane earned Lissycasey a share of the spoils with Ennistymon on Friday evening.
Second from bottom on the league table going into this game, Ennistymon’s hunger for victory was reflected in their first half display.
Playing with the aid of the breeze they built up a ten point lead to go to the break 1-10 to 0-3 in front.
With dual players, Keelan and Josh Guyler and Gearoid Barry in their line up for the first time this season, they hit 1-6 without reply in an eleven minute spell in the middle of the opening half.
Keelan Guyler was the goalscorer pouncing with Lissycasey gave away possession, while he added a point as did Darren McNamara, Mark Kelleher, goalkeeper Conor Morrissey from a ’45 and Gearoid Barry.
Eoin Marrinan landed a two pointer at the midpoint of the half and he repeated the feat just before the half time whistle, a minute after.
Lissycasey had a goal disallowed, referee Niall Quinn ruling that Niall Kelly was in the square.
The introduction of Matt O’Shea at half time and Enda Finnucane and Philip Talty early in the second half improved matters for the visitors but the third quarter produced just a point for each side.
Then in a five minute spell Lissycasey tacked on 0-6 a tally which included a monster two pointer from a free from outside the 50m mark by goalkeeper Thomas Collins.
Scores from Darragh Killeen and a Conor Finnucane two pointer cut the winners lead to the minimum before a Keelan Guyler free put two between the sides with three minutes remaining.
Darren Keane with his third reduced the margin to one before Enda finnucane converted a 20m free to tie up the game.
Interestingly both of Ennistymon’s points in the second half came from 13m frees, the ball having been moved in 50m when Lissycasey were penalised, for not handing the ball to an opponent when a free was signalled.
Ennistynmon; Conor Morrissey (0-1); Sean O’Driscoll, Joey Rouine, Brian McNamara; Liam Cotter, Darragh Conneally, Sean Conneally; Eoin Rouine, Mark Kelleher (0-1); Darren McNamara (0-1), Eoin Marrinan (0-4, 2TP), Josh Guyler; Keelan Guyler (1-3), Niall Canavan (0-1), Gearoid Barry (0-1).
Subs: John Murphy for O’Driscoll; Michael Davenport for Barry;
Lissycasey: Thomas Collins (0-2 TP); Aaron Killeen, Kevin Shivers, Michael Meaney; Luke Griffin, Darragh Killeen (0-1), Ewan Wragg; Ben Skerritt, Cian Meaney; Aidan Weaver, Diarmuid McMahon (0-2), Aaron Clohessy; Conor Finnucane (0-5, 1TP), Niall Kelly (1-0), Darren Keane (0-3).
Subs; Matt O’Shea for Clohessy; Enda Finnucane for Griffin; Philip Talty for Weaver
Referee: Niall Quinn (St. Joseph’s Miltown)
Kilmurry Ibrickane wipe out 13 point deficit
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 2-11
Kilmurry Ibrickane 2-11
Venue: Gurteen
Trailing by thirteen points early in the second half there didn’t appear to be any hope of Kilmurry Ibrickane getting something from this tie on Friday evening.
However the West Clare side took control in the final twenty minutes and could have snatched victory in the closing moments but they failed to capitalise on two chances.
Doora/Barefield took control from the off and with Tom McDonald in scoring form they picked off some good points on their way to a half time lead of 1-10 to 0-3. McDonald had landed 0-7 of that which included two 2 pointers while the goal came from James Rafferty.
When the second half got underway they took up where they had left off and a goal from Eoghan Thynne saw them stretch their lead.
Kilmurry’s fight back started with pointed frees from Cathal Talty before Tomas Sexton found the net.
They continued to close the gap with points from Ian McInerney, Killian Darcy, Reuban Fallon, Ciaran Morrissey and Talty. They were three points behind when substitute Daryn Callinan goaled to tie up the contest leaving the home side stunned and right back in the relegation zone.
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Liam Flynn; Killian McIlroy, Eoghan Boyle, Dara Fahy; Cian McDonagh, Darragh O’Callaghan, Conor O’Brien; Diarmuid Boyle (0-1), Odhran O’Connell; Charlie Hannan, Eoin Lahiffe, James Rafferty (1-0); Tom McDonald (0-7, 2TP), Eoghan Thynne (1-0), Conal Kelleher (0-3)
Subs: Conor Price for O’Connell; T.J. Moore for Lahiffe; Liam Clune for O’Brien;
Kilmurry Ibrickane: Ian McInerney (0-1); Conor Kearney, Diarmuid Comber, Maurice Donnellan; Josh Moloney, Michael Comber, Oisin Sexton; Killian Darcy (0-1), Diarmuid King; Colin Considine, Reuben Fallon (0-3, 1TP), Ciaran Morrissey (0-1); Jason Cussen, Tomas Sexton (1-0), Cathal Talty (0-5);
Subs: Daryn Callinan (1-0) for King; Colin O’Neill for Cussen; Shane Hickey for Considine;
Referee: Chris Maguire (Wolfe Tones)
Gallery of photographs by Gerard O’Neill.
Éire Óg record second win
Éire Óg 2-12
Kilrush Shamrocks 1-9
Venue: Éire Óg GAA Grounds, Ennis
Éire Óg gave their chances of staying in the Cusack Cup a big lift when picking up their second win of the league at the expense of an already relegated Kilrush Shamrocks.
They had a five point advantage at half time when the score was 1-6 to 0-4, the goal coming from Gavin D’Auria.
Despite a strong showing from Kilrush, the home side continued to hold the advantage throughout the second half to emerge with a merited win. Luke Pyne was the winner’s second half goalscorer while Ross Phelan found the net for the visitors.
On an evening when both teams were short the services of a number of players due to inter county commitments and injuries, Éire Óg’s greater experience played a key part in their win.
Just eight of the Éire Óg first fifteen played senior championship last season with the Townies keeping their focus on retaining the Jack Daly more so than the Cusack Cup title
Éire Óg: Bernard Power; Aidan O’Connell, Dean Ryan, Dean D’Auria; Ciaran Russell, Jarlath Collins, Gavin D’Auria (1-0); Darren O’Brien (0-2), Oran Cahill (0-1); Danny Lyne (0-2), Luke Pyne (1-0), Niall O’Donoghue (0-1); Sean Perrill, Luke Moore, Jack Joyce (0-6);
Subs: Shane Gleeson for Collins; Kieran Doyle for O’Donoghue; Kevin Moloney for Pyne; Odhran O’Farrell for D. D’Auria
Kilrush Shamrocks: David Jones; Padraig Browne, Sean Canny, Jimmy Browne, Dean Neary, Dylan O’Brien, Billy Clancy; Conor Fennell (0-3, 1TP), Ciaran Berminghan; Ben McKiernan (0-1), Sean Fennell, Tadhg Lysaght; Mark Bonfield (0-4), Ross Phelan (1-1), Jack Flavin.
Subs; Michael Sullivan for J. Browne; Darragh Miniter for R.Phelan; Brian Wallace for B. McKiernan;
Referee: Eoin Keane (Corofin)
Gallery of photographs by Gerard O’Neill.
Breckan’s go top after six-point win over Miltown
St Breckan’s 3-09
St Joseph’s Miltown Malbay 0-12
Venue: Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown Malbay
By Gearóid Howley
St Breckan’s continued their impressive run of form with a deserved six-point victory over Miltown on Friday evening.
The visitors struck early when Rowan Danaher intercepted a Miltown kickout and fed Conor Shannon, who finished soccer-style to the net after six minutes.
Miltown responded quickly, drawing level within three minutes thanks to a superb two-pointer from David Barry and a point from Euan Lineen.
The Spa side replied with four unanswered points, including an excellent effort from Eoin Byrne in the 20th minute.
Lineen restored parity once again with a pair of two-point frees before points from Padraig Kelly and Colm O’Brien edged Breckan’s back in front.
Paul Frawley replied with another Miltown two-pointer before Breckan’s midfielder Denis O’Callaghan was black-carded on the stroke of half-time for a late hit on Cian Flanagan, leaving the sides level at 1-6 to 0-9 at the break.
Byrne opened the second-half scoring with a point from play before substitute Cathal Morgan was denied brilliantly by Cóilín Hayes after weaving his way through on goal.
Miltown then created two goal chances of their own, but Breckan’s came bursting out of defence on both occasions after surviving two goalmouth scrambles in quick succession.
Morgan found the net for his first goal of the game after starting and finishing a slick attacking move to push the lead out to four points.
As the third quarter drew to a close, Morgan struck again after a fisted effort from Cian ‘Jimmy’ Burke was prevented from going over the crossbar, leaving the substitute with a simple palmed finish to the net.
The game remained open throughout the second half, with James Garrihy producing an excellent save to deny another Miltown goal chance before Frawley converted the resulting 45.
Goals ultimately proved decisive as the depleted home side failed to register a score from play after the interval, managing just three points from placed balls in the second half.
Maccon Byrne, Jack Sheedy, Rowan Danaher and Eoin Byrne impressed for the winners, while Stephen Murphy, Paul Frawley and Brian Curtin stood out for Miltown.
St Breckan’s: James Garrihy; Ronan Fitzpatrick, Patrick Doherty, Maccon Byrne; Padraic O’Dwyer, Cian Burke (0-1), Jack Sheedy (0-1); Denis O’Callaghan, Eoghan Garrihy; Rowan Danaher, Padraig Kelly (0-1), Donncha O’Dwyer; Conor Shannon (1-0), Eoin Byrne (0-4, 1f), Colm O’Brien (0-1)
Subs: Cathal Morgan (2-0) for C Shannon (HT), Cian ‘Jimmy’ Burke (0-1) for D O’Callaghan (41), Micheál Flanagan for C Burke (53), Jack O’Loughlin for E Byrne (57)
St Joseph’s Miltown: Cóilín Hayes; Cormac Devitt, Diarmuid O’Sullivan, Eoin O’Brien; Cian Flanagan, Cillian Keavey, Stephen Murphy; Tim Lenihan, Paul Frawley (0-3, 1TP, 1 ‘45); Ronan Keavey, David Barry (0-2, 1TP), Jamesie O’Connor; Brian Curtin, Euan Lineen (0-7, 2TPf, 2f), Oisin Meade
Subs: Podge Devereux for R Keavey (46), Conal Meade for T Lenihan (48), Eanna O’Connor for O Meade (51), Paudie Killeen for E O’Brien (53, inj), Oisin McCarthy for J O’Connor (57).
Referee: Barry Keating (Lissycasey)
Gallery of photographs by Burren Eye Photography
Back to back wins ignite belief for Kildysart
Kildysart 1-15
Cratloe 0-11
Venue: Kildysart
Kildysart recorded a much needed victory when accounting for Garry cup leaders Cratloe at Kildysart on Thursday evening.
Positioned at the bottom of the table going into this tie, the home side knew that anything other than a win would see them drop down to Division 3 for next season.
Helped by the return to action of Rory McMahon plus the availability of county panellist Fergal Guinane, they produced their best performance of the season to date.
The foundation for this win was laid in a powerful second quarter when they outscored the visitors, 1-6 to 0-1 to take a seven point advantage to the break.
Points were swapped four times in the opening thirteen minutes before a Cian O’Gorman two pointer free edged the visitors one clear as the game moved into the second quarter.
Conal, Seamus and Liam Casey (2) then landed four unanswered points in as many minutes before they struck for the game’s only goal when veteran Shane McNeilis got a fist to Conal Casey’s free to send the ball to the net.
Liam Casey followed with a two pointer and suddenly the winners were eight clear as the half time whistle approached.
Kildysart had the opening two points of the second half before Cratloe staged a mini rally which yielded four points including another two pointed free from goalkeeper O’Gorman.
However they failed to score in the final quarter when Luke McGrath and Liam Casey pointed for the home side whose midfield pairing of Keith O’Connor and Kieran O’Brien played a key role in the team’s victory.
Cratloe finished the game with fourteen men, Podge Collins picking up a black card with four minutes to play and having picked up a yellow in the opening half this led to a red and the end of his involvement in the tie.
Kildysart; Conor Cusack; James Casey, Fergal Guinnane, Cillian Kelly; Conor Moloney, Rory McMahon, Dara Murtagh; Keith O’Connor (0-1), Kieran O’Brien (0-2); Seamus Casey (0-2), Luke McGrath (0-3), Jamie Sheehan; Conal Casey (0-1), Shane McNeilis (1-0), Liam Casey (0-6, 1TP).
Subs; Daniel Moloney for McNeilis; Jack Cotter for Sheehan; Quin Collins for C. Casey.
Cratloe; Cian O’Gorman (0-4, 2TP); David Collins (0-1), Jake Higgins, Caimin Deegan; Eoin Carey, Mike Brennan, Enda Boyce; Conor Ryan, Ryan Bowden; Cathal Lohan, Sean Collins (0-4, 3f), Tommy Rooney; Podge Collins (0-1), Ryan Harkin (0-1), Rian Considine;
Subs: Emmett Costigan for Carey; Denis Mundy for Deegan;
Referee: Chris Maguire (Wolfe Tones)
Gallery of photographs by Gerard O’Neill.
Cooraclare climb above relegation zone & put Naomh Eoin at risk
Cooraclare 2-13
Naomh Eoin 0-13
Venue: Páirc Cuar an Chláir, Cooraclare
By Páraic McMahon
A brace of second half goals sent Cooraclare on their way to victory in the penultimate round of the Garry Cup in a tight encounter with Naomh Eoin.
Martin Daly’s side recorded their third win of the league to move themselves out of the relegation zone but their status in the second tier is not yet guaranteed and they will need a result in the final round against Clondegad.
Naomh Eoin sit bottom of the table following their fourth defeat but the Loop Head Peninsula outfit are not down to Division 3 and can avoid the drop with a home win in two weeks against Corofin.
With twenty three minutes on the clock, Naomh Eoin held a four point advantage, three Niall Bonfil white flags in a row followed an Owen Lynch effort as they held the hosts scoreless for fifteen minutes.
Colin McNamara ended the drought for Cooraclare with Jack Morrissey converting a free and Aidan Considine opening his account to see them kick three points without reply and lower the half time deficit to one point.
On the restart, Jack Morrissey raided for goal with sixty five seconds played in the second half to put Cooraclare in the driving seat. Jack Carey pointed to extend the gap to three points before Naomh Eoin were brought back to life with a two pointer from Adam Haugh.
Conor Downes levelled matters on forty minutes before Cooraclare struck another double blow, substitute Seán Molloy landed a two pointer and Jack Carey hit their second goal. The major followed a Jack Morrissey hard hit on Niall Bonfil.
A two pointer from Conor Magner brought Naomh Eoin to within three points but the hosts replied with 0-3 from Jack Carey including a two pointer to emerge as the winners.
Thirteen missed chances over the hour were costly for Naomh Eoin. Their cause was not helped by losing Owen Lynch and Declan Keniry to injury, both sides were already short plenty of players but it was Cooraclare who showed the greater depth with their bench making an impact.
Both sides could yet meet in the Clare IFC, there’s a lot of work to be done between now and championship but it is Naomh Eoin that have the most to do, considering they find themselves in a more competitive group. Consolidating their Garry Cup status would be a big boost in their preparations.
Adam Haugh and Niall Bonfil were the most impressive players for Naomh Eoin while for Cooraclare the return of Jack Morrissey brings another focal point to their attack, he was lively along with Jack Carey, Aaron Townsend and Seán O’Dea.
Scorers Cooraclare: J Carey (1-5 1TP 1’45), J Morrissey (1-4 4f), S Molloy (0-2 1TP), C McNamara (0-1), A Considine (0-1).
Scorers Naomh Eoin: N Bonfil (0-4), C Magner (0-4 1TP 1TPf), C Downes (0-2), A Haugh (0-2 1TP), O Lynch (0-1).
Cooraclare: Mark Lillis; Niall Kelly, Seán O’Dea, Gearoid Lillis; Evan Murphy, Aaron Townsend, Jake Garry; James Burke, Robert Ryan; Gabriel Fennell, Padhraic O’Donoghue, Aidan Considine; Colin McNamara, Jack Morrissey, Jack Carey.
Subs: Ciaran Chambers for Garry (38), Tadhg Lillis for Ryan (39), Sean Molloy for McNamara (39), Kevin Marrinan for O’Donoghue (48), Gary Cunningham for Morrissey (48).
Naomh Eoin: Eoin Daly; Ciaran Bonfil, Conor Tevlin, Declan Keniry; Adam Haugh, Conor Magner, Paddy Donnellan; Fergal Keane, Gavin Magner; Eoin Hanrahan, Owen Lynch, Niall Bonfil; Gearoid Lynch, Conor Downes, Kevin Roche.
Subs: Adam Foley for Keniry (26) (inj), Mark McQuaid for O Lynch (43) (inj), Joseph Roche for G Lynch (45).
Referee: Gary Twomey (Ennistymon)
Clondegad move top & Corofin slip to consecutive defeats
Clondegad 1-14:
Corofin 1-9
Venue: Páirc Finne, Corofin
Clondegad will have been happy to have come away from this tie with a win but when they sit down to review the game they will note that they missed a lot of chances against a Corofin side that lined out without a number of key players.
The winners started well and struck for the opening two points but then Corofin put a sweeping move together which ended with centre back Damian O’Loughlin finding the net.
At the end of the first quarter Corofin led by a point and this was still the position ten minutes later when Diarmuid O’Neill got the vital touch for the visitor’s goal.
They finished the half with a two point free from goalkeeper Daniel Kelly to leave the score at 1-7 to 1-2 at the break.
Four minutes into the second half Clondegad were reduced to fourteen for ten minutes when Sean McAllister was black carded. At the mid-point of the half the margin was down to four, 1-4 to 1-8.
Sensing danger Clondegad made some changes and they hit back with four unanswered points to open an eight point lead with ten minutes to go.
A Colm Breen two pointer gave the home side hope but time wasn’t on their side and Clondegad held on for a merited win.
Clondegad: Daniel Kelly (0-3, 1TP); Cormac Reidy, Brian Casey, Dylan Killoughery; Morgan Garry, Tadhg O hUallachain, Cillian Gavin; Diarmuid O’Neill (1-0), Evan Flynn (0-1); Colm Meaney, Cian Kirby (0-2), Sean McAllister; Eoin Kennedy (0-6, 3f), Kieran McDonnell, Eoin O’Connor (0-2);
Subs: Eoghan Gavin for Meaney; Eoghan Glynn for K. McDonald; Stephen Casey for O’Connor; Paddy Sweeney for D. O’Neill; Thomas Hehir for E. Flynn
Corofin: Eoin Davoran;; Cian O’Loughlin, Fionn Clancy, Marc O’Loughlin (0-1); Christian Cummins (0-1), Damian O’Loughlin (1-0), Michael Cahill; Cillian McGroary (0-1), Dara McGroary; Colm Breen (0-4, 1TP), Seanán Kirby (0-2), Evan Doolin; Caoimhin O’Donovan, Gearoid Kelly, Josh O’Brien;
Subs: Colin Fitzgerald for D. McGroary; Gearoid Hanrahan for J. O’Brien;
Referee: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)
Big second half rally by Wolfe Tones
Wolfe Tones 4-8
Doonbeg 1-17
Venue: Shannon
Eight points down early in the second half, things didn’t look good for the home side Wolfe Tones against Doonbeg but they struck for three second half goals which helped them to a share of the spoils.
Doonbeg enjoyed the better of matters in the opening half and when the half time whistle sounded they were 0-11 to 1-3 in front, the home side’s goal having come from Eoghan Casey.
An early second half goal from Eoin Killeen stretched Doonbeg’s lead but the Shannon side refused to throw in the towel and with the help of some changes they came roaring back into the tie.
Goals from Dean Devanney, Jason McAuley and Tadhg Fitzgerald played a key part in their rally and they now find themselves firmly in contention for promotion to the top tier.
Wolfe Tones; Shane Russell; Tan Greene, Jayme O’Sullivan, Robert Cahill; Cody Waller, Aaron Brennan, Joe McGauley (1-0); Liam Divilly, Dean Devanney (1-0); Dara O’Callaghan (0-1), Ben O’Neill (0-2), Aaron Shinners; Niall Fitzgerald, Tadhg Fitzgerald (1-1), Eoghan Casey (1-0)
Subs: Aaron Kelly (0-1) for A. Shinners; Kevin Hanley (0-2) for McGauley; Eoghan Gough (0-1) for Divilly; Shane Wallace for T. Fitzgerald;
Doonbeg; Eamonn Tubridy; Shane Bermingham, Tadhg Lillis, David Conway; Conor O’Mahoney, Gearoid White, Cian O’Mahoney; Kevin McInerney (0-1), Cathal Killeen (0-1); Rory Walshe, Darragh O’Sullivan (0-4), Gavin O’Shea (0-1); Eoin Killeen (1-3) David Tubridy (0-5), Kian Conway.
Subs; Liam Hehir (0-1) for Walshe; Darragh Burns (0-1) for Cian O’Mahoney; Jason Linnane for D Conway; Cian Clancy for S. Bermingham; Dylan Conway for White
Referee: Eoin Keane (Corofin)
