*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
ÉIRE ÓG emerged two point winners over Kilmaley to seal their place in the TUS Clare SHC final for the first time since 2022.
Éire Óg 1-14
Kilmaley 1-12
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, Ennis
The Clare Echo’s online coverage of the Clare SHC is with thanks to The Temple Gate Hotel.
It wasn’t the cracker that it had the makings to be but this won’t bother Éire Óg in the slightest who have kept their double dream alive with their footballers to face Lissycasey in the last four next weekend.
Though not saturated in high scoring, it was a battle to the last which had spectators in Cusack Park on the edge of their seats. The appetite amongst the public to get to the game led to a ten-minute delay to throw-in with crowds trying to get into the county grounds, they were treated to an incredibly tight encounter.
Missed chances from Kilmaley were costly, they coughed up on six opportunities in the first ten minutes alone while over the hour this figure rose to fourteen.
Goalkeeper Darragh Stack was exceptional with Éire Óg, making four vital saves in the tie, a contribution which is likely to put him in the thoughts of county manager Brian Lohan and his selectors, had he not been in the equation already.
A dream start with a goal from Darren Moroney had Éire Óg off to a flyer, David Reidy won possession from the throw-in, drew an opponent and Moroney calmly slotted low beyond Bryan O’Loughlin.
Kilmaley showed the spirit that has been ever-present in their campaign and were leading by the sounding of the half-time whistle.
With a big third quarter, the Townies took control outscoring their opponents 0-7 0-2.
Missed chances were far too common from Kilmaley and Éire Óg hit the last three scores of the tie to run out two point winners, responding to a Conor Cleary goal which turned out to be Kilmaley’s last contribution to the scoreboard on fifty minutes.
MORE TO FOLLOW.
Scorers Éire Óg: D Russell (0-6 5f 1’65), D Moroney (1-0), O Cahill (0-3), D O’Brien (0-2), D Reidy (0-1), D McNamara (0-1), A Fitzgerald (0-1)
Scorers Kilmaley: M O’Malley (0-7 5f 1’65), C Cleary (1-1), S Kennedy (0-1), É McMahon (0-1), S O’Loughlin (0-1), M O’Neill (0-1).
Éire Óg:
1: Darragh Stack
7: Rian Mulcahy
3: Ciaran Russell
2: Fionan Treacy
5: Robert Loftus
6: Aaron Fitzgerald
4: Liam Corry
11: David Reidy
8: Oran Cahill
12: David McNamara
9: Darren Moroney
13: Darren O’Brien
15: Marco Cleary
14: Danny Russell
10: Shane O’Donnell
Subs:
17: Jarlath Collins for Corry (41)
22: Eoin O’Regan for Mulcahy (48)
25: Tom Kavanagh for McNamara (52)
18: James O’Dwyer for O’Brien (56)
Kilmaley:
1: Bryan O’Loughlin
30: Brian McNamara
3: Colin McGuane
2: Joe Casey
19: Colin Carmody
6: Daire Keane
5: Aidan McGuane
8: Tommy Barry
9: Sean Kennedy
7: Éanna McMahon
14: Conor Cleary
11: Mikey O’Malley
13: Tom O’Rourke
12: Mikey O’Neill
10: Seán O’Loughlin
Subs:
15: Colm Killeen for McMahon (44)
18: Eoin Enright for Kennedy (51)
29: Cathal Darcy for Barry (51)
24: Seán Ronan for O’Rourke (60)
Referee: Fergal O’Brien (Broadford)
