*Diarmuid Cahill was among Corofin’s impressive performers. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
Seven of the eight quarter finalists in the 2021 Clare intermediate football championship are confirmed after the weekend’s round of games.
Michael Cusacks will complete the line up should they justify favouritism and beat Liscannor in the remaining game which will be played on Saturday week. The clash was due to be held on Saturday last but despite both teams being in Corofin, no match officials showed up.
Corofin and Kildysart, favourites to contest the final if they can avoid each other in the meantime, completed their group games with their third successive victories at the weekend while O’Currys also remain unbeaten following their win over Éire Óg which leaves them topping their group after two wins and a draw.
Murphy’s goals crucial for Kildysart
Kildysart 2-9
Kilfenora 0-10
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
Two second half goals from Keith Murphy helped Kildysart to their third victory in this season’s intermediate football championship.
At Cusack Park on Saturday they accounted for Kilfenora to seal top spot in the group and their place in the championship quarter finals.
At the end of a tight first half Kilfenora led by the odd point in eleven, 0-6 to 0-5 but Murphy’s goals turned the game in Kildysart’s favour in the second period.
The North Clare side will be disappointed when the concession of those scores and with their failure to avail of a few good point scoring opportunities at the other end.
Kildysart will need to improve on this performance if they are to be in the shake up for honours while Kilfenora will know that they can be in contention if they improve in a few areas.
Kildysart; Robert Eyers; Brian Eyers, Rory McMahon, Stephen Sheehan; Fergal Guinnane, Kieran Leahy, Michael Donnellan; Luke McGrath, Keith O’Connor; Seamus Casey, Emmett McMahon, Kieran O’Brien; Diarmuid O’Donnell, Keith Murphy, Conor Hassett.
Subs; Shane McNeilis for Donnellan; Ian Flanagan for O’Brien; John Guinnane for Hassett; Michael Eustace for Murphy.
Kilfenora: Lam Keane; Niall Hegarty, Paul Carkill, Cronan Howley; Shane Long, Matthew Egan, Paudie Ireland; Cian O’Dea, Jack O’Dea; Micheál Duffy, Aidan Malone, Peter Collins; Declan Brennan, Pat Connole, Gearoid Howley;
Sub: Micheal Theasby for A. Malone (inj).
Corofin safely through to play-offs
Corofin 2-15
Wolfe Tones 0-9
Venue: Éire Óg, Ennis
Beaten finalists last year, Corofin kept up their strong challenge to go a step further this year when they scored a comfortable victory over Wolfe Tones.
The winners led throughout on a day when Gearoid Kelly did well as did both Diarmuid Cahill and Robin Mounsey who between them accounted for 2-8 of their side’s total, all from play.
Gearoid Cahill with 0-5, Killian McGroary and Geatoid Kelly were others to get on the scoresheet for the winners.
The winners held a five point advantage at half time but those second half goals killed the Shannon side’s hopes of getting back into the contest. Wolfe Tones started this championship as one of the competition favourites but they now find themselves in the relegation play off having finished bottom of their group.
Corofin: Luke Nealon; John Rees, Cilléin Mullins, Marc O’Loughlin; Shay Malone, Conor Leen, Colm Rice; Fionn Clancy, Kevin Keane; Gearoid Kelly, Diarmuid Cahill, Cian Doolin; Gearoid Cahill, Killian McGroary, Robin Mounsey.
Subs: Enda Collins for G. Cahill; Damian O’Loughlin for Leen; Damian Ryan for McGroary; Cian O’Loughlin for Doolin; Gearoid Hanrahan for Rees.
Wolfe Tones; Shane Russell; Shane Nihill, Jamye O’Sullivan, Sean Brennan; Jason McAuley, Aaron Brennan, Conor Carigg; Ross O’Connor, Joe McGauley; Daithi Lohan, Chris Dunning, Eoin Casey; Brian Monaghan, Gary Leahy, Dean Devanney.
Subs: Stephen Donnellan for Dunning; Ben O’Neill for Nihill; Cody Waller for J. McAuley; Conor Casey for Waller (inj); Barry Murphy for Lohan (inj).
Victory not enough for Naomh Eoin
Naomh Eoin 2-9
Coolmeen 0-12
Venue: Shanahan McNamara Memorial Park, Doonbeg
Going into this intermediate championship tie at Doonbeg on Sunday, Naomh Eoin knew that victory was essential if they were to make it through to the play offs.
As things turned out the men from the Peninsula achieved victory, their first of the campaign, but it wasn’t enough and they look to have lost out on score difference. The outcome of the outstanding game involving Michael Cusacks and Liscannor will confirm whether or not they will be involved in the play offs.
They got off to a dream start with early goals from Odhran Lynch and Seamus Boland and these scores had them in a strong position.
Coolmeen came back strongly in the second half and cut the deficit to two points but the men from Cross and Kilbaha held firm and finished strongly to seal victory.
Aidan Corry top scorer for the Coolmeen side with 0-8 while Cathal O’Connor (2) Gary Meaney and Dylan Power were others to score.
Naomh Eoin: Sean Roche; Patrick Foley, Conor Tevlin, Adam Haugh; Andrew Larkin, Mark McQuaid, Eoin Hanrahan; Odhran Lynch, Gavin Magner; Declan Keniry, Gearoid Lynch, Niall Bonfil; Owen Lynch, Liam Keating, Seamus Boland;
Subs: Conor Downes for L. Keating; Michael Liddane for Boland; Eoin Daly for Liddane;
Coolmeen: Paudie Corry; Mark Meaney, Gary Meaney, David Hehir; Adam Wallace, Daniel Forde, thomas Coffey; Cathal O’Connor. Eoin O’Connor; Joe Corry, Brian Markham, J.J. Carigg; Aidan Corry, Micheal Brooks, Dyulan Power;
Subs: Ronan Murphy for Micheal Brooks; Jamie Brooks for J. Corry; Alan Normoyle for Wallace; Liam Markham for D. Power
Banner go marching on
Banner 2-8
Shannon Gaels 0-11
Venue: Lissycasey
Crowned junior champions for 2020 just a couple of weeks ago, the Banner have qualified for the quarter finals of the intermediate championship for 2021.
An early goal from Thomas Meenaghan helped the Ennis based outfit to lead at the end of the opening quarter and they went on to hold a four point advantage at half time when the score was 1-6 to 0-5. The Gaels had lost Micheal Lorrigan for ten minutes to a black card in the opening half.
Midway through the second half Shannon Gaels were reduced to fourteen men when Tomás Cleary picked up a second yellow card which ended his involvement in the tie. Despite being a man down they fought their way back and levelled the tie at 0-11 to 1-8 but the Banner had the final say and Danny O’Halloran’s goal just before the full time whistle ensured victory and second place in the group.
On a day when Thomas Meenaghan was their stand out payer. James Coakley was another to shine while Ronan O’Halloran also did well. Despite failing to win a game in the group Shannon Gaels have qualified for the quarter finals as one of the best third placed teams.
Banner: Mark Cleary; Oran Rynne, Cian Rynne, Martin McCormack; Sean Collins, Ronan O’Halloran, Niall Walsh; Darragh Gleeson, James Coakley; Eoin Walsh, Colm Duffy, Johhny Martyn; Mark Duffy, Danny O’Halloran, Thomas Meenaghan;
Subs: Diarmuid Cassidy for O’Rynne; Dara Walsh for C. Duffy; Ollie Gleeson for E. Walsh; Tola Coote for D. Gleeson
Shannon Gaels; Michael O’Donoghue; Michael McMahon, Fergal Kenny, Tomas Cleary; Aaron Malone-Smyth, Jack Reidy, Eoin Keane; Darragh Bohannon, Michael O’Malley; Thomas Kelly, Darren Crehan, Niall Ellis; Micheal Lorrigan, Barry Crehan, Tadhg Kelly;
Subs: Tom O’Gorman for Tadhg Kelly;
O’Currys seal top spot
O’Curry’s 3-9
Éire Óg 1-11
Venue: Cooraclare
O’Curry’s sealed top spot in their group in the intermediate football championship when they overcame the challenge of Éire Óg who needed to win to stay in the race for honours.
A Thomas Clancy goal from a penalty awarded for a foul on Cathal Downes helped the West Clare side to a half time lead of 1-5 to 0-6.
Eoin Troy scored his side’s second goal but the Ennis men fought back and when Shane Daniels found the net from the penalty spot late in the game, just a point separated the sides.
With time almost up Sean Murphy struck for the West Clare outfit’s third goal which sealed victory on a day when Cathal Downes, Brian Troy and Thomas Clancy were prominent.
O’Currys: Colin Clohessy; Seamus Keane, Michael O’Shea, Dara Keane; Brian Troy, Sean Haugh, Eoin Brew; Thomas Clancy, Michael Foran; Cathal Downes, Sean Murphy, Jim Marrinan; Danny Downes, Eoin Troy, Gearoin Lynch
Sub: Glen Mullaney for D Keane.
Éire Óg; Eoin Slattery; Mark Collins, Michael O’Regan, Rory Brennan; Cathal Lynch, Ultan Shields, Eoin Guilfoyle; Paul Martyn, Alan O’Neill; Darren O’Brien, Luke Moore, Noel O’Donoghue; Michael Foley, Shane Daniels, Sean Corry;
Subs: Cathal Greene for O’Regan (inj.) Kevin Moloney for O’Donoghue; Stephen Dolan for Foley; Jack Joyce for Moore.
