*Sixmilebridge’s Alex Morey in possession. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
SIXMILEBRIDGE and Clonlara are in top position of the Clare Cup following the fifth round of the hurling league played across the May Bank Holiday weekend.
Kilmaley suffered their first loss in this season’s willwego.com Clare Cup when they went under to O’Callaghans Mills for whom this was a second successive win.
This weekend’s games produced some big scores with Sixmilebridge, Newmarket-on-Fergus and Clonlara each scoring four goals. Scariff went one better when firing five goals past Wolfe Tones as they picked up much needed points.
After impressive starts to the campaign, St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield, Wolfe Tones and Corofin were at the receiving end of heavy defeats.
Broadford recorded a narrow win over Clarecastle while Feakle recovered from a poor start to comfortably overcome Cratloe. On Tuesday evening, Cratloe recorded their first win of the campaign when defeating Inagh/Kilnamona.
Back to back wins for Mills
O’Callaghans Mills 1-16
Kilmaley 1-14
Venue: Hamilton Park, Kilkishen
O’Callaghans Mills followed up their previous round victory over Corofin, their first of this campaign, with victory over hitherto unbeaten Kilmaley on Thursday evening.
The result didn’t look likely in the opening quarter as the visitors, playing with the aid of the breeze, raced 1-5 to 0-1 in front, their goal coming from Tom O’Rourke.
By half time the home side had bounced back to be just two points adrift, 0-8 to 1-7, helped by some good scores from Jacob Loughnane and Sean Cotter.
A Darragh Moroney goal in the second half and points from Loughnane and Cormac Murphy saw the Sean Doyle coached side get on top and claim both points.
After a nervous start to the campaign where they were bottom of Division 1B, the Mills now find themselves in fifth position.
O’Callaghans Mills: Killian Nugent; Michael Cotter, Keith Donnellan, Gerry Cooney; Sean O’Gorman, Aidan O’Gorman, Aidan Fawl; Michael McGrath, Fionn Hickey; Sean Cotter (0-4) Darragh Moroney (1-1), Jacob Loughnane (0-7); Sean Murphy, Mark Pewter, Cormac Murphy (0-4).
Subs; Conor Cooney for G. Cooney; Cathal McNamara for S. Murphy; John O’Brien for M. Pewter
Kilmaley; Bryan O’Loughlin (0-1); Martin O’Connor, Colin Carmody, Sean Crowley; Colin McGuane, Daire Keane, Éanna McMahon; Sean Kennedy, Tommy Barry (0-1); Joe Carmody (0-4), Michael O’’Malley (0-5), Michael O’Neill; Tom O’Rourke (1-0), Colm Killeen (0-1), Cian Neylon (0-2).
Subs: Thomas McGuire for D. Keane; S. Staunton for E. McMahon; McMahon for C. Neylon
Referee: Jarlath Donnellan (Wolfe Tones)
Broadford return to winning ways
Broadford 0-21
Clarecastle 0-18
Venue: Glenomra Park, Broadford
This was a well contested tie between two evenly matched sides in which a strong sun made matters difficult for defences.
The home side were three points in front at half time when the score was 0-9 to 0-6 but the visitors were back on terms as the game entered the final quarter.
Broadford then pulled four clear but Clarecastle hit back with two but time wasn’t on their side and the home side held on for victory on an evening when all six forwards shared in their impressive final tally.
(Gallery of photographs by Gerard O’Neill)
Oisin Whelan with six and Paul O’Connell with four were the chief scorers for the Magpies now managed by two-time All-Ireland winner Ger ‘Sparrow’ O’Loughlin. The loss leaves Clarecastle bottom of Division 1A and Broadford inside the top half of the table.
Broadford: Roy Duffy; Darragh Whelan, Eoin Donnellan, Damian Keniry; Cathal Chaplin, Davy Boland, Padraig Taylor; Cian Mulqueen, Conor O’Donnell; Craig Chaplin (0-4), Darren Chaplin (0-2), Michael Vaughan (0-3); Donie Whelan (0-2) Niall O’Farrell (0-6), Oisin Kavanagh (0-4);
Subs: Diarmuid Moloney for Cathal Chaplin; Mark Moloney for D. Keniry; Aodán O’Driscoll for D. Whelan
Clarecastle; Cian Broderick; Conor Griffin, Stephen O’Halloran, David Tuohy; Evan O’Connell, Darragh Healy (0-1), Evan Price; Conor Whelan, Colin Brigdale (0-1); Conor Halpin (0-1), Eoghan Wallace (0-2), Oisin Whelan (0-6); Paul O’Connell (0-4), Josh Brack, Oisin Casey (0-1);
Subs: Jack Hayes for Josh Brack; Jack Murphy for Oisin Casey; Niall Brigdale for Evan O’Connell; Conor Ralph for Evan Price
Referee: Kevin Corry (Sixmilebridge)
Another win for Clonlara leaves them top
Clonlara 4-17
Clooney/Quin 1-11
Venue: Clonlara
Six points ahead at half time, Clonlara powered ahead in the second half to record a comfortable win over Clooney/Quin at Clonlara on Friday evening.
The game was brought forward by twenty four hours because of the death of former Clonlara officer Bob Heuston whose funeral took place on Saturday evening.
Clonlara welcomed Jathan McMahon back to action having been out of action since suffering a serious knee injury last year
The winners were six points clear at half time when the score was 1-10 to 0-7, their first half goal having come from Kieran Galvin who added another major in the second half when Micheál O’Loughlin and substitute Jamie O’Connell also found the net.
Clooney/Quin were, again, short quite a number of first team players due to involvement with the county under 20 and senior panels and also due to injuries.
For Donal Madden’s Clonlara it is a fourth win from five games.
Clonlara: Alan Murnane; Paul McNamara, Oisin O’Brien, Michael Clancy; Páraic O’Loughlin, Aidan Moriarty (0-1), David Fitzgerald (0-3); Dylan McMahon (0-1), Kieran Howard; Micheal O’Loughlin (1-6), Kieran Galvin (2-2), Colm Galvin, Eoin Begley (0-2) Brian McLeish (0-1), Tom Power (0-1).
Subs: Padraig Reddan for O. O’Brien (inj); Padraic Dillon for C Galvin; Jathan McMahon for K. Howard; Fionnan O’Brien for E. Begley; Jamie O’Connell (1-0) for B. McLeish
Clooney/Quin: Cillian Duggan; Michael McNamara, Evan Maxted, Enda O’Halloran; Matthew Corbett (0-1), Sean McNamara, David Cahill; David Considine, Donagh O’Sullivan; P.J. McCarthy (0-1), Michael Corry (1-0), Sam Scanlan; Patrick Finneran (0-3), Eoin Guilfoyle, Callum Hassett (0-5);
Subs: Conor Grogan for E. O’Halloran; Cathal Leamy (0-1) for E. Guilfoyle; Gary Hogan for D. O’Sullivan
A Bridge too far for Doora/Barefield
Sixmilebridge 4-23
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 0-13;
Venue: O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge
Sixmilebridge put down a marker that they will be serious contenders for honours this season when they recorded a big win over St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield on Saturday morning.
Their twenty two point victory sees them sit at the top of Division 1A and maintain an unbeaten run so far in 2025.
A strong half forward line of Caimin, Seadna and Alex Morey contributed 2-16 of the side’s impressive tally as they proved much too strong for a young St Joseph’s Doora/Barfield outfit
This victory comes just over a week after they were impressive winners over Feakle.
Eoin Lahiffe top scored for the Doora/Barefield side but they had to give best to the much more physical home side.
(All photographs by Gerard O’Neill)
Sixmilebridge: Daniel Chaplin; Aidan Breen, Barry Fitzpatrick, Seamus O’Connell; Noel Purcell, Leon Kelly, Pa Mulready; Sean Macnamara (0-1), Conor Deasy; Caimin Morey (1-3), Seadna Morey (0-2), Alex Morey (1-11); Brian Corry (0-2), Alan Mulready (1-0), Adam Murray (0-1)
Subs: Paudie Fitzpatrick for S. O’Connell; Lorcan Fitzpatrick (0-1) for A Mulready; Callum Phelan (0-1) for C. Morey; Dara Casey (1-1) for A. Murray
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Micheal Ó Coileán; Eoghan Thynne, Conor Daly, Ciaran O’Driscoll; Darragh McMahon, Darragh O’Shea (0-1), Mark O’Connor; Eoghan Talty, Matthew Power; Senan Crosbie (0-1), Eoin Burke, Cian Barron (0-2); Niall Talty (0-1), Eoin Lahiffe (0-6), Darragh Ball (0-1).
Subs: Brian Guilfoyle (0-1) for E. Talty; Michael Nash for E. Burke
Referee: Johnnie Healy (Smith O’Briens)
Easy for Newmarket-on-Fergus
Newmarket-on-Fergus 4-22
Corofin 0-12
Venue: Fr Murphy Memorial Park, Newmarket-on-Fergus
Newmarket-on-Feegus took control from the start in this tie and by half time they had the points secure as they led 3-14 to 0-5.
Being a dual club isn’t easy and Corofin can testify to this as this game came less than forty eight hours after their senior footballers had recorded a win over a fancied Kilmurry Ibrickane team with most of the same players involved. Their cause was not helped by losing Kevin Keane and Luke O’Loughlin to injuries.
This win keeps the Blues in the hunt for a place in the knock out stage of the competition. The reigning champions had a shaky start to the competition but have produced three wins in a row to put themselves back in with a fighting shot.
Their goalscorers on the day were Éanna Crimmins, Jack O’Connor (2) and Peter Power who top scored with 1-7.
Free taker Gearoid Kelly led the scoring for Corofin with 0-7 but they struggled on the day against a more settled and more experienced Newmarket-on-Fergus side managed by James Carrig.
Newmarket-on-Fergus: Paudie Guilfoyle; Eoghan McInerney, Niall O’Connor, Jack Enright; Damian Lyne, Liam O’Connor, James McInerney (0-1); Colin Guilfoyle (0-3), Sean O’Connor; Paudie McMahon (0-2), Éanna Crimmins (1-0), James Freeman (0-3); Jack O’Connor (2-0), Eoin Guilfoyle (0-3), Peter Power (1-7)
Subs; Seadna Liddy (0-3) for J. O’Connor; David Frost for E. McInerney; Mikey McInerney for P. Power; Zak Treacy for E. Crimmins; Darragh Jones for L. O’Connor
Corofin; Liam Corbett; John Rees, Damian O’Loughlin, Colin Fitzgerald; Gearoid Hanrahan, Cillian McGroary, Adrian Shannon; Gearoid Cahill (0-2), Micheál Duffy; Kevin Keane (0-1), Gearoid Kelly (0-7), Luke O’Loughlin; Seanán Kirby (0-1), Diarmuid Cahill, Cian Doolin (0-1);
Subs: Cathal Flanagan for L.O’Loughlin; Evan Doolin for K. Keane; Cormac Walsh for A. Shannon; Adam O’Loughlin for S. Kirby; Liam Fitzpatrick for J. Rees;
Referee: Kieran Liddane (Sixmilebridge)
Much needed win for Scariff
Scariff 5-18
Wolfe Tones 1-11
Venue: Shannon
Scariff recorded a much needed victory when they proved too strong for Wolfe Tones at the Shannon club’s venue on Saturday afternoon.
A thirteen point turnaround in the opening half saw Scariff hold a 3-8 1-4 advantage at half-time, Patrick Ryan raising two green flags. Rory Ryan also scored two goals during the game for Scariff with Colin O’Grady also finding the net.
Rory Ryan’s two second half goals came within five minutes of each other and at the beginning of the half to further dent the Tones’ cause.
Peter McEvoy was the Shannon club’s goalscorer but they struggled to match the all-round balance of Scariff.
Scariff: William Kavanagh; Scott Cairns, Diarmaid Nash, Eoghan Keehan; Jack Ryan, Shane Kavanagh, Sean Collins; Conor Downes (0-3), Aaron Collins; Rossa Keehan (0-3), Keelan Hartigan (0-2), Colin O’Grady (1-0); Rory Ryan (2-3), Patrick Ryan (2-1), Ben Sweeney (0-5)
Subs: Seamus McCaul for E. Keehan; Éanna O’Brien for B. Sweeney; Sean Hartigan for C. O’Grady; Matthew Crotty (0-1) for J. Ryan; Tadhg Kavanagh for D. Nash;
Wolfe Tones: Gary Leahy: Tadhg Fitzgerald, Brian Murphy, Shane Nihill; Gary Casey, Sam Meaney, Colin Riordan; Aaron Kelly, Dean Devanney (0-1); Sean Murphy, Aaron Cunningham (0-6), Jack Cunningham (0-2); Gavin Carigg (0-1), Peter McEvoy (1-1), Niall Fitzgerald.
Subs: Gary O’Connell for J. Cunningham; Conor Casey for N Fitzgerald; Robbie Meaney for T. Fitzgerald;
Referee; Jim Hickey (Cratloe)
Feakle turn ten-point half time deficit around
Feakle 3-23
Cratloe 3-10
Venue: Cratloe
When Cratloe went to the break with a ten-point advantage in this tie on Saturday evening, they looked to be on the way to a second victory in a week in the Clare Cup.
Feakle had other ideas however and another lively performance from Shane McGrath who finished with the impressive tally of 0-14, saw them take control in the second half to run out with a comfortable win.
Six players shared in their final tally with the full forward trio of Eoin McGann, Gary Guilfoyle and Oisin O’Connor contributing 3-6 of that tally.
Cratloe weren’t helped by the absence of key players such as Conor McGrath and Podge Collins to mention but two but they will wonder how they let such a good half time lead slip.
Feakle; Liam O’Connor; Enda Madden, Killian Bane, Conor Tuohy; Patrick Daly, Ronan O’Connor, Eoin Tuohy (0-2); Enda Noonan, Oisin Clune (0-1); Sean Walsh, Shane McGrath (0-14), Raymond Bane; Eoin McGann (2-3), Gary Guilfoyle (0-3), Oisin O’Connor (1-0)
Subs; Eoin McGuinness for O. Clune; Diarmuid Bane for R. Bane; Justin Nelson for E. Noonan; Tommy Walsh for S. Walsh; Conor McGann for G. Guilfoyle;
Cratloe: Eoin Deegan; Oisin Collins, Damien Browne, Sean Ryan; Emmet Costigan, John Flanagan, Sean Collins; Daithi Collins, Riain McNamara; Sean Gallagher, Daire Neville (2-3), Kyle Neylon; Mikey Flanagan (0-1), Rian Considine (0-5), Jack McInerney (1-1).
Subs: Cian O’Gorman for Daithi Collins (inj); Cathal McInerney for J. McInerney; Jack Manley for S. Ryan; James Enright for M. Flanagan
Referee; John Bugler, Whitegate;By
First win for Cratloe
Cratloe 4-23
Inagh/Kilnamona 1-21
Venue: Inagh
Cratloe recorded their first win in this season’s willwego.com Clare Cup when they accounted for Inagh-Kilnamona at Inagh on Tuesday evening.
The home side did well in the early stages and were in front but Cratloe fought back and when the half time whistle sounded they were in front by two points 2-10 to 1-11.
A bright start to the second half which yielded 2-2 saw Cratloe take control and from here on Inagh/Kilnamona were struggling to get back.
Rian Considine top scored for the winners with 2-7 while Connor Hegarty was the home side’s chief marksman with 0-12 to his name
Eight players shared in the winner’s impressive tally while the home side’s tally came from seven players.
Cratloe: Eoin Deegan; Oisin Collins, Jake Higgins, Sean Collins; Emmet Costigan, John Flanagan, Riain McNamara; Conor McGrath (0-4), Daithi Collins; Sean Gallagher (0-1), Daire Neville (1-3), Kyle Neylon (0-2); Jack McInerney (0-1) Rian Considne (2-7, 0-5f), Podge Collins (1-4);
Subs: Jack Manley for J. Higgins; Mikey Flanagan (0-1) for K.Neylon; Jake Moylan for J. McInerney; Sean Ryan for E. Costigan
Inagh/Kilnamona; Eamonnm Foudy; James Cullinan, Keith White, Conor Rynne; Colin Shannon, Jason McCarthy, Jason Griffin; Seamus Foudy (0-1), Mark Callinan (0-2); Darren Cullinan (0-1), Connor Hegarty (0-12, 7f), Evan McNamara; Eoghan Foudy, David Mescall (0-1) Josh Guyler (1-3)
Subs: Ricky Wynne for J. Griffin; Gerry Coote (0-1) for E. McNamara; Cathal Ryan for M.Callinan; Thomas Barry for D. Mescall; Neil Hegarty for D Cullinan
Referee: Niall Malone (Éire Óg)
