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*Michael Nash is fouled by Sean O’Brien. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
ST JOSEPH’s Doora/Barefield will remain in the Clare senior hurling championship for the third year in a row after they overcame Corofin in the relegation semi-final.
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 0-19
Corofin 0-14
Venue: Clarecastle
Few if any in the attendance at Clarecastle on Saturday for this relegation tie would have predicted a five point margin for either side as the teams headed to the dressing rooms at half time.
After being level on seven occasions, Corofin led by the minimum margin, 0-12 to 0-11 in a tie which had seen the sides evenly matched.
Indeed all the indications at half time pointed towards extra time being required, such was the closeness of the first half exchanges.
It was a different ball game after the break as Doora/Barefield took control and they dominated the exchanges from here on to deservingly seal senior status for 2025.
Corofin who are now in the situation where they are fighting relegation in both football and hurling, will have one more chance to remain in the top flight in hurling for next season.
Gearoid Kelly, Killian O’Connor, Marc O’Loughin and Diarmuid Cahill had all missed recent games at both senior hurling and football levels for Corofin because of injury. They were all in the starting line-up for this tie but as the game wore on their lack of games in recent weeks was evident.
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield have had injury issues also and Tom Hannan was unable to start on Saturday but he came in early in the second half and made a valuable contribution.
Diarmuid Cahill landed 0-5, all from play, in the opening half for Corofin and clearly The Parish needed to curb his influence on the tie if they were to win this one. That they did and supply to the corner forward was cut out in the second half.
After the sides had exchanged points, Corofin opened a two point lead but they were level at 0-4 each after six minutes. It was 0-7 each at the end of the first quarter and five minutes later it was 0-9 each.
Three in a row from Diarmuid Cahill followed before an Alan O’Neill effort left the minimum between them at the break as the half time whistle sounded.
Corofin had the first score of the second half but gradually the Doora/Barefield outfit took a grip on proceedings and they had opened a one point lead by the midpoint of the half when the score was 0-14 to 0-13.
An indication of the winner’s second half dominance is evident in that Corofin failed to score from play as Doora/Barefield dominated the half back and midfield areas.
Eoin McMahon, Adam Mungovan, Davy Conroy, and Michael Nash were prominent for the winners while Damien O’Loughlin, Conor Leen, Sean O’Brien and Diarmuid Cahill in the first half did well for Corofin.
Scorers St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: David Conroy (0-9, 4f) Michael Nash (0-3). Eoin McMahon (0-2); Cian Barron, Padraic O’Donovan, Alan O’Neill. Tom Hannan, Eoin Lahiffe (0-1) each
Scorers Corofin: Gearoid Kelly (0-6, all frees); Diarmuid Cahill (0-5\), Micheal Duffy, Eoin Davoran, Sean O’Brien (0-1) each
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield
1: Michael Roseingrave
2: Francis Meaney
3: Fionn Kelleher
15: Eoghan Thynne
5: Eoin McMahon
6: Darragh McMahon
4: Adam Mungovan
11: Davy Conroy
9: Darragh O’Shea
8: Jack Hannan
13: Eoghan Thynne
12: Michael Nash
19: Padraic O’Donovan
14: Cian Barron
20; Alan O’Neill
Subs:
10: Tom Hannan for O’Donovan (37)
17: Brian Guilfoyle for O’Neill (inj. 42)
7: Ian Williams for D McMahon (inj. 43)
18: Senan Crosbie for Nash (58)
28: Jarlath Colleran for J. Hannan (60)
Corofin:
1: Liam Corbett
2: Marc O’Loughlin
3: Damien O’Loughlin
4: Colin Fitzgerald;
5: Eoin Davoran
6: Conor Leen
7: Sean O’Brien;
8: Gearoid Cahill
9: Micheal Duffy
10: Kevin Keane
22: Gearoid Kelly
12: Cillian McGroary
21; Diarmuid Cahill
24: Killian O’Connor
13: Shane O’Brien
Subs:
11: James Organ for McGroary (43)
17: Adrian Shannon for Shane O’Brien (55)
15: Cian Doolin for Duffy (60)
Referee: Gus Callaghan (Feakle)
