David Jones makes an excellent save from Colin Riordan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
A POOR defensive display attributed to Kilrush Shamrocks’ exit from the Clare intermediate football championship.
Last year’s finalists were eliminated at the semi-final stage on Sunday by Wolfe Tones in a repeat of the 2023 penultimate clash.
David Jones made exceptional saves over the hour to deny Colin Riordan and Gary Leahy amongst others but it was the first time in this year’s championship that the Shams conceded more than one goal.
In their first round scare against the Banner where they prevailed by a single point, Kilrush only conceded one green flag, they maintained a clean sheet in their 2-10 0-12 secound round win against Coolmeen while they only let one major in during their comprehensive 4-11 1-7 third round victory over Liscannor and in an impressive quarter-final clash with Cooraclare, they struck for five goals and only conceded one against Martin Daly’s side.
However when it came to the semi-final, they coughed up 3-8, goals coming in waves with Aaron Kelly and Dean Devanney netting in successive attacks on the fiftieth and fifty first minute.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Kilrush Shamrocks manager Daniel Ryan was frustrated with how they defended. “We’re very disappointed, we prepared well for it but you honestly cannot defend like that, we were very poor, we were too far off the mark, we struggled around the first half in the middle of the field but we came into it, we had the chances but we can’t give away fouls like we did and we made too many mistakes. It is disappointing at the end of the day but the best of luck to Wolfe Tones”.
They led 1-3 0-1 by the end of the opening quarter but Wolfe Tones outscored them 1-3 0-1 for the second quarter but Ryan didn’t believe they panicked at this stage. “The decision making hurt us, they are a team that will always go for a goal, we should have been popping it over the bar and keeping the scoreboard ticking over”.
Midfielder Joe McGauley pointed straight from the throw-in at the beginning of the second half for the Tones but Kilrush hit back with the next four scores, two frees from Conor Fennell and one each from Sean Madigan and Gearoid O’Brien to hold a three point advantage on thirty six minutes.
Ryan said, “In fairness we came out in the third quarter and kicked four points but you cannot defend like that, you can’t give away chances and play from behind, we’ve been trying to move away from negative football with thirteen behind the ball, we want to play on our front foot but we can’t defend like that, it is disappointing but we have to move on”.
He added, “Wolfe Tones were set up very well, they are a good team, very organised and best of luck to them in the final”.
