*Enda Noonan is tackled by Shane McNamara. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLUB action has commenced in the local GAA scene in Clare with first round ties played in the FutureTicketing Clare Cup.
Most teams were understrength as the race for this season’s various adult hurling league titles got underway at the weekend.
Involvement with senior and under 20 inter county panels as well as injuries forced teams to introduce many players to a higher level of competition than they had played at heretofore.
Many teams were under new management and for Newmarket-on-Fergus, Sixmilebridge, Broadford, Inagh/Kilnamona and Clarecastle their new managers will have been pleased that their charges came out on top.
With nine rounds in Division 1 and 2, there is a long road to go and plenty of opportunities to give experience to young players coming through
Guilfoyle’s brace sends Feakle on the way
Feakle 2-17
Clooney-Quin 0-17
Venue: Clooney
Two goals in as many minutes in the opening quarter steered Feakle to victory in this Clare cup first round game at Clooney on Saturday afternoon.
The teams were level at 0-3 each and the home side were unlucky not to have gone in front in the sixth minute when Feakle’s Liam O’Connor made a fine save.
A minute later Feakle full forward Gary Guilfoyle struck for the opening goal and within a minute he struck for a second following a defence splitting run by Steven Conway who was very influential in that opening half.
Five points separated the sides at half time when the score was 2-9 to 0-10 and when the second half got underway the winners had the better of the opening exchanges and quickly stretched their lead to eight points as they landed four points to the home side’s one in the opening ten minutes.
Points were exchanged four times from here to the closing minutes before Clooney/Quin finished with the last two points of the tie.
Feakle were deserving winners on a day when Liam O’Connor, Evan McMahon, Eoin Tuohy, Shane McGrath, Enda Noonan Steven Conway, Oisin Donnellan and Gary Guilfoyle did well.
Darragh Keogh, John Conneally and David Considine were prominent for the home side which surprised many with the inclusion of Cillian Duggan between the posts. He played most of his hurling for over a decade at centre back.
Feakle: Liam O’Connor; Enda Madden, Evan McMahon, Eoin Daly; Eoin Tuohy (0-1), Cillian Bane, Oisin Clune; Enda Noonan, Shane McGrath (0-6, 3f); Oisin Donnellan (0-2), Patrick Daly (0-1), Steven Conway (0-3); Eoin McGann (0-1), Gary Guilfoyle (2-2, 0-1 f), Fiachra Donnellan;
Subs; Conor Tuohy for O. Clune (inj); Justin Nelson (0-1) for P. Daly; Diarmuid Bane for F Donnellan; Ger Hanrahan for E. Noonan; Sean Walsh for S.McGrath
Clooney-Quin; Cillian Duggan; Mike McNamara, Shane McNamara, Enda O’Halloran; Darragh Keogh (0-1), Conor Grogan, Cillian O’Gara; Jimmy Corry, John Conneally (0-2); Trevor Lee (0-1), Michael Corry, Donagh O’Sullivan (0-1); Eoin Guilfoyle (0-1), David Considine (0-9, 6 frees), Ulick O’Sullivan (0-1);
Subs: Ronan O’Donnell for M. Corry; Fionn O’Gara for M. McNamara; Dylan Cunningham for U O’Sullivan; Martin Duggan (0-1) for D. O’Sullivan
Referee: Kieran Liddane (Sixmilebridge)
First half goals steer Newmarket-on-Fergus to victory
Newmarket-on-Fergus 2-17
Crusheen 0-13
Venue: Clarecastle
First half goals from the Power brothers, Peter and James played a key part in Newmarket-on-Fergus’ victory over Crusheen in the opening round of the Clare Cup (division 1 A) at the Clarecastle astro pitch on Thursday night.
Ahead by a point at the end of the opening quarter when the score was 0-3 to 0-2, the Blues went on to be seven clear at half time when the score was 2-6 to 0-7.
James Carrig’s outfit maintained that advantage throughout the second half and were eight points clear at the final whistle.
Both sides introduced some new players to senior hurling in this tie which saw the winner’s corner forward Peter Power emerge as the top scorer with 1-9 to his credit.
Oisin O’Donnell top scored for Crusheen, contributing 0-9 to their tally on an evening which marked the return to senior hurling after a number of seasons of Clare’s Munster and All-Ireland winning under 21 captain Ciaran O’Doherty.
Both sides finished with fourteen after Cian Dillon |(Crusheen) and Stephen Casey (Newmarket-on-Fergus) were sent off in separate incidents
Newmarket’s next game will be against their neighbours Sixmilebridge while Crusheen will travel to face Feakle.
Newmarket-on-Fergus; Paudie Guilfoyle; Sean O’Connor, Colin Guilfoyle (0-2) Eoin McInerney; Jack Enright (0-1), Liam O’Connor, Stephen Casey (0-1); Sean Arthur (0-1), Eoin Guilfoyle (0-1); Shane Lynch, James Power (1-1), James Freeman (0-1); Mark Delaney, Noel Frawley, Peter Power (1-9, 0-5f).
Subs; Niall O’Connor for S. Lynch; Cian Foley for S. Arthur; Dylan Crowe for E. McInerney; Conor McCarthy for S O’Connor (inj); John Hogan for M. Delaney
Crusheen: David Kearney; Eanna McMahon, Tadhg Dean, Luke Hayes; Ciaran O’Doherty, Cian Dillon, Gavin O’Brien (0-1); Mark Perrill, Cillein Mullins (0-1); Luke Ketalaar (0-1), Niall Kearney (0-1), Jamie Fitgibbon; Ian O’Brien, Fergus Kennedy, Oisin O’Donnell (0-9 7f)
Subs: Eoghan McMahon for N. Kearney; Roan Ketalaar for F Kennedy
Referee: Joe Mullins (Clonlara)
One point win for new look Sixmilebridge
Sixmilebridge 1-21
Clonlara 3-14
Venue: O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge
A one point win over county champions Clonlara saw Sixmilebridge under new manager Tommy Liddy get their season off to a winning start on Friday night.
A new look Sixmilebridge side held a three point lead at half time when the score was 0-12 to 1-6, Clonlara’s goal coming from Bryan McLeish
Alex Morey top scored for the winners landing 0-13 on the night, a dozen of which came from frees.
Brian Corry was the goal scorer and he also contributed five points while the other scores were Caimin Morey and Paul Corry.
Clonlara had second half goals from Micheál O’Loughlin and James McCormack in a tie which marked the return to action of Cathal O’Connell who missed last season.
Sixmilebridge; Colm Fitzgerald; Cillian Custy, Barry Fitzpatrick, Oisin Breen; Noel Purcell, Leon Kelly, Fiachra Ó Broin; Sean Macnamara, Colm Flynn; Alex Morey, Caimin Morey, Paul Corry; David Kennedy, Lorcan Fitzpatrick, Brian Corry;
Subs; Jack Corry for L. Fitzpatrick; Luke O’Halloran for P. Corry; Christy Carey for L Kelly; Dylan Downes for S. McNamara; Adam Breen for C. Flynn
Clonlara; Seimi Gully; Logan Ryan, Eoin Meehan, Michael Clancy; Colm Galvin, David Fitzgerald, James McCormack; Cian Moriarty, Aidan Moriarty; Daniel Moloney, Conor Bourke, Cathal O’Connell; Micheal O’Loughlin, Brian McLeish, Micheal Stritch;
Subs: Padraic Reddan for C. O’Connell; James Carmody for M. Stritch; Padraic Campbell for D. Moloney; Shane Corbett for C Galvin; Mick Stritch for E Meehan
Referee: John Bugler (Whitegate)
Easy for Inagh/Kilnamona
Inagh/Kilnamona 0-15
Kilmaley 0-6
Venue: Inagh
Inagh/Kilnamona had a surprisingly easy victory over their neighbours and great rivals Kilmaley in this first round tie played at Inagh on Saturday.
The foundation for the win was laid in the opening half when the home side opened an eight point lead, 0-11 to 0-3.
Eleven payers shared in the winners tally as new team manager Tomas Kelly steered his charges to a comfortable victory.
The visitors struggled to create scoring opportunities and only three of their team managed to get on the scoresheet, each scoring two points.
Inagh/Kilnamona; Pa Kelly; Colin Shannon, Damian Lafferty (0-1), Padraig Devitt; Brian Foudy (0-1), Jason McCarthy, Ricky Wynne (0-1); Seamus Foudy (0-1), Jason Griffin (0-1); Evan McNamara (0-1), Darren Cullinan (0-1), Eoghan Foudy (0-3); Ronan Mescall (0-2), Thomas Barry (0-1), Fred Hegarty (0-2);
Subs; Jamie Wynne for B. Foudy (inj); Keelan Guyler for D. Cullinan (inj); Cathal McConigley for R. Wynne; Gerry Coote for T Barry; Shane Vaughan for E McNamara;
Kilmaley; Bryan O’Loughlin; Joseph Casey, Aaron Moloney, Martin O’Connor; Cian Neylon, Daire Keane, Tommy Barry; Sean Kennedy (0-2), Joe Carmody; Thomas McGuire, Sean Crowley, James McGuire; Peter Ronan, Colm Killeen (0-2), Tom O’Rourke (0-2);
Subs; Kevin McNamara for J. McGuire; Sean Ronan for P. Ronan; Conor Neylon for S. Crowley
Referee: Chris Maguire (Wolfe Tones)
Substitute Scanlan’s goal decisive
Scariff 1-13
O’Callaghans Mills 0-13
Venue: Hamilton Park, Kilkishen
A goal from substitute John Scanlan proved to be the difference between the teams in this Division 1A Clare Cup tie played at Kilkishen on Saturday.
At the end of an evenly fought first half the sides were on level terms at 0-8 each and they continued to be evenly matched in the second half.
The all-important goal came in the final quarter with Scanlan getting the vital touch. This was a solid team performance from the winners on a day when Shane Kavanagh and Ben Sweeney accounted for some good scores.
Colm Cleary and Killian Nugent accounted for some good scorers for the home side.
Scariff; William Kavanagh; Conor Maloney, Michael Scanlan, Eoghan Keehan; Jack Ryan, Daniel Treacy, Shane Kavanagh; Sean Collins, Conor Downes; Michael Barrett, Fergus Madden, Ben Sweeney; Rory Ryan, Sean Minogue, Conor Hayes;
Subs; Tadhg Minogue for S. Collins; John Scanlan for R Ryan; Shane Corry for M. Barrett; Conor O’Grady for J. Ryan
O’Callaghans Mills; Killian Nugent; Cathal McNamara, Keith Donlon, Gerry Cooney; Eoin McInerney, Michael Cotter, Michael McMahon; Cormac Murphy, Michael McGrath; Cathal Lenihan, Aidan Fawl, Stephen Donnellan; Colm Cleary, Sean Cotter, Fionn Hickey;
Sub: Niall Melody for McMahon; Sean Burke for Lenihan; Mark Pewter for Hickey; Conor ‘Rocky’ Cooney for E. McInerney; Pat Donnellan for McNamara;
Referee: Fergal O’Brien (Broadford)
Division 1B
McMahon’s brace steers Broadford to victory
Broadford 3-12
Tubber 1-15
Venue: Tubber
Two second half goals, one from a penalty, from Stiofan McMahon saw Broadford make a winning start to the 2024 season when they accounted for Tubber at the latter’s venue on Friday night.
It was a first competitive outing for the team under new manager, Paddy Meehan, former Sixmilebridge championship winning player and mentor.
Tubber had marginally the better of the opening half exchanges and led by two points, 0-9 to 1-4, at the interval, Broadford’s goal having come from Donie Whelan.
The sides continued to trade scores in the second half but as the game progressed Broadford got a grip on proceedings and McMahon’s goals turned the tie in their favour.
Broadford: Cian O’Brien; Damian Keniry, Cathal Chaplin, Jack O’Brien; David Boland, Paddy Donnellan, Padraic Taylor; Oisin Kavanagh, Mark Moloney; Craig Chaplin (0-6), Darren Chaplin (0-2); Diarmuid O’Brien (0-1); Diarmuid Whelan (0-1), Stiofán McMahon (2-1) Donie Whelan (1-1);
Subs: Conor O’Neill for Taylor; Gearoid Vaughan for Boland;
Tubber; Ronan Taaffe (0-2); Cathal Droney, Pappy Taaffe, Emmet Quinn; Fergal O’Grady, Ronan Monahan, James Howard; Patrick O’Connor, Liam Clancy; Osgar Dunford (0-5) Domhnall McMahon (0-1), Lorcan O’Grady (0-3); Joey Droney (0-1), Mark Earley (0-3), Joe Clancy (1-0);
Subs: John Fawle for L. Clancy; Clive Earley for J. Clancy
Referee; Niall Malone, Eire Og;
A hat trick of goals for Josh Brack
Clarecastle 3-16
Bodyke 1-10
Venue: The Evicted Field, Bodykle
A hat trick of goals from Josh Brack led Clarecastle to this comfortable win over Bodyke at the latter’s venue on Saturday afternoon.
There was little between the sides throughout the opening half with the visitors holding a one point advantage, 0-9 to 1-5 at the interval, the home side’s goal having come from Tiernan Slattery.
In the second half the Magpies found the range and they pulled away for a comfortable win on a day when Darragh Healy was very impressive at centre forward while elsewhere Filip Wiechinski, Conor Griffin and hattrick hero Brack did well.
Clarecastle; Fionn Morgan; Niall Brigdale. Cillian Casey, Daragh Crimmins; Filip Wiechinski, David Tuohy, Conor Griffin; Killian McDermott, Colin Brigdale; Rory O’Connell, Darragh Healy, Harry Ward; Jack Hayes, Conor Halpin, Josh Brack;
Subs; Oisin Whelan for Ward; Sam Browne for N. Brigdale; Evan Price for Hayes
Bodyke; Cormac Doyle; Kevin Drost, Eanna Doyle, Eden Buckley; Ciaran Hickey, Sean Wiley, Michael O’Brien; Tommy Wiley, Tadhg Kilkenny; Cathal McKenna, Tiiernan Slattery, Tommy Minogue; Jamie Howard, Willie Fitzgerald, Peter Flower;
Subs; Oisin Molloy for Howard; Sean Browne for Flower;
Referee; Kevin Corry (Sixmilebridge)
A winning start for Corofin at senior level
Corofin 3-18
Wolfe Tones 1-15
Venue: Páirc Finne, Corofin
Corofin made a winning start to life in the senior ranks when they accounted for Wolfe Tones at Corofin on Saturday.
Playing at corner forward for the first time Cillian McGroary played a key role in the victory contributing 2-2 to his side’s impressive tally.
His first goal helped the team to lead at the break, 1-9 to 1-7, the Shannon side’s goal coming from Aaron Cunningham who contributed 1-5 from play while he was also on target from a number of frees.
Dean Devanney also scored a few points for the visitors while substitute Niall Fitzgerald was also on target.
The winners struck for two goals inside the first ten minutes of the second half from Shane O’Brien and McGroary and these scores sent them on their way to a merited win on a day when Gearoid Kelly landed 0-10, nine from frees. Shane O’Brien with 1-3 and Gearoid Cahill with 0-4 also contributed to the scoreline in what was an overall good team performance.
Corofin; Liam Corbett; Gearoid Hanrahan, Damian O’Loughlin, Marc O’Loughlin; Damian Ryan, Killian O’Connor, Eoin Fitzgerald; Eoin Davoren, Gearoid Cahill; Kevin Keane, Diarmuid Cahill, Gearoid Kelly; Shane O’Brien, Micheál Duffy, Cillian McGroary;
Subs: Michael Cahill for Hanrahan; Cian Doolin for Duffy; Colm Fitgerald for Davoran; Aidan O’Loughlin for Keane; Cathal Flanagan for D Cahill;
Wolfe Tones: Oisin O’Rourke; Mikey Hayes, Shane Nihill, Conor Ferns; Colin Riordan, John Guilfoyle, Brian Murphy; Cian O’Rourke, Liam Murphy; Sean Costelloe, Evan O’Gorman, Stephen Donnellan; Dylan Frawley, Aaron Cunningham, Dean Devanney;
Subs: Peter McEvoy for Donnellan; Jack Cunningham for O’Gorman; Niall Fitzgerald for Costelloe; Luke Merrigan for Hayes; Tadhg Fitzgerald for Frawley
Referee: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)
Points shared in Ballyea
Ballyea 2-15
Cratloe 1-18
Venue: Ballyea
Ballyea and Cratloe shared the spoils in this first round tie played at Ballyea on Saturday.
Having played with the aid of the breeze the visitors held a two point advantage at the halfway point when the score was 0-11 to 0-9.
Cratloe started the second half well and they opened a five point lead but the home side fought back and they went four clear well inside the last quarter.
A Sean Gallagher goal brought the visitors back into contention and helped them get on level terms before the final whistle.
Goaalscorers for Ballyea who were short a lot of their regulars, were Kieran McDonald and Mossy Gavin.
Ballyea: Barry Coote; Joe Neylon, Brian Longe, Niall Carigg; Aonghus Keane, Jack Browne, Eoin Kennedy; Kieran McDonald, Cathal O’Connor; Darragh Moylan, Mossy Gavin, Martin O’Leary; Daniel Costello, Eoin Gavin, Eoin Donnellan;
Subs: Luke Minogue for D Costello; Dara O’Neill for E. Gavin; Dylan Killoughery for E. Donnellan; Ciaran Connolly for O’Leary
Cratloe: Eoin Deegan; David Collins, Conor Ryan, Jack Manley; Jamie Costigan, Enda Boyce, Cathal Lohan; Jack Donnelly, Evan Crowe; Kevin Danagher, Podge Collins, Daire Neville; Jack McInerney, Cathal McInerney, Rian Considine;
Subs: Sean Gallagher for K. Danagher; Caimin Deegan for J. Donnelly; Jake Moylan for E Crowe;
Referee: Jarlath Donnellan (Wolfe Tones)
Bright start leads St Josephs to victory
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 3-17
Whitegate 0-16
Vebue: Whitegate
A lively start saw visitors St. Josephs five points clear after ten minutes when the score was 2-3 to 0-4, the goals having come from Cian Barron and Alan O’Neill.
When the half time whistle sounded four points separated the sides with the score at 2-6 to 0-8.
St. Josephs continued to hold the edge in the second half when O’Neill struck for his second goal helping the visitors to a merited win.
Calum Fahy top scored for the home side with 0-9 on the day.
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Mikey Roseingrave; Cathal O’Driscoll, Fionn Kelleher, Adam Mungovan; Dara McMahon, Jarlath Colleran, Michael Nash; Francie Meaney, Dara Nagle; Senan Crosbie, Eoin Burke, Donal O’Halloran; Cian Barron, Alan O’Neill, Padraic Donovan;
Subs; Paddy Nagle for O’Driscoll; Charlie Hannon for F Kelleher; Cormac Maher for Barron; Mark O’Connor for D.Nagle; Con or Daly for d. O’Halloran;
Whitegate: Andrew Fahey; Colm Qunn, Ian Fahy, Max Bogenberger; Donal Tuohy, Fionn Madden, Mikey Bogenbersger; Danny Hynes, Calum Fahy; Mark Bugler, Conor McDermott, Eoin Patterson; Paddy Burke, Ronan Hayes, Michael Heffernan;
Subs; James Casey for M. Bugler; D. Hynes for M. Bogenberger;
Referee: Johnnie Healy (Smith O’Briens)
