Senior Championship
Round 1
Match Report: Peter O'Connell, Clare Champion.
So not everybody who plays football for Wolfe Tones has headed for the airport. Producing their best performance since stunning Kilmurry Ibrickane in the 2007 quarter-final, Wolfe Tones scored a well-deserved win over Kilrush in Lissycasey last Saturday.
Key to the Shannon club’s win was their economical use of scoring chances. They scored with every chance in the first half and only kicked two wides in the second period. Kilrush, in contrast, kicked eight wides and missed some very scoreable frees.
Late in the second half, Gary Leahy (red) and Patsy Keyes (second yellow) were sent off, while Kilrush’s Niall Clancy was dismissed on a second yellow 13 minutes into the second half.
Clancy had been yellow carded minutes before, a card that Wolfe Tones’ supporters felt should have been red, while Peadar McMahon was also yellow carded for a late tackle on Alan Hehir.
Played in perfect conditions, Daniel Gallery’s seventh-minute goal, set up by Joe McGauley fielding Jason Casey’s kick-out, helped Wolfe Tones into a 1-4 to 0-5 half-time lead. Gary Leahy, twice from play, Brendan Hughes, raiding from centre-back and Chris Dunning with a classy score, kicked the winners’ first-half points.
Niall Clancy, Padjoe McGrath, Stephen Sweeney, Jim Young, from a 45’, and Matthew Moloney, with a shot that bounced over the bar, scored for Kilrush. However, they kicked four wides, while Young hit the post with a close-range free, as did McGrath from play. Jason Casey also made a critical stop from Ruaidhri O’Connor 12 minutes before half-time. Possession-wise Kilrush dominated the first half but their half-time total didn’t reflect that.
O’Connor and Darren Ryan exchanged an early point apiece on the resumption. In fact, these were the only scores in the opening 18 minutes of the second half. It was during this period that Niall Clancy was sent off. Twelve minutes from time, Daniel Gallery soloed through the heart of the Kilrush defence and buried a great goal. Now 2-5 to 0-6 up, the result was in the bag for Wolfe Tones unless they imploded. They went six up when Gary Leahy pointed a free won by Chris Dunning. At this stage, Kilrush moved John Hayes outfield from centre-back and Kilrush did kick three points in the six minutes of injury time allotted. Jim Young pointed two frees, while Eoin Tarrant pointed from play. Brendan Hughes again and Gallery, however, kept the scoreboard ticking over for Wolfe Tones.
Patsy Keyes’ second yellow won’t worry the winners, though Gary Leahy’s injury-time red, following a clash with Dara Bolton, will. It was the only downside to a hugely committed display from the Shannon men. Seán Brennan was solid at full-back for the winners in front of the communicative, yet effective, Jason Casey. Brendan Hughes played well at centre-back, while Joe McGauley and Patsy Keyes won critical ball at midfield. Up front, Daniel Gallery played great football, while Gary Leahy and Chris Dunning also excelled.
On a disappointing day for Kilrush, John Hayes did well at full-back but may have been more effective further out the field. Ruaidhiri O’Connor looked the most dangerous of the Kilrush forwards, none of whom kicked more than a point from play.
Wolfe Tones: Jason Casey; Bobby O’Connell, Seán Brennan, Colm McCaul; Alan Downes, Brendan Hughes (captain), Stephen McInerney; Joe McGauley, Patsy Keyes; Kevin Corbett, Daniel Gallery, Chris Dunning; Alan Hehir, Darren Ryan, Gary Leahy.
Subs: Stephen Carroll for Stephen McInerney (injured, 32), Gary Whelan for Alan Hehir, William Flynn for Alan Downes (55) and Seamus Farrell for Darren Ryan (60).
Scorers: Daniel Gallery (2-1), Gary Leahy (0-3, 2f), Brendan Hughes (0-2), Chris Dunning and Darren Ryan (0-1 each).
Kilrush: Tony Burke; Cathal Lyons, John Hayes, Niall Gilbride; Con O’Brien, Niall Clancy, Matthew Moloney; Donal O’Sullivan, Paddy Clancy; Padjoe McGrath, Peadar McMahon, James Hehir; Ruaidhiri O’Connor, Jim Young, Stephen Sweeney.
Subs: Dara Bolton for Padjoe McGrath (50) and Eoin Tarrant for Paddy Clancy (60).
Scorers: Jim Young (0-3, 1 45’, 2f), Niall Clancy, Padjoe McGrath, Stephen Sweeney, Matthew Moloney, Ruaidhiri O’Connor and Eoin Tarrant (0-1 each).
Round 2
Match Report: Peter O'Connell, Clare Champion.
Kilmurry Ibrickane cruised to a ten-point win over Kilrush in Doonbeg last Saturday. Without having to unduly extend themselves, Kilmurry qualified for the quarter-final before their third group game against Wolfe Tones, who are also through.
Kilrush are left to fight it out with Kilmihil to decide who finishes third and fourth. The latter will have to endure a relegation semi-final.
Kilrush were competitive until the third minute of first half injury time, when Johnny Daly palmed a Paul O’Connor pass to Tony Burke’s net. The move started at the far end of the pitch with a Shane Hickey line ball and the goal helped Kilmurry into a 1-8 to 0-4 interval lead and virtually assured Kilmurry a comfortable win, with half an hour left to play.
Kilrush adopted a defensive strategy for much of the opening half inviting Kilmurry on to them. Peter O’Dwyer set the tone though after just 15 seconds when he fisted the winners first score, while Daly, Enda Coughlan and Noel Downes added to their tally.
Darragh Bolton scored Kilrush’s first point in the 14th minute, while Peadar McMahon scored their remaining first half points and all of their second half scores. Just before half-time Kilrush lost wing-back Con O’Brien to a knee injury, while they replaced veteran midfielder Martin Griffin with Padjoe McGrath at half time.
Kilmurry scored the first three points of the second half to seal any semblance of hope for Kilrush who were without Paddy Clancy, recently emigrated to Germany.
Kilmurry lined out without Stephen Maloney and Declan Callinan both of whom are injured.
Kilmurry know that they will surely have to play with much more intensity from the quarter-final onwards but they didn’t need to dig very deep last Saturday.
Kilrush will surely try to lift themselves for their final group game when they play Kilmihil in what is a relegation quarter-final.
Kilmurry Ibrickane: Peter O’Dwyer; Shane Hickey, Darren Hickey, Martin McMahon; Evan Talty, Enda Coughlan, Seamus Lynch; Paul O’Connor, Peter O’Dwyer (captain); Mark McCarthy, Michael O’Dwyer, Ian McInerney; Niall Hickey, Noel Downes, Johnny Daly.
Subs: Seamus Murrihy for Ian McInerney, Michael Hogan for Johnny Daly, Keith King for Mark McCarthy.
Scorers: Johnny Daly (1-5, 0-4f), Peter O’Dwyer (0-3); Ian McInerney (0-3, 0-2f); Enda Coughlan, Noel Downes, Michael O’Dwyer (0-1 each).
Kilrush: Tony Burke; Niall Clancy, Ger O’Brien, Seamus Bolton; Con O’Brien, John Hayes, Matthew Moloney; Donal O’Sullivan (captain), Martin Griffin; Darragh Bolton, Cathal Lyons, Jim Young; Peadar McMahon, Eoin Tarrant, Ruaraí O’Connor.
Subs: Niall Gilbride for Con O’Brien (injured), Padjo McGrath for Martin Griffin, James Hehir for Ger O’Brien, Danny Lynch for Donal O’Sullivan, Alan Daly for Cathal Lyons.
Scorers: Peadar McMahon (0-6, 0-5f), Darragh Bolton (0-1).
Round 3
Courtesy of Clare Champion
Kilrush 0-11
Kilmihil 0-8
Both teams were out of contention for the Jack Daly Trophy but there was still a lot at stake when Kilrush and Kilmihil met in their final group game at Cooraclare on Saturday. Neither club wanted to be in the relegation play-off and both knew that defeat would put them into that particular battle. This was reflected in the play of both sides, as they showed a lot of urgency from the throw-in. They were evenly matched in the opening half, at the end of which just the minimum separated the teams, with the eventual winners in front.
In the second half, the Shamrocks got a slight edge and, in the final analysis, this proved decisive as they outscored their opponents 0-4 to 0-2. The win means Kilrush will go on to compete for the Senior B title, while Kilmihil, for the second year in succession, must go on and play in the relegation play-off.
Kilmihil were first to score when Shane Egan converted a free but Kilrush were quickly back on terms when Padjo McGrath kicked the equaliser, before Peadar McMahon converted a 13m free to put them ahead. Ruairi O’Connor stretched their advantage to two, before Shane Egan scored another for Kilmihil. They continued to be evenly matched in the second quarter when both added four points to leave the half-time score at 0-7 to 0-6 in favour of Kilrush. Peadar McMahon (3) and Cathal Lyons were the other first-half scorers for the Shamrocks, while Kilmihil’s remaining first-half scores came from Shane Egan, Paul Reidy, Mark O’Connell and Eamonn Ryan.
It was still anyone’s game as the second half got underway but Kilrush showed that bit more determination, which saw them keep their noses in front. Their second-half points came from Peadar McMahon, Cathal Lyons and a brace from Jim Young.
Kilmihil’s second-half scores came from Paul Reidy, as their forwards struggled to break down a well marshalled Kilrush defence.
In the final analysis, a strong performance from the Kilrush defence laid the foundations for the victory. John Hayes, Donal O’Sullivan, Jim Young and Peadar McMahon were prominent for the winners, while Mark O’Connell, Timmy Ryan and Paul Reidy worked hard for a Kilmihil outfit whose forward line struggled.
Kilrush: Tony Burke; Seamus Bolton, James Hehir, Niall Gilbride; Niall Clancy, John Hayes, Matthew Moloney; Donal O’Sullivan, Jim Young; Padjo McGrath, Cathal Lyons, Dara Bolton; Ruairi O’Connor, Eoin Tarrant, Peadar McMahon.
Subs: Stephen Sweeney for McGrath and Alan Daly for Lyons.
Scorers: Peadar McMahon (0-5), Jim Young and Cathal Lyons (0-2) each, Padjo McGrath and Ruairi O’Connor (0-1) each.
Shannon Gaels 1-8
Kilrush 0-11
Courtesy of Clare Champion
THE Senior B final ended in a welter of excitement in Cooraclare last Sunday, with Shannon Gaels’ Seán Reynolds pointing the equaliser from 40 yards, two minutes into injury time.
When Peadar McMahon pointed his fifth free on the hour mark, putting Kilrush ahead for the first time in the second half, it seemed the town team would get the better of their neighbours from the estuary.
Although they had dropped off for much of the second half, the Gaels had the resolve to create an equalising opportunity with Fergal Kenny and John Neylon, both raiding from the full-back line, combining to place Reynolds, who calmly shot over to force a replay.
However, it must be noted the Gaels would have been far adrift of Kilrush were it not for the superb performance of Keith Ryan in their goalmouth. Ryan made at least four excellent stops with his full-length second-half save from Ruaidhrí O’Connor the pick of them. The Shannon Gaels goalkeeper’s performance was one of the finest seen in Clare club football this year. Shannon Gaels settled much quicker than Kilrush, with John Paul O’Neill, Brian Cunningham and Shane Tubridy pointing them 0-3 to 0-0 ahead.
Playing into the car park end, Kilrush went on to kick five unanswered points, with Padjoe McGrath, O’Connor, Stephen Sweeney and Jim Young putting them 0-5 to 0-3 up.Minutes before half-time, John Paul O’Neill was fouled in the square and John Neylon sent the penalty low to the right of Tony Burke, who went the right way. Noel Kennedy and O’Neill added late points to leave the Gaels leading 1-5 to 0-5 at half-time.
Seven minutes before the break, Kilrush introduced Peadar McMahon, who went on to kick five points from frees, while Donal O’Sullivan was brought on after the interval. Both played important roles in helping Kilrush to play much better in the second half. Points from McMahon and Stephen Sweeney established a one-point lead for Kilrush as the end approached. It looked as if Kilrush were about to end their year with a cup but Reynolds’ point saved them.
Keith Ryan, Fergal Kenny, Seán Reynolds, John Paul O’Neill and Shane Tubridy were best for Shannon Gaels, while Stephen Sweeney, Eoin Tarrant, Chris Dixon, Peadar McMahon and Donal O’Sullivan did well for Kilrush.
The replay will be staged on Sunday at 4pm in Cooraclare when extra time will be played if necessary. Both teams were prepared to play extra-time last Sunday but the intermediate final would have been delayed had that happened.
Shannon Gaels: Keith Ryan; Brian Bermingham, John Neylon, Fergal Kenny; Michael Coughlan, Frank Cleary, Tomás Cleary; Michael O’Donoghue, Noel Kennedy; Brian Cunningham, John Bermingham, Seán Reynolds; Shane Tubridy, John Paul O’Neill, David Neylon.
Subs: Tomás Madigan for Michael Coughlan, Brian O’Shea for David Neylon and David Neylon for Noel Kennedy.
Scorers: John Paul O’Neill (0-3, 0-2f), John Neylon (1-0 pen), Michael O’Donoghue, Brian Cunningham, Noel Kennedy, Shane Tubridy and Seán Reynolds (0-1 each).
Kilrush: Tony Burke; Seamus Bolton, James Hehir, Niall Gilbride; Matthew Moloney, John Hayes, Niall Clancy; Chris Dixon, Jim Young; Padjoe McGrath, Cathal Lyons, Darragh Bolton; Stephen Sweeney, Eoin Tarrant, Ruaidhrí O’Connor.
Subs: Peadar McMahon for Pajdoe McGrath, Donal O’Sullivan for Niall Gilbride and Alan Daly for Darragh Bolton.
Scorers: Peadar McMahon (0-5f), Stephen Sweeney (0-2), Padjoe McGrath, Eoin Tarrant, Jim Young (f) and Ruaidhrí O’Connor (0-1 each).
Cusack Cup ( Div 1 snr league)
Round 1
AN injury time Jamie Gilligan goal helped Kilrush to pick up a valuable point at Hennessy Memorial Park in Miltown last Sunday.
The chances of Kilrush leaving with anything other than an opening Cusack Cup defeat looked scant after the opening 20 minutes as the Cusack Cup champions led 1-4 to 0-1, with youngster Seánie Malone finding the net.
Yet by half time Kilrush trained by just three points, 1-5 to 0-5, with top scorer Ruairí O’Connor and Peadar McMahon kicking points.
Early in the second half Kilrush wing-back Con O’Brien was shown a second yellow card but it didn’t bother them unduly. Yet with normal time having elapsed Miltown looked to have secured both points before the diminutive Gilligan pounced for that crucial late goal.
Earlier Joe Curtin and Eoin Curtin had put over a number of nice points for the home club.
Kilrush: Tony Burke; Niall Gilbride, Niall Clancy, Cathal Lyons; Con O’Brien, Matthew Moloney, John Hayes; Jim Young, Paddy Clancy, Padjoe McGrath; Paul Heaslip, Calum Bond, Ruairí O’Connor; Peadar McMahon, Stephen Sweeney.
Subs: Darragh Bolton for Calum Bond, Donal O’Sullivan for Paul Heaslip, Jamie Gilligan for Stephen Sweeney
Round 3
LEADING 0-7 to 0-4 at half-time, Doonbeg took over in the closing quarter to record their second win of the Cusack Cup campaign. Shane Ryan and David Tubridy (one free) scored two points apiece in the first half, while Brian Dillon, David Downes and Eamon Tubridy also found the target.
Tubridy added five first-half points, three from frees, while Shane Ryan scored the game’s only goal late in the game. Colm Dillon and Brian Egan completed Doonbeg’s tally.
Peadar McMahon scored three points for Kilrush, while Ruairí O’Connor, who looked dangerous when close to goal, kicked two points. Padjoe McGrath, John Hayes, Donal O’Sullivan and Ger O’Brien notched a point each for Kilrush.
Kilrush: Tony Burke; Seamus Bolton, Cathal Lyons, Niall Gilbride; Ger O’Brien, Niall Clancy, Matthew Moloney; Paul Heaslip, Jim Young; Padjoe McGrath, Stephen Sweeney, John Hayes; Ruairí O’Connor, Peader McMahon, Jamie Gilligan.
Subs: Paddy Clancy for Padjoe McGrath, Donal O’Sullivan for Paul Heaslip and Darragh Bolton for Jamie Gilligan.
Round 5
Kilrush 1-8 Liscannor 1-6
With veteran James Hehir returning to the Kilrush starting 15, the visitors scored a crucial Cusack Cup win over Liscannor in Moher last Saturday. The win lifts Kilrush off the bottom of the Cusack Cup table. They are now on three points, while Liscannor are a point ahead on four.
Kilrush led 0-5 to 0-4 at half-time with Rory O’Connor and Peadar McMahon combining to do their scoring, while Alan Clohessy and Brian Considine replied for Liscannor.
O’Connor scored Kilrush’s goal in the second half while Niall Considine’s shot also found the net at the opposite side.
Kilrush, however, held on for an important win with further scores from Rory O’Connor, Jim Young and Stephen Sweeney.
Kilrush: Ger Griffin; Seamus Bolton, John Hayes, Niall Gilbride; Matthew Moloney, Niall Clancy, Ger O’Brien; Donal O’Sullivan, Paddy Clancy; Peadar McMahon, Paul Heaslip, James Hehir; Rory O’Connor, Jim Young, Stephen Sweeney.
Subs: Con O’Brien for Ger O’Brien; Donal Madigan for Paul Heaslip.