A winning start for Miltown St Joseph’s

There were no surprises as the intermediate football championship title race got underway at the weekend.Miltown St Joseph’s, determined to get back to senior having been relegated for the first time in their history last year, made a winning start, while Kilmurry-Ibrickane, and Kilmihil accounted for Clarecastle and Kilfenora respectively.

 

Miltown  1-9
Kildysart   0-6
Miltown St Joseph’s laid the foundations for a win in the first half, at the end of which they were 1-3 to 0-1 in front.
An early goal from Eoin Cleary gave them a lead they never relinquished.

Five points up at the break, their experience proved key in the second period when an improved Kildysart made every effort to get back into contention.
Dual player Conor Cleary added two points to his first-half score, while Ger Kelly was Kildysart’s leading forward, contributing four of their six points.

Miltown, St Joseph’s: Niall Quinn; Enda Malone, Graham Kelly, Colin McGuane; Sean Curtin, Gordon Kelly, Ian Sexton; Daragh McDonagh (0-1), John Meade; Kevin Keavey, Joe Curtin (0-1), Conor Cleary (0-3), Eoin Curtin (0-1), Eoin Cleary (1-1), Seanie Malone (0-1).
Subs: Dessie Mollohan for Keavey; Micheal Malone (0-1) for J Curtin; Enda O’Gorman for I Sexton.
Kildysart: Liam Griffin; Michael Eustace, Shane McNeilis, Kieran Ayers; Damian Hill, Brian Ayers, John Guinnane; Neil O’Connor, Keith O’Connor (0-1); Niall Guinnane (0-1), Ger Kelly (0-4) Ian Slobody; Brian O’Sullivan, Keith Murphy, John Murtagh.
Subs: Damian Murtagh for N Guinnane; Christy Clancy for J Murtagh.

Kilmurry-Ibrickane  3-7
Clarecastle  0-8
An experienced Kilmurry-Ibrickane team proved too strong for last year’s junior A champions Clarecastle in the intermediate first round game played at Coolmeen on Sunday.
Clarecastle made the better start and raced into a two-point lead, 0-3 to 0-1. A Kilmury goal from Pat Sexton put the West Clare side ahead and a minute later they had a second goal when Mark Killeen’s long-range effort dropped over the goal line.

Shortly before the half time whistle Ciarán Morrissey hit the winner’s third goal and they led at the break on a score of 3-1 to 0-5.
The Magpies fought back in the second half but Kilmurry’s first-half goals ensured they remained ahead and took the points on offer.

Kilmurry-Ibrickane: Dermot O’Brien; Eamonn Dunne, John Willie Sexton, Brendan O’Neill; Diarmuid Downes, Mark Killeen (1-0), Mark Moloney; Gary Donnellan, Vinnie Talty (0-1); Darragh Pender (0-1), John McNamara, Niall McGannon; Pat Sexton (1-1), Thomas Greene (0-3), Ciarán Morrissey (1-0).
Clarecastle: John Healy; Joe Barry, Barry Lynch, Kieran Lynch; Seanie Moloney, Kevin Clohessy (0-1), Garreth Barry; Patrick Kelly, John Reidy (0-1); Shane Galvin (0-1), Adam Healy (0-1), Jonathon Clancy; Eamonn Callinan (0-4), Aaron Considine, Donogh Murphy.
Subs: Alan Considine for Galvin (inj); Seanie Lynch for Aaron Considine (inj).

Kilmihil   1-12
Kilfenora  0-7
An early goal from Declan Downes played a big part in Kilmihil’s victory over Kilfenora in their first-round tie at Miltown on Saturday evening.
A strong wind blowing directly down the field made matters difficult for the teams and Kilfenora had the aid of this in the opening half but were guilty of some poor finishing.

The sides were level at half-time and it was clear that Kilfenora had a lot to do facing into the wind. Before the game started, they were dealt a big blow when a number of players were ruled out, including Killian Malone and Páudie Ireland.
Early in the second half, the winners piled on the pressure and scores from Martin O’Leary and Mark O’Connell saw them open a good lead.

Kilmihil: Eoin Downes; Lawrence Murray, Allyn Dalton, Derek O’Connell; Anthony Downes, Mark O’Connell, Stephen Coughlan; Timmy Ryan, Mark Coughlan; Declan Downes, Colm Calinan, Niall Pender; Martin O’Leary, Stan Lineen, Shane Egan.
Subs: David Egan for A Downes; Jonathon O’Sullivan for D O’Connell.
Kilfenora: Liam Keane; Michael J Malone, Diarmuid Nagle, Daniel Egan; Paul Reddan, Jack O’Dea, Cian O’Dea; James Keane, Sean O’Gorman; David McNamara, Pat Connole, Jason Connole; Austin Kelly, Micheal Duffy, Matthew Egan.