All too easy for Kilmurry-Ibrickane

Kilmurry-Ibrickane  1-14

Kilrush  0-7

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).
Wides: 5; frees won: 18; 45s: 2
Yellow cards: Enda Coughlan.
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).
Wides: 10; frees won: 18; 45s: 0
Yellow cards: Eoin Tarrant, John Hayes.
Referee: Michael McGann (Michael Cusack’s).