Barefield back on track as Kilkee face relegation threat

St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield  0-12

St Senan’s Kilkee  0-8

FOLLOWING their second successive championship defeat, Kilkee must win their next game to avoid relegation to intermediate level. The 2003 and 2005 county champions were not as balanced as Doora-Barefield, who unlike their previous game against Cooraclare, made a match-winning start.

Although Kilkee were aided by a swirling breeze in Kilmihil last Saturday morning, St Joseph’s led 0-6 to 0-1 after just 14 minutes.
Had Kilkee goaled from their first attack perhaps it would have put their opponents under severe pressure. However, David Russell’s long ball into Chris Williamson didn’t break for Kilkee. St Joseph’s goalkeeper, Declan O’Keeffe, came off his line to contest the dropping ball and was awarded a free out.
A minute later, Alan O’Neill pointed the winners’ first score. Cathal Duggan added four scores for St Joseph’s, three from frees, as they established a match-winning grip. David O’Brien deflected their fourth point over after another Duggan free. Michael O’Shea’s 14th minute pointed free was Kilkee’s first, as they trailed 0-6 to 0-1 after the opening quarter.
St Joseph’s tagged on just a single point, however, from there to half-time, with Ivor Whyte scoring, as O’Shea put over three scores for Kilkee and Brian Harte added their fifth.
Just two points down at half-time, 0-7 to 0-5, Kilkee entered the dressing room with renewed hope. They had been hit with a Stephen Maguire finger injury just before the throw-in to further deplete their options, although Brian Clancy returned to the panel and was introduced at half-time.
Kilkee were level by the 10th minute of the second half with O’Shea pointing two frees, the second won by Brian Harte.
St Joseph’s mettle was now under scrutiny but they outscored Kilkee 0-5 to 0-1 in the closing 20 minutes. Declan O’Keeffe pointed a 45’ and a long-distance free, with Duggan tagging on three more frees won by Mark Hallinan, Alan O’Neill and Greg Lyons.
O’Shea put over Kilkee’s last score, again from a free after Brian Harte had been fouled.
“The way we performed against Cooraclare was very disappointing. We didn’t really get out of the blocks at all so I think it was important to get a good start and we definitely did that. But we let Kilkee back into the game towards the end of the first half. We dug deep though and while it wasn’t the greatest performance in the world, you could say it was workman like,” St Joseph’s manager Mark Rafferty said.
“We talked about where it went wrong against Cooraclare. And while it was maybe the game plan we had, senior players have to be able to adapt to different situations. I know it was a wet day in Lissycasey but, at the same time, Cooraclare seemed to be well up for the game. We didn’t play that well last Saturday but at least we came out on the right side of the result,” he added.
Kilkee selector, Donal Hayes acknowledged their senior status is on the line. If they lose their next game, Kilkee will be playing intermediate football in 2013.
“It’s about getting our heads together and getting set for one big game. Do or die. Nobody wants to go down because if you go down, it’s going to be very hard to get back up considering the population of West Clare and the way it is falling,” he reflected.
“We’re struggling with numbers at the moment. If we can stay for another year and hold our senior players then, hopefully, we’ll steady the ship for another year and then see where we go. But if we go down we go down and it’s going to be a long haul back up,” Hayes predicted.

Doora-Barefield: Declan O’Keeffe; Paudie Nugent, Kevin Dilleen, Martin Brooks; Seán Flynn (captain), Stephen Collins, Eamon Clohessy; Alan O’Neill, Mark Hallinan; David O’Brien, Cathal O’Sullivan, Enda Lyons; Cathal Duggan, Ivor Whyte, Greg Lyons.
Subs: Ja Colleran for Cathal O’Sullivan, Damien Kennedy for Eamon Clohessy (both half-time) and Christy O’Brien for Enda Lyons (50).
Scorers: Cathal Duggan (0-7, 5f), Declan O’Keeffe (0-2, 1 45’, 1f), Alan O’Neill, David O’Brien and Ivor Whyte (0-1 each).
Wides: 3; frees won: 19
Yellow cards: Mark Hallinan, Alan O’Neill, Eamon Clohessy, Enda Lyons and Greg Lyons.

Kilkee: Kevin Harte (captain); Darren Clarke, Brendan Smith, Darren Owens; Gavin Melican, Micheál Keane, Thomas Galvin; Darragh Kelly, David Russell; Barry Harte, Michael O’Shea, Brian Harte; Ronan Browne, Chris Williamson, Thomas McGrath.
Scorers: Michael O’Shea (0-7, 6f) and Brian Harte (0-1).
Wides: 5; frees won: 26
Yellow cards: Brendan Smith, David Russell, Darragh Kelly, Thomas McGrath and Michael O’Shea.
Referee: Michael Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane).