Champions Kilmurry grind out a result

Kilmurry-Ibrickane 0-12   Éire Óg 0-11

DISPLAYING a grim determination to hold on to The Clare Champion-sponsored Cusack Cup for the third successive year, Kilmurry-Ibrickane ground out their latest win in Kilmihil last Saturday evening. They withstood a gutsy Éire Óg team, which features a young spine, augmented by a few still able veterans.

While Kilmurry didn’t play with the fluency evident in some of their performances in recent seasons, their calmness in adversity steered them to an eighth Cusack Cup title, including three won by Quilty in the mid 1930s. Although the Kilmihil pitch was in excellent condition, a series of thunder showers led to a slippery surface where players found it hard to keep their feet.

The result turned on an Éire Óg penalty six minutes into the first half of extra time in what was a replayed final. Danny Russell floated a diagonal ball in the direction of full forward Stephen Hickey who was impeded by Kilmurry goalkeeper Peter O’Dwyer. Referee Pat Cosgrove indicated for a penalty which Eoin Glynn took but his effort hit the right post. In the ensuring scramble Graham Glynn nearly goaled but his shot was deflected for a 45’, which Hickey kicked wide.

From the resultant kick out, Kilmurry moved the ball up field, culminating in Kilmurry captain Michael O’Dwyer kicking the winners into a 0-11 to 0-8 lead.

At that stage Kilmurry were minus Martin McMahon, red carded in first-half injury time following an incident involving Graham Glynn, which was spotted by linesman Stephen Coughlan. However,  Kilmurry didn’t have to make do with 14 players for long as John Sexton replaced McMahon at the start of extra time with the teams tied at 0-9 apiece. The second half of extra time featured an excellent Darren Hickey block on Danny Russell while Keith King was nearly through on the Éire Óg goalmouth, only to lose his balance.

Shortly after that Stephen Hickey pointed a free awarded against a Kilmurry player for touching the ball on the ground, inside the small square. However Michael O’Dwyer, from a free won by his brother Peter, kicked Kilmurry into a 0-12 to 0-11 lead, five minutes from the end of the second half of extra time. Kilmurry didn’t score thereafter while Eoin Glynn kicked Éire Óg’s final score in the last minute, following a turn over won by Dean Ryan. A few minutes earlier Stephen Hickey miss hit a scoreable free won by Aaron Fitzgerald. Hickey’s free was gathered by Paul O’Connor. Had that gone over perhaps Éire Óg might have managed to squeeze out a second draw.

However, Kilmurry just about deserved to win it. Not panicking when things were not flowing for them was probably the key factor. The first half of normal time was low scoring and close as evidenced by the 0-4 apiece half-time score. Enda Coughlan kicked two points from wing back in the opening half, while Éire Óg centre-forward Bryan Dolan did likewise.

Kilmurry started the second half with Evan Talty at wing-back, Niall Hickey at wing forward and Enda Coughlan in the corner but allowed to roam.

Again the teams could not be separated at this stage with Michael O’Dwyer kicking two scores for Kilmurry, although he also aimed a couple of efforts well wide. His brother Odran and Coughlan again, landed quality points for the eventual winners, while the point of the half was kicked by Stephen Hickey, who was set up by Darren O’Neill and Eoin Glynn. In fact, Hickey and Seán O’Meara (frees) were the only Éire Óg men to score in the second half of normal time.

Peter O’Dwyer made an excellent second half save for Kilmurry while in front of him Shane Hickey and Declan Callinan played well. Enda Coughlan was the winners’ best player while Michael O’Dwyer also made a match winning contribution from centre forward.

Aaron Fitzgerald, Donie Lyne, Conor Brennan, Darren O’Neill and Stephen Hickey did well for Éire Óg while Seán Crotty contributed positively when introduced.

Kilmurry-Ibrickane: Peter O’Dwyer; Martin McMahon, Darren Hickey, Shane Hickey; Enda Coughlan, Paul O’Connor, Declan Callinan; Peter O’Dwyer, Keith King; Evan Talty, Michael O’Dwyer (captain), Stephen Moloney; Johnny Daly, Mark McCarthy, Niall Hickey.
Subs: Odran O’Dwyer for Johnny Daly (41), Thomas Lernihan for Evan Talty (55), John Willie Sexton for Martin McMahon (extra time after red card for McMahon in normal time), Michael Hogan for Niall Hickey (65), Thomas O’Connor for Declan Callinan (80).
Scorers: Enda Coughlan (0-4, 0-1f), Michael O’Dwyer (0-4, 0-1f), Niall Hickey (f), Evan Talty, Odran O’Dwyer, Mark McCarthy (0-1 each).
Wides: 8; Frees won: 34; ­Yellow cards: Stephen Moloney, Evan Talty, Declan Callinan. 
Red card: Martin McMahon.
Éire Óg: Eoin Slattery; Conor Brennan, Donie Lyne, Aaron Fitzgerald; Seán Corry, Ciarán Russell, David Russell; Brian Frawley, Darren O’Neill; Eoin Glynn (captain), Bryan Dolan, Dean Ryan; Graham Glynn, Stephen Hickey, Seán Meara.
Subs: Liam Corry for Dean Ryan, Seán Crotty (both 48), Danny Russell for Bryan Dolan (65), David Monaghan for Seán O’Meara (70), Dean Ryan for Conor Brennan (76).
Scorers: Seán O’Meara (0-4f), Stephen Hickey (0-4, 0-1f, 0-1 ’45), Bryan Dolan 0-2, Eoin Glynn 0-1.
Wides: 12; Frees won: 35; 45’s: 2.
Yellow cards: Eoin Glynn, Brian Frawley, Seán Corry.
Referee: Pat Cosgrove (Corofin).