Cooraclare and Lissycasey seal quarter final places

Two senior quarter finalists, two intermediate semi-finalists, one junior A quarter finalist and a junior B finalist in the football championships have all been confirmed after this Saturday’s action.

Cooraclare and Lissycasey advanced to the last eight in the race for the Jack Daly cup (senior championship) where they join Cratloe, Doonbeg, Kilmurry-Ibrickane and title holders Miltown St. Josephs who had secured their last eight places two weeks ago. the remaining two quarter finalists will be decided this Sunday

Lissycasey overcame the disadvantage of being a player short for the second half which they dominated against O’Curry’s at Cooraclare. Ahead by 1-4 to 0-4 at half time, the goal coming from Cathal Doohan, they dominated the second half when they outscored their opponents, 0-10 to 0-1 to reverse the result from the same stage last year when O’Currys were one point winners.

A strong first half showing helped Cooraclare to their win over Wolfe Tones. Last year’s beaten finalists were 2-6 to 1-2 in front at half time helped by goals from Rory and Hughie Donnelly andthey had stretched this to 3-9 to 1-4 at the three quarter stage. Wolfe Tones were then reduced to fourteen men and also had their captain Sean Brennan black carded but they put in a storming finish which yielded 2-2 in the closing minutes. However it wasn’t enough to prevent Cooraclare from recording a merited win.

Neighbours Eire Og and St. Josephs Doora-Barefield played out an exciting senior championship relegation play off game at Shannon which required extra time at the end of which the town side had secured their senior status for 2017 with a one point win, 1-13 to 1-12

Earlier in the day Kildysart scored a two goal win over Liscannor (2-12 to 0-12) to seal their passage to the intermediate championship semi-final. Kilfenora topped that group when they had a two point win over Coolmeen (2-10 to 2-8).

Six quarter finalists in the junior A title race are now known following Meelick’s 2-12 to 0-7 win over Ennistymon. The South East Clare side join Michael Cusacks, Naomh Eoin, Killimer, Clooney-Quin and Cooraclare in the last eight. The remaining two teams will come from group 1 where there are still two rounds of games to be played.

Banner GAA have qualified for the junior B championship final thanks to a comfortable 2-15 to 0-6 win over St. Breckans.

Meanwhile, Doonbeg are through to the Cusack cup semi-final after a three point win over Cratloe at Doonbeg.

The way is clear for the division 3 hurling league final where east Clare neighbours Bodyke and Ogonnelloe will do battle. Bodyke were 3-10 to 0-15 winners over Clonlara while Ogonnelloe scored a 1-14 to 0-13 victory over Sixmilebridge in the other semi-final.

By Seamus Hayes