Cooraclare turn it on at the right time

Cooraclare 0-11
St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield  1-3

Cooraclare turned league form completely on its head when they comprehensively outplayed the 2011 county finalists in Lissycasey on Saturday afternoon.

The winners were in total control in the opening half, with St Joseph’s registering their first score with the very last kick of the half, when Cathal Duggan pointed from play.
The Cusack Cup and O’Gorman Cup finalists looked very flat and lacked any zip in their play while Cooraclare, relegated to Division 3 in the league, pounced on every break, played constructive football and simply were far more up for it.
A very heavy shower, accompanied by a couple of rolls of thunder 20 minutes before the game made the surface very difficult for both teams.
It didn’t hamper Cooraclare however, with wing-back Colm Carroll finishing a slick move to kick their first score at the car park end. A turnover forced by Cathal Lillis presented Michael Kelly with a chance to kick the first of his two points, while Seán Maguire added another score from play as Cooraclare ruled midfield, with Gearóid Looney very effective. Rory Donnelly put over Cooraclare’s remaining points from three frees, two of which were won by Cathal Lillis, with John Looney fouled for the third.
St Joseph’s had to act and they did so with the introduction of the Lyons brothers, Greg and Enda, six minutes before half-time. Duggan’s injury-time point gave them some half-time solace but early second-half points from Kelly, after Cooraclare won the throw-in and John Looney, found by a diagonal ball from Kelly, edged Cooraclare into a 0-8 to 0-1 lead.
To have any chance, St Joseph’s needed a goal and Cathal O’Sullivan buried a superb one after Alan O’Neill had cut through the Cooraclare defence. Rallying St Joseph’s, O’Neill was fouled by Declan McMahon a few minutes later, allowing Duggan to point the free. Now within three points, 0-8 to 1-2, Doora-Barefield enjoyed a good spell of possession but couldn’t manufacture a second-half point from play. Cooraclare were sucked downfield at this stage and had lost their shape in the half-forward line and when Duggan pointed another free, nine minutes from time, it looked as if Cooraclare might wobble. However, Joe Downes then kicked a critical score from play to re-establish a three-point lead, 0-9 to 1-3. Four minutes from time, Rory Donnelly shot over an equally excellent point to hand the winners a four-point advantage.
St Joseph’s knew they were finished at this stage and Cathal Lillis confirmed that when he played a one-two with John Looney and banged over his side’s last score.
Aside from when St Joseph’s picked up their game for a while in the second half, Cooraclare played controlled, committed football.
Seán Garry had an excellent hour at corner-back, as did wing-back Colm Carroll, while Michael Kelly kicked crucial points from play. Cathal Lillis and Rory Donnelly both contributed significantly.
For a very disappointing St Joseph’s team, Cathal Duggan, Alan O’Neill and Seán Flynn were best.

Cooraclare: Declan Keane; Michael Chambers, Conor Marrinan (captain), Seán Garry; Declan McMahon, Thomas Donnellan, Colm Carroll; Seán Maguire, Gearóid Looney; Michael Kelly, Thomas Downes, Joe Downes; Cathal Lillis, Rory Donnelly, John Looney.
Subs: Andrew O’Neill for Seán Maguire.
Scorers: Rory Donnelly (0-4, 0-3f), Michael Kelly (0-2), Colm Carroll, Seán Maguire, John Looney, Joe Downes, Cathal Lillis (0-1 each).
Wides: 9; Frees won: 16; 45s: 1
Yellow cards: Declan McMahon.

Doora-Barefield: Declan O’Keeffe; Paudie Nugent, Kevin Dilleen, Martin Brooks; Ger Fannin, Seán Flynn (captain), Eamon Clohessy; Alan O’Neill, Mark Hallinan; Paul Dullaghan, David O’Brien, Cathal O’Sullivan; Cathal Duggan, Ivor Whyte, Luke Brannock.
Subs: Greg Lyons for Paul Dullaghan; Enda Lyons for Mark Hallinan and Gavin O’Sullivan for Luke Brannock.
Wides: 12; Frees won: 20; 45s: 2.
Yellow cards: Cathal O’Sullivan, Ger Fannin, Ivor Whyte, Cathal Duggan. 

Referee: Barry Kelly, St Joseph’s, Miltown.