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Deserved win for Kilmurry-Ibrickane


Kilmurry-Ibrickane 2-14 Miltown 1-11

A BLISTERING start, which saw them nine points clear inside 20 minutes, laid the foundations for Kilmurry-Ibrickane’s merited win over neighbours and rivals Miltown St Joseph’s at Ennistymon on Saturday evening.
Miltown had the margin down to three as half-time approached but any hopes of them causing a surprise and beating the title holders were rocked just before the short whistle when full-back, Graham Kelly, was sent off on a straight red card following a clash with Odran O’Dwyer.
Kilmurry also finished with 14 after Shane Hickey was sent off on a second yellow card just before the full-time whistle. In addition to the sending offs, the game saw 10 yellow cards issued by match official Michael Rock.
Miltown had the advantage of the wind in the second half but being a man short proved a major obstacle and the champions always looked likely winners.
The movement of the Kilmurry forwards caused huge problems for their opponents, particularly in the first half when the experienced Odran O’Dwyer together with Mark McCarthy were particularly prominent. On the day, they managed 0-9 between them and the Kilmurry management could afford to replace both in the closing stages of the game.
Points were swapped in the opening minutes but Kilmurry then hit a purple patch and after points from Stephen Moloney, Mark McCarthy (2) and Odran O’Dwyer, Noel Downes had their first goal when he flicked a McCarthy delivery to the net. Shortly afterwards, a defence-splitting move, started by midfielder Paul O’Connor, ended with Michael O’Dwyer finding the net and the title holders were well on their way.
Miltown were thrown a lifeline seven minutes from the break when Eoin Curtin converted a penalty after Michael Barry was fouled but the winners finished the half strongly with points from Martin McMahon, Mark McCarthy and Michael O’Dwyer to go to the break leading by double scores, 2-8 to 1-4.
The sides exchanged points early in the second half and then the game got quite needly with referee, Michael Rock, having to issue a number of yellow cards in a 10-minute spell as the game moved towards the end of the third quarter. At this stage, it was 2-9 to 1-5 and Kilmurry quickly added a brace of points to go nine clear with 10 minutes to go.
Miltown had three in-a-row to keep their hopes alive but that said, Kilmurry never looked like losing their grip on the tie and when the final whistle sounded, they were six points clear.
In the closing stages, Kilmurry made a number of changes introducing the likes of Ian McInerney, Peter O’Dwyer, Keith King, Niall Hickey and Brendan Moloney all of which highlights the strength of their panel as they chase a third successive Clare senior title.

Kilmurry-Ibrickane: Peter O’Dwyer; Darren Hickey, Mark Killeen, Martin McMahon; Evan Talty, Shane Hickey, Declan Callinan; Paul O’Connor, Enda Coughlan; Michael Hogan, Michael O’Dwyer, Stephen Moloney; Mark McCarthy, Odran O’Dwyer, Noel Downes.
Subs: Ian McInerney for Moloney (42 minutes), Keith King for O’Connor (50 minutes), Niall Hickey for O’O’Dwyer (52 minutes); Peter O’Dwyer for McCarthy (57minutes), Brendan Moloney for Talty (57 minutes).
Scorers: Mark McCarthy (0-5), Odran O’Dwyer (0-4, 2f); Michael O’Dwyer (1-1, 0-1f); Noel Downes (1-0), Martin McMahon, Stephen Moloney, Niall Hickey, Ian McInerney (0-1) each.
Frees for: 21; wides: 9; 45s:1.
Bookings: Martin McMahon (14 minutes), Evan Talty (23 minutes), Michael O’Dwyer (35 minutes), Enda Coughlan (39 minutes), Stephen Moloney (42 minutes); Mark McCarthy (45 minutes), Shane Hickey (38 minutes and 63 minutes).
Sent off: Shane Hickey (66 minutes).
Comment: “ We knew coming into this game that this was potentially the biggest test we could have this year. This was a real make-or-break game for us, to see where we are. It was a good free-flowing open game, which is what we were looking for. The conditions suited us and Ennistymon pitch suited us. We are looking forward to the next challenge now which is Cratloe,” Martin Keavey, Kilmurry-Ibrickane manager.

Miltown St Joseph’s: Conor O’Loughlin; Enda Malone, Graham Kelly, Shane Curtin; David Cleary, Gordon Kelly, Enda O’Gorman; Seán Meade, John Meade; Kevin Keavey, Gary Egan, Micheál Malone; Joe Curtin, Michael Barry, Eoin Curtin.
Subs:  Sexton for Shane Curtin (inj, 14 minutes); Dessie Mollohan for Keavey (half-time), Cathal Lafferty for Egan (half-time) Gearoid Curtin for J Meade (44 minutes), Seánie Malone for J Curtin (55 minutes).
Scorers: Eoin Curtin (1-5, 1-0 penalty, 0-3f);  Michael Barry (0-2, 1f); Joe Curtin (free), Gordon Kelly, Dessie Mollohan, Micheál Malone (0-1) each.
Frees for: 26; wides: 4; 45s: 1.
Bookings: Eoin Curtin (40 minutes), Cathal Lafferty (44 minutes); Seán Meade (50 minutes).
Sent off: Graham Kelly (32 minutes).
Comment: “Conceding two goals in the first 15 minutes was the diference between the teams and being down to 14 men definitely put us up against it in the second half. If we had 15, we would have been there or there about at the end. Losing the first round to Liscannor was costly. They were the better team on the day but we didn’t play as well as we did in most of the other days this year,” Michael Nealon, Miltown manager.

Referee: Michael Rock, Ennistymon.

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