Ennistymon secure senior quarter-final place

Ennistymon  0-9   O’Curry’s  0-7
Ennistymon have joined Éire Óg and Doonbeg in the quarter-finals of the Clare Senior Football Championship following a two-point win over O’Curry’s at Quilty on Saturday.

 

A strong third quarter by the North Clare side proved decisive on a day when they had to withstand a very strong finish from the peninsula outfit, who weren’t helped by the loss of Brian Troy to injury early in the game.

Clearly pleased to have secured a place in the quarter-finals, Ennistymon manager, Mark Shanahan acknowledged that there is still some work to be done. “When teams are level at half-time, the first five or 10 minutes of the second half are crucial and, to be fair to our lads, that was when the game was decided. We played well in that period and that was the winning of the game.”

He also agreed the strength of their panel played a part in the result. “We felt today we had a bench, which we didn’t have all year because we had lads coming back and it paid dividends. No more than the last day, there was a certain level of improvement today but, in order for us to win a quarter-final, no matter who we are playing, we have to improve again and we are under no illusions about that. In fairness, when the match was there to be won today, the boys dug in,” he said.

O’Curry’s manager, Dinny McMahon felt his charges should have been a couple of points ahead at half-time. “We are disappointed with the result but we showed great battling spirit and we will be back in training on Tuesday preparing for the next round.”

He agreed his side was unlucky not to have had a goal near the end but they might feel they should have had one or two as well. Generally, they were that couple of points better today. They were able to bring on strong players while losing Brian Troy after five minutes was a huge blow to us but we will battle on,” he concluded.

The sides were evenly matched in the first half, during which they swapped points four times before going to the break at 0-4 each. The loss of Brian Troy after just six minutes certainly upset the West Clare side who had just taken the lead through Ollie Quinlan.

The first goal chance fell to the winners but PJ Greene did well to save from Willie Murphy. Five minutes from half-time, Ennistymon goalie Pádraig Brennan saved from Michael Carmody.

Ennistymon resumed with Sean O’Driscoll in their line up and early in the third quarter they sent in Joe Dowling who was returning after the shoulder injury he picked up in the early minutes of the first round win over St Beckan’s.

Just before the end of the third quarter, Sean McConigley missed a great chance of a goal. Joe Dowling followed with a point and the winners were three clear going into the last quarter. They went four clear five minutes from the end and everything pointed to a comfortable passage but O’Curry’s piled on the pressure for the remaining time. A Damian Clohessy piledriver went inches over the bar before Eoin Troy left two between the sides when he converted a close in free.

Time ran out, however and Ennistymon emerged with a merited win on a day when Lawrence Healy and Michael Devitt did well.

The Quinlans, Sean Haugh and Jack Scanlan impressed for O’Curry’s.

Ennistymon: Pádraig Brennan; Brian McDonagh, Oisín Vaughan, Enda Ralph; Michael Houlihan, Lawrence Healy, Michael Devitt; Ciarán Devitt, Alan Horan; Michael O’Dwyer, Willie Murphy, Sean McConigley; Joey Rouine, Cathal McConigley, David Davenport
Subs: Sean O’Driscoll for C McConigley (half-time), Joe Dowling for Murphy (40 minutes), Brian Conway for Rouine (68 minutes), Kevin Scales for O’Dwyer (60 minutes).
Scorers: David Davenport (0-4, 2f), Joey Rouine (0-2), Lawrence Healy, Michael Devitt, Joe Dowling (0-1 each).
Frees for: 29; Wides: 11; 45s: 2.
Bookings: Alan Horan (49 minutes).
O’Curry’s: PJ Greene; Declan Walsh, Michael O’Shea, Paul Roche;  Eoin Brew, Brian Troy, Tom Downes; Ollie Quinlan, Ger Quinlan; Damian Carmody, Eoin Troy, Damian Clohessy; Michael Carmody, Jack Scanlan, Sean Haugh;
Subs: Jim Downes for B Troy (inj, 5 minutes); Derek Troy for Roche (inj., 36 minutes).
Scorers: Eoin Troy (1f), Jack Scanlan (0-2) each, Ollie Quinlan, Damian Carmody, Damian Clohessy (0-1 each).
Frees for: 25; Wides: 9
Bookings: PJ Greene (44 minutes), Derek Troy (57 minutes).
Referee: Pat Cosgrove, Corofin.