Feakle shatter Ennistymon’s Intermediate Championship aspirations

Ennistymon’s dream of a place in the play-off stages of the Intermediate Hurling Championship was shattered on Saturday evening when they suffered a 10-point defeat at the hands of Feakle.

With Parteen beating Meelick by a similar margin, it means the North Clare club, unbeaten prior to Saturday, are out of the title race. Feakle have finished top of the group on score difference from Parteen, with Ennistymon next but only the top two remain in the race.

Having suffered a defeat in the opening round, Killanena have bounced back to claim top spot in their group. On Saturday, they had a two-goal win over Crusheen and this earns them a semi-final spot with Crusheen in the play-off for the remaining spot. Corofin’s loss to Sixmilebridge means they will be in the relegation play-off.

Ruan completed their league programme with another win to secure top spot in their group. Ogonnelloe’s draw with neighbours Bodyke was enough to see them finish second and stay in the race. Bodyke go into the relegation play-off.

Feakle 3-15   Ennistymon 2-8

The ability of Feakle to score goals at crucial times of the game was the deciding factor in this lively championship encounter held at Gurteen on Saturday evening last. Playing with the aid of a stiff breeze in drizzly conditions, Feakle had two pointed frees and a goal scored by Gary Guilfoyle on the board within the first five minutes of the game before Ennistymon had an excellent goal from county U-21 player Cathal Malone following good work by Dave Kenneally.

The North Clare side kept in touch for the following 20 minutes or so with a point from Tadhg Malone and three further points from Cathal Malone before Feakle scored a critical goal from Colin Nelson just before the break, leaving the score at 2-7 to 1-4 for Feakle.

Ennistymon held a brief spell of dominance on the resumption with scores from Tadhg Malone and two more for Cathal Malone before a timely goal from Gary Guilfoyle seemed to knock the stuffing out of Ennistymon and Feakle continued to tack on the points from there on. A late goal from Sean Driscoll put more respectability on the scoreboard from an Ennistymon point of view but their over reliance on the impressive Cathal Malone for scores was a telling factor, as only two of their forwards got on the score sheet,

Having said that, they will be disappointed to exit the championship on scoring difference. Ennistymon had excellent displays from Cathal Malone, Enda Ralph, Sean Driscoll, Tadhg Malone and Michael McDonagh.
Gary Guilfoyle was Feakle’s top scorer with 2-4 to his credit on a day when eight players shared in their tally.

Feakle: Eibhear Quilligan; Peter Collins, Henry Hayes, Alan Hogan; Ger Hanrahan, Colm Naughton, Francis O’Grady; Shane McGrath, Cillian Bane; Oisín Donnellan, Raymond Bane, Eoin Tuohy; Stevie Moloney, Gary Guilfoyle, Colin Nelson.
Subs: Cathal Collins for R Bane; Tom Moroney for S Moloney and Kenneth Collins for Tuohy.
Ennistymon: Cathal McDonagh; Michael A Devitt, Kevin Scales, Danny Harvey; Enda Ralph, Michael McDonagh, Michael Organ; Sean Driscoll (1-0), Brian McDonagh; Tommy Hogan, Cathal Malone (1-5), Dave Kenneally; Robert McDonagh, Pádraig Kelleher, Tadhg Malone (0-2).
Subs: Aidan Slattery for Harvey, Brendan Hogan (0-1) for R McDonagh, Pádraig Brennan for T Hogan, Darren Mullins for P Kelleher and Martin Green for M Organ.

Parteen 3-12   Meelick 1-8

There was a lot at stake in this all-parish derby tie played at Ogonnelloe on Saturday evening. Parteen needed to win to keep their hopes of championship glory alive, while Meelick needed a win to get out of the relegation spot.

Parteen justified pre-match favouritism when they proved too strong for their neighbours but they had to battle hard to get the upper hand. Meelick had the better of the early exchanges but by half-time Parteen had got their noses in front and led by a point, 2-4 to 1-6, helped by a goal just before the break.

In the second half, Parteen had the better of matters and pulled away to earn a merited win to keep their hopes of success alive. They scored 1-4 without reply and after this Meelick were fighting an uphill battle. Parteen must play off with Crusheen and Ogonnelloe for the remaining semi-final spot.

Parteen: Alan Murnane; Cian McCarthy, Philip Lavin, Kevin McGleenan; Matthew McSweeney, James Long, Sean Beatty; Dara Yelverton, Martin Moroney; Paudi Ó Connor (1-2), Ronan Conlon (2-1), Pa Campion, David Small (0-5), Joe O Connor (0-4), Noel Bridgeman.
Subs: Mark Boland for Campion and Brian McSweeney for Bridgeman.
Meelick: James Duffy; Jim White, Richard O’Grady, Eanna Mulvihill; Dara Quinn (0-3), Damian Moloney (0-1), Bobby Sherlock; Gary Callinan, Adam Sherlock (0-1); Andy White, Alan Markham, Sean O’Connor (1-2); Oisín Hickey (0-1), Ger Markham, Kenneth Keane.
Subs: Colin Ryan for G Callinan and Cathal Sherlock for Ger Markham.

Killanena 2-12   Crusheen 0-12

A strong first-half showing helped Killanena to this merited win over Crusheen at Tubber on Saturday. Helped by a goal from David McNamara, they were 1-10 to 0-4 ahead when the half-time whistle sounded. A second David McNamara goal in the second half ensured the East Clare side stayed in front for a victory that sees them top the group.

Mark Flaherty was their top scorer with 0-8 to his credit. Todd Kelsey, who caused a lot of problems for Crusheen, hit three points while Alan McNamara, another to impress, chipped in with a point from wing-back. John O’Meara and Michael Noone were others to impress for the winners, who won the title in 2010 before losing their status last year.

Killanena: David Noone; Owen McMahon, Pat Noone, Barry Noone; Martin Glynn, John O’Meara, Alan McNamara (0-1); Pádraig Brady, Michael Noone; Fintan McNamara, Mark Flaherty (0-8), Declan Noonan; Todd Kelsey (0-3), David McNamara (2-0), Colin McNamara.
Subs: Stephen McMahon for D Noonan and Michael Noonan for C McNamara.
Crusheen: David McMahon; Donal Dillon, Conor Hayes, Tony McMahon; Briain Dillon, Shaun Dillon (0-1), Rory Halpin; Eddie Fogarty, Alan Tuohy; Brendan McMahon (0-1), Thomas Vaughan, Niall Fitzgibbon (0-1); Niall Kearney, Patrick O’Grady (0-3), Dara O’Doherty (0-6).
Sub: Youen Horner for Vaughan

Sixmilebridge 1-10   Corofin 0-11

Trailing by two points with less than five minutes remaining, it seemed Sixmilebridge were on their way to their third consecutive championship defeat. However, full-forward Rory Liddane had other ideas as he netted a vital goal to ensure intermediate status for 2012.

Both teams went into this game knowing a win was vital not only to avoid a relegation play-off but also to keep up their hopes of making it to semi-finals. Corofin were better placed than their opponents as they had already picked up a victory over Killanena in Round 1. Sixmilebridge led at the interval, 0-6 to 0-5.

The North Clare team edged ahead on the resumption to lead by 0-11 to 0-9 with five minutes remaining only for Liddane to net the all-important goal.

Corofin will be particularly disappointed as they wasted a lot of scoring chances during the hour.

Sixmilebridge: Stephen Fleming; Cathal Walsh, Brian Carey, Ger Quilligan; Jonathan Downes (0-1), Tommy Morey (0-2, 0-1 65), Sean Stack Jnr; Sam O’Sullivan (0-1), Adrian Chaplin; Darragh O’Connor, Stiofán Fitzpatrick (Capt), David O’Connor (0-4, 0-2f); Conor Deasy (0-2; 0-1f), Rory Liddane (1-0), Darragh Fitzgerald.
Subs: Eanna Burns for Walsh (inj) and Evan McInerney for Darragh O’Connor.
Corofin: Liam Corbett; Eamonn Dunne, Donnacda Kelleher, Brendan Keane; Manus Malone, Martin Tierey, Damian Ryan (0-1); Neil Killeen, Stephen Heagney (0-6); John Keane (0-1), Eamonn Malone, Gearóid Kelly; Gary Tierney, Kevin Heagney (0-1), Killian Neylon (0-2).
Sub: Declan Stack for Kelly.

Ruan 0-16   Newmarket 1-9

Beaten finalists for the past two years, Ruan confirmed their place in the semi-finals of this year’s title race with victory over Newmarket on Saturday evening.

They were, however, under a lot of pressure and goalkeeper Pakie Roughan came to their aid on a number of occasions with some fine stops.

Full-forward Aidan Lynch was their top scorer with 0-7, while Colin Donoghue (0-4) and Patrick Keegan (0-3) made valuable contributions also.

Newmarket failed to turn some good possession into scores and, at the end of the day, this proved costly for them and ended their involvement in this year’s title race.

Ruan: Pakie Roughan; Gary Bell, Niall O’Connor, Leon Quirke; Killian Ryan, Jonathon Clohessy, Dara Roughan; Eoin Hanrahan, Tadhg Hanrahan; John Punch, Colin Donoghue, Michael Vaughan; Brendan Lyons, Aidan Lynch, Partick Keegan.
Subs: Caimin Howard for Keegan and Damian Brohan for E Hanrahan (inj).
Newmarket: Ian Mulcahy; Eoin McInerney, Brian Clancy, Brendan Mullins; Shane Kelliher, Brian McMahon, Martin Frawley; Frank Melody, Niall Enright; Neil Ryan, Shane Liddy, Alan McInerney; Martin Murphy, Dominick McMahon, Paudie Hayes.
Subs: Seanie Arthur for D McMahon, Evan Keogh for Hayes and Hayes for Ryan.

Bodyke 1-8   Ogonnelloe 1-8

East Clare neighbours, Bodyke and Ogonnelloe, shared the spoils in a tie played in difficult conditions at Scariff on Saturday. The draw was enough to see Ogonnelloe into the play-offs for a semi-final place but not enough to save Bodyke from a relegation play-off with Corofin and Meelick.

There was little between the sides throughout a free-ridden tie and while both can point to missed chances, a draw was a fair outcome on the day. Ogonnelloe led by three points at half-time, 1-4 to 1-1, after playing with the aid of the breeze. Ozer McMahon was their goalscorer five minutes from half-time when he latched on to a cross from Patrick Mooney. Full-forward Kieran Walsh was Bodyke’s goalscorer.

Bodyke: Seamus Ryan; Colin Molloy, Caimin Treacy, Keith O’Donnell; Oisín Molloy, PJ Kelleher, Manus Maguire; Stephen Madden, Colin Madden; Danny Maguire, Ivan McNamara, Brian O’Grady; John Fitzgerald (0-1), Kieran Walsh (1-0), Paddy Fitzgerald (0-7).
Subs: Keith Quigley for O’Grady (inj) and Paddy Walsh for McNamara.
Ogonnelloe: Eoin Sheedy; Sean Kikkers, Colm Forde, Eoin Collins; John O’Brien, Peter O’Brien (0-4f), Peter English; Daniel Cunnane, Thomas Condon; Patrick Barton, Ozer McMahon, Robert Dreelin; Patrick Mooney, Barry Kiely (0-2, 1f), Paul Healy (0-1).
Subs: Rory Skelly for Healy (half-time), Kieran Forde (0-1) for Barton and Michael N Bugler for Dreelin.