First defeat for Liscannor

DIVISION 2 leaders Liscannor suffered their first defeat of this campaign when going under by the minimum margin to Cratloe on Saturday.
Despite the loss, they still remain at the top of the table, a point ahead of Lissycasey with Clondegad, Cratloe and O’Curry’s all tied together, a further point back.
St Senan’s, Cooraclare and St Breckan’s are battling to avoid relegation. The Kilkee men who are pointless must win their remaining two games to have any chance of avoiding the drop to Division 3.

 

Cratloe 1-10   Liscannor 1-9

CRATLOE caused a surprise when they accounted for unbeaten Liscannor at Cratloe on Saturday evening.
As the scoreline suggests, there was little between the sides throughout and the home side hit the winning point in the last minute.
Outstanding performances from inter-county hurlers Sean Collins and Liam Markham proved vital for the South Clare side.
With a number of key players ruled out due to injury, the winners were fortunate to have Collins and Markham available and they certainly proved their value to the team.
Cratloe led by two points at the interval but Liscannor fought back in the second half and a share of the spoils looked likely when they drew level with the full-time whistle approaching. However, the home side had the final say and Liam Markham kicked the winning score.
Markham was also his side’s goalscorer, while Liscannor’s major came from Niall Considine.

Cratloe: Wes De Loughrey; John O’Gorman, Barry Duggan, Thomas O’Connor; Sean Chaplin, Michael Hawes, Enda Boyce; Conor Ryan, Kevin Browne; Aidan Browne, Pádraig Chaplin, Robert Conlon; Sean Collins, Liam Markham, Damian Browne.
Liscannor: Noel Kilmartin; Alan Canavan, Davy McDonagh, Shane Canavan; Alan McDonagh, Michael Foley, Kieran Roche; Brian Considine, Joe Considine; Ronan Slattery, Niall Considine, Gerry Considine; Dara Blake, Pádraig Haugh, Robert Lucas.
Subs: Alan Clohessy for Haugh; Davy Commane for J Considine.

Clondegad 4-9   St Senan’s 1-6

THE sides were evenly matched, until shortly before half-time, in this tie played at Ballynacally. Then the home side then edged clear and were four points clear when the half-time whistle sounded before dominating the second half when they confined the visitors to just a point.
The winners hit the front as early as the second minute when Paudge McMahon had the opening goal and he quickly added a point. Kevin Donnelly had their second goal in the eighth minute after a Pat Coffey break and there was a third goal shortly before half-time when McMahon again struck, after good work by Francis O’Reilly and Shane Brennan. It was 3-3 to 1-5 in the home side’s favour when the half-time whistle sounded.
Darren Owens had a point for Kilkee early in the second half but it was to be their only score. A brace of Kenneth Kelly points were followed by a Shane Brennan goal as the home side dictated affairs.

Clondegad: Darren Cleary; Brian Murphy, Cormac Ryan, Flan Enright; Conor Gavin, Ciaran Browne, Francie Nealon; Shane Brennan, James Murphy; Kevin Donnelly, Francis O’Reilly, Kenneth Kelly; Pat Coffey, Paddy Breen, Paudge McMahon.
Subs: Gearóid O’Connell for Donnelly; Donnelly for Nealon (inj);
St Senan’s: Kevin Harte; Alan Russell, Darragh Kelly, Darren Clarke; Gavin Melican, Brendan Smith, Darren Owens; Thomas Galvin, David Russell; Ronan Browne, Barry Harte, Brian Harte; Thomas McGrath, Michael O’Shea, Micheál Keane.
Subs: Patrick Hennessy for Browne; Denis Russell for O’Shea.

St Breckan’s 1-11   Cooraclare 1-10

BOTH sides were desperately trying to move away from the relegation zone when they clashed at Lisdoonvarna on Saturday and it was the home side that emerged with a one-point victory to ease their worries.
They got the ideal start with a goal from wing back Stephen Tierney in the opening minutes and went on to lead by five points, 1-6 to 0-4 at half-time.
Cooraclare got back into contention with a goal from Rory Donnelly but the home side managed to hold on for victory on a day when veteran Denis O’Driscoll impressed at centre-back.
In the second half, they introduced Daniel Collins in place of Craig Flanagan and Collins went on to make two impressive saves.

St Breckan’s: Craig Flanagan; Declan Stack, Daniel Carey, Michael Reddan; Raphael Considine, Denis O’Driscoll, Stephen Tierney; Michael Keating, Sean Howley; Cathal Blood, Conor Cormican, Sean Cormican; John Stack, Pat Nagle, Dale Masterson.
Subs: John Carey for D Stack; Daniel Collins for Flanagan.
Cooraclare: Declan Keane; Michael Chambers, Conor Marrinan, Kieran Hassett; Colm Carroll, Fergal Lillis, Robert Ryan; Andrew O’Neill, John Looney; Michael Kelly, Sean Maguire, Michael McMahon; Cathal Lillis, Rory Donnelly, Joey Martyn.
Sub: Joe Considine for McMahon.