The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
LEADING 0-7 to 0-2 at half-time in Lahinch, Ennistymon never relinquished their grasp of this game, which was played in reasonably sunny weather last Friday evening.
Their first-half supremacy owed much to the midfield dominance of John McInerney, who was the most impressive midfielder on view, although he ran out of gas later in the game.
Seven Ennistymon players raised at least one white flag, although seven of their points were kicked from frees.
The sharpness of Ennistymon’s support play regularly led to Miltown conceding frees in scoreable positions.
Joe Dowling and Brian Conway kicked five of those frees in the first half, while Joey Rouine and Brian McDonagh pointed from play.
Miltown’s Seánie Malone kicked his side’s first point, although he had earlier missed a clear goal-scoring chance, with Ennistymon goalkeeper Paudie Brennan gone from his goals. Malone later hobbled off injured and was replaced by Dessie Molohan.
Centre-forward Joe Curtin was the only other Miltown man to score in the first half. Points from Alan Horan and Conway, with Michael Barry replying, helped the winners into a 0-9 to 0-3 lead early in the second half.
They were six points ahead, 0-11 to 0-5, with the game nearing its end, when Miltown’s Michael Barry scored a lovely goal. He caught a Conor Cleary free, over the head of John McInerney, before slotting the ball beyond Paudie Brennan. Miltown were just three points adrift but late scores from Laurence Healy and Alan Horan secured the win for Ennistymon, who have won both Cusack Cup games to date.
Their half-back line was very solid, with Enda Ralph doing well at centre-back, while Laurence Healy kicked two points from play. Up front, Joe Dowling showed intelligently for ball and drew several frees.
Conor Cleary was the hardest-working of the Miltown forwards, while Michael Barry’s 1-1 kept them in the game.
Ennistymon: Paudie Brennan; Oisín Vaughan, Seán O’Driscoll, Michael Devitt; Lawrence Healy, Enda Ralph, Micheál O’Loughlin; John McInerney, Alan Horan; Willie Murphy, Brian McDonagh, Ciarán Monaghan; Joe Dowling, Brian Conway, Joey Rouine.
Subs: Ciarán Devitt for Ciarán Monaghan, Danny Rouine for Brian McDonagh and Gerry Coote for Willie Murphy.
Scorers: Brian Conway (0-4f), Joe Dowling (0-2f), Laurence Healy, Alan Horan (0-2 each), Joey Rouine, Brian McDonagh (0-1 each), Danny Rouine (0-1f).
Miltown: Niall Quinn; Enda Malone, Colin McGuane, Brendan O’Brien; Gordon Kelly, Graham Kelly, Enda O’Gorman; Michael Barry, Kevin Keavey; Darragh McDonagh, Joe Curtin, Shane Curtin; Niall McGuane, Seanie Malone, Conor Cleary.
Subs: Dessie Molohan for Seánie Malone (inj), John Meade for Shane Curtin, Enda Fox for John Meade (inj) and Ian Sexton for Enda Malone.
Scorers: Michael Barry (1-1), Seánie Malone, Joe Curtin, Kevin Keavy (0-1 each), Conor Cleary (0-1f).
Referee: Pat Cosgrove, Corofin.
