Kilmurry defeat Joseph’s again

Kilmurry Ibrickane 1-9   St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield 1-7

AS important as the result was St Joseph’s determination to make a game of their first meeting with Kilmurry Ibrickane since last year’s one-sided county final.
Now under the management of Mark Raftery, St Joseph’s displayed plenty of vim and vigour in Quilty. However, they didn’t avail of the strong first-half wind sufficiently and, in fact, trailed 1-5 to 0-5 at half-time. Keith King scored Kilmurry’s first-half goal in injury time.
The second half was fairly evenly fought but St Joseph’s didn’t threaten to bring a result home until Cathal Duggan goaled six minutes from full-time. However, Kilmurry midfielder Niall Hickey kicked the game’s last score to secure both points for the reigning Cusack Cup and county champions.
Twelve months ago, this Cusack Cup fixture ended in a draw but bearing in mind St Joseph’s flat county final display, they will be relieved that they did themselves more justice this time.
Kilmurry Ibrickane: Peter O’Dwyer; Martin McMahon, Darren Hickey, Shane Hickey; Thomas O’Connor, Paul O’Connor, Thomas Lernihan; Keith King, Niall Hickey; Adrian Murrihy, Enda Coughlan, Seamus Murrihy; Michael O’Dwyer, Peter O’Dwyer, Noel Downes.
Subs used: Johnny Daly and Eamon Dunne.
Doora-Barefield: Ger Dullaghan; Padraig Nugent, Mark Hallinan, Martin Brooks; Ger Fannin, Seán Flynn, Damien Kennedy; Ivor Whyte, Kevin Dilleen; Paul Dullaghan, Cathal O’Sullivan, David O’Brien; Cathal Duggan, Alan O’Neill, Luke Brannock.
Sub used: Chris O’Brien.

St Joseph’s Miltown 1-11   Kilrush 0-3

AIDAN Moloney’s first game in charge of Kilrush will have left the Kilmurry Ibrickane man well informed as to the task ahead of him in 2012.
While Miltown won by 11 points in the end, the sides were divided by a mere point at half-time. At that stage, Miltown led 0-3 to 0-2 with Graham Kelly, Eoin Curtin and Joe Curtin pointing for the 2010 Cusack Cup winners. Jim Young and Padjoe McGrath scored both of the home club’s points from first-half frees.
Miltown upped the ante considerably in the second half with Eoin Curtin netting their goal, while Joe Curtin, Seán Meade and Gerard Malone added points.
Jim Young scored Kilrush’s lone point from a second-half free, meaning they didn’t score from play. Kilrush were minus several veteran players, whom they will need back as soon as possible for the upcoming rounds.
Miltown: Niall Quinn; Enda Malone, Kevin Burke, Brendan O’Brien; Darragh McDonagh, Gordon Kelly, Seánie Malone; John Meade, Seán Meade; Graham Kelly, Gary Egan, Micheál Malone; Brian Curtin, Eoin Curtin, Joe Curtin.
Subs used: Gerard Malone and Conor McKenna.
Kilrush: Tony Burke; Niall Gilbride, Chris Dixon, Seamus Bolton; Cathal Lyons, Matthew Moloney, Niall Brennan; John Hayes, Paul Heaslip; Pajoe McGrath, Darragh Bolton, Niall Clancy; Ruaidhrí O’Connor, Jim Young, Cathal Carrig.
Subs used: Seán Naughton and Donal O’Sullivan.

Doonbeg 0-14   Shannon Gaels 0-7

DOONBEG scored a comfortable seven-point win over Shannon Gaels in the opening round of the Cusack Cup in Labasheeda last Monday.
Yet to appoint a manager, Doonbeg were overseen by club chairman Padraig Conway, along with Eddie Killeen. The latter’s brother, Gerry, is managing Shannon Gaels this year and was joined on the sideline by Miko Moloney.
Shane Tubridy scored the game’s first point for the home team but by the 12th minute, Doonbeg had raced into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead, following points from Colm Dillon, Kevin Nugent, David Tubridy and Paul Dillon. A trio of replies from Michael Coughlan, David Neylon (45’) and Frank Cleary tied the game at 0-4 each, less than 10 minutes from half-time.
However, further points from Tubridy and midfielder Enda Doyle helped Doonbeg into a 0-6 to 0-4 half-time lead.
Doonbeg dominated much of the second half with substitute Conor Downes, Tubridy and the Dillon brothers, Paul and Colm, kicking their remaining scores. Shane Tubridy kicked a nice point for the Gaels, while Brian Cunningham and Michael Coughlan, from a free, completed their tally.
Doonbeg: Eamon Tubridy; Philip Smith, Padraig Gallagher, Conor Whelan; Nathan Capon, Brian Dillon, Eoin Conway; Frank O’Dea, Enda Doyle; Shane Killeen, Colm Dillon, Paul Dillon; David Tubridy, Kevin Nugent, Colm Killeen.
Subs used: Conor Downes, Brian Egan and Seán O’Dea.
Shannon Gaels: Keith Ryan; Micheál Lorigan, John Neylon, Michael McMahon; John Bermingham, Frank Cleary, Tomás Cleary; Michael O’Donoghue, Padraig Neylon; Brian Cunningham, John Paul O’Neill, Shane Tubridy; Nigel Hehir, David Neylon, Michael Coughlan.
Subs used: Fergal O’Neill, Martin Tubridy, Declan O’Connell and Cillian McMahon.
Referee: Barry Kelly (St Joseph’s, Miltown).

Ennistymon 2-4   Éire Óg 1-7

IN a repeat of the 2011 Garry Cup final, Éire Óg picked up an away draw with Ennistymon in Lahinch. The game marked James Hanrahan’s first game in charge of Éire Óg since returning to the Townies as manager. Ennistymon played with a strong wind in the opening half and led 2-3 to 0-2 at half-time. Clare forward Joe Dowling scored Ennistymon’s first goal, while Brian Conway followed up with a second.
With the wind now behind them, Éire Óg came right back into the game after the interval. Eoin Glynn scored their vital goal, while Stephen Hickey kicked an equalising point in the closing minutes.
Ennistymon: Cathal McDonagh; James Murphy, Brian McDonagh, Michael Devitt; Enda Ralph, Laurence Healy, Wayne Griffin; David Murphy, Ciarán Devitt; Aidan Slattery, Joey Rouine, Willie Murphy; Brian Conway, John McInerney, Joe Dowling.
Subs used: Ronan Linnane and Seán McConigley.
Éire Óg: Eoin Slattery; Francie Keane, Alan Malone, Saran Butler; Shane Browne, Shane Daniels, David Smyth; David Russell, Seán Crotty; Dylan Blake, Stephen Hickey, Seán O’Meara; Gary Flynn, Darren O’Neill, Eoin Glynn.
Subs: Aidan McGrath, Darren O’Meara and Colin Smyth.