Kilmurry-Doonbeg – the stand-out Cusack Cup game

ROUND 2 of both the Cusack and Garry Cups throws up a number of interesting duels this weekend. With the county senior team struggling to mount a meaningful bid to finally leave Division 4 behind them, the various leagues are of more interest for football people, at least until the county team manages to start winning games.

With Clare due to play London on Saturday, all Division 1 and 2 games will be played on Sunday. The game that stands out in the Cusack Cup is the meeting of Kilmurry-Ibrickane and Doonbeg in Quilty at 2pm. Doonbeg scored a facile win over Shannon Gaels in their opening game, while Kilmurry drew with St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield.
Doonbeg had the majority of their championship-winning team available three weeks ago, while Kilmurry had a reasonably strong team out against Doora-Barefield.
Defeat for Kilmurry would leave them with some ground to make up if they are to feature in the knock-out stages of the Cusack Cup. Having lost to Doonbeg in last year’s county semi-final, they will be keen to get a result on Sunday, even if that won’t make amends for their championship exit.
Last Saturday, Doonbeg defeated Doora-Barefield in the O’Gorman Cup, while Kilmurry’s fixture against Kilmihil wasn’t played. Perhaps that early-season match sharpness might sway the result in Doonbeg’s favour.
In the Cricket Field, Kilrush, the home club take on Clondegad at 3pm on Sunday. Kilrush picked up a point with a late Jamie Gilligan goal against Miltown in their opening game, while Clondegad beat Liscannor.
Clondegad are in their second season playing Cusack Cup, while Kilrush won the 2010 Garry Cup and promotion. Whoever wins this game will feel they will have a decent chance of advancing to the semi-final. Playing at home should give Kilrush a slight edge.
At 1pm in Labasheeda, Shannon Gaels will play Doora-Barefield. The Gaels were well-beaten in their first game, while St Joseph’s drew with Kilmurry-Ibrickane. The visitors have made commendable progress in recent years, football-wise, winning minor A and U-21A championships. This season, they are playing Cusack Cup football for the first time, while they left a place in the county semi-final behind them last year. A flurry of late Liscannor points knocked St Joseph’s out of the championship in the club’s quarter–final replay.
The Gaels and St Joseph’s have been drawn in the same championship group, which could add a bit of edge this weekend, although the priority for both now is a couple of league points. Having drawn with Kilmurry, St Joseph’s should be confident of earning another result but the Gaels, who reached last year’s final, will be keen to play a lot better than they did against Doonbeg.
In the fourth Cusack Cup game, Liscannor host holders Miltown at 3pm. Miltown have a point on the board after their draw with Kilrush. Having lost to Clondegad, Liscannor will be keen to get up and running, although they made a sluggish start to last year’s Cusack Cup campaign and managed to retain their status and reach the county final.
Miltown are likely to be without Graham Kelly, who is injured but will have Gordon Kelly, Micheál Malone and Joe Curtin available. A Miltown win would put them in a good position but Liscannor will be equally keen to put Cusack Cup points on the board.
In the Garry Cup on Sunday at 4pm, Kilkee host Cooraclare. Both won their opening games against Lissycasey and Wolfe Tones respectively. Cooraclare have lost some players to emigration and several of their panel are Dublin-based, which precludes midweek training. Kilkee have been developing some younger players over the last couple of years and still have footballers of great experience and quality in their panel.
Elsewhere, Ennistymon host O’Curry’s at 3pm, with the home team looking for a second successive win, while O’Curry’s lost their first game at home to Éire Óg. The Townies will play Kildysart at home at the same time, looking for a second successive win under their new manager Martin Daly. Kildysart were beaten by Ennistymon on day one.
In Lissycasey at 3pm, the home team play Wolfe Tones, with both having lost their first game. Whoever loses this one will be looking behind them rather than towards a place in the semi-final.
A factor that teams in the Cusack Cup and Garry Cup will take cognisance of this weekend is the month-long break between Round 2 and Round 3 on April 17. None of the teams involved would be keen to face a month’s training on the back of a defeat.