The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
Kilmurry Ibrickane 2-8 Cooraclare 1-11
ON a sweltering Sunday evening in Doonbeg, a Keith King-inspired Kilmurry Ibrickane won their third successive O’Gorman Cup and their sixth since the competition was established in 2006.
Cooraclare played some decent football themselves, with Cathal Lillis their stand-out man at full-forward. His movement, pace and ability to kick scores from play ensured that Darren Hickey had a trying hour at full-back.
At the far end of the field another young forward, Niall Hickey, was Kilmurry’s most dangerous inside forward, scoring their first goal and playing a central role in their second, along with kicking classy points from play and frees.
Before the throw-in, the teams were led around Shanahan McNamara Park by Scottish piper Jamie Galloway, who himself was briefly led by O’Gorman Cup Committee chairman Michael Neenan.
Cooraclare played with a reasonably helpful first-half breeze and led 0-7 to 0-4 at half-time. Lillis, John Looney from frees and Enda Considine kicked Cooraclare’s first-half scores, with Niall Hickey, centre-forward Michael O’Dwyer and Shane Hickey pointing for Kilmurry, who could have goaled in the 12th minute when Stephen Moloney was set up by Niall Hickey and Aidan Moloney.
Keith King’s ability to win primary possession in midfield was a feature of the half, even if his efforts were not reflected on the scoreboard.
Kilmurry introduced Odran O’Dwyer at half-time and he added muscle to their full-forward line, with Hickey deployed outfield, even though he had been a clear threat at full-forward.
Successive quality points from Aidan Moloney, Michael O’Dwyer and Evan Talty pulled Kilmurry level, 0-7 each, seven minutes into the second half.
John Looney spurned a decent goal chance a minute later, having been set up by a Thomas Downes popped pass. However, points from a Looney free and Lillis from play put Cooraclare 0-9 to 0-7 ahead, three minutes later.
A long-range Niall Hickey point pulled Kilmurry to within a point of Cooraclare before the same player netted the game’s crucial score in the 34th minute. Hickey was placed by good combination play involving his brother Shane and Odran O’Dwyer.
A foul on Seán Maguire was punished by John Looney, leaving a point dividing the teams, 1-8 to 0-10, 15 minutes from time.
Not a single further score was added until Niall Hickey drove in a high, dropping ball in the direction of the Cooraclare goalmouth in the last minute. Declan Keane came off his line but Johnny Daly got a flick to direct the ball into the net. In the build-up to Hickey’s long ball, it looked from the stand as if Kilmurry substitute Michael Hogan fouled the ball when hand passing it. However, referee Damien Fox either didn’t see it or was confident that Hogan didn’t foul the ball.
That goal secured the result for Kilmurry, while John Looney kicked the game’s last score a minute later.
Doonbeg clubman Pádraig Haugh presented the John O’Gorman Cup to Kilmurry captain Michael O’Dwyer. The Bard of Bansha used the opportunity to laud the quality of the Doonbeg pitch.
Kilmurry were short several first-choice players, with the result again indicating their strength in depth. King excelled at midfield and was well supported by Niall Hickey, Michael O’Dwyer, Stephen Moloney, Evan Talty and Shane Hickey.
Cathal Lillis was Cooraclare’s best player, while Thomas Donnellan, Seán Maguire, Michael Chambers and Thomas Downes gave their all.
Kilmurry Ibrickane: Peter O’Dwyer; Shane Hickey, Darren Hickey, John Willie Sexton; Thomas Lernihan, Thomas O’Connor, Evan Talty; Seamus Murrihy, Keith King; Ciarán Morrissey, Michael O’Dwyer (captain), Stephen Moloney; Aidan Moloney, Niall Hickey, Johnny Daly.
Subs: Odran O’Dwyer for Ciaran Morrissey (half-time), Michael Hogan for Aidan Moloney (43) and John McNamara for Seamus Murrihy (56, inj).
Scorers: Niall Hickey (1-3, 2f), Johnny Daly (1-0), Michael O’Dwyer (0-2), Shane Hickey, Aidan Moloney and Evan Talty (0-1 each).
Wides: 11; Frees: 30.
Cooraclare: Declan Keane; Michael Chambers, Conor Marrinan, Shane Donnellan; James Burke, Declan McMahon (captain), Thomas Donnellan; Michael Kelly, John Looney; Seán Maguire, Colin Kelly, Caoimhín Donnellan; Enda Considine, Cathal Lillis, Thomas Downes.
Subs: Joe Downes for Caoimhín Donnellan (43), Robert Ryan for Shane Donnellan (46), Andrew O’Neill for Colin Kelly and Tadhg Lillis for Enda Considine (both 50).
Scorers: John Looney (0-5f), Cathal Lillis (0-4, 1f), Seán Maguire and Enda Considine (0-1 each).
Wides: 5; Frees: 23.
Yellow cards: Michael Kelly, Thomas Downes, Conor Marrinan, Declan McMahon, Thomas Donnellan and Robert Ryan.
Referee: Damien Fox.
