Lissycasey remain senior

Lissycasey  2-7   O’Curry’s  0-8
Lissycasey will compete at senior level in 2011 as a result of a merited win over O’Curry’s in the senior championship relegation play-off at Labasheeda on Saturday.

Two goals in the opening quarter laid the foundations for the victory in a replay Lissycasey were a little fortunate to earn two weeks earlier.
This time they were the better side over the hour and merited the victory that guarantees them their senior status, while the men from the West Clare peninsula will drop down to intermediate level for the coming season.
The winners of Saturday’s game were dealt a huge blow in mid-week. The experienced Colin Lynch picked up a hamstring injury in training, which that ruled him out of the game. Also out due to injury was defender Martin O’Connor, while Niall Kelly and O’Curry’s Gerard Troy missed the game due to suspension, as they were sent off in the drawn tie.
In addition to Troy, O’Curry’s were without Eoin Troy (suspended) and Michael O’Shea, who has missed much of the season due to injury
A great run by midfielder Anthony Kelly led to the opening goal, which was scored by wing-back Gerard Murphy, who was one of the winners’ stars in this tie.
Midfielder Kelly, who also had a fine game, scored his team’s second goal when he drilled the ball low to the net. These scores helped Lissycasey to lead by four points at half-time when the score was 2-2 to 0-4, the winners’ first-half points coming from Martin Daly and Paul Nagle, while Ger Quinlan, Tadhg Concannon and Michael Carmody were on target for the losers.
On the resumption, O’Curry’s tried to get back into contention but Lissycasey matched them score for score and the West Clare men were never able to get closer than four points to their opponents.
As the game entered injury time, O’Currys full-forward Mark Roche suffered a serious leg injury and he had to be assisted from the pitch and taken to hospital.
Ger Murphy, Michael Melican, James and Anthony Kelly and Paudie Carmody worked tirelessly for the winners throughout, while O’Curry’s had good performances from Michael Foran, particularly when he moved to midfield, Michael Carmody, Ger Quinlan, Brian Troy, Tadhg Concannon and Mark Roche.
Lissycasey: Joe Hayes; Michael Melican, Sean Hill, Cathal Doohan; Cathal Hill, James Kelly, Ger Murphy; Anthony Kelly, Enda Finnucane; Paudie Carmody, Danny Lynch, Francis Hayes; Paul Nagle, Martin Daly, Derek McMahon.
Subs: Oisin Talty for McMahon; David Considine for Nagle; Matt O’Shea for Carmody.
Scorers: Anthony Kelly and Ger Murphy (1-0) each; Martin Daly (0-3), Enda Finnucane, Danny Lynch, Paul Nagle, David Considine (0-1) each.
O’Currys: Eoin Clohessy; Declan Walsh, Brian Troy, Gearóid Lynch; Paul Roche, Ger Quinlan, Tom Downes; Tadhg Concannon, Ger Quinlan; Damian Carmody, Michael Foran, Sean haugh; Jack Scanlon, Mark Roche, Michael Carmody.
Subs: Seamus Coffey for P Roche; Ian Roche for M Roche.
Scorers: Ger Quinlan (0-4), Tadhg Concannon, Michael Carmody, Mark Roche, Michael Foran (0-1) each.
Referee: Michael Talty, Kilmurry-Ibrickane.