Lissycasey retain minor A football crown

By Seamus Hayes

Lissycasey 2-10 Eire Og 0-10

Lissycasey retained the minor A football championship title when they proved too strong for Eire Og at Doonbeg on Saturday afternoon. The win marked the mid Clare club’s third success in the championship, their first coming in 2009 when they accounted for Ennistymon.

Eire Og went into this year’s final as favourites and they started as if they would justify that rating. However they failed to turn early dominance into scores and Lissycasey got the upperhand and once the hit the front, midway through the opening half, with a Ciaran Doohan goal, they dictated matters.

Ahead 1-5 to 0-5 at half time, the winners stretched their lead to five points early in the second half. Eire Og closed the gap to three but failed to get any closer and when Michael O’Malley struck for the winner’s second goal, five minutes from time, there was no way back for the town side.

There were many heroes on the Lissycasey team, not least goalkeeper Killian Normoyle who excelled throughout. Brian Cahill, Seamus Collins, the team captain, Conor Finnucane, scorer of five points, Oisin and Daire Hanrahan, Ciaran Doohan, Michael O’Malley and substitute Niall McCarthy who was returning from a broken collar bone picked up earlier in the campaign, all played key roles for the champions.

Dara Walsh, Eimhin Courtney, Michael Moloney and Conor O’Halloran did best for the Ennis side.

The win completed the minor A double for six members of the winning panel. Last week Michael O’Malley captained Kilmaley to the minor A hurling crown and that panel included Brian Cahill, Conor Finnucane, Oisin Hanrahan, Padraig McNamara and Aaron Slattery.

**After Saturday’s game inter county senior footballer David Tubridy, on behalf of competition sponsors, Tubridy’s Bar and Restaurant in Doonbeg, presented the cup to the winning captain Seamus Collins.

Meanwhile, the Cusack cup senior football league final will be between Eire Og and Kilmurry-Ibrickane. The Kilmurry side secured their place in the final with a four point (1-11 to 1-7) win over Miltown in Saturday’s semi-final.

**Clonlara and Inagh-Kilnamona will contest the final of the junior A hurling championship after they were victorious over Ennistymon and Bodyke respectively in the semi-finals. Clonlara had two points to spare (0-17 to 1-12) over a fancied Ennistymon side while Inagh-Kilnamona were 3-24 to 3-12 winners over Bodyke. Both games were played at Clarecastle.

For the second week in a row, St. Josephs Doora-Barefield suffered relegation. A one point loss (1-6 to 1-7) to Sixmilebridge saw their junior A team drop to junior B a week after the club’s senior team made the drop to intermediate level..

Wolfe Tones, Clarecastle and Killimer qualified for the semi-finals of the junior B football championship with victories over Banner, Ml. Cusacks and Shannon Gaels respectively. Wolfe Tones actually received a walkover from the Banner who were unable to field a team.