By Seamus Hayes
Lissycasey were crowned Clare minor A football champions at Cooraclare on Sunday when they accounted for Kilmurry-Ibrickane. A point separated the teams (2-4 to 1-6) when referee Gerry Keane sounded the final whistle on what was a very difficult day for football with a near gale-force wind causing a lot of problems for the players.
Lissycasey got off to a dream start with a goal from full-forwad Ciaran Doohan inside the opening minute. They went on to lead throughout and had their second goal from a Conor Finnucane penalty, awarded for a foul on Niall Meere, fifteen minutes into the game.
Lissycasey players celebrate at the final whistle after beating Kilmurry Ibrickane during their Minor Division One county football final at Cooraclare. Photograph by John Kelly.
Kilmurry battled back in the second half but trailed by four points as the game went into injury time. Two minutes of added time had been played when Keith Sexton scored their goal but it came too late to prevent Lissycasey from winning their second title at this level, the first having come in 2009.
Cratloe advance
Meanwhile, Cratloe have progressed to the senior football semi-final following a merited 2-6 to 0-7 win over Kilrush at Clarecastle. The winners led from the outset and were 1-4 to 0-3 ahead at the break. A Cathal McInerney goal early in the second half left Kilrush with a lot to do and while they battled to the end, a slicker and fitter Cratloe deservingly won and will now play Éire Óg in the semi-final next Sunday.