O’Curry’s win secures senior status

O’Curry’s 1-7   Shannon Gaels 0-7

A MICHAEL Carmody goal, 12 minutes into the second half, secured a replay win for O’Curry’s and a place in Round 2 against Ennistymon on Saturday in Quilty.

Even more significantly, the 2012 intermediate champions will definitely be playing senior football in 2014.

Shannon Gaels are due to play Lissycasey the weekend after next in Round 2 of the losers’ section, with the losers of that having to face a relegation semi-final.

Carmody’s pivotal goal was created by an incisive Ger Quinlan run. The veteran midfielder drew the Gaels’ full-back line before popping the ball off to Carmody, who finished to the Gaels net.

That put O’Curry’s into a 1-6 to 0-4 lead and although they only tagged on a further point in the remaining 18 minutes, they had sufficient scores racked up to stay ahead of their opponents.

This was O’Curry’s second successive championship win over Shannon Gaels, having also beaten them in the 2009 championship.

O’Curry’s played with the breeze in the opening half and led 0-5 to 0-3 at half-time. Quinlan, who had a superb hour, scored all five of the winners’ points in that period, four from frees won by Seán Haugh (two) and Quinlan himself.

Brian Bermingham pointed two Gaels frees, while John Paul O’Neill fisted over a point from play, following a diagonal ball into the square from Michael Coughlan.

Both sides missed a number of chances in that half, with O’Curry’s kicking six wides and their opponents five.

A minute into the second half, Jack Scanlan was freed by Eoin Troy but Scanlan missed a decent goal chance. Quinlan and Bermingham exchanged frees, before Carmody struck for the result-clinching goal.

Although now five points adrift, Shannon Gaels responded proactively and kicked three successive points from Bermingham (two frees) and Noel Kennedy. Eoin Troy kicked the game’s last score, establishing a three-point lead for the winners, a minute into injury time.

Shannon Gaels had a late goal-scoring chance when a dangerous, diagonal ball from John Neylon was deflected towards goal but dealt with by O’Curry’s goalkeeper PJ Greene.

Once O’Curry’s cleared, the four minutes of injury time were up and they had secured the result.

“We were absolutely delighted to get the win. We felt going into the game that it was going to be another battle and a half. Thankfully, our lads showed tremendous heart again and we just got over the line,” O’Curry’s manager, Dinny McMahon said afterwards.

“We’ve no injuries. We did a beach session last week and they enjoyed that. It will be another 50/50 game between ourselves and Ennistymon,” he predicted as O’Curry’s prepare for their second-round game against the north-west Clare club.

“Eventually the better team won. O’Curry’s were more aggressive in their play and they were the better side on the day. The goal was the deciding factor. We have to get organised now for Lissycasey in two weeks’ time,” Shannon Gaels manager Paudie Neylon said.

O’Curry’s: PJ Greene; Declan Walsh, Michael O’Shea, Paul Roche; Tom Downes, Brian Troy, Eoin Brew; Ger Quinlan, Ollie Quinlan; Damien Clohessy, Eoin Troy, Damien Carmody; Michael Carmody, Jack Scanlan, Seán Haugh.
Subs: Jim Downes for Damien Clohessy (46), James Troy for Michael Carmody (59) and Seán Murphy for Damien Carmody (60).
Scorers: Ger Quinlan (0-6, 4f), Michael Carmody (1-0) and Eoin Troy (0-1).
Frees: 24; wides: 10; 45s: 1.
Yellow cards: Brian Troy, Eoin Troy and Damien Carmody.
Shannon Gaels: Keith Ryan; Cathal O’Neill, John Neylon (captain), Fergal Kenny; Micheál Lorigan, John Bermingham, Frank Cleary; Noel Kennedy, Eugene Flanagan; Tomás Cleary, Brian Bermingham, Michael Coughlan; Diarmuid Lorigan, Pádraig Neylon, John Paul O’Neill.
Sub: Brian O’Shea for Tomás Cleary (39).
Scorers: Brian Bermingham (0-5f), John Paul O’Neill and Noel Kennedy (0-1 each).
Frees: 29; wides: 6; 45s: 2.
Yellow cards: John Neylon and John Bermingham.
Referee: Michael Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane).