O’Shea leads the way for Kilkee

AN injury-time 1-1 produced a lopsided scoreline in Doonbeg on Monday. Kilkee definitely deserved their win but a three or four-point margin would have been a more balanced reflection of the hour’s football.
The game, which was originally fixed for Saturday, was played under a heavy pall of sadness following the sudden death of Cooraclare clubman Pat Lillis, whose sons, Fergal and Cathal lined out in the full-back and full-forward lines respectively.
Pat won a championship medal in 1986 (midfield) and was also part of the 1997 Cooraclare championship-winning panel.
All flags in Doonbeg were at half-mast and the pre-match minute’s silence was impeccably observed by everyone, while the late Niall White was also remembered.
The game lacked the bite expected of championship football. This was reflected by the absence of yellow cards and the low free count of just 28.
Kilkee led narrowly at half-time, 0-6 to 0-5. They had been 0-5 to 0-3 down five minutes before the interval but a trio of classy points from Barry Harte, Kevin Larkin and Michael O’Shea shot the Seasiders ahead. These scores illustrated the difference between the sides as Kilkee didn’t have to work as hard for their scores as Cooraclare.
Going in a point down at half-time, having played with the wind, didn’t bode well for Cooraclare. They could have been ahead if an apparently miss-hit Mark Tubridy shot hadn’t hit the Kilkee post, while Rory Donnelly found the side netting a minute from half-time after a burst from Thomas Donnellan. Playing a two-man full-forward line also suited the Kilkee defence, who were able to double up on Donnelly as a result.
Kilkee added 1-2 without reply inside the opening nine minutes of the second half. Chris Williamson pointed nicely, although he was allowed too much room by the Cooraclare half-back line, while O’Shea added an impressive left-footed point.
The Kilkee full-forward then lethally buried his side’s first goal having been placed by Senan Larkin. Cooraclare had lost possession on their way upfield, with David Russell effecting the turnover.
Game over? It looked that way until Cooraclare finally began to play somewhere near their best. First off, Rory Donnelly buried an unstoppable goal after Cathal Lillis had won the ball back from Kilkee.
With Seán Maguire heavily involved, they held onto possession before Donnelly applied the finish. Successive pointed frees from Mark Tubridy brought Cooraclare to within a point of Kilkee, 1-8 to 1-7, 12 minutes from time.
Kilkee responded, however, with three Michael O’Shea points, while Kieran Hassett and Mark Tubridy kicked Cooraclare wides. Rory Donnelly reduced the deficit to three points as injury time approached but a couple of quickly taken kick-outs at the far end went astray and Kilkee hit 1-1 inside a minute. Game definitely over now.
Kilkee unquestionably deserved their win and had the best player on the field in Michael O’Shea. Eoin Fitzgerald handled plenty of ball in the full-back line, while Brian Clancy played well after being moved to wing-forward from centre-back, after Christy Kirwin went off injured.
Cooraclare play St Breckan’s in their next game, which is more or less knock-out for the West Clare club. Given that the game will not take place for more than two months, they have plenty of time to work on upping Monday’s display.

Kilkee: Kevin Harte; Eoin Fitzgerald, Darragh Kelly, Thomas Galvin; Micheál Keane, Christy Kirwin, Darren Owens; Kevin Larkin, David Russell; Brian Clancy, Barry Harte, Chris Williamson; Diarmuid Keane, Micheal O’Shea, Gearóid Lynch.
Subs: Conor King for Christy Kirwan (injured, 10), Senan Larkin for Diarmuid Keane and John Enright for Darren Owens (both 38).
Scorers: Michael O’Shea (1-7, 2f, 1 45’), Chris Williamson (1-1), Barry Harte (0-2), Kevin Larkin and Thomas Galvin 0-1 each.
Frees won: 12; wides: 8; 45s: 1

Cooraclare: David Keane; Colm Carroll, Fergal Lillis, Conor Marrinan; Kieran Hassett, David Hedigan, Thomas Donnellan; Joe Considine, Andrew O’Neill; Declan McMahon, Mark Tubridy, David Marrinan; Michael Kelly, Cathal Lillis, Rory Donnelly.
Subs: Seán Maguire for David Marrinan (42) and Michael McMahon for Cathal Lillis (53).
Scorers: Rory Donnelly (1-3, -2f), Mark Tubridy (0-3, 2f), Cathal Lillis and Declan McMahon (0-1 each).
Frees won: 16; wides: 11; 45s: 0
“We were a bit flat on the day under the circumstances. Kilkee kicked some good scores but we never got going.” Aidan Moloney, Cooraclare.

Referee: Michael Fitzgerald (Clondegad).