Quinlan inspires O’Curry’s to semis

O’Curry’s  1-14 
Corofin  1-6
O’Curry’s justified favouritism when they accounted for Corofin in this intermediate football championship round three group game at Quilty on Saturday. As a result of their merited victory, they are preparing for the semi-final while Corofin’s season is over.

Both sides knew going into this tie that victory would give them a semi-final date. Corofin made the better start and dictated matters in the opening quarter but they found scores hard to come by. They missed a couple of excellent opportunities before taking the lead with a point from Jamie Malone but inter-county man, Ger Quinlan levelled for the West Clare side before Corofin struck a big blow when Damian Ryan had their goal.
O’Curry’s response was impressive and they hit for points from Ger Quinlan (3), Jack Scanlon, Eoin Troy (2 each) and Damian Carmody to open a 0-9 to 1-1 half-time advantage.
Corofin stepped up a gear on the resumption and Damian Ryan was accurate from frees. However, the experienced Quinlan was equally unerring from placed balls for the men from the peninsula and he finished the game with a tally of 0-7. Corofin were still in contention early in the final quarter but were denied a goal when O’Curry’s goalkeeper, Eoin Clohessy saved well from Damian Ryan.
Within a few minutes, the winners struck for their goal at the other end and the score came from substitute, Mark Roche and killed off the Corofin challenge.
The win confirmed O’Curry’s place in the semi-final, where they will take on Kilmurry-Ibrickane as they continue their challenge to win back senior status, which they lost last year.
O’Curry’s: Eoin Clohessy; Gearóid Lynch, Michael O’Shea, Paul Roche; Brian Troy, Ollie Quinlan, Tom Downes; Ger Quinlan, Derek Troy; Damian Carmody, Eoin Troy, Michael Foran; Michael Carmody, Sean Haugh, Jack Scanlan.
Subs: Jim Downes for M Carmody; Mark Roche for Foran; Ryan McMahon for O’Shea; Eoin Murray for E Troy; Declan Walsh for D Carmody.
Corofin: Kieran Carkill; Brian McGauhran, Brendan Keane, Ollie O’Loughlin; Diarmuid Daly, Eamonn Malone, Manus Malone; John Keane, Luke O’Loughlin; Fergal Neylon, Damian Ryan, Darragh Shannon; Jason Tierney, Jamie Malone, Stephen Heagney.
Subs: Donnacda Kelleher for McGauhran; Killian Neylon for Tierney

O’ Callaghan’s Mills 1-9 
Kildysart 1-8
O’Callaghan’s Mills qualified for the semi-final when they managed a one-point win over Kildysart at Shannon on Saturday.
This was a winner-take-all game for both sides and the result was in doubt for much of the tie.
Bryan Donnellan landed the winning point for the Mills a minute from the end to seal their semi-final spot, where they will take on competition favourites Clondegad.
Points were exchanged in the opening minutes before Kildysart went back in front through Gerry Kelly in the ninth minute. The lead was shortlived as Conor Cooney (Elmhill) broke through for his side’s goal as the first quarter drew to a close and they went on to lead by four at half-time when the score was 1-5 to 0-4
Kildysart had the opening score of the second half from Ger Kelly but like scores from John Cooney and Bryan Donnellan had the winners five clear with 20 minutes to go.
Kildysart hit their best spell in the mid-period of this half and following points from Niall Guinnane and Ger Kelly, they struck for the equalising goal from Damian Hill with 11 minutes to play.
Bryan Donnellan and Christy Clancy swapped points and as the game moved towards the final whistle a draw looked the likely outcome. A minute from time Donnellan struck for what proved to be the decisive score to send the East Clare outfit through.
O’Callaghan’s Mills: Padraic Hickey; Gary Neville, Niall Donovan, Gerry Cooney; Jonathan Lyons (0-1), Patrick Donnellan, John Cooney (0-1); Conor Cooney (Elm Hill)(1-0), Conor Cooney; Eoin Pewter (0-1), Bryan Donnellan (0-6), James Murphy; Fergus Donovan, Declan Donovan, Noel Nash.
Subs: Paul Lynch for Noel Nash; James Hook for Fergus Donovan.
Kildysart: John Murtagh; Kieran Ayers, Shane McNelis, Michael Eustace;
Brian Ayers, Neil O’Connor, John Guinnane; Keith O’Connor, John Clancy; Niall Guinnane (0-1), Brian O’Sullivan, Damien Hill (1-2); Damien Murtagh, Gerard Kelly (0-4), Keith Murphy.
Subs: Kevin Kelly for Murphy; Christy Clancy (0-1) for O’Sullivan; Dermot Clancy for Murtagh; Kieran Leahy for B Ayers; Keith Murphy for K Kelly.

Clondegad 3-14
Ballyvaughan 0-7
Although they struggled in the opening half, Clondegad eventually had a straightforward win over Ballyvaughan in their final group game played in Corofin last Sunday morning.
Helped by a Pat Coffey goal, Clondegad led 1-7 to 0-5 at half-time. In fact, Coffey scored 2-3 in total for a Clondegad side without Gary Brennan and Brian Carrig.
Half-time substitute Tony Kelly scored 1-3 for Clondegad, who pulled away from Ballyvaughan in the second half. Clondegad now play O’Callaghan’s Mills in the semi-final, while Ballyvaughan must beat Kilfenora in the intermediate relegation final if they are to avoid having to play junior A championship football in 2012.
Clondegad: Declan Flynn; Flan Enright, Paddy O’Connell, Cormac Ryan; Kieran Browne, Francie Neylon, Brian Murphy; Cormac Murphy, Shane Brennan; Eoin Grifin, Eoin Donnellan, Francie Reilly; Ken Kelly, Podge McMahon, Pat Coffey.
Subs: Tony Kelly for Francie O’Reilly, Conor Gavin for Brian Murphy, Paddy Breen for Podge McMahon, Flan King for Flan Enright, James Murphy for Brian Murphy.

Kilmurry-Ibrickane 2-13
Kilfenora 1-6
Already qualified for the last four prior to this final group game, Kilmurry-Ibrickane ensured that they topped their group and will now meet O’Curry’s in the intermediate semi-final.
Kilmurry led 0-7 to 0-3 at half-time, with Martin O’Connor, Odran O’Dwyer and Thomas Greene putting over their points. Second-half goals from Odran O’Dwyer and substitute Darragh Sexton ensured a comfortable win for Kilmurry’s second team.
They will now play O’Curry’s in the intermediate semi-final while Kilfenora play North Clare neighbours Ballyvaughan in what will be relegation final.
The loser will play junior football in 2012. 
Kilmurry: David Talty; John McNamara, John Sexton, Eamon Dunne; Mark Moloney, Gary Donnellan, Pat Sexton; Thomas O’Connor, Vinny Talty; Adrian Murrihy, Martin O’Connor, Thomas Greene; Aidan Moloney, Odran O’Dwyer, Senan McCarthy.
Subs: Andrew Darcy for Eamon Dunne (inj), Darren Sexton for Aidan Moloney, Darragh Sexton for Mark Moloney, Michael Frawley for Senan McCarthy, Diarmuid Donnellan for Odran O’Dwyer.
Referee: Tom Stackpoole (Ennistymon).