Corofin 0-11 Kilmurry-Ibrickane 1-6

THE semi-final line-up for the intermediate football championship was finalised on Saturday evening when Corofin came through to take the final spot, thanks to a two-point win over Kilmurry-Ibrickane at Ennistymon.
Winners of the title in 2006, Corofin moved a step closer to another success when they accounted for Kilmurry-Ibrickane. The winners looked to be on the way to an easy win when they led 0-11 to 0-4 entering the final quarter but Kilmurry put in a grandstand finish. However, time was not on their side and Corofin held on for victory and a semi-final date with Clondegad.
Things didn’t look great for the winners at half-time when, after playing with the aid of the breeze, they were just two points in front, 0-6 to 0-4.
Points from Darren Malone (2), Colm Clancy and Brendan Keane saw the winners go 0-4 to 0-3 in front after 20 minutes with Kilmurry’s replies coming from Senan McCarthy, Aidan Moloney and Seamus Lynch.
Corofin hit their best spell in the third quarter when Diarmuid Daly led the charge but Kilmurry hit back, helped by a Niall Hickey goal from the penalty spot. However, time was not on their side and Corofin held on for victory.

Corofin: Kieran Carkill; Oliver O’Loughlin, Eamonn Malone, Donnacda Kelleher; Neil Killeen, Dara Clancy, Jack Campbell; Luke O’Loughlin, John Keane; Fionn Clancy, Colm Clancy, Diarmuid Daly; Darren Malone; Brendan Keane, Pa Ryan.
Scorers: Darren Malone and Diarmuid Daly (0-3) each; Brendan Keane and Pa Ryan (0-2) each; Colm Clancy (0-1).

Kilmurry-Ibrickane: John O’Connor; Mark Moloney, John Sexton, Brendan O’Neill; Thomas Lernihan, Barry Lynch, Brian Callinan; Seamus Murrihy, Colm Donnellan; Senan McCarthy, Martin Cahill, Seamus Lynch; Aidan Moloney, John Talty, Diarmuid Donnellan.
Subs: Niall Hickey, Adrian Murrihy, Darren Sexton.
Scorers: Niall Hickey (1-0); Seamus Lynch (0-3); Aidan Moloney (0-2); Senan McCarthy (0-1).

Clondegad 2-10 Kildysart 0-6

CLONDEGAD earned the bragging rights when they scored a comfortable win over their neighbours Kildysart in their clash at Labasheeda last Saturday.
Both teams had already earned their places in the competition semi-finals ahead of Saturday’s meeting, which Clondegad dominated, showing the greater fitness throughout.
They opened the scoring with a point from Paudge McMahon and followed with like scores from Gary Brennan and Eoin Griffin before they struck for their first goal.
Gary Brennan passed to Paudge McMahon, whose effort was stopped but Shane Brennan was following up and he fired the rebound into the net. Gary Brennan, Francie Nealon and McMahon followed with points and the winners went to the break 1-6 to 0-0 ahead.
Kildysart got their first score in the opening minute of the second half when Ger Kelly converted a free but Clondegad hit back with points from McMahon, following a Brian Carigg run, and Gary Brennan, before Kelly struck for his second.
Gary Brennan had another and then McMahon broke through and crashed an unstoppable shot into the net to put his side in a very commanding position. McMahon almost repeated the feat a few minutes later but this time the crossbar denied him.
Three Ger Kelly points followed before Gary Brennan had the winners’ final score on a day when Ger Kelly was the only scorer for his side.

Clondegad: Declan O’Loughlin; Brian Murphy, Paddy O’Connell, Cormac Ryan; Kieran Browne (capt), Brian Carigg, Sean Clohessy; Cormac Murphy, Gary Brennan; Owen Donlon, Paudge McMahon, James Murphy; Ken Kelly, Shane Brennan, Francie Nealon.
Subs: Rory Clohessy for Kelly (inj); Eoin Griffin for J Murphy (inj); Flan Enright for B Murphy and Gearóid O’Connell for S Clohessy.

Kildysart: Kieran Aryers; Brendan Casey, Shane McNeilis, Thomas Ayers; Brian Ayers, Niall O’Connor, Michael Eustace; John Clancy, Keith O’Connor; Kieran Leahy, Kevin Kelly, Brian O’Sullivan; Ger Kelly, Christy Clancy, John Guinnane.
Subs: Tomas Eustace for T Ayers, C  Clancy, K O’Connor; Eoin Cleary and Keith Murphy.

 

Walkovers

North Clare sides Ballyvaughan and St Breckan’s received walkovers from Clooney-Quin and O’Callaghan’s Mills respectively last Saturday. Both East Clare clubs were already out of the title race and they will now play each other to determine who drops to intermediate grade for next year.