St Joseph’s qualify for first Cusack Cup final

St Joseph’s, Doora-Barefield 1-7
Éire Óg 0-8

A total of four points from play indicates that this game was not of a particularly high quality.

The end result however propelled St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield into the club’s first Cusack Cup final where they will met Kilmurry Ibrickane. Playing Cusack Cup football for just the second season in their history, St Joseph’s confirmed their place as the second most consistent team in Clare, behind Kilmurry, by qualifying for their third final since last October, when they lost the county final.
They reached and were beaten in this season’s O’Gorman Cup final, where they lost to Kilmurry in Doonbeg.
Last Sunday’s semi-final was played in Gurteen in windy conditions although the wind appeared to be cross-field.
With the teams tied 0-4 each at half time the first score of the second half was the games defining moment. Corner-forward and dependable free taker Cathal Duggan sent a high, dropping ball into the Éire Óg goalmouth, which goalkeeper Eoin Slattery didn’t control. The ball, which was probably a point attempt, dropped into the path of Luke Brannock who palmed the ball to the net.
Minutes later Duggan pointed two more frees to establish a 1-6 to 0-4 lead for the home club.
Duggan had already pointed two first half frees, while David O’Brien scored two points from play for the winners in that half.
Shane Daniels, including one superb point on the run, and Stephen Hickey scored three of Éire Óg’s first half points from frees or ‘45s.
Éire Óg, who had Eoin Glynn red carded six minutes from time, outscored St Joseph’s 0-4 to 0-1 in the closing 15 minutes with Darren O’Meara, Hickey and Brian Frawley pointing.
Duggan put over the winners last point from a free won by himself.
Until the last minutes or thereabouts, St Joseph’s dominated most of the second half. Duggan, David O’Brien, Kevin Dilleen and Seán Flynn played well for St Joseph’s, while the Smyth brothers, Shane Daniels and Donie Lyne played well for Éire Óg.

Doora-Barefield: Declan O’Keeffe; Paudie Nugent, Kevin Dilleen, Martin Brooks; Ger Fannin, Seán Flynn, Eamon Clohessy; Alan O’Neill, Mark Hallinan; Paul Dullaghan, David O’Brien, Cathal O’Sullivan; Cathal Duggan, Ivor Whyte, Luke Brannock.
Subs: Gavin O’Sullivan for Paudie Nugent.
Scorers: Cathal Duggan (0-5f), Luke Brannock (1-0), David O’Brien (0-2). 
Wides: 10 Frees: 22 45s: 0
Yellow cards: Mark Hallinan, Martin Brooks.
Éire Óg: Eoin Slattery; Francie Keane, Donie Lyne, Saran Butler; Aidan McGrath, David Russell, David Smyth; Brian Frawley, Seán Crotty; Shane Daniels, Brian Dolan, Colin Smyth; Eoin Glynn, Stephen Hickey, Darren O’Meara.
Subs: Seán Corry for Aidan McGrath, Graham Glynn for Darren O’Meara.
Scorers: Shane Daniels (0-3, 0-2f), Stephen Hickey (0-3, 1 ’45), Brian Frawley (0-1), Darren O’Meara (0-1f).
Wides: 8 Frees: 24 45s: 3
Yellow cards: David Russell, Seán Crotty, Francie Keane. Red card: Eoin Glynn. 
Referee: Michael Rock (Ennistymon).