Strong finish from Clondegad

Clondegad                     3-10
O’Currys                         1-7

Clondegad moved closer to a place in the semi-finals of the intermediate football championship when they overcame the challenge of O’Curry’s at Doonbeg on Sunday.
While their victory was merited, a nine-point margin didn’t appear likely as the game moved inside the last 10 minutes. With nine minutes remaining, the sides were deadlocked at 1-7 each but the Ballynacally based outfit scored 2-3 in the remaining time.
There was disappointment for the winners, however, as they lost Brian Carrigg with a serious shoulder injury that may rule him out for the rest of the season. Carrig had just recently returned from Australia.
In a match which made history by being the first intermediate championship fixture to be broadcast live on Radio Corca Baiscinn, O’Curry’s had marginally the better of the first half exchanges and, helped by a goal from Damian Carmody, they led at the break, 1-4 to 0-4.
The winners had the opening two points from Paudge McMahon and Gary Brennan before Damian Carmody opened his side’s account. Another Paudge McMahon point followed before a Damian Carmody eluded everybody on the way to the net to give the West Clare outfit the lead. Paudge McMahon levelled before Clondegad enjoyed a good spell but failed to turn their dominance into scores.
Michael Foran extended O’Curry’s lead at the start of the second half before a Francie Neylon goal brought Clondegad back into contention and they levelled with a point from substitute Pat Coffey.
Ger Quinlan pointed to put O’Curry’s back in front midway through the half and at this stage Clondegad moved Gary Brennan outfield from full forward and this was to have a vital bearing on the game.
Eoin Troy pointed to put his side two points clear but like scores from Kieran Browne and Paudge McMahon had the sides level before Gary Brennan put Clondegad into the lead.
The Brennan brothers, Shane and Gary combined for Garry to find the net before a move involving Paddy O’Connell and Gary Brennan ended with a Paudge McMahon goal. Eoin Griffin completed the scoring for Clondegad with a point.

Clondegad: Declan O’Loughlin; Flan Enright, Paddy O’Connell, Cormac Ryan; Brian Murphy, Ciaran Browne, Francie Nealon; Cormac Murphy, Shane Brennan; Eoin Griffin, Brian Carrigg, Kenneth Kelly; Paudge McMahon, Gary Brennan, Francie O’Reilly;
Subs: Pat Coffey for Carrigg (inj 12 mins); James Murphy for K Kelly; Eoin Donlon for J Murphy.
O’Curry’s: PJ Greene; Gearóid Lynch, Ollie Quinlan, Paul Roche; Brian Troy, Michael O’Shea, Tom Downes; Ger Quinlan, Derek Troy; Damian Carmody, Sean Haugh, Michael Foran; Michael Carmody, Eoin Troy, Francis Kelly.
Subs: Declan Walsh for Foran (inj) J Downes for M Carmody.

Kilmurry-Ibrickane   0-10
Kildysart                        0-7

Kilmurry-Ibrickane are through to the semi-finals of the intermediate football championship following this victory over Kildysart at Cooraclare on Sunday.
A very strong final quarter proved decisive for the Quilty based outfit as they came from being three points in arrears to win by the same margin.
Things got a little heated towards the end and it resulted in a mentor from each side being put outside the enclosure.
With Ger Kelly their main scorer, Kildysart had the better of the first half exchanges and they led by double scores, 0-6 to 0-3, at the break.
Early in the second half, Kilmurry got a grip on proceedings in a number of areas. Substitute John Talty did well at midfield and this led to a good supply of ball where another veteran, Odran O’Dwyer, was causing a lot of problems for Kildysart.
Slowly but surely they closed the gap before edging in front and pulling away for their second win of the campaign, which has put them through to the semi-finals leaving Kildysart and O’Callaghan’s Mills to battle it our for the second qualifying spot from this group.

Kilmurry-Ibrickane: David Talty; Eamonn Dunne, John Sexton, John McNamara; Mark Moloney, Gary Donnellan, Pat Sexton; Vinny Talty, Thomas O’Connor; Adrian Murrihy, Thomas Greene, Colm Donnellan; Aidan Moloney Jnr, Odran O’Dwyer, Senan McCarthy.
Sub: John Talty for McCarthy.
Kildysart: John Murtagh; Kieran Ayers, Shane McNeilis, John Guinnane; Brian Ayers, Keith O’Connor, Michael Eustace; Brian O’Sullivan, Neil O’Connor; John Clancy, Christy Clancy, Niall Guinnane; Ger Kelly, Kieran Murphy, Kevin Kelly.
Subs: Damian Hill for Eustace (inj) Eoin Cleary for K Kelly; Damian Murtagh for N Guinnane.

O’Callaghan’s Mills    1-16
Kilfenora                         0-5

O’Callaghan’s Mills are back in the hunt for the intermediate football championship following a comprehensive 14-point win over Kilfenora in Gurteen last weekend.
The Mills lost their first game heavily to Kilmurry Ibrickane, while Kilfenora were also well beaten by Kildysart last June.
Now the Mills face a crucial game against Kildysart on the weekend of September 3 to decide who will join Kilmurry in the intermediate semi-final from this group.
O’Callaghan’s Mills led 1-7 to 0-1 at half time with Brian Donnellan netting their goal. The game was over at that stage for the 2010 junior champions.
The Mills continued to dominate most of the second half adding nine points to their total while Kilfenora at least added four to their tally.

O’Callaghan’s Mills: Enda McNamara; Gary Neville, Niall Donovan, Gerry Cooney; John Lyons, Declan Donovan, Pat Donnellan; Conor Cooney Snr, Conor Cooney junior; Fergus Donovan, Brian Donnellan, James Murphy; Eoin Pewter, Noel Nash, James Hook.
Subs: Padraig Hickey for Eoin Pewter, Billy Donovan for Noel Nash, Seán O’Connor for Gerry Cooney, Flan McMahon for Declan Donovan, Eoin Kelly for Conor Cooney.
Scorers: Brian Donnellan (1-6), Eoin Pewter, Noel Nash, Fergus Donovan (0-2 each), Conor Cooney, James Murphy, James Hook, Eoin Kelly (0-1 each).
Kilfenora: Liam Keane; Shane Long, Diarmuid Nagle, MJ Malone; Paudie Ireland, Cathal Nagle, Paul Reddan; Pat Connole, Jonathon O’Gorman; Jason Connole, James Keane, Kevin Theasby; Austin Kelly, Aidan Malone, Killian Malone.
Subs: Liam O’Brien for Paul Reddan, Daniel Egan for Killian Malone, James Brody for Kevin Theasby.
Scorers: Aidan Malone, Killian Malone, James Brody, Jonathon O’Gorman, Jason Connole (0-1 each).
Referee: Jim Hickey (Cratloe).

Corofin                              2-3
Ballyvaughan                 0-5

First half goals from Darren Malone and Damien Ryan helped Corofin to a 2-1 to 0-3 half time lead in this intermediate championship second round group game played in Carron.
Both teams were well beaten in their opening games last June so had to win to remain in contention for a play off place, while the loser knew that the spectre of relegation will loom.
Corofin play O’Curry’s next with the winners set to join Clondegad in the semi-final, while Ballyvaughan face a huge task in taking on Clondegad.

Corofin: Kieran Carkill; Ollie O’Louglin, Brendan Keane, Brian McGahan; Damien Malone, Eamon Malone, Diarmuid Daly; John Keane, Luke O’Loughlin; Stephen Heagney, Darragh Shannon, Fergal Neylon; Darren Malone, Damien Ryan, Jason Tierney.
Subs: Manus Malone for Brian McGahan, Pat Golden for Fergal Neylon, Killian Neylon for Stephen Heagney.
Ballyvaughan: Damien McNamara; Mark O’Loughlin, Seán McNamara, John Linnane; Mark Walsh, Kieran Casey, Phelim Coyne; John McCormack, James Hynes; Cillian Malone, Cian Walsh, Lorcan Mahon; Adrian Niland, Donnach Mahon, Kevin Carrucan.
Subs: Tomás Francis for Donnacha Mahon, Ray Casey for Kevin Carrucan.
Referee: Tom Stackpoole (Ennistymon).