This article is from page 67 of the 2011-02-22 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 67 JPG
St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield 0-06 Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-6 at Gurteen
ON the corresponding Sunday, 12 months ago Kilmurry Ibrickane produced one of their greatest ever displays when taking the scalp of Portlaoise to advance to the All-Ireland Club final on St Patrick’s Day.
Gurteen was a long way from that All-Ireland semi-final, with no commanding performance from the green and red machine, but still they had enough to take a share of the spoils against a St Joseph’s team making their maiden voyage in Cusack Cup competition.
For long periods it looked as if ‘The Parish’ were on course for a winning start in the top grade of league football – they led at half-time by 0-4 to 0-1 and were armed with a four-point lead entering the final 15 minutes, but they were eventually reeled in thanks to the accuracy of Ian McInerney from frees.
St Joseph’s played with the aid of a strong breeze in the first half, but shipped the first score to Kilmurry’s county minor from last year, Niall Hickey, who sniped away from his marker to fist over a smart point after only three minutes.
It took a while before St Joseph’s settled into proceedings against a Kilmurry side shy a host of regulars such as Shane Hickey, Declan Callinan, Noel Downes and Michael Hogan. However, Enda Lyons had them level from a free inside ten minutes, while a David O’Brien free after 16 minutes gave them a lead they didn’t surrender until Ian McInerney’s equalising point in the final minute.
Further points from the impressive Lyons by the 27th minute ensured that St Joseph’s were armed with a three-point interval lead and from there it looked as if they would kick onto victory after weathering Kilmurry’s early advances in the second half.
Johnnie Daly landed an early free for Kilmurry, but another Lyons point from play after a mistake in the opposition defence and David O’Brien’s second of the day put them in con- trol. However, from there Kilmurry roused themselves and a pointed free from Johnnie Daly 12 minutes from time kick-started their revival.
Then it was time for the Ian McInerney show. A foul on Enda Coughlan yielded a free for his first point. Then he landed a 45 in the 55th minute before another foul on Coughlan with two minutes remaining gave McInerney the task of restoring parity.
Kilmurry Ibrickane
Peter O’Dwyer, GrahamJohnson, John Sexton, Darren Hickey, Seamus Lynch, Enda Coughlan, Gary Donnellan, Paul O’Connor, Peter O’Dwyer, Stephen Moloney, Michael O’Dwyer, Ian McInerney (0-3, 2f, one 45),Adrian Murrihy, Johnnie Daly (02f), Niall Hickey (0-1).
Subs
Noel Downes for Murrihy, Mark McCarthy
for Michael O’Dwyer, Michael Hogan for Niall Hickey,Thomas Lernihan for Donnellan, Seamus Murrihy for Daly.
St Joseph’s Doora- Barefield
Declan O’Keeffe, Sean Flynn, Kevin Dilleen, Stephen Collins, KeithWhelan, Damian Kennedy, Eanna ÓBraonáin, Mark Hallinan, Mark Rafferty, David O’Brien (0-2, 1f), Cathal O’Sullivan, Paul Dullaghan, Enda Lyons (0-4, 2f), Johnny O’Brien, Cathal Duggan.
Man of the Match
Enda Lyons (St Joseph’s Doora- Barefield) Referee Michael Fitzgerald (Clondegad)