This article is from page 68 of the 2011-03-29 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 68 JPG
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 3-11 – Smith O’Brien’s 2-12 at O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge
A LESSON in finishing and composure as St Joseph’s made the most of their scoring chances to advance to the semi-finals. Defensive errors allowed Doora/Barefield to raid for two opportunistic first half goals in the space of five minutes and it had a huge bearing on the game as therafter, Smith O’Brien’s concentrated all their efforts on obtaining goals instead of picking off their points which proved a costly error in the end.
Much credit must go to St Joseph’s back seven as much as their attack for this latest result for stopping three 20 metre frees as well as smothering numerous attacks over the hour. Central to that miserly rearguard was Alan O’Neill who had a superb hour for the Parish at the centre of the defence and the Killaloe side found it extremely difficult to curb his influence.
A much more physical St Joseph’s side started the brighter, pulling 0-3 to 0-1 clear by the fifth minute through Shane O’Connor (2) and Jarlath Colleran. Smith O’Brien’s eventually settled and upon taking the lead solely through the stick of Kevin Walsh, they appeared to be taking control of the game before being hit with the first sucker-punch in the 20th minute.
An Alan O’Neill long range free wasn’t cleared and the ball broke inside for Ian Lyons to instinctly kick past onrushing goalkeeper Jason Monaghan for the opening goal. Micheál Ryan pulled a point back immediately for Smith O’Brien’s but they were soon on the backfoot once more when Niall Collin’s innocuous effort from 30 metres bounced past Monaghan to extend St Joseph’s lead at 2-5 to 0-5.
That six point advantage was maintained at the break (2-6 to 0-6) after Kevin Walsh’s 20 metre free was stopped while Ben Hynes follow-up drifted wide and there was futher frustration on the resumption as a Micheál Ryan 20 metre free was saved by Mikey Roseingrave while Luke Hession also had a goal opportunity but failed to connect with an aerial pull.
That obsession with finding the net certainly hampered Smith O’Brien’s and the difference in finishing was magnified when St Joseph’s hit on the counter-attack for Barry Millane to grab a third goal in the 41st minute.
Again Smith O’Brien’s rallied but had another Walsh 20 metre free stopped before finally making the breakthrough in the 44th minute through substitute Christopher Monaghan. However, St Joseph’s stubborn defence ensured that the margin would remain at five until another substitute Barry Power scored a consolation goal for Smith O’Brien’s with the last puck of the game. It is St Joseph’s who march on however and they will now play Ballyea in the semi-final in two week’s time.
St Joseph’s Doora/ Barefield
Mikey Roseingrave, Niall Hassett, Steven Collins, Darragh Murphy, Eamonn Clohessy,Alan O’Neill, Liam Clohessy, Jarlath Colleran (0-1), Leo Duggan, Niall Collins (1-0), Donal Fanning, Niall DeLoughery (0-3), Barry Millane (1-1), Shane O’Connor (0-6 3f), Ian Lyons (1-0)
Subs
Declan Meehan for L. Clohessy (HT), Cathal Duggan for Fanning (45 mins),Aaron Landy for Meehan (51 mins), Eoin Hennessy for N. Collins (60 mins)
Smith O’Brien’s
Jason Monaghan, Cian Nolan, Mark McInerney,Alan Lyons, Noel Howard, Mark Stritch (0-2 1f, 1’65), Kevin McEvoy, David Gough, Mark O’Halloran (0-1), Cian Moloney, Dean Sinnott, KevinWalsh (0-8 5f), Luke Hession, Micheál Ryan (0-1), Ben Hynes
Subs
Noel McInerney for Hynes (HT), Christopher Monaghan (1-0) for Moloney (HT), Barry Power (1-0) for Gough (49 mins)
Man of the Match
Alan O’Neill (St Joseph’s D/ Barefield) Referee Ger Lyons (Ruan)