This article is from page 64 of the 2011-05-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 64 JPG
Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-13 – Shannon Gaels 1-06 at Labasheeda
KILMURRY Ibrickane secured their place in the Cusack Cup semi-final on Saturday, while at the same time the exacted some revenge of the Gaels who put paid to their chances of lifting the trophy last term when shocking them at the semi-final stage.
There was no shock on the cards here as Kilmurry did more than enough to maintain their unbeaten league run, easing themselves to a comfortable four-point win in a game played out in dreadful conditions.
Kilmurry’s superiority could be summed up in their response to John Paul O’Neill’s 42nd minute goal for the Gaels, which left only a point between the sides. The Gaels took heart that this three-pointer could drive them on – instead it was Kilmurry who clicked into gear by hitting four unanswered points to kill off the home side’s challenge.
Matters were even enough in the first half – Kilmurry held the early initiative with two early points from Ian McInerney before John Paul O’Neill opened the Gaels’ account with a fisted effort in the fifth minute.
Stephen Moloney and Mark McCarthy hit points from play by the 11th minute before two Michael Coughlan points kept the Gaels only a point adrift after 16 minutes. That gap was still there at half-time after a brilliant Enda Coughlan point from the right after 22 minutes was responded to at the death by Cathal O’Neill, who raided from his full-back position to land a point.
However, when Kilmurry hit three points without reply inside the first eight minutes of the second half to move 0-8 to 0-4 clear, it seemed as if they would pull away to a comfortable win.
O’Neill’s goal altered that complexion for a few minutes, but order was restored with Noel Downes (2), Peter O’Dwyer, Ian McInerney and Johnnie Daly put Kilmurry 0-13 to 1-4 by the 55th minute.
Even the sending off of Evan Talty for a second yellow card after 53 minutes didn’t unsettle Kilmurry. Points at the death for Michael Coughlan and John Paul O’Neill were of the consolation and damage limitation variety.
The win leapfrogs Kilmurry to the top of the table with nine points from five games, while Shannon Gaels are now deep in relegation trouble with only two games left in the sevenmatch campaign, at the foot of the table.
Kilmurry Ibrickane
Darren Sexton, John Willie Sexton, Darren Hickey, Declan Callinan, Evan Talty, Paul O’Connor, Shane Hickey (0-1), Seamus Murrihy, Peter O’Dwyer (0-1), Stephen Moloney (0-1), Mark McCarthy (0-1), Ian McInerney (0-4, 1f, one 45), Johnnie Daly (0-1f), Enda Coughlan (0-2), Noel Downes (0-2).
Subs
Michael Hogan for Murrihy,Thomas O’Connor for Daly
Shannon Gaels
Keith Ryan, Francis Cleary, Cathal O’Neill (0-1), Fergal Kenny, John Bermingham, John Neylon,Tomas Cleary, Michael O’Donoghue, Fergal O’Neill, Sean Reynolds, Bryan Cunningham, Brian Bermingham, Michael Coughlan (0-3, 1f), John Paul O’Neill (1-2), Brian O’Shea.
Subs
Ruairi Norrby for O’Shea, Michael McMahon for Cunningham
Man of the Match
Peter O’Dwyer (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
Referee
Michael Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane)