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Wolfe Tones 2-8 – Kilrush Shamrocks 0-9 at Lissycasey

‘CRISIS? What Crisis?’ It seems rumours of Wolfe Tones demise were all too premature as this dramatic yet spirited first round encounter proved on Saturday. Decimated by emigration, injuries and retirements including first team regulars such as Brian O’Connell, Johnny Bridges, Frank Lohan, Kevin Cahill, Stephen Monaghan, Jamie Roughan, David Reidy and Mickey O’Connell, Wolfe Tones were expected to roll over for Kilrush who appeared to be the ones most likely to challenge Kilmurry Ibrickane at the top of the group.

However, with the Shannon side primed for battle and determined to prevail, it was Kilrush who looked like the team who were crippled by those issues and despite having a host of goal chances that could have swung the game decisively, they never seemed to want it as much as Wolfe Tones.

Essentially, Kilrush looked like a side that just expected to turn and collect the points, a complacency fuelled by the continuous coverage of the Shannon club’s woes throughout the year so far. However, they hadn’t bargained for an inspired Wolfe tones side who packed up the defence, hit on the counter-attack and were timely aided by a Daniel Gallery goal in each half that boosted their self-belief.

At times, only full-forward Darren Ryan remained in Kilrush’s half as Wolfe Tones smothered the life out of their opponents and continually frustrated them. In saying that, the Shams did have four glorious goal opportunities and had they taken any, the game might have played out differently.

Ruaidhri O’Connor had a stinging effort excellently stopped by goalkeeper Jason Casey midway through the first half and only three minutes later full-back Sean Brennan was equally limber to keep out a Jim Young shot. While in the second period, the same pair were repelled by a miserly Shannon last line.

A more efficient Wolfe Tones mag- nified those misses however starting with a back-to-front move in the seventh minute that ended with the overlapping Daniel Gallery rattling the net to give his side a 1-1 to 0-2 lead.

That advantage became three when centre-back Brendan Hughes pointed only two minutes later and while a shellshocked Kilrush did finally settle, those two missed goal chances halted their progress somewhat, only cutting the deficit through points fro Stephen Sweeney and Jim Young by the 29th minute.

Wolfe Tones regained control before the break with the effective Gary Leahy and hardworking Chris Dunning both getting in on the scoring action on their way to a 1-4 to 0-5 lead. It didn’t get much better for Kilrush on the turnover despite having a larger chunk of possession. Three early wides and another blocked Young effort were only brightened by an O’Connor point to slash the deficit to the minimum.

Wolfe Tones soon cancelled it out however when Darren Ryan fisted over the bar in the 40th minute and with the game delicately balanced, the turning point came with the dismissal of Kilrush centre-back Niall Clancy in the 45th minute, followed almost immediately by Wolfe Tones second goal.

Clancy failed to heed a warning when he was fortunate to stay on the field in the 42nd minute after an off the ball altercation with Alan Hehir and by needlessly getting involved in a second incident three minutes later, he was duly sent off for a second yellow.

Wolfe Tones didn’t waste any time in hammering home their one man advantage when Gallery raced through and played a one-two with Alan Downes before finding the net and give his side a five point cushion. A Leahy free made it six soon afterwards while a luckless Kilrush saw a Ruaidhri O’Connor flick come back off the post, having beaten goalkeeper Casey.

Kilrush did rally with late points from Young (2) and substitute Eoin Tarrant but by then, the momentum had shifted firmly in Wolfe Tones direction and despite being reduced to 13 men with the late dismissals of Patsy Keyes and Gary Leahy, captain Hughes and man-of-the-match Gallery wrapped up the points with late strikes to complete the first surprise of the championship.

Kilmurry Ibrickane 1-9 – Kilmihil 0-9 at Cooraclare

KILMURRY Ibrickane got up and running in the 2011 championship, but to say it was a spluttering start is generous – very generous even, as they were severely tested by a Kilmihil team that had scant regard for the former Munster champions’ lofty reputations.

This was evident throughout. Kilmihil forced the pace when playing with the first half breeze, then gritted their teeth and never-said-die in the second half, even after being hit by a 1-3 blast in a five-minute spell, losing Timmy Ryan to a red card and playing the final 20 minutes with only 14 players.

It was that kind of game, more a war of attrition than an open game of football as both slugged it out from start to finish – the difference in the end being the steady hand of experience that Kilmurry showed in the second half.

Ian McInerney slotted the frees, Enda Coughlan really came on strong with three points from play, while Peter O’Dwyer played a captain’s part in the centre of the field as Kilmurry slowly ground out their victory while playing way below themselves as a unit.

Indeed, it was Kilmihil that looked much more of a team in the first half, principally because they had a gameplan built around the industrious Mark O’Connell conducting things at the back and the ploy of playing long and direct ball into David Ryan on the edge of the square.

It worked – O’Connell was the link between defence and attack; Ryan gave Darren Hickey a very tough afternoon, especially in the first half as Kilmihil forged clear by 0-6 to 0-2 by half-time.

It was Ryan who opened the scoring with a point in the fifth minute before Enda Coughlan replied in the tenth minute, but it wasn’t until the 29th minute that Kilmurry again raised a flag when Stephen Moloney shook off his team’s lethargy with a fine point from play.

In between it was all Kilmihil, save Peter O’Dwyer fighting what at the time looked like a very lone battle in the middle of the field. Points by David Reidy and Shane Mangan by the 15th minute and then three Declan Downes points copper-fastened Kilmihil’s first half supremacy. Another Declan Downes free two minutes into the second half stretched Kilmihil’s advantage before the Kilmurry comeback was finally kickstarted by an Ian McInerney free. Then Enda Coughlan helped turned the match decisively in Kilmurry’s favour, pointing in the 37th and 38th minutes, while in between his fisted effort at a goal crashed off the crossbar and into the path of Noel Downes who coolly dispatched to the net. Declan Downes did level matters in the 40th minute with another free, but when Timmy Ryan was sent off it was destined to be Kilmurry’s day as two Ian McInerney frees and points from play by Peter O’Dwyer and Enda Coughlan edged them 1-9 to 08 clear before Paul Reidy grabbed a consolation point in the 64th minute. Kilmihil could have got more though – they screamed foot-block and penalty in the 50th minute when Noel Downes was denied a goal. However, Kilmurry were also denied a goal in the first half when the other Noel Downes’ effort was clearly over the line.

Kilmurry Ibrickane 2-11 – O’Callaghan’s Mills 0-03 at Ballynacally

THE LAST time these sides met in the champonship in August 2009, the Mills won out by two points on their way to the semi-finals and within a point of reaching a county final. Kilmurry Ibrickane meanwhile nosedived in the opposite direction that year and only saved themselves from relegation in a play-off with Michael Cusacks.

Two years on and the football landscape for both sides has altered considerably as Kilmurry Ibrickane, backed by the senior experience of Odran O’Dwyer, Vinnie Talty, Brendan Moloney and Gary Donnellan and the guile of Seamus Lynch, are a much more formidable opposition as demonstrated by their dis- mantling of the Mills on Sunday.

The same passion or interest cannot be attributed to the east Clare side who were without up to eight first team starters, including county senior hurlers Patrick Donnellan and Conor Cooney, the latter of which only made a second half cameo.

Bizarre that the Mills should pass up arguably their best chance of silverware this year but that mattered little to Kilmurry Ibrickane who could only beat what was put in front of them and after a getting-to-knowyou first half, they really opened up on the turnover.

An unanswered 2-7 put paid to any doubts of where the first points were heading, with chief marksmen Odran O’Dwyer and Seamus Lynch deservedly cutting through the heart of the Mills defence for the goals.

It was a much more tentative start however with Kilmurry Ibickane shading the first half efforts at 0-4 to 0-2, with Odran O’Dwyer settling into the new grade with two points. Meanwhile, the Mills had goal chances for Billy Donovan, whose fisted flick was saved by the head of goalkeeper Darren Sexton, and a James Hook punch at the back post that was also twarted by the county minor netminder.

The Mills had relative success in drawing their half-forward line back to crowd out the middle but those tactics quickly went out the window as Kilmurry Ibrickane found their range on the restart.

With Seamus Lynch expertly pulling the strings and picking off four of the first five points, they opened up a 0-9 to 0-2 advantage before the Mills were decisively killed off by Odran O’Dwyer’s 46th minute goal. It was a superb back-to-front move, involving John Sexton, Vinnie Talty and Senan McCarthy whose crossfield pass picked out O’Dwyer to turn his man and head for goal.

The Mills woes worsened when Seamus Lynch weaved through the last line to score a 53rd minute goal, a fitting end to a superb individual display that puts the ‘Bricks in the driving seat in the group and the Mills sinking in the opposite direction.

Kilmurry Ibrickane
Darren Sexton (7), AndrewDarcy (7), John Sexton (7), Eamon Dunne

(7), Gary Donnellan (8), Brendan Moloney (8), Patrick Sexton (7),Thomas O’Connor (7) (0-1), VinnyTalty (7),Thomas Lernihan (7) (0-1), Seamus Lynch (9) (1-6 4f), Brian Callinan (7) (0-1), Senan McCarthy (6), Odran O’Dwyer (8) (1-2), Colm Donnellan (6)

Subs
Thomas Greene (6) for McCarthy (48 mins), Mark Moloney for Callinan (51 mins), John McNamara for O’Dwyer (51 mins), Diarmuid Donnellan for G. Donnellan (54 mins, inj)

O’Callaghan’s Mills
Enda McNamara (6), Gary Neville (7), Niall Donovan (6), Gerry Cooney (6), Jonathan Lyons (6), John Cooney (7), Sean O’Gorman (6), Conor Cooney (8), Bryan Donnellan (7) (0-2 1f), Fergus Donovan (7), Paul Lynch (7) (0-1f), Mickey Madden (7), James Hook (6), Billy Donovan (6), Paul Murphy (6)

Subs
Conor Cooney (7) for Murphy (35 mins), Flannan McMahon (6) for N. Donovan (37 mins), Declan Donovan for Hook (50 mins), Martin McMahon for B. Donovan (51 mins)

Man of the Match
Seamus Lynch (Kilmurry Ibrickane) Referee John Hannon (Michael Cusack’s)

Kildysart 1-15 – Kilfenora 1-11 at Páirc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty

DESPITE LEADING from start to finish, Kildysart never had it all their own way against Junior A champions Kilfenora. A strong wind blowing in from the sea dominated the game but last year’s semi-finalists arguably played better when facing into the gale for the second period than they did in the first.

Still, while they would be happy by the 1-15 scoreline, they also kicked 13 wides over the hour and had Kilfenora taken their goal opportunities, there might have been a more dramatic finish. However, Kildysart just had the better balance on the day, despite making harder work of the result than they perhaps should have done.

All so different early on as with the aid of the conditions, everything they kicked seemed to go over the crossbar with Ger Kelly and Christy Clancy grabbing a brace each on their way to a 0-5 to 0-0 lead by the eighth minute.

All that early work was almost cancelled out in a three minute period midway through the half when Killian Malone was presented with two glorious goal opportunities. The first one he took with aplomb after receiving an inch perfect pass from James Keane while after a Brian O’Sullivan reply at the other end, Keane again supplied Malone for a second opportunity following the collision of two defenders but he lost possession at the vital time.

How there wasn’t more goals in the remainder of the half came down to the superb goalkeeping of John Murtagh and Liam Keane who both produced breathtaking saves to keep their respective opponents at bay. Kildysart’s Murtagh excellently stopped Aidan Malone’s rasping effort while down the other end, Keane produced a point blank stop to deny Keith Murphy.

Instead, Kildysart wiped their brows and got back on top, and despite eight first half wides, they did manage to score another four points, two from corner-forward Damien Murtagh to hold a 0-10 to 1-02 halftime advantage.

It didn’t seem enough when facing into the breeze for the second half especially when Kilfenora kicked three successive points in as many minutes to bring the lead down to just two. Pat Connole began the rally after only 15 seconds, followed by points from marque forwards Killian and Aidan Malone while the former also had another goal attempt blocked by John Ginnane.

However, Kilfenora never forced home the wind advantage and bizarrely brought back Kevin Theasby as a sweeper, just as they had done against the conditions in the opening half. It allowed Kildysart to hit back through Christy (2) and John Clancy, only to be pegged back by a brace of Killian Malone frees and that was to be the pattern of the game until Kildysart found the net in the 55th minute.

There was an element of fortune about the goal as substitute Eoin Cleary’s shot for a point dropped short and broke to Damien Murtagh who finished at the second attempt to give his side a 1-15 to 1-08 cushion.

Kilfenora never gave up and kicked the last three points but with time against them, they had to settle for second best against a Kildysart side that will harbour ambitions of being in the shake up later in the summer.

Kildysart
John Murtagh (8), John Ginnane (8), Shane McNelis (7), Kieran Leahy (7), Brian Eyres (7), Keith O’Connor (7), Michael Eustace (7), Brian O’Sullivan (7) (0-1), John Clancy (8) (0-1), Damien Hill (6) (0-1), Niall Ginnane (7) (0-1), Christy Clancy (8) (0-4), Ger Kelly (7) (0-5 3f), Keith Murphy (6), Damien Murtagh (7) (1-2 1f)

Sub
Eoin Cleary for Murphy (50 mins)

Kilfenora
LiamKeane (8), Shane Long (7), Dairmuid Nagle (7), Paul Reddan (6), Michael James Malone (6), Cathal Nagle (7), Paudie Ireland (7), Pat Connole (7) (0-1), LiamO’Brien (6), Jason Connole (6), Killian Malone (8) (1-6 3f), James Keane (7) (0-1),Austin Kelly (7) (0-1),Aidan Malone (7) (0-1), KevinTheasby (6)

Sub
Aidan Long (6) (0-1) for J. Connole (39 mins)

Man of the Match
Christy Clancy (Kildysart) Referee John Brew(Kilmurry Ibrickane)

Cratloe 2-11 – Shannon Gaels 2-09 at Cusack Park, Ennis

CRATLOE were forced to dig deep to take all two points from a tense and compelling encounter with Shannon Gaels on Saturday.

Michael Coughlan’s 60th minute free looked to have rescued a share of the spoils for the Gaels but Cratloe came again.

Last season’s quarter-finalists forced a free a minute into injury time. The ever-reliable Cathal McInerney converted his eighth placed ball of the evening before Sean Collins slotted over the insurance point a minute later.

It was hard luck on the Gaels who had done enough to earn at least a point.

Carefully guarding possession, they defended with purpose and concentration to restrict Cratloe to just three points from play. John Neylon, Michael O’Donoghue and Michael Coughlan were instrumental throughout while at full-forward John Paul O’Neill caused Barry Duggan plenty of worrying moments before the Clare full-back was withdrawn through injury in the second half.

Still there was greater movement and menace about Cratloe, particularly when Padraic Collins and McInerney had the ball in their hands. And when possession was paramount in those tense final minutes, Conor Ryan manfully stepped up with a couple of important takes in midfield.

Cratloe made the brighter start, edging 0-3 to 0-1 ahead by the tenth minute before some loose defending by both full-back lines allowed for a flurry of goals.

McInerney bisected two Gaels jerseys to find Padraic Collins who drove low to the net in the 14th minute. Seconds later, a weak Cratloe clearance was hacked back towards goal by John Paul O’Neill where Noel Kennedy was left with an easy finish. Cratloe went one better in the 17th minute when Sean Collins’ high ball evaded Tomás Madigan and fell to McInerney who made no mistake from close range. That left Cratloe 2-3 to 1-1 ahead but the Gaels slowly but surely reeled them in. The hard working Coughlan kicked two frees before Cathal O’Neill’s foray forward from corner-back was rewarded with a point. Another Coughlan free levelled the game but McInerney hit back with another placed ball to give Cratloe a slender 2-4 to 1-6 lead at half time. The second half would be an even closer affair. After another McInerney free, John Paul O’Neill applied a goal scoring finish to a well-worked Gaels attack. Coughlan and McInerney continued their private place kicking duel before Cratloe sneaked 2-9 to 2-7 ahead in the 57th minute. Coughlan tied the game again with two more frees, the second of which had its roots in a mighty catch from Kennedy. A draw looked on the cards but Cratloe had other ideas and take their first big step towards reaching the business end of the championship once more.