Category: Sport

Newmarket-on-Fergus 2-22 – Whitegate 2-08 at Newmarket-on-Fergus

NEWMARKET moved back to the summit of Division 1 after a comfortable victory over relegation strugglers Whitegate on Monday afternoon. Both were understrength and without county seniors but it was the home side who were sharper and more clinical throughout, building up a seven point lead by the break before finishing the job on the turnover.

Tommy Griffin was the first half’s standout forward with three points on their way to a 0-11 to 0-04 half-time advantage, with Padraig Kilmartin and Enda Barrett also instrumental in keeping the east Clare side out at the other end.

Whitegate did manage to grab two goals through Ian Fahy and Stephen Malone in the second period while Newmarket were reduced to 14 following the dismissal of substitute Martin Murphy at the turn of the final quarter. However it still failed to trouble the home side who had a brace of goals of their own through Martin O’Hanlon and Anthony Kilmartin to ease up to victory and maintain their impressive unbeaten record of seven unbeaten competitive games.

Newmarket- on- Fergus
Kieran Devitt, Padraig Kilmartin, Stephen Kelly, Sean O’Connor,Alan Barrett, Enda Barrett, Noel Frawley, Martin O’Hanlon, Paraic Collins, Enda Kelly, David Barrett, JimMcInerney, Eoin Hayes,Anthony Kilmartin,Tommy Griffin

Subs
Darren Duggan for Griffin, Martin Murphy

for E. Kelly, Brian Clancy for Frawley, Bernard Gaffney for A. Kilmartin

Whitegate
AndrewFahey, Cathal Mulvihill, John Bugler, John Minogue, Jason Malone, Patrick Minogue,Trevor Kelly, Ian Fahy,Tomás McNamara, Michael O’Brien, Ray Cahill, Shane O’Rourke, GeorgieWaterstone, Stephen Malone, John O’Brien

Subs
Christy Jones for J. Minogue, Eoin Quirke for Kelly, John Minogue for Cahill

Man of the Match
Padraig Kilmartin (Newmarket- on- Fergus) Referee Damian Fox (WolfeTones)

Clooney/Quin 0-17 – Tulla 0-11 at Clooney

GOOGLE ‘HARMLESS’ and you will more than likely find a link to this game high on the reference list. More a fixture fulfilling challenge game rather than competitive action as both sides were understrength following the previous weekend’s championship fare.

The expected bite between the neighbouring clubs was predominantly non-existent as both sides went through the motions in an hour long formulaic struggle.

Clooney/Quin will undoubtedly emerge from this game in brighter spirits however as they controlled the game from the end of the opening quarter and srengthened their competition for places as John Earls hit five points from play; Adrian Fleming grabbed three; Brian Shally also contributed handsomely from both placed balls and play, including a standout volleyed point while the returning Seamus Conroy got some valuable game time.

Tulla meanwhile had none of the passion of their championship victory over the Mapgies that has one of Jim McInerney’s feet in the quarterfinals and while their defensive unit remained unchanged from the weekend, only three players remained from their front eight and it was to prove decisive. Without Eanna Torpey (emigrated), Danny O’Halloran (suspended), Conor O’Halloran, Brian Lynch, David McInerney and Andrew Quinn, Tulla were noticeably limp up front as measured by only six points from play that equates to one every ten minutes.

Instead, an even start that saw the sides level on four occasions by the 13th minute subsided into a one-sided second quarter in which the home side outscored their opponents by 08 to 0-1 in a 15 minute spell. Earls, Shally and Fleming were to the fore as was Cillian Duggan who swept up practically everything that crossed the halfway line as they led by 0-12 to 0-05 at the break.

The second period descended further into forgettable territory after Aidan Lynch’s early penalty was saved by replacement goalkeeper Patrick Cunningham. Instead, the Earls, Shally, Fleming triumvirate opened up a 0-17 to 0-08 advantage by the 57th minute and while Tulla finished with three Ray Stewart frees, it was Clooney/Quin who easily maintained their position in the semi-final qualification spot.

Clooney/ Quin
Damien O’Halloran, Shane McNamara, Conor Harrison,Tony McMahon, Mike McNamara, Cillian Duggan, Enda Harrison, Martin Duggan (0-2), Seamus Conroy, John Earls (0-5),Adrian Fleming (0-3), Daire Hannon, Mike Daffy (0-1), Cathal Egan, Brian Shally (0-6 4f)

Subs
Patrick Cunninghamfor O’Halloran (HT), Brian McInerney for Conroy (41 mins), Donnacha Murphy for Hannon (46 mins), Rory McNamara for Egan (52 mins), Niall McMahon for M. Duggan (58 mins)

Tulla
Philip Brennan, Eugene Cooney, Sean Torpey, John Brennan, Cian McInerney, Paul Lynch, Mark Quinn,Tomás McMahon, Cathal Dinan (0-1), John Fahy, Michael Murphy (0-1), Daragh Corry (01), Ray Stewart (0-5 3f, 1’65), Cathal Bolton,Aidan Lynch (0-3 1f)

Sub
Karl Quinn for McInerney (25 mins, inj)

Man of the Match
Cillian Duggan (Clooney/ Quin) Referee Seanie McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus)

Crusheen 2-12 – Sixmilebridge 0-16 at O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge

SKY SPORTS would have had been promoting this game for months in advance. The county champions Crusheen versus the Clare Cup equivalents Sixmilebridge promised a supercup of sorts to decide the ultimate champions. Instead, after the rigours of the weekend’s championship action, the standard of play was more like the Charity Shield, with both sides having to dip into their extended panels to decide which side took poll position in the race for two semi-final spots.

A goal in each half was enough to secure the points for the county champions, a victory that seemed very unlikely in a lacklustre first half offering that saw them trail by 0-8 to 0-2 as late at the 29th minute.

Up to that point, it was the Niall Gilligan show, with the former county senior and indeed current county intermediate chalking up five early points along with having a pull saved by goalkeeper Donal Tuohy.

Meanwhile, Crusheen couldn’t hit a barn door with a banjo but improved significantly with the introduction of Gearoid O’Doherty who decisively hit 1-1 from placed balls late in the half to slash the deficit. The goal came from a 20 metre free after he had been fouled himself and it was a welcome boost going in at half-time only trailing by two at 0-8 to 1-3.

With Gilligan being Sixmilebri dge’s main scoring forward, he maintained his good form on the restart with three further points while also having a flick drift by the post.

Crusheen, however, seemed to have the better balance and after O’Doherty, Paddy Meaney, Gerry O’Grady and Niall Fitzgibbon had levelled matters by the 40th minute, they used the momentum to grab a second goal in the 42nd minute when Shaun Dillon was quickest to react to a rebound from a Paddy O’Grady shot.

Now in front for the first time in the game, the county champions cemented their lead further with points from O’Doherty and Dillon, and while Gilligan would add four more points, O’Doherty and Paddy Meaney were equal to those efforts on the scoreboard.

The home side did create a match winning goal chance in injury-time when David O’Connor pulled across the 20 metre line to Tommy Morey but his shot was expertly hooked by Cathal Dillon and Crusheen held on for could be an important victory.

Crusheen
Donal Tuohy, John Brigdale, Cronan Dillon,Alan Brigdale, Jason Greene, Cian Dillon, Cathal Dillon, Shaun Dillon (1-1), Gerry O’Grady (0-1), Gearoid O’Donnell, Niall Fitzgibbon (0-2), Jamie Fitzgibbon, Conor O’Donnell, Patrick O’Grady, Paddy Meaney (0-3)

Sub
Gearoid O’Doherty (1-5f) for C. O’Donnell (25 mins)

Sixmilebridge
Derek Fahy,Tadgh Keogh,Aidan Quilligan,Trevor Purcell, Barry O’Connor, John Fennessy, Paidí Fitzpatrick (0-1), David O’Connor, Robert Conlon,Tony Carmody,Tommy Morey, Pa Sheehan (0-1), Niall Gilligan (0-12 7f, 2’65’s), Brian Culbert, Danny Morey (0-2)

Subs
Paul Fitzpatrick for Purcell (HT),Anthony Liddane for Culbert (39 mins)

Man of the Match
Shaun Dillon (Crusheen) Referee Seanie McMahon (Newmarket)

Ruan 0-14 – Sixmilebridge 0-12 at Clareabbey

IT WAS almost a year to the very day since these sides last clashed at the same stage of the intermediate championship, in a game that ultimately mattered far less due to the advancement of three teams from the group of five.

On Tuesday, the consequences of defeat were far greater as now only two places are up for grabs in a group of six teams. In that meeting, an Earol Tuohy goal was enough to give the ‘Bridge a two point victory, this time Ruan got over the line by the same margin when late points from Brendan Lyons and the ever-reliable John Punch put daylight between the sides.

In truth, while Sixmilebridge needed victory more after losing their opening tie against Parteen and indeed will be kicking themselves that they didn’t avail of the chance to close out this game after doing so much hard graft to level up the game by the 58th minute, Ruan deserved to prevail.

In similar circumstances last year, they let slip a three point advantage in the closing minutes but fortunate- ly for Ruan, this time they held their nerve to see out the win. In all, 16 wides made it a far less comfortable ride to collect the points, especially in the opening half when they dominated but still only found themselves ahead by the minimum at the break, with John Punch securing the first four of that total at 0-8 to 0-7.

The ‘Bridge’s best opportunities came from frees as they would only score three points from play over the hour but it was only in the final five minutes that they would really threaten Ruan’s hold on the game. Trailing by 0-12 to 0-09, two Sam O’Sullivan frees and a point from substitute Paul Corbett gained parity by the 58th minute as memories of last year’s late turnaround came flooding back.

However, whether last year’s final experience has steeled Ruan or not, they didn’t panic with Lyons and Punch pointing to maintain their perfect start to the championship and more or less ending the ‘Bridge’s hopes in the process.

Ruan
Pakie Roughan, Gary Bell, Niall O’Connor,

Leon Quirke, Killian Ryan, Jonathan Clohessy, Dara Roughan,Tadgh Hanrahan, Caimin Howard,Aidan Lynch (0-2), Eoin Hanrahan, MikeyVaughan, John Punch (0-10 7f, 1’65),Alan Bell, Brendan Lyons (01)

Subs
Sean Cullinan (0-1) for A. Bell (35 mins), Colin O’Donoghue for T. Hanrahan (54 mins)

Sixmilebridge
Sean Chaplin,Wayne Kennedy, Eoin Quinn, Cathal Walsh, Jonathan Downes, Stiofan Fitzpatrick, Christy Griffin, SamO’Sullivan (0-6f),Adrian Chaplin, Mark Culbert, Ronan Hayes (0-1), Sean Stack, Earol Tuohy (0-1), Rory Liddane, Tommy Liddy (0-3f)

Subs
David O’Meara for Stack (43 mins), Michael O’Halloran for Liddy (46 mins), Paul Corbett (0-1) for Griffin (54 mins)

Man of the Match
Eoin Hanrahan (Ruan) Referee Michael Fitzgerald (Ballyea)

Doonbeg 1-13 – Lissycasey 3-05 at Cooraclare

WHAT might have been for a Lissycasey team being teed up as whipping boys beforehand in what was supposed to be a gentle opener for Doonbeg in the defence of their county title.

Thing is, just like that county title was hard won after nine years of toil, this game was hard won too – they only got there because Lissycasey got caught like startled rabbits in the headlights when they should have been able to kick on to victory.

Lissycasey led 2-3 to 0-7 at halftime after goals by Danny Clohessy and Niall Kelly had rocked the Magpies – with the gale to come in the second half, the shock of the championship in the first game of the championship looked at hand.

Alas from Lissycasey’s viewpoint, they effectively imploded in the face another tour de force from David Tubridy, who hit 1-9 over the hour – 1-5 of it coming in the second half when his team needed his scores and leadership the most.

A sluggish Doonbeg struggled to get into their stride in the first half when a more pumped up Lissycasey side more than held their own when playing into the wind thanks to points by Matthew O’Shea and Derek McMahon by the tenth minute in replay to two early Tubridy points.

Shane O’Brien and McMahon then exchanged points before Paul Dillon and Brian Egan put Doonbeg 0-5 to 0-3 clear by the 24th minute. Then the game was turned on its head in the closing five minutes of the half thanks to two Lissycasey goals.

A forceful run up along the left wing by Martin Moran created the opening for Danny Clohessy in the 26th minute, with the midfielder gleefully blasting the ball beyond Nigel Dillon in goal.

Four minutes later it was Niall Kelly’s turn after he beat Padraig Gallagher to a long ball, turned and blasted to the net from eight yards to put Lissycasey four points up going into first half injury time.

It could have been panic stations for Doonbeg, but two pointed frees form David Tubridy during the four minutes played by Barry Kelly steadied the champions – they were portents of things to come.

Tubridy continued where he left off before half time with a brace inside the first ten minutes of the restart to level matters, while those around him gradually cranked up their performances.

Lissycasey did edge back in front in the 43rd minute thanks to an Oisin Talty point but there was no stopping Doonbeg when they hit 1-4 without reply in a 14 minute spell to kill the game.

Tubridy sowed the way with two more points by the 50th minute; Conor Whelan raided up the field to fist a point in the 53rd; Conor Downes teed up Tubridy for the match-winnng goal in the 56th, while Frank O’Dea rounded off their blitz with his first point in the 58th.

Lissycasey did rally with a Martin O’Connor point in the 59th minute and Niall Kelly’s second goal three minutes later, but it was too late.

They needed scores much earlier in the half, like the 46th minute when the sides were level and Paul Nagle raced through on goal with only Nigel Dillon to beat, blasted a dropkick that Dillon saved.

That’s where it all started to go wrong for Lissycasey.

St Senan’s Kilkee 2-12 – Cooraclare 1-08 at Shanahan Memorial Park, Doonbeg

“HOW are ye fixed,” was a question posed to a former Blues great before the start of the championship encounter in Doonbeg on Monday afternoon. “We don’t know,” came the answer. “We never do.”

True too, they’re Kilkee after all – the moody Blues who can lurch from the very good to the bad.

Thankfully from their point view the good side was on show as they ground out a deserved victory over a Cooraclare side that never really got going.

It was a tough weekend for Cooraclare after the sudden death of Pat Lillis, former club chairman, championship winner and father Fergal and Cathal who put family tragedy behind them to take their place on the starting 15.

Some things are much more important than football, but it was tough out on the field for Cooraclare too as they played second fiddle to a Kilkee side that showed a clinical touch in front of goal in the second half.

Michael O’Shea was the man – his haul of 1-7 was the difference between the sides, his goal nine minutes into the second half putting his side six points clear, while he then tacked on three crucial points in the final ten minutes after Rory Donnelly’s 45th minute goal had helped bring the gap back to a point.

Things looked good for the Blues at the break after they carved out a 06 to 0-5 interval lead having played against the strong breeze blowing towards the scoreboard goal. They held the initiative early on thanks to two Michael O’Shea points, gradually Cooraclare settled down and reeled off three in a row courtesy of Rory Donnelly, Declan McMahon and Cathal Lillis by the 19th minute.

Indeed, Aidan Moloney’s side looked to have grabbed the initiative approaching half time when they responded to a levelling point from Barry Harte with points by Mark Tubridy and Rory Donnelly, but it was missed goal chance in the 29th minute when they led 0-5 to 0-4 that really cost them dear.

The chance fell to Rory Donnelly about six yards out, but he snatched his left-footed shot into the side netting.

From there the Blues raided, with Kevin Larkin storming up the field and kicking the score of the day from 45 yards and Michael O’Shea following up with an injury time point to give them the interval lead.

Nine minutes in they had stretched it to six after Chris Williamson and Michael O’Shea points was followed by O’Shea’s goal after he was put through by Senan Larkin with his first touch after coming on as a sub. From there it looked as if the Blues would close out the game but it was back in the melting pot when Sean Maguire set up Rory Donnelly for a 45th minute goal that was quickly followed by two Mark Tubridy points from frees to leave only a point in it. Suddenly the force was with Cooraclare, but Michael O’Shea restored order with a hat-trick of points by the 56th minute as Kilkee moved four clear, while Chris Williamson’s 61st minute goal finally closed out an impressive day’s work for the Blues.

Ennistymon 0-10 – Liscannor 0-08 at Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown Malbay

IT WAS A changing of the guard in some respects, not just between these former team-mates but in the overall championship itself. In a game as tight as a submarine door, you would have expected experts Liscannor to pull through just as they have done countless times before but aging legs were replaced by Ennistymon’s fresh ones in the crucial final quarter.

With an average age of 31 and two thirds of the team the wrong side of 30, Liscannor were unable to kick on from an 0-8 to 0-6 advantage held by the 45th minute and it was Ennistymon, backed by seven of their Under 21 winning side, who kicked the last four scores to take the honours and give themselves a tremendous boost heading into the ten week break.

It was all so different in the early stages as Liscannor surged into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead by the end of the opening quarter with Niall Considine at full-forward grabbing two of those scores. However, their grip was loosened by an Ennistymon rally that saw them hit four without reply in a six minute spell as Danny Rouine punished from frees while impressive wing-forwards Kevin Scales and Joe Dowling were on target from play. There was even a half chance of a goal for Robert McDonagh af- ter a Rouine free rebounded off the upright but he was smothered by Liscannor’s last line before Clohessy gained parity at the other end going into the interval. The scores were few but the en- tertainment and tension grew to a heightened level as the second half progressed. Ennistymon appeared to have kicked their hopes of victory away in the early stages with three successive wides while Liscannor were more accurate at the other end in grabbing three out of the first four points of the half by the turn of the final quarter to lead by 0-8 to 0-6, with Brian Considine’s curling effort from 35 metres the pick of the bunch. More often than not, Liscannor would have seen out the victory from that point but far from dropping their heads, Ennistymon refused to lie down and their hunger to succeed allied to their fresher legs saw them gain confidence from every passing score. A Danny Rouine free and a Joe Dowling left footed effort from 35 metres levelled up the game for the third time amidst a huge roar of approval from a packed new stand while Dowling turned provider for their third point in as many minutes as Ennistymon took the lead through Kevin Scales in the 50th minute. The expected backlash from Liscannor never materialised however as they got nowhere near to scoring their first championship goal in seven games. Instead, it was Ennistymon who strengthened their position further when Scales burst through the centre of the defence and was hauled down for Rouine to complete a perfect start to the championship and come out from under the shadow of their north Clare neighbours.

St Breckan’s 3-11 – Éire Óg 1-10 at Páirc Finne, Corofin

THE biggest score of the opening weekend of the championship; the biggest winning margin; the biggest shock.

All combined to make this a glorious return to the ranks of senior football for the men from Lisdoonvarna and Doolin as they dished out a thoroughly deserved seven-point beating to an Éire Óg team that’s already fighting for survival in the 2011 championship.

Where to start for Breckan’s.

The all action display of the likes of Stephen Tierney who started running when the ball was thrown in and didn’t stop until the end in a performance highlighted by his brilliant 55th minute goal that finally the game and put his side seven points clear.

Sean Cormican’s two-goal blast in the first half that put Breckan’s on the road to victory – the industry of everyone wearing maroon, whether snaffling up 90 per cent of the breaks around midfield, Dinny O’Driscoll pulling the strings, Greg O’Leary coming out of retirement.

All this and much more conspired to bring Breckan’s alive against an Éire Óg team that was flat-footed and consequently overrun for the 60 minutes and lucky to be within seven points at the end.

The writing was on the wall for the Townies are early as the 11th minute when a quick free-kick from Pat Nagle on the 21-yard line was finished to the net by Sean Cormican before anyone in red knew what was happening.

It put St Breckan’s 1-4 to 0-3 clear against the breeze, bookending a bright start that saw them hit early points through Denis O’Driscoll (2), Donal Howley and Pat Nagle to replies from Stephen Hickey (2) and Eoin Glynn.

Éire Og did bounce back from the goal with points by Hickey and Nicky Hogan by the 19th minute, but a sweeping move in the 21st minute, started by the impressive Raphael Considine, carried on by fellow wing-back Stephen Tierney and then blasted to the net by Sean Cormican from 12 yards showed up the gulf between the sides – Breckan’s had energy, support play and killer instinct, the Townies didn’t. That said, another rally that yield- ed 1-2 in the closing minutes of the half – Hickey pointing on either side of Nicky Hogan’s scrambled goal brought the sides level at the break. It was a very false reflection, how- ever, something that was hammered home by a rampant St Breckan’s side in between hitting seven second half wides. Éire Óg were restricted to just three points from frees in the half – Breckan’s hit 1-7 to cruise to victory. They were on their way thanks to points by the Cormican brothers and Pat Nagle as they moved three clear and they never looked back. They toyed with the Townies at times before points by Nagle (2), Shane O’Connor from distance in response to token points from two Shane Daniels frees and finally Stephen Tierney’s brilliant goal settled the issue. Not even the sending off of captain Conor Howley near the end could spoil St Breckans’ party. A second Nicky Hogan goal was disallowed in the 60th minute for a square ball, but even if it had been allowed, it wouldn’t have made any difference.

Crusheen 1-14 – Clooney/Quin 1-11 at Cusack Park, Ennis

PERHAPS IT comes with championship success but it was Crusheen’s ability to take their chances while on top that decided this relatively open final encounter at Clare headquarters on Sunday evening.

1-8 in the final 20 minutes, inspired by a Conor O’Donnell goal in the 42nd minute and the introduction of Paddy Meaney who could have scored a hat-trick of goals only for the bravery of goalkeeper Damien O’Halloran, cemented a first victory for the holders and puts them back in charge of their own destiny in the group.

On the flip side, it was Clooney/ Quin’s profligacy when backed by a strong breeze in the opening half that ultimately cost them the win in this their championship bow, having hit ten first half wides. In fact, had Clooney/Quin led by six or seven points at the break, few could have argued as Crusheen were struck to the ground and on the backfoot for the majority.

Between the wides, Padraig Ward was the chief marksman while Peter Duggan also dissected the posts with a stunning 50 metre lineball as the challengers held a 0-7 to 0-5 halftime advantage.

Crusheen were a different animal on the turnover however, even though it took them until Conor O’Donnell’s 42nd minute free to gain some much needed confidence and indeed the lead as well.

That goal came midway through a 1-5 unanswered streak for the champions that essentially decided the game as Clooney/Quin were unable to get past the old familiar half-back line wall of Cathal Dillon, Cian Dillon and Ciaran O’Doherty while Paddy Vaughan and Tony Meaney fed off the breaks.

They did eventually rally with three Peter Duggan frees and a late Cathal Egan volley to the net from a dipping Duggan effort from distance but by now substitute Paddy Meaney was causing consternation in the Clooney/Quin full-back line that should have yielded at least two more goals for the champions who ran out deserving winners in the end.

Corofin 0-13 – Ogonnelloe 0-11 at Dr Daly Park, Tulla

LEAVING TULLA last Saturday evening the respective managers of both Corofin and Ogonnelloe will reflect back on this clash in very contrasting manners.

The north Clare outfit will surely be delighted to have escaped with a 0-13 to 0-11 victory but will still be concerned with their level of performance and how this encounter was made such hard work of.

Retreating to the east of the county, the eventual losers will be absolutely gutted with the result. Despite a mammoth effort at times to stay in contention and even near the end to steal the lead, the fact they had nothing to show for their struggles at Flan O’Reilly’s final whistle must be heart-breaking.

The first half was by no means a spectacle of hurling but the competitiveness and commitment of both sides could not be questioned. After a minute of play John McKenna found the game’s first score. The perfect start was achieved as his free from 40 metres out sailed between the posts. Minutes later and Corofin responded with a point of their own.

Stephen Heagney was first on to a breaking ball and he had no hesitation in punishing the generous Ogonnelloe defence. After ten minutes both sides had doubled their tallies with McKenna and Heagney exchanging scores once again.

Corofin however soon began to dominate proceedings as they exerted their control in most sectors of the pitch. Declan Lee and the excellent Kevin Heagney throughout all found their range to add their names to the scoreboard.

Darragh Shannon’s effort was even better. His first time strike without catching the ball from the middle of the field split the posts to increase their lead to three. This margin however should have been far greater only for some poor accuracy in front of goal shared by all of Corofin’s attack.

This inadequacy allowed Ogonnel- loe to stay in touch and in the final five minutes of the half their fight back materialised to punish Corofin’s short comings. Corner forward Rory Skelly took over placed balls and his efforts from a free and a 65 reduced the margin to a single point. Paul Healy’s incredible side line cut from a huge distance out from Patrick Bourke’s goal sent the teams in level at the interval.

The second half saw the match’s tempo intensify even more. The lead was swapped and shared on several occasions with some terrific scores taken by both sides.

Ogonnelloe’s Kieran Ford pitched in with a superb double while the free taking ability of Gerry Quinn and Heagney continued to ignite the Corofin challenge.

The final minutes of this tie saw the aforementioned Corofin marksmen grab a free each while their efforts was separated only by a Lee belter that completed their treble which sealed the win.

Corofin all but secured their semi- final spot and will now continue on their quest for immediate promotion back to senior status.

For Ogonnelloe though the future is not so bright with their chances for intermediate glory quenched with their second loss in a row.

Corofin
Patrick Bourke, Keith O’Loughlin, Luke O’Loughlin, Darren Malone, MartinTierney, Gerry Quinn (0-2f), Damien Ryan, Darragh Shannon (0-1), Fionn Clancy, Neil Killeen, Declan Lee (0-2), Kevin Heaney (0-2), Stephen Heaney (0-6, 5f), Eamon Malone, Killian Neylon

Subs
Killian Malone for Neylon, Matthew Shannon for E. Malone

Ogonnelloe
Tomas McKenna, John O’Brien, Michael Costelloe, Eoin Sheedy, Pascal Sheedy, Patrick Barton,Thomas Condon, Barry Kiely, Ozer McMahon, Peter English, Henry Mooney, Kieran Forde (0-2), Paul Healy (0-1 s/l), John McKenna (0-2f), Rory Skelly (0-6, 4f, 1’65)

Man of the Match
Stephen Heagney (Corofin) Referee Flan O’Reilly (Cratloe)