Kilmurry Ibrickane maintained their winning run as they overcame the challenge of a spirited St Breckans to book their place in the Clare SFC quarter-finals.
Jamesy McConigley reports from Ennistymon
Kilmurry Ibrickane 2-15
St Breckan’s 0-11
Venue: Ennistymon
Kilmurry Ibrickane were out of the traps first through the boot of Niall Hickey and county star Keelan Sexton who scored two of the first three scores for his side. Then a vital moment in the game came midway through the first half when a high ball was floated to the edge of the square between Sexton and Evan Barrett, the ball broke kindly for Sexton who shrugged off his marker to smash to the roof of the net with his left leg. This left six between the sides and a mountain to climb for the Lisdoon men.
Breckan’s stopped the rot and replied through wing forward Aiden Davidson who finished off a good move with a lovely effort from 35 yards. Both teams traded scores for the remainder of the half with the pick of them coming from the ever reliable Michael O Dwyer who produced a sweet effort from a tight angle just before the half to leave the score at 1-06 to 0-04 heading into the break. The first half was littered with some very sloppy passing from both sides which both teams will be disappointed with.
At the resumption Kilmurry just like at the start of the match tagged on the first point of the half and added to their lead but soon after Breckan’s grew right back into the game and began to get a foothold. The Bricks defence began to get worried with their quick and direct ball into the classy Joseph McGann, this style of play was reaping rewards for them and a number of frees were rewarded and dispatched by the dynamic Dale Masterson.
Championship favourites Kilmurry Ibrickane were in real bother and on forty minutes minutes lost Shane Hickey to a black card after a pull down on McGann who had earlier rounded his man and was just about to pull the trigger. Masterson slotted the resulting free and this left two between the sides and it looked like there could be a shock on the cards but crucially the Aidan Moloney managed side showed why they have won so many titles, within a minute they replied with a goal from full forward Enda Coughlan who palmed to the net past a Craighelpless Flanagan in the Breckan’s net.
This was a massive moment in the match in which Kilmurry never looked back scoring point after point with three coming from impressive substitute Noel Downes and essentially ending it as a contest but to their credit Breckans never gave up but it wasn’t enough as the Bricks won out on a scoreline of 2-15 – 0-11.
All is not lost for St Breckans however as they now their attention will turn to Monday nights Round 3 draw where they will face one of the four winners of the losers group in two weeks time. Kilmurry will have to wait a month for their quarter final fixture.
Kilmurry Ibrickane: Ian McInerney, Mark Killeen, Darren Hickey, Ciaran Morrissey, Kieran Killeen, Martin McMahon, Darragh Sexton, Mark McCarthy, Keith King, Niall Hickey, Shane Hickey, Steven Moloney, Michael O’Dwyer, Enda Couglan, Keelan Sexton. Subs: Michael Hogan, for Kieran Killeen, Noel Downes for Keelan Sexton, Declan Callinan for Shane Hickey (BC), Evan Talty for Niall Hickey, Peter O Dwyer for Darren Hickey, Johnny Daly for Enda Coughlan.
Scorers: Keelan Sexton (1-03, 0-02f), Enda Coughlan (1-02), Michael O Dwyer (0-03, 0-01f), Noel Downes (0-03), Niall Hickey (0-01), Peter O Dwyer (0-01), Michael Hogan (0-01), Evan Talty (0-01)
St Breckans: Craig Flanagan, Evan Barrett, Stephen Tierney, Stephen Nagle, Dale Masterson, Daniel Carey, Rowan Danaher, Mikey Keating, Conor Cormican, Aiden Davidson, Denis O Driscoll, Donal Howley, Alan Sweeney, Liam Tierney, Joseph McGann. Subs: Cathal Guerin for Alan Sweeney, Pat Nagle for Denis O Driscoll.
Scorers: (0-06, 0-05f), Conor Cormican (0-03), Aiden Davidson (0-01), Joseph McGann (0-01).
Referee: Rory Hickey (Éire Óg)