Oct 28,2024
Éire Óg 1-10 Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-06
Éire Óg reasserted their authority as the team of the decade so far in Clare after reclaiming their third senior football title in four years in front of a meagre 3,554 in Cusack Park, Ennis.
With their three-in-a-row bid halted unceremoniously by eventual champions Cratloe on penalties at the semi-final stage twelve months previously, Paul Madden's side would be far more clinical this time around including overcoming Kilmurry Ibrickane twice on their way back to the winner’s enclosure.
It had to take Gavin Cooney’s 12th-minute goal to spark the Ennis side into life and more importantly completely wipe out Kilmurry Ibrickane’s encouraging start.
Amidst an incessant squall, the 'Bricks used the breeze to build up a three point cushion through Keelan Sexton (2) and Daryn Callinan but left themselves vulnerable to a counter-attack when Mark McInerney intercepted and passed inside to Cooney to fire to the right corner of the net at 1-00 to 0-03.
Despite a second attempt for the former winning captain agonisingly rebounding off the crossbar, Éire Óg swiftly moved through the gears as Darren O’Neill, Cooney and man-of-the-match Colm O’Loghlen powered their side into the ascendency on their way to a 1-04 to 0-04 interval advantage.
Inevitably Kilmurry Ibrickane, who were competing in their sixth final in nine years, hit back on the restart but two points would be as close as they would ultimate get to their Ennis opponents by the turn of the final quarter at 1-06 to 0-06.
There was a brief scare when Evan Cahill’s teasing attempt across the face of goal was just missed at the back post by substitute Joe Campbell. However, Kilmurry Ibrickane would be held scoreless in the last quarter as Éire Óg finally edged this turgid war of attrition with the last five points.
Gavin Cooney inspired the late rally with a spectacular lineball from inside the 20 metre line while Walsh O’Loghlen, Darren O’Brien, Mark McInerney and substitute Philip Talty ensured that Éire Óg eased to a record 21st Clare senior crown.
Éire Óg: Shane Daniels; Manus Doherty, Aaron Fitzgerald, Ronan Lanigan; Ciaran Russell, Ikem Ugwueru, Einne O’Connor; Darren O’Neill (0-01 ’45), David McNamara; Nially McMahon, Darren O’Brien (0-01), Oran Cahill; Mark McInerney (0-01f), Gavin Cooney (1-02, 0-02 sl), Colm Walsh O’Loghlen (0-04)
Subs: Gavin Murray for McMahon (24), Dean Ryan for O’Connor (HT, inj), Luke Pyne for O’Brien (52), Philip Talty (0-01) for Walsh O’Loghlen (54), Aidan McGrath for Cooney (61)
Kilmurry Ibrickane: David Sexton; Ciaran Morrissey, Andrew Shannon, Mark Killeen; Darragh Sexton, Darren Hickey, Martin McMahon; Evan Cahill, Diarmuid King; Shane Hickey, Daniel Walsh (0-01), Josh Moloney; Keelan Sexton (0-02, 1f), Daryn Callinan (0-03, 1f), Dermot Coughlan.
Subs: Caoilfhionn O’Dea for Coughlan (27, inj), Aidan McCarthy for Moloney (HT), Joe Campbell for D. Hickey (32-34, BS), Cathal Talty for Callinan (51), Conor Kearney for McMahon (52)
Referee: Fergal O’Brien (Broadford)
