Kilmurry-Ibrickane knew the winning formula against 14 men

KILMURRY-IBRICKANE captain Enda Coughlan believes his side’s recent practice in playing against 14 men was instrumental in achieving victory in Sunday’s bad-tempered All-Ireland Club SFC final against Portlaoise.

The match got off to a fiery start when Portlaoise defender Brian Mulligan was sent off after 40 seconds and the Laois team were reduced to 13 players when captain Brian McCormack was dismissed in the second-half.

But in each of Kilmurry-Ibrickane’s three Munster championship games before Christmas and the All-Ireland quarter-final against Tir Chonaill Gaels in January, the Clare side had seen their opponents incur the wrath of the referee.