Goals do the trick for Doonbeg

CHAMPIONS Doonbeg recorded a Group One win over Ennistymon in the Clare SFC at Quilty on Saturday ( 3-9 to 1-7).

Ennistymon enjoyed a good start when Sean McConigley goaled after eight minutes. Frank O’Dea replied with a Doonbeg goal two minutes later before Colm Dillon netted to leave the Magpies leading 2-5 to 1-4 at the interval.

A third goal by David Tubridy sealed Doonbeg’s win on 56 minutes.

In the same group and at the same venue on Saturday, last year’s beaten finalists Liscannor eked out a one point victory over Lissycasey (1-9 to 1-8).

The sides were level (0-5 apiece) at the break. Michael Melican goaled for Lissycasey from long range in the 36th minute but Liscannor’s Alan Clohessy netted nine minutes later.

Two points behind with six minutes remaining Liscannor dug deep and a trio of pointed frees by Clohessy (2) and a Kieran Considine effort saw the North Clare village side take the honours by the narrowest of margins.

In Group Three, Wolfe Tones na Sionna overcame Kilmihil at Lissycasey on Saturday on a scoreline of 1-8 to 0-7.

Darren Ryan grabbed the game’s only goal early in the first-half of a clash that saw Kilmihil’s Martin O’Connell dismissed nine minutes from time. Also in Group 3, 2009 champions Kilmurry-Ibrickane defeated Kilrush Shamrocks at Doonbeg (1-14 to 0-7). Johnny Daly found the Kilrush net just before half-time to give his team a 1-8 to 0-4 lead.

On Saturday in a Group 2 tie played at Kilmihil, Cooraclare ran out 2-11 to 0-9 winners over Éire Óg, Ennis, having led 1-4 to 0-5 at the break. Also in the same group St. Senan’s Kilkee saw off St. Breckan’s, winning by 3-6 to 0-12. The ‘Seasiders’ held a two-point lead at the break, 2-3 to 0-7. Shannon Gaels got the better of St. Joseph’s Miltown Malbay in Group 4 at Kilmihil yesterday.

The sides were level on 0-4 apiece at half time. In the second period, Miltown failed to take advantage of the wind and lost out by three points (0-9 to 0-6). In the other Group 4 game of the weekend, Cratloe, the 2009 IFC champions defeated St. Joseph’s Doora-Barefield, at Shannon last evening (1-9 to 0-5).

The game’s only goal was scored by inter-county hurler Cathal McInerney, two minutes into injury-time.