Kilmurry-Ibrickane advance

Kilmurry-Ibrickane made it through to the Clare SFC semi-finals, when beating Clondegad 2-10 to 1-11 at Cooraclare on Saturday.

Celebrating their centenary year, the West Clare club are on course for their 11th title having last won the Jack Daly Cup in 2011 and 2012. Kilmurry enjoyed a 1-4 to 0-5 lead at the break. Mark McCarthy grabbed the game’s opening goal and scored 1-3 of his side’s overall total. Inside five minutes of the second-half, Clondegad’s Eoghan Donnellan and Kilmurry’s Keelan Sexton exchanged goals. With 10 minutes remaining, Kilmurry stretched their lead to four points and even though Clondegad fought back, they failed to draw level.

Kilmurry’s opponents in the last four will be Éire Óg. The Ennis side defeated St. Joseph’s Miltown Malbay in the quarter-final at Kilmihilyesterday 2-13 to 3-7. Chasing a first title since 2006, The Townies held a 2-5 to 1-5 advantage at the interval, Graham Glynn scored Éire Óg’s opening goal in the 14th minute. Micheál Malone grabbed a Miltown goal in injury time before Glynn once more raised a green flag.

In an exciting second-half, St. Joseph’s got off to a good start when Eoin Cleary goaled in the 36th minute. Kieran Malone had a third for the West Clare club on 40. But some good point taking by the Éire Óg forward line kept them in front and two late points by Sean O’Meara edged them over the line.

St. Joseph’s finished with only 13 players, defender Gordon Kelly got his marching orders with a straight red on 55 minutes while Seanie Malone was dismissed for a second yellow.

* Semi-final pairings are: Cratloe (holders) v Cooraclare; Kilmurry-Ibrickane v Éire Óg.