Cill na Martra ease past fourteen man Kilmihil

It is a month since Kilmihil claimed county success, and it appeared the long lay-off didn’t suit, as they were outplayed by the Gaeltacht side.

Sun, 12 Nov, 2023 - 15:54

Therese O’Callaghan

Munster Club IFC quarter-final

Cill na Martra (Cork) 1-17 Kilmihil (Clare) 0-7

Cill na Martra eased to victory over 14-man Kilmihil in the AIB Munster Club IFC quarter-final at Cill na Martra today. In front of a large attendance, their open style of football proved too strong for the Clare champions.

It is a month since Kilmihil claimed county success, and it appeared the long lay-off didn’t suit, as they were outplayed by the Gaeltacht side.

The John Evans coached team welcomed back the suspended Tadhg Ó Corcora and he was given the task of curtailing Kilmihil danger man Ciarán Downes.

In attack, Dan Ó Duinnín showed the way for the winners, he scored nine points - six from play - before being withdrawn in the second-half. He also made an incisive run deep alongside his brother Ciarán, who confidently finished a 20th minute goal that effectively killed off this as a contest.

The only green flag of the game enabled them lead 1-9 to 0-5 at the break, with six different scorers on the board, whilst Kilmihil were reliant on Downes.

Kilmihil, with the breeze at their backs, tried to make a game of it in the second-half, quick-fire points from David Lernihan and Martin O’Leary reduced the deficit.

But it only spurred on the home side with a big local support, as they got back on the scoring track straight away. They kicked eight straight points, while keeping the visitors scoreless for the remainder of the hour, plus.

Four of those from Dan Ó Duinnín, Micheál Ó Deasúna got two and there was one each by the hero from the county final two weeks’ ago Shane Ó Duinnín and Damien Ó hUrdail.

It didn’t help Kilmihil’s cause that Dan Keating received a straight red card in the second-half, meaning his teammates played the final 20 minutes a man down.

Kerry native John Evans and his management team will be interesting spectators at next Sunday’s Kerry IFC final, as they await the winners between Fossa and Milltown-Castlemaine. Incidentally, Cill na Martra will have home advantage again to look forward to for that last four tie in a fortnight.

Scorers for Cill na Martra: D Ó Duinnín (0-9, 0-3 frees), C Ó Duinnín (1-0), M Ó Deasúna (0-3, 0-2 frees), D Ó hUrdail (0-2, 0-1 free). F Ó Faoláin, S Ó Duinnín, C Ó Meachair (0-1 each).

Scorers for Kilmihil: C Downes (0-4, 0-2 frees), D Lernihan, M O’Leary and S Downes (0-1 each).

CILL NA MARTRA: P Ó Críodáin; C MacLochlainn, T Ó Corcora, F Ó Faoláin; D Ó Conaill, S Ó Fóirréidh, C Ó Fóirréidh; A Ó Cuana, G Ó Goillidhe (Capt); D Ó Duinnín, C Ó Duinnín, D Ó hUrdail; F Ó hÉalaithe, M Ó Deasúna, C Ó Meachair.

Subs: S Ó Duinnín for C Ó Meachair (45), E Ó Conaill for D Ó Duinnín (51), G Ó Mocháin for C Ó Fóirréidh (53), A Ó hUidhir for A Ó Cuana (55), A Ó Loingsigh for D Ó hUrdail (56).

KILMIHIL: S Scott Cafferkey; F Febbraro (J-Capt), J Finucane, M Keating; J Browne, D Keating, G Downes; D Lernihan, S Lineen; S Downes, C Downes, G O’Grady; M O’Leary (J-Capt), S Crowley, D Coughlan.

Subs: C Crowley for G O’Grady (45), C Finucane for D Lernihan (53), N Reidy for D Coughlan (55), P O’Grady for S Crowley (56).

Referee: Séamus Mulvihill (Kerry).