Clare SFC: Kildysart bridge 39-year gap, Miltown go extra mile

Clare senior Emmet McMahon game a two-point exhibition for Kildysart. Photo by Tom Beary/Sportsfile

A last gasp Luke McGrath two-pointer ensured a first Clare SFC semi-final appearance in 39 years for Kildysart after flooring neighbours Lissycasey by 0-21 1-17 in Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg in Ennis.

Indeed, frenetic finishes were the order of the day in Clare GAA HQ as St. Joseph’s Miltown subsequently recovered from a three-point injury-time deficit to somehow force extra-time and eventually hold off an understandably crestfallen Ennistymon by 3-18 to 1-20.

It was a compelling opening day of the Clare SFC quarter-final weekend starting with an exhibition of two point kicking from Emmet McMahon who welcomed the wind to convert six of Kildysart’s seven first half doubles. That powered a 0-14 to 0-04 interval cushion over a shellshocked Lissycasey.

County senior McMahon was in inspirational form as his timely kicks, five of which stemmed from placed balls, carved out a comfortable cushion.

With nothing to lose, Lissycasey inevitably mounted a backlash on the resumption, with Conor Finnucane and Connor Meaney slashing the arrears with two-pointers of their own before Daire Culligan finally reeled in Kildysart with 1-2 in just 40 seconds entering the final ten minutes.

Diarmuid McMahon teed up Clare’s Under 20 captain for a breakthrough goal before lofting over a two-pointer from the restart to regain full parity by the 52nd minute at 0-17 to 1-14.

A Conor Finnucane two-point free was matched by points for Liam Casey and Emmet McMahon but as the tie drifted over the hour mark, Shane Griffin looked to have snatched the local bragging rights for Lissycasey with a point on the run.

Kildysart refused to adhere to the perceived script, with fortune favouring the brave as Luke McGrath’s last attempt just inside the 45 metre line managed to soar over the bar to snatch a remarkable derby triumph.

The drama was far from over as the second quarter-final required extra-time and a fortuitous Oisin Looney winning goal in the 75th minute to finally split St. Joseph’s Miltown and Ennistymon.

Again the new rules and more pointedly two-pointers were a crucial ingredient as despite only scoring one in their previous three ties, Ennistymon excelled with three double pointers with the wind at their backs for the opening half. Kealan Guyler (2) and captain Eoin Rouine overturned Miltown’s early advantage that centred around an emphatic Seanie Malone penalty to the top right corner of the Ennistymon net at the midway mark.

Cormac Murray won the penalty and also picked three excellent points as Miltown only trailed Ennistymon by two by half-time at 0-9 to 1-4.

So when Clare star Eoin Cleary resumed with a goal inside 90 seconds of the new half and followed up with a two-pointer alongside fellow chief marksman Murray, the 2018 and ’19 winners looked to have seized full control at 2-10 to 0-12 entering the final quarter.

Nothing could be further from the truth though as in typical derby fashion, the lead changed hands for a sixth time when substitute Darren McNamara’s flicked finish to the net inspired a superb 1-4 unanswered rally that catapulted Ennistymon three clear entering injury-time.

Three minutes were indicated by referee Fergal O’Brien but it took until the final one to see Miltown pick themselves off the canvas as a quick free saw Darragh McDonagh arrow over a two-pointer.

Still trailing by a solitary point, Miltown forced a dramatic interception with only seconds remaining as pressure from Paul Frawley saw Cormac Murray held for a free that Eoin Cleary tapped over to guarantee another 20 minutes of derby action.

Replacement David Barry could have won the game outright when using the initial advantage to shoot at goal but Ennistymon goalkeeper Noel Sexton produced a breathtaking save at 2-14 to 1-17.

St. Joseph’s won the toss and used the lessened breeze to open up a two point edge by the recess as substitute Paul Frawley became their seventh scorer to fire a pivotal brace of points at 2-17 to 1-18.

With cramp and fatigue prevalent all around the field, the decisive score arrived five minutes from the end when Cormac Murray’s hopeful effort at the point dropped short, with goalkeeper Sexton and Joey Rouine unable to gain control before Oisin Looney nipped in to sidefoot to the left corner and move unassailably clear at 3-17 to 1-19.

St. Joseph’s Miltown relievedly soared into their first semi-final since 2023 and they’ll be joined by another of their neighbours on Sunday as Kilmurry Ibrickane and Doonbeg renew semi-final acquaintances for the first time in 16 years in Cooraclare at 2pm while at 4.30pm back in Ennis, it’s a much-anticipated repeat of last year’s decider between a three-in-a-row chasing Éire Óg and St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield.