Clare SHC: St Joseph’s Doora Barefield retain senior status with a seven-point triumph over O'Callaghans Mills

St Joseph’s Doora Barefield have been senior since their intermediate title in 2022

Clare SHC relegation playoff: O’Callaghans Mills 2-14 St.Joseph’s Doora Barefield 2-21

In the end, it was comfortable. St Joseph’s Doora Barefield retained their senior status with a seven-point triumph at O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge.

A remarkable burst in the final quarter saw them stretch clear of O’Callaghan’s Mills. Jacob Loughnane’s late goal from a free was too little, too late.

St Joseph’s Doora Barefield have been senior since their intermediate title in 2022. O’Callaghan’s Mills came up last year. The inevitable tension that a relegation decider brings was evident in a ratty and error-strewn opening half.

There were loose swings and off-the-ball incidents and contentious wides that had management on both sides hopping. Aidan Fawl looked to have a strong case when his first-half effort was surprisingly waved away, but the real issue was the total number of missed opportunities.

Barefield scored first and led 1-10 to 1-6 at half-time, the goal coming from Eoin Burke who pulled on a loose ball near the square. The Mills were incapable of getting to grips with the wind, hitting 13 wides in the opening half hour. 

It blew hard diagonally and despite constant encouragement to work the score and aim for the far post, they never found their range.

That figure still doesn’t do justice to their inaccuracy. They dropped another shot short and had two saved by goalkeeper Aaron Landy. At least the second save resulted in a 65 for his opposite number, Killian Nugent. In the end, their wide count was 21.

All that said, their goal after four minutes was a superb move. A cross-field ball towards rampaging midfielder Cormac Murphy ended in a rifled effort into the bottom corner.

Two successive points from Conor Henry had them ahead after 14 minutes before Burke’s goal turned it.

Michael Nash was terrific for Barefield, scoring five points and laying on a late goal for Cathal McMahon. His twisting score off the hurl in front of the sideline on the 19th minute mark was the score of the game. 

The hurling they played in that closing quarter was immense. It was a three-point game with twelve minutes left when they burst for home. Suddenly, it all started to flow. 

Graham Ball hit two, Darragh Ball and Nash got in on the act as well. When the second goal duly arrived, the sideline erupted in ecstasy, a sign that they knew they were finally safe.