Clare County Senior Football Championship 2005. 
 

Lissycasey 1-11 Kilballyowen 0-08 @ Cusack Park. 
 

Report taken from printed version of the Clare Champion

LISSYCASEY wound up their group programme with the expected victory at Pairc Naomh Mhuire on Saturday afternoon to make it four championship wins from four starts. While this was arguably their poorest display of the four, it was more than sufficient to see off the game but limited challenge of Kilballyowen. Perhaps the snugness of their position beforehand, in that they were all but assured a quarter-final spot, contributed to the indifference of their display. But, in truth, they won this duel without having to climb to a level above the ordinary.

And while it’s upwards and onwards for Lissycasey, who gave Colin Lynch his first start of the season, it’s back to the drawing boards for Kilballyowen’s four club sporting alliance and decision time as to whether it’s worth persevering or not with the amalgamation into the future. But do Kilballyowen have a future at this level? Certainly they’ve improved with each game, but not to the degree required to really compete. If they are to become a recognized amalgamation, then they’ll have to develop a few more important strings to their bow. Playing with the backing of a freshening wind, Kilballyowen needed a good start, but the opposite happened; they were rocked by a rather fortuitous Lissycasey goal after four minutes. Danny Lynch picked up a pass from Martin Daly but his effort for a point caught Kilballyowen keeper, John Keating off his guard. The ball ended up in the net via the upright. Not the most auspicious of starts for the team fighting for their championship lives. Kilballyowen recovered and excellent points from Michael Liddane, by far their most consistent performer throughout the hour, and James Keane had them in touch. But in touch wasn’t good enough, they needed to be in front such was the strength of the wind.

With Martin Daly emerging as a leading player up front for Lisscyasey, they had three points in as many minutes. Daly, Paudie Carmody and corner back Cathal Hill scored to retain the upper hand for Lissycasey. But Kilballyowen were game if nothing else and they replied with three scores of their own through Brendan Crowley (2) and James Keane, two players with undoubted ability but who played in fits and starts. Kilballyowen needed a more rounded and sustained performance from both if they were to be in with a real shout. Two points down at the break, the portents didn’t look promising for Kilballyowen particularly as they turned around to face into the teeth of the wind. A Brendan Crowley free in the opening minute which narrowed the gap to a solitary point was as good as it got for the amalgamation. Martin Daly kicked three on the trot, two from frees, while Cathal Hill popped over his second point of the game. Suddenly it was all coming apart at the seams for Kilballyowen and it would have been over and out at the end of the third quarter but for a great save from John Keating; he produced a point blank stop to deny Danny Lynch.

Nonetheless, Lissycasey, without ever being hard pushed, always looked in control of the contest but what Keating could do at one end of the field, his Lissycasey counterpart, Joe Hayes could do at the other. James Keane waltzed his way past several Lissycasey defenders before drilling the ball across the face of the goals. The ball reached Seamus Bolan at the far side, but his shot was brilliantly parried by Hayes. A goal at that stage would have made for an interesting final ten minutes as it would have been a two point game. But Lissycasey and Martin Daly, in particular, responded to the scare by tagging on three more points. Although Kilballyowen did manage two points, from a Seamus Boland free and Michael Liddane, after he double bounced the ball, Lissycasey saw out the remainder of the game without having to expend too much perspiration.

The big breakdown

Lissycasey TEAM: Joe Hayes, Cathal Hill, Tadhg Kelly, Ciarán Donnelly, James Kelly, Colin Lynch, Alan Nagle, Anthony Kelly, Michael O’Rourke, Senan Hayes, Danny Lynch, Cathal Talty, Paudie Carmody, Cathal McMahon, Martin Daly. Subs: Brendan McNamara for Nagle, inj., Paul Nagle for Carmody and David Clancy for McMahon. SCORERS: Martin Daly (0-8, 5f), Danny Lynch (1-0), Cathal Hill (0-2), Paudie Carmody (0-1). FREES FOR : 23. WIDES: 11; 45s 1. YELLOW CARDS: Brendan McNamara (32nd min).

Killballyowen TEAM: John Keating (Naomh Eoin), Mark O’Loughlin (Ballyvaughan), David Moran (Killimer), Diarmuid Nagle (Kilfenora), John Frawley (Killimer), Pat Foley (Nomh Eoin), Brian Cunningham (Killimer), Martin Downes (Naomh Eoin), James Hynes (Ballyvaughan), Michael Liddane (Naomh Eoin), Brendan Crowley (Killimer), James Keane (Kilfenora), John Martyn (Ballyvaughan), Seamus Madigan (Killimer), Seamus Boland (Naomh Eoin). Subs: Pa Geaney (Nomh Eoin) for Frawley, Dermot Keating (Naomh Eoin) for Downes, Jason McDonagh (Ballyvaughan) for Boland and Austin Kelly (Kilfenora) for Martyn. SCORERS: Brendan Crowley 0-3, 1f, James Keane 0-2, Michael Liddane 0-2, Seamus Boland 0-1, 1f FREES FOR: 21. WIDES 5; 45s 1. YELLOW CARDS: Martin Downes (21st min).

View from the sideline

I thought it was a good enough performance. We’ve achieved what we set out to achieve and that was to win our four games. We know ourselves we are a step off the big boys. But we are in the quarter-final and everyone who gets to that stage have a chance,” Declan Conway, manager.

“We made too many mistakes today and we paid for each of them. If we can eliminate them from our play, we might have a chance. I’d have to say we have improved with each game. We are getting the blend together but we need a lot more games to get it right,” Michael Boland, selector.