Winning start in Senior championship

Miltown St. Josephs senior team opened their 2009 campaign with a 0-9 to 0-5 over St. Josephs Doora Barefield in Kilmihil this evening. In a solid if unspectacular performance, Miltown knocked over four unanswered points in the last ten minutes to seal the victory. In the first half, whilst playing into the breeze, Miltown started very well to race into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead. However, the performance level dropped alarmingly at this stage as Miltown went nearly 30 minutes without recording a score. The scores were level 0-4 each at the interval. Gary Egan and Dessie Molohan knocked over fine points in this half. The second half was a dour affair as Barefield failed to build on a lot to possession. With ten minutes, remaining debut corner back Enda O'Gorman was unluckily dismissed on a second yellow card. The sending off and the introduction of Micheal Malone seemed to drive on Miltown at this stage. Dessie Molohan and the Kellys, Gordon & Graham knocked over fine scores in the final minutes. While there is plenty room for improvement, the management team and players will be delighted to have got the campaign off to a winning start. They face Lissycasey in the second round which is scheduled for early August. The team lined out as follows:
Conor O'Loughlin, Enda O'Gorman, Kevin Burke, David Cleary, Brian Curtin, Gordon Kelly, Enda Malone, John Meade, Cathal Lafferty, Gearoid Curtin, Gary Egan, Graham Kelly, Kevin Keavey, Dessie Molohan, Eoin Curtin. Subs used: Micheal Malone, Joe Curtin
Well done to all involved!

Junior A's record victory in playoff

Miltown St.Joseph's Junior A team avenged an earlier league defeat to record a 0-13 to 1-9 victory in the Division 4 playoff against O'Callaghans Mills on Sunday. In a very closely fought contest, which was level at half time, a solid all round performance was topped off by some fine point taking by Seanie Malone in the second half. This allied to some fine defensive play by Kieran Shannon and Eoin 'Tayto' O'Brien were crucial factors in the win. Miltown now advance to meet Naomh Eoin in the next stage of the play off.
The senior side continue their preparations for this Friday's championship opener against St.Josephs Doora Barefield. Barefield on the back of last year's u-21 'A' victory will enter the game as slight favourites, but manager James Healy and the management team will be very hopeful of victory if a number of injury concerns clear up in advance.
On the underage front, the u-12's were very unlucky to lose out by one point in the quarter final, while the u-14's are in the early stages of their championship. Miltown have been drawn against Corofin in the opening round of the u-21 'B' championship

Representing the county with pride

Sunday 7th June saw a total of five players from the St. Josephs Miltown club represent Clare in Munster championship action. Graham and Gordon Kelly were the respective wing backs on the Clare senior team that were narrowly defeated by Limerick in the Munster semi final. Both produced stirring displays that unfortunately were not replicated throughout the entire team. Conor O'Loughlin, Brian Curtin and Dessie Molohan all played leading roles in Clare's 0-13 to 1-6 victory over Limerick in the Junior semi final. Clare now advance to play Cork in the Munster final. This along with the representation of Seanie Malone + Micheal Malone at minor level gives a total of seven players who have represented the club at the highest level in 2009. Well done to all involved!

Semi-final playoff for Junior A's

Following a disappointing second half performance against Doonbeg, Miltown Junior A's now face a three way playoff with Naomh Eoin & O'Callaghan's Mills to see who grabs the last semi final spot on offer in the Division 4 league. Fielding without a host of regulars, Miltown led 0-5 to 0-1 at half time. However, in the second half, Doonbeg grabbed control to run out winners on a 2-6 to 0-8 scoreline. Unfortunately, due to a lack of urgency on the county boards part, it now appears the playoffs may not take place in the short-term which will put Miltown at a severe disadvantage due to the loss of players to the senior team in the interim.
The senior side continue preparations for the county championship opener in three weeks with an ever increasing injury list to contend with. Manager James Healy will be hoping to get all players back on board and for an upturn in recent form in the coming weeks.