Minors exit championship

St Josephs Miltown minor side made a disappointing exit in the B quarter final on Sunday when they went down to Cooraclare on a 3-10 to 3-6 scoreline. This effectively completes the season for Miltown sides for 2009.

Miltown sign off for championship '09

Miltown played Kilrush in the quarter final of the senior championship under hot sun in Cooraclare on Saturday. Both teams started nervously with a number of failed attempts before Eoin Curtin opened the score for Miltown with a well won free. This was answered almost immediately by a goal from Kilrush after the Kilrush forwards responded quickest to a loose ball in the square to tap it into the net. This goal spurred Miltown on and they answered with two points from frees. The teams traded points for most of the half but Kilrush’s dominance around the middle of the field became more pronounced towards the end of the half resulting in 3 unanswered points from Kilrush before the break. Miltown started well in the second half and some good play resulted in Joe Curtin scoring a lovely point. This point was the first and only score Miltown had from play and proved to be the last score for Miltown. With 10 to go there was still just two points between the teams and despite some valiant play from the likes of Enda Malone and the Kelly brothers Miltown were unable to make any inroads into a Kilrush team who were growing in confidence as the game progressed. Ultimately Kilrush’s dominance around the middle of the field offered them an attacking platform that was too much for Miltown, Kilrush now progress to meet Kilkee in the semi-final. The final score was Kilrush 1-8 Miltown 0-6.

Despite the result Miltown have a lot of positives to take from the year with the emergence of number of young players who with out exception have performed very well this year. These players will benefit from there experience this year and will provide new life to the team for next year. The team should take this together with the players to return from the injury list for next year as a great foundation on which to build on there best result for 3 years. A greater strength to the panel is key in order to move forward for 2010 as a crippling long term injury list left the squad very threadbare throughout the 2009 championship. The team lined out as follows versus Kilrush:

C O’ Loughlin, E O’ Gorman, G Kelly, E Malone, B Curtin, G Kelly, M Hehir, C Lafferty, M Neylon, E Curtin, S O’ Connell, D Talty, D Molohan, K Burke, S Malone,

Subs: M Barry for M Neylon, J Curtin for D Talty, M Neylon for S O’ Connell

Miltown St Josephs football club would like to thank the players, management and mentors for the effort and work they put in this year.

Minors complete league section with victory

St Josephs Miltown minor football side completed their league campaign last night with a victory over Parteen. In what was arguably the longest possible away trip a Miltown side has taken in recent years, Miltown recorded a 1-11 to 2-4 victory. This combined with earlier victories over Newmarket and the Kildysart-Coolmen amalgamation means that Miltown will now likely comnpete in the Minor 'B' quarter final in the coming weeks as the A,B & C gradings are based on final league positions. Management will be hoping that the coming weeks will enable a host of injuries to heal up and be in a position to field their strongest side for the quarter final game.
On the senior front, the senior championship quarter final tie against Kilrush will take place this Saturday @ 4pm in Cooraclare. Michael Talty from Kilmurry Ibrickane will officiate. Hopes are high that the team can continue their improved form in recent times and pull of an upset to claim a county semi-final spot. Best of luck to all involved!

Destination: Quarter Final!

Miltown St. Josephs senior team have qualified for the Senior 'A' championship quarter final for the first time since 2006 when recording a 1-7 to 1-4 playoff victory over Lissycasey. Miltown elected to play with the aid of the breeze in the first half and Joe Hayes in the Lissycasey goal pulled off a fine save from Seanie Malone in the opening minutes. Dessie Molohan opened the scoring with the resultant 45. Lissycasey were playing a short hand passing game which lead to a free ridden first half. Kevin Burke collected a long high ball to goal six minutes from half time to give Miltown a 1-2 to 0-1 half time lead. On the resumption, Seanie Malone added a point to extend the lead to five. Next up Lissycasey goaled from a hotly debated penalty and followed up with three points to lead on a 1-4 to 1-3 scoreline. Lissycasey's Alan Nagle had been dismissed ten minutes into the second half following a wild kick at Brian Curtin. In the last fifteen minutes, Miltown played a patient build up game and four points from play in a row followed to seal the win. The points arrived from Joe Curtin, Sean O'Connell, Dessie Molohan and Michael Hehir. Miltown will now enter the quarter final as firm underdogs against a resurgent Kilrush side who have defeated Cooraclare and Eire Og in their last two games. The immediate priority for Miltown in the coming week is to try and reduce the injury list which currently has six players who didn't tog on Saturday. The team lined out as follows: Conor O'Loughlin, Enda O'Gorman, Graham Kelly, Enda Malone, Brian Curtin, Gordon Kelly, Michael Hehir (0-1), Michael Neylon, Cathal Lafferty, Eoin Curtin, Sean O'Connell (0-1) , David Talty, Dessie Molohan (0-3, 1 '45, 1f), Kevin Burke (1-0), Seanie Malone(0-1). Subs used: Joe Curtin(0-1), Michael Barry

Seniors win 1st leg of playoff

St Josephs Miltown senior side recorded a 0-10 to 0-7 victory over St. Josephs Doora-Barefield in the championship play-off on Tuesday evening. Miltown played with the aid of fresh breeze to lead on a 0-6 to 0-2 scoreline at half time. A four point lead did not look a particularly strong advantage given the conditions and the fact that Miltown had also missed a first half penalty. However some superb defensive displays from Enda Malone and the Kelly brothers in particular during the second half along with a real return to form from Eoin Curtin in the forwards ensured that Miltown advanced to a meeting with Lissycasey this Saturday to determine who advances to meet Kilrush in the championship quarter final. While, all the advantages seem to lie with Lissycasey following a comprehensive victory in the group stages allied to the fact that Miltown have less than 92 hours of a turnaround in comparison to a two week preparation time for Lissycasey. It has to be said that if Miltown can reduce the queue for the treatment table and get some key performers back on the pitch, that a great opportunity presents to make the business end of the championship. The game takes place in Kilmihil on Saturday at 2:30.The team lined out as follows versus Doora Barefield: Conor O'Loughlin, Enda O'Gorman, Graham Kelly, Enda Malone, Brian Curtin, Gordon Kelly, Michael Hehir, Michael Neylon, John Meade, Eoin Curtin, Cathal Lafferty, David Talty, Dessie Molohan, Kevin Burke, Seanie Malone. Subs used: Sean O'Connell, Gearoid Curtin, Joe Curtin, David Cleary