St. Josephs Miltown senior side kicked off their championship campaign for 2010 against Liscannor in Quilty last Saturday. Such was the injury crisis that hit the panel, one would be forgiven to return to Miltown to check how many black cats had been killed in the area recently. Such a collection of crutches on the sideline would have presumed that training had been pretty fearsome in the build-up. Unfortunately on the day, the side were deprived of certain starters such as Graham Kelly, Micheal Malone, Kevin Burke, Niall Quinn with Dessie Molohan only fit for a role from the bench all due to a range of injuries. The game itself was one that the team will feel slipped away due to bad wides and poor shot selection at crucial stages of the game. The lack of options from the bench due to the injury crisis was also crucial considering the bearing the Liscannor bench had on the outcome. Miltown now face a prolonged break until they face Kilkee in game 2 which has assumed a must win encounter to keep hopes alive. The match report from the Clare Champion on the game is as follows:
Winning start for Liscannor
Liscannor 1-9 Milown, St Joseph's 0-9
’’A RATHER soft goal separated the sides at Quilty on Saturday as Liscannor made a good start to their championship campaign, securing the points after a fairly testing evening, writes Owen Ryan.
The decisive score came midway through the second half from sub Dara Blake. It arrived after a rather hopeful ball from Niall Considine, which seemed to be drifting wide, was brought back into play. When it fell to Blake, the Miltown rearguard were caught out of position and he was left with a fairly handy task to finish.
That gave them a three-point lead and although Miltown brought it back to a single point, a strong finish by Liscannor got them over the line. Overall, it was a very even contest with the outcome in doubt until the dying moments.
The first 10 minutes was Miltown’s best spell, as they were winning the lion’s share of possession in the middle of the field and, as a unit, their backs looked very comfortable. Unfortunately for them, they weren’t particularly successful in turning pressure into scores during this period.
Despite having the wind, Liscannor conceded the first two points, while Miltown also kicked three wides and dropped another effort into Noel Kilmartin’s hands, before the winners really settled or had an attempt on goal.
However, they did find their feet, with Alan Flaherty getting them on the board in the eleventh minute, before Alan Clohessy levelled from a free.
Miltown secured a 45’ in the 14th minute, which goalkeeper Conor O’Loughlin came up to take and he duly nailed it. Following that, a shot from the capable Eoin Curtin scraped over the crossbar, restoring the two-point Miltown advantage.
But Liscannor were well in the game now and Brian Considine kicked an excellent score from distance in the 22nd minute. Their final score of the half came on 26 minutes, which left the sides tied at the break, 0-4 apiece.
Points were traded in the opening minutes of the second period but a series of Miltown wides, some from quite scorable positions, stopped them from taking the lead.
It stayed nip and tuck, with a free from Dessie Molohan, who succeeded in drawing a couple of fouls from the Liscannor backs, levelling the score at 0-6 each after 12 minutes, before Blake’s goal arrived.
On 17 minutes, a low, direct ball to Eoin Curtin paid dividends as he turned and pointed, before a fine score from Gary Egan left a single point between the sides with just over 12 minutes to go.
Further points were traded before a late surge from Liscannor, in which Brian Considine and Kieran Considine added minors, while Miltown didn’t really look like getting the goal they needed to take a point.
On the day, Miltown’s better performers included Enda Malone, Gordon Kelly, Gary Egan and Eoin Curtin. For the winners, Ronan Slattery, Brian Considine and Kieran Considine did well.
Liscannor: Noel Kilmartin; Shane Canavan, David McDonagh, Michael Foley; Niall Considine, Ronan Slattery, Robbie Lucas; Brian Considine, Alan Flaherty; Joseph Considine, Alan Clohessy, Gerry Considine; Declan Fawl, Kieran Considine, Paul Guerin.
Subs: Tom McDonagh for Declan Fawl, Dara Blake for Joseph Considine and Johnny Considine for Paul Guerin.
Scorers: Brian Considine (0-3, 2f), Kieran Considine (0-3, 1f), Dara Blake (1-0), Alan Clohessy, Ronan Slattery and Alan Flaherty (0-1) each.
Wides: 5; Frees for: 24; 45s: 0
Yellow cards: Ronan Slattery, Alan Flaherty and Alan Clohessy.
Miltown, St Joseph’s: Conor O’Loughlin; Enda Malone, Seán Meade, David Cleary; Shane Curtin, Gordon Kelly, Enda O’Gorman; Cathal Lafferty, John Meade; Seánie Malone, Michael Barry, Gary Egan; Kevin Keavey, Eoin Curtin, Joe Curtin.
Subs: Dessie Molohan for John Meade, David Talty for Kevin Keavey and Gearóid Curtin for Seánie Malone.
Scorers: Eoin Curtin (0-6, 3f), Conor O’Loughlin (0-1 45), Gary Egan (0-1) and Dessie Molohan (0-1f).
Wides: 9; Frees for: 21; 45s: 1
Yellow cards: Enda Malone and Cathal Lafferty.
Referee: Rory Hickey (Éire Óg).
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