Seniors edged out on score difference

St. Josephs Miltown senior side missed out on a quarter final spot by two points on scoring difference following a 2-14 to 1-11 defeat to Kilmurry Ibrickane. Kilmurry started very brightly and lead 2-5 to 0-2 after 15 minutes. The slow start was to prove costly but inspired by some great high fielding by Michael Barry, Miltown hit 1-2 without reply to bring the lead back to four points. Eoin Curtin blasted home a goal from the penalty but had another point ruled out for a controversial square ball call. The five minutes of injury time played at the end of the first half was a key factor in the game as Kilmurry Ibrickane hit three points while Graham Kelly was sent off for a clash with Odran O'Dwyer. Miltown made two changes at half time but couldn't penetrate the Kilmurry Ibrickane for a second goal. However, the team battled all the way to the end. Ultimately, the game against Liscannor when Miltown were missing a number of key players through injury was to prove the difference between qualifying and not. The team lined out as follows: Conor O'Loughlin, Enda Malone, Graham Kely, Shane Curtin, David Cleary, Gordon Kelly(0-1), Enda O'Gorman, Sean Meade, John Meade, Micheal Malone(0-1), Gary Egan, Kevin Keavey(0-1), Eoin Curtin(1-5), Michael Barry(0-1), Joe Curtin(0-1). Subs used: Ian Sexton for Shane Curtin(inj.), Dessie Molohan(0-1) for Gary Egan, Cathal Lafferty for Kevin Keavey, Gearoid Curtin for John Meade, Seanie Malone for Joe Curtin

The Junior A side capped off a disappointing evening for the club when they bowed out of the championship following a one point defeat to Ennistymon on a 2-8 to 1-10 scoreline. The sides were level at 0-5 each at the break. Ennistymon started the second half strongly and raced into a 1-7 to 0-5 lead. However, inspired by Peter Cleary returning after a two year lay off due to injury, Miltown hit back to lead by 1-10 to 1-7 with five minutes remaining. Needing to win by four points to book a quarter final, Miltown had to push forward and Ennistymon scored a breakaway goal to level the tie. The winning point quickly followed and despite some late attacks, Miltown could not find an equaliser. The team lined out as follows: Robbie Healy(0-1), James O'Brien, James Galvin, Kieran Shannon, Gearoid Hynes, Dara McDonagh, Noel Sexton(0-1), Michael Neylon, Gerard Malone, Eoin McDonagh, Michael Talty(0-2), Enda Fox(0-1), Tomas Meade, Peter Cleary(1-1), Niall Quinn(0-5). Subs used: Michael Crehan for Eoin McDonagh

Massive weekend of championship action

The coming weekend could be defined as the biggest of the year for St Josephs Miltown at senior and Junior A level. Both are in championship defining action on Sunday evening in Ennistymon. The Seniors face Kilmurry Ibrickane at 5:15pm with the Junior A game versus Ennistymon to follow at 6:45. The permutations due to the new scoring difference systme introduced this year are too complicated to go into here, safe to say the best chance of progressing to 1/4 final action are to win both games.
The week is off to a positive start with the minor side recording a 4-14 to 1-3 victory over the North Clare amalgamation of Liscannor/Michael Cusacks/Tubber/Kilfenora. There is a now a break unfortunately until after the All Ireland minor final which is making the campaign very disjointed.
The Junior A side will hope to progress to the 1/4 final but will face a tough challenge against Ennistymon who could be still alive provided Naomh Eoin beat Meelick on the Saturday.
The Senior game does not need any hyping-up save to say, a massive challenge awaits against this years All Ireland club finalists. The following is the preview of the game from this week's Clare Champion. Best of luck to both teams on Sunday!

Before Miltown beat Doonbeg in the semi-final of the Cusack Cup and subsequently won it, they wouldn’t have been given any chance of defeating Kilmurry-Ibrickane in their final championship group game. The landscape has changed significantly in recent weeks however, and the Clare and Munster champions will prepare for their neighbourly Group 4 battle knowing that if they are not ready, Miltown have what it takes to beat them in Ennistymon at 6.15pm on Sunday evening.
What might soften Kilmurry’s approach is their knowledge that, unless they are hammered, they will still make the quarter-finals. Miltown know that they must win to remain in control of their own destiny.
So far, Kilmurry have won both their group games against Kilkee and Liscannor, while Miltown lost to Liscannor but impressively defeated Kilkee last time out.
If Miltown lose, they need Kilkee to defeat Liscannor and hope that scoring averages help the Cusack Cup holders into the last eight and a meeting with a team from Group 1, which includes Cratloe, Doora-Barefield and Ennistymon.
Michael Barry played outstanding football against Kilkee two weeks ago, while Miltown also had excellent displays from John Meade, Gary Egan and Eoin Curtin. Conor O’Loughlin is having a great year in goals, while Graham and Gordon Kelly added real steel to the Miltown rearguard.
Under Martin Keavey, Martin Cahill and now Seán Dempsey, Kilmurry are still the team to beat in Clare. Beaten in the March 17 All-Ireland club final, Kilmurry are chasing three in a row, something that the club has never achieved. Although they didn’t exactly torment the umpires with a succession of scores against Liscannor a fortnight ago, Kilmurry still won and all but secured their place in the quarter-final with a match to spare.
Players such as Declan Callinan, the O’Dwyer’s, the Hickeys, Stephen Moloney and Enda Coughlan know that they are now just six weeks away from county final day on October 3. If they can build up some steady momentum, they will be very difficult to stop.
First though they wouldn’t mind calling a halt to Miltown’s recent gallop and in the process help to end their championship season. As long as Kilmurry are focused and ready for a big battle, they should see off Miltown.

Cusack Cup Final Highlights - relive the win

Paschal Brooks has kindly forwarded match highlights of the recent Cusack Cup final for use on the website. It is a super package showing clips of the game with match commentary by James Murrihy, player interviews and some scenes from after the game. It can be viewed at the following link (copy & paste the link to a browser to view): http://vimeo.com/13681953

For further information on services available, please visit brooksvideo.com

Impressive win for seniors

St. Josephs Miltown senior side recorded an impressive 2-11 to 1-9 win over Kilkee in Round 2 of the senior championship on Sunday evening in Doonbeg. Miltown started very sluggishly as Kilkee raced into a 0-6 to no score lead. It appeared at this stage that Miltown were about to be caught cold after their Cusack Cup win. However, a great run by Enda O'Gorman up the wing resulted in Michael Barry finishing the cross to the net. Miltown added three further points before the break to retire at half time on a 1-3 to 0-6 scoreline. It was certainly all to play for at this stage and Miltown got a good start to the second half with an Eoin Curtin point from play. However, Kilkee hit back for a rapid-fire 1-1 to take a three point lead. The goal was a little controversial with Michael O'Shea appearing to pick the ball off the ground before scoring a fine goal. Miltown hit back instantly when Michael Barry raced through to fire home the equaliser. Miltown assumed control in the last 20 minutes to hit a series of fine points to seal the win thanks to a powerful performance from Sean Meade at midfield. Dessie Molohan hit two fine points along with scores from Michael Barry, Gary Egan and Eoin Curtin. The team lined out as follows: Conor O'Loughlin, Enda Malone, Graham Kelly, David Cleary, Gearoid Curtin, Gordon Kelly, Enda O'Gorman, Sean Meade, John Meade (0-1), Kevin Keavey, Gary Egan, Micheal Malone (0-1), Joe Curtin, Michael Barry (2-2), Eoin Curtin (0-4). Subs Used: Dessie Molohan (0-2) for Joe Curtin, Seanie Malone for Micheal Malone, Cathal Lafferty for Enda O'Gorman, Michael Hehir for Kevin Keavey

Narrow defeat for Junior A's

St. Josephs Miltown Junior A team went down to Meelick on a 0-10 to 0-7 scoreline in their second championship group game on Saturday. A lack of cutting edge in the forward line was to prove costly on the evening. Miltown opened brightly but three early wides failed to settle the team. Meelick came very strong into the game and lead by 0-7 to 0-3 at the break. Michael Neylon hit two points from midfield with Niall Quinn pointing a free. Miltown came much stronger into the game in the second half and had cut the deficit to 0-7 to 0-5 midway through the half. Two very dubious frees awarded to Meelick cut the comeback short however as Meelick re-established a four point lead. Miltown however battled to the end with Niall Quinn and Enda Fox hitting two long range points from play. Meelick held on however to leave Miltown needing a win against Ennistymon in their final game which would likely guarantee a quarter final spot. The team lined out as follows: Robbie Healy, Brendan O'Brien, Eoin Corbett, James O'Brien, Dara McDonagh, Ian Sexton, Eoin O'Brien, Michael Neylon (0-2), Gerard Malone, Tommy Flynn, Michael Talty, Gearoid HYnes, Tomas Meade, Niall Quinn(0-4), Colm Haugh. Subs used: Noel Sexton for Tmmy Flynn, Enda Fox (0-1) for Tomas Meade, James Galvin for James O'Brien, Peter Cleary for Colm Haugh