Daly plays hero for Kilmurry

Clare SFC final replay/Kilmurry-Ibrickane 1-8 Eire Og 0-9: Johnny Daly was Kilmurry-Ibrickane's hero with five points in the replayed final at Cusack Park, Ennis, yesterday. The full forward kicked two late free-kicks to dash Éire Óg's hopes of reversing a poor first-half performance.

The Ennis club had to endure a strong opening-half onslaught by a deft Kilmurry outfit and, but for the final five minutes of the half, they were hopelessly outclassed.

The west Clare outfit, who last claimed the title two years ago, opened brightly and led by 1-5 to 0-1 by the 23rd minute. The goal came from a quickly-taken free by Michael O'Dwyer, who found Enda Coughlan who in turn blasted past James Hanrahan.

Éire Óg responded with two points before the break and upped their game considerably at the end of the half.

Within three minutes of the restart Barry Ryan had added two points as Kilmurry had to defend with vigour. Their half-time tally of 1-5 wasn't added to until the 49th minute when Daly fisted a point to make it 1-6 to 0-7.

Éire Óg shot five wides in succession but drew level with scores from Seán O'Meara and Brian Fitzpatrick by the 57th minute. Daly's two late points settled Kilmurry and the dismissal of Eire Óg's Tadhg MacNamara for a second bookable offence added to an exciting finish.

KILMURRY-IBRICKANE: D O'Brien; J O'Connor, B Moloney, E Talty; D Callinan, V Talty, O O'Dwyer (capt); Peter O'Dwyer, M Cahill; Paul O'Dwyer, E Coughlan (1-0), S Hickey; M Hogan, J Daly (0-5, two frees), M O'Dwyer (0-2). Subs: M O'Connor (0-1) for Hickey (inj); B O'Neill for Hogan, M Hogan for E Talty (inj).

ÉIRE ÓG: J Hanrahan; M O'Regan, B Malone, A Malone (capt); M Kelly, T McNamara, D Lyne; S Daniels, P Cosgrove (0-1); B Ryan (0-2), M Whelan (0-1), C Shannon (0-1); E Glynn (0-2, one free), D Monahan, S O'Meara (0-1, free). Subs: N Hogan for Lyne; B Fitzpatrick (0-1) for Whelan.

Referee: D Timmons (Kilmihill).