St Josephs Miltown edge out Cooraclare to take Clare SFC title

St. Josephs Miltown 0-13 Cooraclare 0-9

St. Jospehs Miltown are Clare Senior Football champions for the first time since 1990 after a four point victory over Cooraclare, in the final played at Cusack Park, Ennis on Sunday.

They were the better team throughout and despite some squandered chances, kicking ten wides in all, they thoroughly deserved the win. The Miltown Malbay based club, lead by two points (0-8 to 0-6) at the break and even though Cooraclare battled valiantly they never got their noses in front. The Sky Blues did manage to draw level early in the second half but Miltown kicked on in the last quarter to secure victory.

Eoin Cleary for Josephs opened the scoring in the third minute with a left footed point and by the fourth held a three-nil lead. Darragh McDonagh and man-of-the-match Kevin Keavey added to Cleary's effort, emphasising Miltown's early dominance. Rory Donnelly got Cooraclare on the score sheet in the sixth and when Pearse Lillis landed another it was a one point game. Keavey and Kieran Malone added two more for Miltown by the twelfth as Cooraclare struggled to find their feet. They eventually found a rhythm of sorts and were just one behind (0-7 to 0-6) when Thomas Downes right footed over the crossbar in the twenty-fourth. Eoin Cleary kicked a late free for Josephs to make it 0-8 to 0-6 at the half-time whistle.

Coraclare introduced 17 year old Jack Morrissey at the beginning of the half. Damien Burke scored the first point and young Morrissey added another by the thirty-sixth, to draw level. Miltown took awhile to find the target and waited until the forty-ninth for a score. Cleary was on hand to convert a free and this score spurred his side on. Joe Curtin Kevin Keavey and Kieran Malone added three more before Cooraclare was dismissed on a straight red for an off the ball incident. Donnelly from a free and Eoin Cleary from the penalty spot exchanged points late in the game as Miltown emerged with a four point win.

St Josephs: S O'Brien, E O'Brien, Seanie Malone, Gordon Kelly, D Lafferty (0-1), G Curtin, E O'Gorman, D McDonagh (0-1), J Meade, K Keavey (0-3), E Curtin (0-1), J Curtin (0-1), E Cleary (0-4, two frees, one pen), K Malone (0-2), B Curtin (capt). Subs: Graham Kelly for O'Gorman (39 mins), C Hehir for Meade (49 mins), I Sexton for G Curtin (55 mins), Sean Malone for K Malone (60 mins).

Cooraclare: K Roche, D McMahon, T Donnellan, J Burke, P Lillis (0-2), F Lillis, C Marrinan (Capt.), J Downes (0-1), M Kelly, T Downes, D Burke (0-1), T Lillis, R Donnelly (0-4, three frees), C Donnellan, A O'Neill. Subs: S O'Donoghue for Kelly (23 mins), J Morrissey (0-1) for T Lillis (h-t), S Garry for J Dowens (44 mins), M McMahon for C Donnellan (55 mins), K Burke for Marrinan (59 mins).

Referee: J Hannan (Michael Cusacks).