Kilmurry break new ground for Clare

Kilmurry-Ibrickane 1-14 Portlaoise 0-8:KILMURRY-IBRICKANE produced a seismic shock by toppling Leinster champions Portlaoise on a famous day for Clare football in yesterday's All-Ireland Club SFC semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.

The victory ensures the Banner county will be represented in the St Patrick’s Day club football showpiece for the first time.

They may have entered the game in the role of outsiders, but Kilmurry-Ibrickane were full value for their victory here.

The match was marred by the two sending-offs incurred by Portlaoise, with wing back Brian Mulligan and captain Brian McCormack sent to the line, and the subsequent confrontations involving members of the Portlaoise camp with referee Michael Duffy at half-time and full-time.

Mulligan’s dismissal after 40 seconds had a major unsettling effect on Portlaoise, while McCormack’s departure after a second yellow card in the 39th minute was another blow as he had been one of their standout performers.

The foundations for victory were laid in a splendid first-half performance as the Clare men exploded from the starting blocks. Manager Micheál McDermott revealed afterwards they styled their opening-half display on Kerry’s All-Ireland quarter-final destruction of Dublin last summer.

“We watched the DVD on Saturday night. We saw what Kerry did in the first 20 minutes and we said we were going to do that today because we were the fresher team. Nobody realises the impact the quarter-final Tír Chonaill Gaels match had on us.

“Dublin had a layoff for six weeks that day and it was the same with Portlaoise today, who had a long layoff since December 6th.

McDermott dedicated the success to defender Declan Callinan who was sidelined for the match after being banned for an incident in their All-Ireland quarter-final victory over Tír Chonaill Gaels.

“All week in training, Declan played a huge role. On Friday night he drove all the way down from Belfast to Clare, just to be part of it. He’s the life and soul of the club, and represents what it is all about. This win today is a credit to Declan Callinan and we wanted to give him another day out in Croke Park.”

Kilmurry-Ibrickane utilised the extra man very effectively. Half backs Evan Talty and Enda Coughlan alternated between the role and that helped to give the team a foothold in that sector.

Their full-back line were also in outstanding form with Mark Killeen and Martin McMahon combing to keep a tight rein on Portlaoise danger man Paul Cahillane throughout.

The Munster team had plenty of attackers in sparkling form as well. By the 15th minute they were 0-5 to 0-2 in front, with Michael O’Dwyer, Ian McInerney and Noel Downes all prolific in front of goal.

Their swift passing movements were causing problems for the Portlaoise defence who relied on a strong display by Cahir Healy to keep them in the hunt. McCormack also showed great leadership at midfield for the Laois champions and he kicked two sublime points in the first-half.

The problem was Portlaoise possessed few other attacking threats and a flurry of Kilmurry-Ibrickane points courtesy of the O’Dwyer brothers, Michael and Peter, and McInerney left them leading 0-9 to 0-4 at the break.

The Laois team’s hopes were briefly raised in the 37th minute when Cahillane flicked a long ball by Kevin Fitzpatrick to the net, but it was disallowed for a square ball.

Portlaoise were reduced to 13 men moments later when McCormack was dismissed. The final nail in Portlaoise’s coffin was hammered five minutes later when Kilmurry-Ibrickane broke through for the only goal of the game. Substitute Mark McCarthy was the creator and corner-forward Downes finished brilliantly to the net.

That strike put Kilmurry-Ibrickane into an ultimately unassailable 1-11 to 0-5 lead. An excellent point by Cahir Healy did trim the gap to 1-12 to 0-8 in the 57th minute, but the Clare side finished stronger with great points by Johnny Daly and Odhran O’Dwyer.

Portlaoise boss John Mulligan accepted they had collided with a superior force. “We were beaten by the better team and I hope they go on and win it now,” he said.

KILMURRY-IBRICKANE:D O'Brien; D Hickey, M Killeen, M McMahon; S Hickey, E Coughlan (0-1), E Talty; P O'Connor, P O'Dwyer (0-1); M Hogan, I McInerney 0-4 (three frees,45), S Moloney; M O'Dwyer (0-3), J Daly (0-2), N Downes (1-2). Subs: M McCarthy for Moloney (43 mins), O O'Dwyer (0-1) for Downes (46 mins), B Moloney for Talty (58 mins).

PORTLAOISE:M Nolan; E Bland, K Fitzpatrick, M McNulty; B Mulligan, C Healy (0-1), K Lillis; A Fennelly, B McCormack (0-2); C Boyle, B Fitzgerald (0-2, frees), B Glynn; P Cahillane (0-3, two frees), C Byrne, C Rogers. Subs: T Fitzgerald for Byrne (half-time), B Smith for Glynn (42 mins), J Fennell for Boyle (49 mins), P McNulty for Cahillane (55 mins).

Referee: M Duffy (Sligo).