31/03/2024: Kildysart won back the Estuary Derby bragging rights on Easter Sunday with a 1-11 to 1-7 win over Clondegad in Ballynacally. It’s been a share of the spoils with each club winning two of the last four Cusack Cup battles (2020 season ended early due to Covid) with both of Kildysart’s wins taking place in Ballynacally. Kildysart held a 10-point lead at the end of the 1st quarter but Clondegad rallied in the second half, and given the day that was in it, there was huge relief when the final whistle blew.
Luke McGrath opened Kildysart’s account in the first minute and this was quickly followed by a point from Seamus Casey. A brace of frees from McGrath had the away side up 4 points to no score by the 6th minute. Ryan Casey was blackcarded in the 7th minute but Kildysart went on to score 1-4 while being down a man. Clondegad got on the scoreboard in the 8th minute but then points from Oisin Coyle and Kieran O’Brien stretched the lead to five. Then Conor Hassett gathered the ball about 40 metres out on the far side of the pitch and put a lovely ball into Kieran O’Brien who was lurking 10 metres out on the near side. O’Brien pulled the trigger and shot the ball into the lower left-hand corner to put the Blues ahead 1-6 to Clondegad 0-1. Keith O’Connor’s point and another free from McGrath concluded the 1-4 scoring spree and gave Kildysart a 10-point cushion in the 18th minute. Michael Eustace and Stevie Sheehan were causing havoc for Clondegad but the Ballynacally men eventually breached the rear guard and struck for 1-2 with about 5 minutes remaining. McGrath ended the half with another free with the score at the break, Kildysart 1-9, Clondegad 1-2.
A breeze developed over the halftime break and favoured the home side who struck for three points in the opening 10 minutes of the restart. McGrath’s accuracy from place balls gave Kildysart a 1-10 to 1-5 lead with 40 minutes played. Then the heavens opened and both sides struggled to get a decent passage of play with 15 minutes passing without any score. Clondegad then popped over two more scores leaving Kildysart with the dangerous lead of 3 points with one minute to go in normal time. Hassett gave Kildysart the insurance point they needed to see out the four minutes of injury time. Final score: Kildysart 1-11, Clondegad 1-07 (5f). Referee: John O’Connell.
After two rounds of the Cusack Cup, Kildysart sits mid-table on 2 points with Lissycasey, Clondegad, and KIB. Title holders Ennistymon sit on top of the table on 4 points with Miltown in second on three, Breckans have a single point and Doora Barefield has yet to record a win in 2024.
The next Cusack Cup match is at home on Saturday 13th April when the men from the Barony of Ibrikane come calling. Round 2 of the O’Gorman Cup is at home on Saturday 6th April v Doonbeg.
Kildysart: Kieran Eyres, Michael Eustace, Kieran Leahy, Stevie Sheehan, Rory McMahon, Conor Moloney, Oisin Coyle (0-1), Kieran O’Brien (1-1), Keith O’Connor-captain (0-1), Ryan Casey, Seamus Casey, Mikey Donnellan, Luke Mc Grath (0-6, 5f), Keith Murphy, Conor Hasset (0-1). Subs: Jack Cotter for Ryan Casey (HT), Damian Hill for Murphy (53 min), Mark Moloney for Rory McMahon (55 min), Conall Casey for Hill (58 min).
