10/10/2024: Senior Football Championship Quarter Final Play-Off Match Report and Season Wrap-Up:

Group 3 ended with Kildysart, Doora Barefield and St. Breckans all level on 4 points with 2 wins and 1 loss.  But points difference meant Kildysart had to face Lissycasey in the quarter-final playoff on Saturday 14th Sept in Kilmihil.  Kildysart made a bright start leading 4 points to one, but Lissycasey won out 8 points to 4 in the end.  Congrats to Kieran Leahy and Conor Moloney for making the Team of the Week.  The club wishes to thank the management team of David Butler, John O'Sullivan, John Murtagh, Jacko Cleary, Terry Murphy and Darragh Butler, who have indicated their wish to step down. Their hard work and commitment to Kildysart over the past 4 years brought us to senior level and have Kildysart in a strong position to challenge the 2025 Senior Championship.
 
Clare Champion Match Report

 
12/09/2024: Senior Football Championship Quarter Final Play-Off Expanded Preview: 

For more pre-match analysis listen to Derrick Lynch and his panel on the Clare FM podcast here. 

Tickets for the match are discounted when bought online here.   

The match will be broadcast live on ClareFM on Saturday at 5:30.

Clare Champion Preview:

10/09/2024: Senior Football Championship Quarter Final Play-Off Preview:  The anticipation is building for Saturday's winner-takes-all local derby between Kildysart and Lissycasey, with the winner advancing to the quarter-finals.  When Kildysart came away with a five-point victory in round 3 last September it was the Blues' first championship win over their neighbours in 19 years.  That victory propelled Kildysart to the top of the table and their first quarter-final in 34 years.  Now Kildysart is 60 minutes away from back-to-back quarter-finals.

The draw for the QF will be held on Monday 16th at 7pm.  Tap here to watch last year's match v Lissycasey and see the 2023 Clare Champion Match report below.

03/09/2024: Senior Football Championship Play-Off Fixture Agreed:  All roads lead to Kilmihil on Saturday week (14th September at 5:30pm) when Kildysart take on Lissycasey in what promises to be a blockbuster quarter-final playoff. 

For more analysis, click here to watch The Clare Echo’s Water Break video Podcast where Páraic McMahon is joined by ex-Kildysart footballer Ger ‘Bobby‘ Kelly, Clare IFC winning Kilmihil manager Paul Reidy and Kilfenora native James Brody to discuss Kildysart’s win over Doora Barefield and take a look ahead up the quarter-final playoff.

The relegation playoff between Doonbeg and Kimihil is on in Cooraclare on 15 Sept at 1:30 with Corofin awaiting the losers on the 28/29th September.

02/09/2024: Senior Football Championship  Round Three Recap:   Kildysart's rousing response to their round 2 setback will give them huge momentum going into the quarter-final playoff against Lissycasey in two weeks.  Lissycasey will be up against it suffering losses in their last two matches, especially their 14-point drubbing to Eire Og on Saturday last.

Group 2 was the most competitive of the three senior groups with Kildysart, Breckan's and Barefield all finishing on 4 points.  Breckan's topped the group due to their +19 points difference and Doora Barefield claimed the number 2 spot with +3, sending Corofin to the relegation playoffs.

The QF draw will take place on Monday 16th September.
 
Clare Champion Report

 

Kildysart 1-12
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 1-11
Venue: Clarecastle

 Tight from start to finish, the sides were level on eight occasions over the hour but it was Luke McGrath’s score on fifty five minutes which made all the difference as Doora/Barefield spurned four scoreable opportunities subsequent to this to get level for the ninth time.

With the inside line threat of Emmet McMahon and Diarmuid O’Donnell accounting for 0-9 of Kildysart’s total 1-12 tally, they were the danger man but it was Fergal Ginnane who operated in a free role that popped up for their goal in the last attack of the first half to swing the lead in their favour heading for the dressing rooms.

Prior to this, Nicki Hardiman had goaled for The Parish on twenty eight minutes, Tom Hannan providing a delivery from distance which Kildysart goalkeeper Kieran Eyres fumbled and allowed Hardiman a handy finish.

Seamus Casey responded with a well-taken point and then Ginnane supplied the goal, both men making fine runs off the ball to make themselves available for each score.

To lose an unbeaten streak will hurt Doora/Barefield but they appear to have taken more hits in terms of personnel which is a greater worry. Teak tough defender Fionn Kelleher went off injured on sixteen minutes and he was followed by wing back Cian McDonough and midfielder Darragh O’Shea. A growing injury list will make Donagh Vaughan and his management appreciative of a month’s wait until their next outing in the quarter-finals.

Emmet McMahon was Kildysart’s only scorer in the first quarter, chipping in with three points while James Curran opened Doora/Barefield’s account on nine minutes. Tom Curran had a chance to goal for Doora/Barefield but his effort was blocked by Eyres on eighteen minutes, the subsequent 45 was converted by Tom O’Brien before an Eoghan Thynne free had them on level terms.

McMahon and Tom Curran swapped points as did O’Donnell and Tom McDonald before Hardiman pounced for goal but Kildysart responded with an unanswered 1-1 to lead 1-6 1-5 at the half-time break.

O’Donnell made that a three point lead with the first two scores on the restart while Eyres saved from Nicki Hardiman on thirty two minutes. McDonald kicked Doora/Barefield’s first score of the half on their next attack but Kildysart hit back with the McMahon brothers, Emmet and Rory splitting the posts.

Doora/Barefield’s dominaint spell saw them kick the next three scores, Joe Rafferty adding the first before McDonald showed the damage he can do when running at defences with the next two. They had chances during this spell to nudge ahead but took on shots when better options were in sight.

A twelve minute scoring drought for Kildysart ended when O’Donnell converted a free but Doora/Barefield drew level with two Tom Curran efforts, one from play and another from a free.

Luke McGrath’s only contribution to the scoreboard turned out to be the winning point on fifty five minutes as further chances for Doora/Barefield from Tom Curran, Odhran O’Connell and Eoghan Thynne tailed wide, had this been a do or die contest they would certainly have questioned why goalkeeper Tom O’Brien wasn’t brought up field to kick either of the two missed placed balls in this spell.

Poor scoring difference based on their concession of four goals against St Breckan’s meant Kildysart were aware their chances of going directly to the quarter-finals were slim before round three. They’ll relish a chance at their neighbours Lissycasey in the preliminary quarter-final and given that their opponents have suffered successive defeats will certainly be confident for that tie.

They did very well in retaining Kieran Eyres’ kickouts and are not restricted at having to go short to do given the physical players they possess in the middle third. Opposiing defences will struggle to handle both Emmet McMahon and Diarmuid O’Donnell while the industrious showing from Fergal Ginnane is what’s needed from a player in his role.

Direct running from Doora/Barefield, particularly from Tom McDonald saw them at their most effective. He hit 0-4 from play in a fine showing over the hour but once again they will be disappointed with how they finished the game, coughing up missed chances and allowing their opponents to come out on top. They have plenty of time to prepare for their next game and kick on.

Scorers Kildysart: E McMahon (0-5 2f), D O’Donnell (0-4 1f), F Ginnane (1-0), S Casey (0-1), R McMahon (0-1), L McGrath (0-1).

Scorers St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: T McDonald (0-4), T Curran (0-3 1f), N Hardiman (1-0), J Curran (0-1), T O’Brien (0-1 1’45), E Thynne (0-1 1f), J Rafferty (0-1).

Kildysart: 1: Kieran Eyres, 7: Oisin Coyle, 3: Kieran Leahy, 4: Stephen Sheehan, 2: Fergal Ginnane, 5: Rory McMahon, 6: Conor Moloney, 12: Mikey Donnellan, 8: Keith O’Connor, 9: Kieran O’Brien, 22: Conall Casey, 11: Luke McGrath, 10: Seamus Casey, 15: Emmet McMahon, 13: Diarmuid O’Donnell, Subs: 20: Keith Murphy for S Casey (56)

St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: 1: Tom O’Brien, 2: Fionn Kelleher, 3: Conor O’Brien, 4: Eoghan Boyle, 5: Jack Hannan, 6: Tom Hannan, 7: Cian McDonough, 8: James Curran, 9: Darragh O’Shea, 10: Nicki Hardiman, 12: Eoghan Thynne, 11: Joseph Rafferty, 15: Tom Curran, 14: Michael Nash, 13: Tom McDonald.  Subs: 18: Kieran Thynne for Kelleher (16) (inj), 21: Cathal O’Brien for McDonough (36) (inj), 17: Odhran O’Connell for J Curran (39), 19: Paddy Bugler for Nash (43), James Curran for O’Shea (53)

Referee: John O’Connell (Cooraclare)

4th seed for QF is random draw among the unseeded finalists 

Open draw for Quarter Finals - to be played 28/29th Sept

Relegation playoff between Kilmihil, Doonbeg and Corofin. Draw determines which team gets the bye for first round. (14/15 Sept)

27/08/2024:  Round 3 Preview:  The good news is that the fate of the senior championship is well and truly in Kildysart’s hands as a win or a draw over Doora Barefield on Sunday (Clarecastle 3pm) means Kildysart is guaranteed at least a quarter-final playoff spot and maintain senior status for 2025.  In fact, out of the 9 possible permutations for the final Group 2 matches, only one scenario would send Kildysart into a relegation play-off, if Kildysart and Breckans both lose.  In this scenario, Corofin, Breckans, and Kildysart would be level on two points but the points difference would mostly likely go against Kildysart.  On the flip side, however, wins for Kildysart and Corofin see Kildysart top the table and get seeded into the Quarter Finals and will allow Corofin to stave off a relegation battle.  The tables below show the other possible outcomes that enable Kildysart to either go directly to the quarter-final or a one-match quarter-final playoff with the third-placed team in Group 1.

Round three starts on Saturday (31 Aug) at 6pm with Group 1 matches Eire Og v Lissycasey and KIB v Kilmihil.  Eire Og has likely done enough to earn a QF spot with 4 points on the board and a +25 points difference.  Lissycasey can also reach the QF with a win over the Townies but this is dependent on the final points difference between them (+11) and KIB (+1), provided that KIB accounts for Kilmihil.

Group 3 is the curtain riser on Sunday with matches throwing in at 1pm.  Cratloe faces Doonbeg and Miltown takes on Ennistymon.  Miltown will take the third quarter-final spot, sending Doonbeg to the relegation playoff as even if Doonbeg and Miltown finish level on points, Miltown won the head-to-head between them.

Unfortunately, the Kildysart match will not feature in this week’s live stream or Clare FM coverage but live score updates will be posted on our Twitter account.  Tickets for the match can be purchased here at a reduced price.

Dates for the diary:  Quarter Final/Relegation Playoff 14/15 Sept, Quarter Final 28/29 Sept, Semi-final 13/14 Oct, Final 27/28 Oct.

19/08/2024:  Round 2 Recap:  Kildysart and St Breckans are joint second in group 2 after the Blues suffered a 12-point loss to the Lisdoon men on Friday (4-9 to 0-9) though Breckans have a superior points difference (+10 v -9).  Doora Barefield is on top of the group following their second campaign win, accounting for Corofin who are still looking for their first victory.  The table for group 1 looks similar with Eire Og on 4 points, KIB and Lissycasey on 2 points and Kilmihil at the bottom with 0 points.  Meanwhile, in group 3, Cratloe and Ennistymon secured quarter-final spots following their draw on Sunday.  Miltown has 2 points and Doonbeg has yet to see any points.  Three teams qualified from group 3 as they had two seeded teams. 

 

As usual in the senior championship, final placings will be determined by round 3.  Kildysart needs to beat DB and needs Corofin to overturn Breckans for a direct route to the quarter-finals.  A few permutations would take us to a QF playoff but likewise, we are also not out of the drop zone due to our inferior points difference.  Group 2 final round takes place on Sunday 1st September at 3pm with Kildysart v the Parish in Clarecastle and the North Clare derby of Breckans and Corofin in Cusack Park. 

Clare Echo

 

 

Kildysart were competitive throughout the game but will need to learn some lessons if they’re get over St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield in two weeks’ time.

St. Breckan’s manager Declan O’Keeffe said hunger may have been a factor in his side’s Round 1 defeat. Boosted by the return of captain Cian Burke to the starting line-up, there was plenty of desire on show in the first half.

Kildysart started the game with the wind at their backs and kept their kickouts short. They hustled in midfield and were direct in attack. Luke McGrath kicked their first two scores of the game and Emmet McMahon put them in front after twelve minutes.

St. Breckan’s looked to get into their shape early with Robert O’Connell and Rowan Danaher hugging the wings to create space inside. They had plenty of movement on their kickout, but not every gamble into the wind paid off.

Both sides were over-ambitious at times in attack. Breckan’s were overworking the ball inside while Kildysart were taking shooting options from too far outside. David Butler’s men were creating plenty of chances, but seven wides in thirty minutes put their scoring effectiveness at 36%.

Simple as it sounds, this game really did come down to goals. Joseph McGann linked well with Jamie Stack to shoot for goal. His effort was well saved by Kieran Eyres but the rebound fell kindly for the tap in after 22 minutes.

Oisin Coyle was alert to snuff out Breckan’s next attack and it led to Diarmuid O’Donnell pulling one back for Kildysart, calling the mark and swinging one over off his left. They had a goal chance of their own too, Conor Cusack fisted a half-chance wide.

For Breckan’s, Jamie Stack was growing into the game and they used the space in front of the full-back line to attack with tempo. Dale Masterson broke through and played a one-two with Joseph McGann. He drilled it left-footed into the far corner for the last score of the half and a five-point advantage at the break.

Kildysart tweaked their attack into the breeze. They had plenty of bodies in attack and four points in the first ten minutes of the second half. Fergal Ginnane got one from an attempt on goal. O’Donnell converted after a quick free. Keith O’Connor’s point make them look like a team on top and Luke McGrath curled an absolute beauty off the outside of his right foot.

But for all their efforts, they weren’t reeling in St. Breckan’s. The North Clare men opened the scoring for the second half when Jamie Stack took a diagonal ball inside off Robert O’Connell for a goal on the break. Stack’s next point broke up Kildysart’s scoring run and they took over the scoreboard altogether after 40 minutes with a run of 1-5.

On a day when St. Breckan’s were good enough not to need any luck, they got it all the same. Dale Masterson’s long-range effort looked good when it left his boot but the Gurteen breeze had other ideas. Kieran Eyres couldn’t gather it under his cross bar and Breckan’s fourth goal had them well in the clear.

Kildysart had to go for goal. Substitute Keith Murphy was a good target man but the high ball inside just wasn’t working and Breckan’s had men back to snuff out the room to shoot.

Jamie Stack finished the evening’s scoring with a point in added time, taking his tally to 1-7. The flick- up of the ball into his hands for the point outlined his class.

Kildysart had kept faith with the same starting fifteen from their Round 1 win over Corofin for this game and David Butler will have faith his side can pull it together for a round three outing against St. Joseph’s Doora Barefield. St. Breckan’s face Corofin knowing their fate is back in their own hands.

Scorers:
 St. Breckan’s: J Stack (1-7 3f), D Masterson (1-2), M Byrne (1-00) J McGann (1-00),

Kildysart: L McGrath (0-3), E McMahon (0-1), D O’Donnell (0-02), F Ginnane (0-1), K O’Connor (0-01), K Leahy (0-1)

St. Breckan’s:
 1. Tristan O’Callaghan, 2. Paddy Doherty, 3: Cian Burke (cap), 4. Conor Burke,  5. Pádraig O’Dwyer. 6. Alan Sweeney, 7. Colm O’Brien, 8. Liam Tierney, 9. Denis O’Callaghan, 10. Maccon Byrne, 11. Dale Masterson, 12. Robert O’Connell, 13: Jamie Stack, 22. Joseph McGann, 15. Rowan Danagher

Subs:  Conor Shannon for M Byrne (50), Thomas O’Dwyer for D Masterson (55)
 Cathal Morgan for L Tierney (56)

Kildysart:
 1. Kieran Eyres, 2. Fergal Ginnane, 3. Kieran Leahy, 4. Stephen Sheehan, 5. Rory McMahon, 6. Conor Moloney, 7. Oisín Coyle, 8. Keith O’Connor (cap), 9. Kieran O’Brien, 10. Seamus Casey, 11. Luke McGrath, 12. Mikey Donnellan, 13: Diarmuid O’Donnell, 14. Conor Cusack, 15. Emmet McMahon

SUBS:
 Keith Murphy for C Cusack (HT), Jack Cotter for D O’Donnell (56)

 

Referee: Niall Quinn (St Joseph’s Miltown)

14/08/2024:  Round 2 Preview:  The Clare SFC returns on Friday at 7pm with Kildysart facing off against St. Breckan’s in Gurteen at 7pm, while Miltown takes on Doonbeg in Quilty at the same time.  Unfortunately, the Kildysart match will not feature in this week’s live stream or Clare FM coverage but live score updates will be posted on our Twitter account.  Tickets for the match can be purchased here at a reduced price.

Kildysart heads into the match following their 3-point opening round win over Corofin, while the Lisdoonvarna outfit looks to reverse their round 1 defeat to Doora Barefield.   A win on Friday night means that Kildysart will match their 2023 performance by advancing to the knockout rounds.  The last time these two teams met (in round 5 of the Cusack Cup) the match ended in a last-gasp draw when Mikey Donnellan sent a high ball into the square to Keith O’Connor who rattled the net.  Tap here for the full match report.  The other fixture in Group 2 takes place on Saturday at 5pm in Cusack Park where Corofin will be looking for their first campaign win when they take on Doora Barefield.  Immediately following that match, KIB takes on Lissycasey at 7pm in Cusack Park.  Sunday sees another double header in Cusack Park when Cratloe takes on Ennistymon at 1pm, followed by Eire Og v Kilmihil at 3pm.

06/08/2024: Championship Round 1 Recap:   Kildysart got off to a cracking start in the 2024 Senior Football Championship on Saturday last beating Corofin, 12 points to 9.  They sit atop their group with a +3 points difference, with Doora Barefield also on 3 points by overcoming Breckans by 1-9 to 1-7.  Other results are Group 1: Lissycasey 2-16 v Kilmihil 0-7 and Eire Og 0-10 v KIB 0-8.  In Group 3: Ennistymon beat Doonbeg 1-7 to 0-8 and Cratloe started their title defence with a 2-9 to 10 points win over Miltown.  Photographs from the Kildysart match are by Ruth Griffin & Burren Eye Photography and can be viewed here.  Also, for those reading this on ClubZap, it is easier to read on the website.  Round 2 kicks off on Friday 16th August with Kildysart v Breckans at 7:30 in Gurteen, while Miltown take on Doonbeg.  Saturday sees Barefield v Corofin (5pm) and KIB v Lissycasey (7pm).  Sunday rounds off with Cratloe v Ennistymon (1pm) and Eire Og v Kilmihli at 3pm.

Clare Champion Match Report 

02/08/2024: Championship Round 1 Preview:   The 2024 Senior Football Championship kicks off tonight (Friday 2nd August) at 7:30 with three matches down for decision: Eire Óg v KIB, Breckans v Barefield and Cratloe v Miltown.   Kildysart take on Corofin on Saturday at 7pm in Clarecastle, while Kilmihil v Lissycasey (2pm) and Ennistymon v Doonbeg (6pm) round out the Saturday fixtures.  Tickets are available at the gate for: Adults €15, Student/OAP €10.  Tickets are discounted if purchased online here: Adults €12, Student OAP €8.  The match can also be live-streamed here for €10.

Clare Echo Round 1 Preview:

Clare Champion Round 1 Preview:

21/05/2024: Championship Draw: The 2024 Senior Football Championship draw was held this evening.  Like last year, the championship consists of 3 groups of four teams with the 2023 semi-finalists (Cratloe, Eire Og, Miltown and St. Breckans) being seeded.  Kildysart was drawn in group 2 with Breckans, Doora Barefield and Corofin.  Our opening match is against Corofin as it's team 1 v team 2 and team 3 v team 4.

Quarter Finals: The top two teams in Groups 1 and 2 plus the top 3 teams of Group 3 (due to this group having two seeded teams) make the quarter-finals.  A playoff between the third-placed teams in Groups 1 and 2 will determine the last quarter-final spot. The quarter-final groupings will be seeded with the three group winners plus one 2nd place team (decided by open draw), with no repeat pairings.

Relegation: The last placed team in each group is in the relegation playoff, with the first two teams drawn playing each other. The winner retains its senior status while the beaten team plays the third team, with the loser being relegated to Intermediate for 2025.