Lissycasey will make a return to the last eight of the Clare Senior Football Championship for the fourth year in a row after defeating St.Joseph’s Doora- Barefield with a goal to spare in Cusack Park, Ennis.
Lissycasey had their noses in front at the interval in what proved to be a low scoring opening half with thanks to a tally of 1-01 all coming from talisman Conor Finucane. The eventual winners were unfortunate however not to be further ahead as a Shane Griffin goal bound effort was foiled by the fantastic goalkeeping of Doora Barefield’s Niall Duggan.
Tom McDonald was most influential for the Parish in the first half and was directly involved in all scores, firstly by kicking the opening point of the contest on seven minutes before turning provider for a Tom Hannon point shortly afterwards and finally rising highest to claim the the kick out in a move were Eoghan Thynne would ultimately be fouled allowing for Dara Nagle to easily dispatch the resulting thirteen metre free.
At the half time whistle the sides departed at Lissycasey 1-01 to St Joseph’s 0-03.
On the restart Lissycasey returned to the field of play with the greater fire in their bellies and amid hitting a purple patch it would take just fifteen minutes for them to outscore their first half total and blitz their opponents.
The usual suspects of Shane and Aaron Griffin were first to get in on the scoring act before the former finally raised a well deserved green flag on the forty-five minute mark whilst Conor Meaney, Conor Finucane and Seamó Collins were also to the fore.
At the end of the third quarter Lissycasey led by 2-05 to 0-05
However the result was not beyond doubt at this juncture with Tom McDonald leading the fightback for St.Joseph’s Doora Barefield with three second half points and an Eoghan Thynne goal on fifty-eight minutes provided the Parish men with a lifeline.
Nevertheless the Lissycasey defence would hold firm for a deserving victory on a final score line of 2-08 to 1-08 in Cusack Park.
