Kilmurry-Ibrickane 2-6 Galtee Rovers 0-4:CLARE CHAMPIONS Kilmurry-Ibrickane booked their place in the Munster club final when they dismissed Tipperary title-holders Galtee Rovers in the semi-final at a windswept Quilty yesterday.
A gale-like wind blowing down the field hampered the possibility of high-class football in front of an attendance of about 1,500. But the home team, provincial champions in 2004, played with the aid of the elements in the opening 30 minutes and a half-time lead of 1-5 to 0-1 was enough to see off their opponents' challenge in the second-half.
Michael O'Dwyer (a free) and Steven Moloney scored early points for Kilmurry as the Tipp men struggled to gain entry into the Kilmurry half of the field, such was the strength of the wind.
Then a rather fortuitous Kilmurry goal after 10 minutes left Galtee Rovers reeling. Peter O'Dwyer's speculative long ball bounced in front of goal and was fisted home by corner-forward Noel Downes. Kilmurry posted four wides before wing back Enda Coughlan added their next score after 23 minutes. The experienced Odran O'Dwyer added another score to make it 1-4 to 0-0l by the 28th minute with a pointed free, before Galtee's Tony Egan opened his side's account from a free.
Deep into injury time Coughlan, slotted a wind-assisted 45, to leave the score on 1-5 to 0-1 at the whistle.
Early points from midfielder Mark O'Brien and Declan Peters gave Galtee some home on the restart. But their purple patch proved short-lived as the west Clare men landed the game's crucial score in the 39th minute.
A swift hand-passing movement which began in defence was stylishly worked upfield. Johnny Daly spotted the run of unmarked midfielder Paul O'Connor and found his man with an inviting pass and O'Connor drilled a low shot to the net. For the remainder of the game Kilmurry employed a tactic of holding on to possession, thus denying Galtee the opportunity to eat into the substantial lead.
KILMURRY:I McInerney; D Callinan, M Killeen, M McMahon; S Hickey (capt.), B Moloney, E Coughlan (0-2, one 45); P ODwyer, P O'Connor (1-0); M Hogan, J Daly (0-1, free), S Moloney (0-1); M O'Dwyer (0-1, free), O O'Dwyer (0-1, free), N Downes (1-0).
GALTEE ROVERS:C Moloney (capt); V Murphy, M Peters, C Higgins; P Morrissey, J Morrissey, A Grace; C Morrissey, M OBrien (0-1); P Marnane, Denis Peters (0-1, free), M OConnell; T Egan (0-1, free), Declan Peters (0-1), S Egan. Subs: A Morrissey for Grace (43 mins), D Morrissey for OConnell (47 mins).
Referee:M Collins (Cork).
