February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Kilmurry survived the dismissal of defender John O’Connor for a second yellow-card offense 20 minutes from the end to book an All-Ireland semifinal date against Connacht champions Ballina in February.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling to have won this,” Kilmurry manager Pat O’Dwyer said. “To have gone a player down and to have dug as deep as we did was remarkable. There were times this year when we had a very small turnout at training because so many of our players were involved with Clare teams, but we kept at it and got our reward.”
Despite kicking eight wides, Stradbally trailed by only three points when O’Connor was sent off and when Niall Curran quickly kicked a free, the Waterford club looked to be on course for their little slice of history.
There was some strong running from Trevor Costelloe and John Hearne. However, Peter O’Dwyer rose to the occasion for the winners and Michael O’Dwyer landed a crucial point in the 48th minute. Earlier, Kilmurry’s goalkeeper, Dermot O’Brien, brilliantly saved a penalty from Michael Walsh, and he later deprived Shane Lannon, but the man of the match award went to Johnny Daly, whose 5-point total, two of which came from play, proved decisive.
O’CONNOR RETIRES
In hurling, one of Clare’s stars over the ‘ast 10 years, Jamesie O’Connor, has announced his retirement from the intercounty scene. A winner of two All-Ireland and Munster championship medals, as well as four All-Star awards, O’Connor also won an All-Ireland club medal with St. Joseph’s and was selected as Hurler of the Year in 1997.
Confirming his retirement, he took a swipe a former Clare manager Ger Loughnane, who had criticized him before Clare’s championship game against Offaly this summer.
O’Connor will continue to hurl with St. Joseph’s and will lend his expertise to the Clare minor panel next year.