Photo: Cillian McGroary breaks the tackle of Kilmurry Ibrickane's Joshua Moloney - Gerard O'Neill/Clare Echo

Lissycasey 2-14 v 0-11 St. Breckan's

St. Breckan's showed immense endeavor and courage with their backs to the wall in an effort to stave off relegation, but they ultimately lacked the class to overhaul a Lissycasey side who capitalized on key purple patches in a fiercely contested, niggly affair.

Shane Griffin proved the star performer, bookending the tie with a goal at the start and finish . Lissycasey seized early control when a midfield turnover allowed Griffin to dart in from the left wing and blast to the net, powering his side to a 1-03 to 0-00 lead. It took St. Breckan's a full quarter to settle, but the accuracy of Jamie Stack and Donnacha O'Dwyer brought them right back into the hunt, leaving them just a point in arrears at the break at 1-05 to 0-07. The Spa faithful were also buoyed by the heartening return of Joe McGann, whose signature trickery remained completely intact despite his time away.

Lissycasey reasserted their dominance as the second half wore on. Points from Daire Culligan, Conor Finucane, and a wonderful left-footed strike from Diarmuid McMahon pushed out the lead, while the introduction of Aaron Griffin provided yet another potent attacking outlet. Colm O'Brien fought valiantly to reel Lissycasey back in, but he was repeatedly denied by Thomas Collins in the Lissycasey goal.

The game was ultimately put to bed through quick thinking from Finucane, whose sharp free found Aaron Griffin to set up Shane Griffin for his second goal of the afternoon. St. Breckan's pushed for a late lifeline, but consecutive goal attempts from Eoin Byrne and McGann were blocked, forcing them to settle for a point.

With three defeats from three, 2023 finalists St. Breckan's must now dust themselves down for a daunting relegation battle  ironically alongside their fellow finalists in '23 - Cratloe and also Kilmihil.

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Elsewhere in the group Kilmurry Ibrickane continued their winning ways but not without a stern examination from Corofin who qualify for a preliminary Quarter Final in third spot. Three goals, all at opportune times,  to suppress Corofin the difference in a damp Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg. The first, after seven and a half minutes, came from the foot of Conor Burke who sidefooted the ball home in a crowded square when Aidan McCarthy's clever run created an overlap. 

Another low finish ten minutes later following a charge forward from Dermot Coughlan looked to have the Bricks in cruise control before the break but instead it signalled a spirited fight back led by Cillian McGroary and four superb points first half points from the lively Gearoid Cahill for Corofin who enjoyed their best spell either side of the break. They kicked the next seven scores to go from 2-05 to 0-03 points down to bring the game back to a point entering the final quarter.

A palmed Evan Cahill goal when picked out by Daniel Walsh at last got the scoreboard ticking again for Kilmurry after a fifteen minute lapse but still Corofin, who fielded without sharpshooter Jamie Malone,  would not lie down. Cillian McGroary, whose long distance kicking has been a highlight of the championship found the range with his fourth two pointer to make for an uneasy finish. Kilmurry survived to top the group standings. Another encouraging performance from Corofin but  a quick turnaround to when they face St. Joseph's Doora Barefield in next week's preliminary Quarter Final.

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