Month: April 2009

Magpies win in mudbath

NEWMARKET-ON-FERGUS maintained their impressive run of form in the Clare Cup by proving too strong for Inagh Kilnamona on Saturday.

Leading by three points at half time, the Blues gradually eased away in the second half with their sharp- ness in front of goal ultimately prov- ing decisive.

Seanie Arthur bagged Newmarkets first goal before Martin O’Hanlon stormed through to put his side 2-5 to O-5 clear in the 37th minute.

After a solid first half performance, Inagh Kilnamona struggled in the second half. They slumped to a 12 point loss when Jamie Liddy goaled

late on for Newmarket.

The defeat, Inagh Kilnamona’s fourth in a row, leaves them anchored at the bottom of Division one and badly in need of a turn in fortunes.

With Clare playing a challenge in Ogonnelloe, throw-in in Newmar- ket was put back just over an hour as both sides awaited their return of their county representatives.

However the waiting could only go on so long and both sides started the game without their county players.

Not that that diluted the intensity of a keenly contested first half.

Shane O’Brien pointed in the fifth minute for the game’s opening score before Cathal Lafferty responded with a well-taken point for Inagh Kilnamona, two minutes later.

With Lafferty the focal point of the attack, Inagh Kilnamona settled into the game.

Dermot Gannon swapped frees with O’Brien before O’Hanlon edged Newmarket 0-3 0-2 ahead in the 15th minute.

Gannon pointed after a strong run through the middle of the Blue’ de- fence before converting a free in the 18th minute. Eoin Hayes landed per- haps the point of the afternoon with a powerful long-range strike in the 19th minute.

Inagh Kilnamona introduced Patrick Kelly in the 25th minute but the Clare goalkeeper’s first task was to pick the ball out of the net. O’ Hanlon chased down Collins’ free and did well to work the sliotar back

to the unmarked Seanie Arthur, yards from goal, who made no mistake, banging home in the 28th minute. Lafferty posted a point a minute later but Shane O’Brien’s free made it 1-5 to O-5 at the break for the Blues.

The second half developed with Newmarket looking more focused and more determined. Substitute Ger Arthur pointed for Inagh Kilnamona in the 36th minute but it didn’t take long for Newmarket to take over.

The rain was still bucketing down when Martin O’Hanlon charged through the middle before offloading to Arthur in the 37th minute. The sli- otar bounced back to the midfielder who finished high to the net.

The introduction of James MclIn- erney stiffened the blues defence as Inagh Kilnamona struggled to create chances.

O’Brien converted a free before James Liddy’s point made it 2-7 0-6 in the 42nd minute. Darren Duggan hoisted over another point in the 35th minute. Inagh Kilnamona hit back with a point from Conor Tierney but The Blues finished the game strongly with points from O’Brien and Mar- tin Murphy and a goal from Martin Murphy.

WHEN Richard Moloney threw the ball in to start what was his first sen- ior inter-county fixture there were only 43 customers who had paid their way into Cusack Park — that was a commentary on the level of interest in this tie and the current plight of senior football in the county.

The stay away supporters and those present knew this was going to be a nothing game — a final day away for the exiles, a day for Clare to hoover up two National League points and end what has been a depressing cam- paign on a winning note.

That about sums up what happened — apart from an early spurt from Lon- don when a fourth minute goal from Enda Gallagher gave them 1-1 to O-1 lead this was a one-sided miss-match as Clare strolled to a facile win.

Then manner in which Clare hit back after Gallagher’s goal was a telling portent of things to come — straight from the kick-off they worked the ball down the field and a slick move in the final phase of the field involving Enda Coughlan, Michael O’Shea and David Tubridy yielded a goal within 35 seconds of London’s shock opener.

Tubridy slammed the ball to the empty net on his way to a top-scor- ing tally of 1-5 as Clare ran riot for the rest of the game. Indeed, but for some very wayward shooting which contributed to 13 wides over the 70 minutes the gap would have been much bigger than the 20 points that separated them at the end.

They’d stretched it to seven points by half-time — points by David Tubri- dy (4), Enda Coughlan and Michael O’Shea had them 1-7 to I-1 ahead by the 20 minute mark before an Enda Coughlan goal on 23 minutes and points by Michael O’Shea and Tim-

my Ryan brought their tally for the half to 2-9.

London did rally towards half-time thanks to three Kevin Downes points to raise their total to 1-5, but any hope that the revival would continue after the break was quickly quashed by an avalanche of Clare points.

Timmy Ryan, David Russell, Enda Coughlan and Liam Markham had points within five minutes of the re- start as the game degenerated into nothing other than a _ slow-paced training game a panel of players might have after a three-hour physi- cal session.

London were dreadful, so much so that it was hard to credit that they had beaten Waterford earlier in the cam- paign. They only managed one point in the half, an injury time effort from Kevin Downes.

Clare, meanwhile, racked up 1-11 in the half. The flurry of points at

the start of the half was taken on by substitute Cathal O’Connor who grabbed a brace by the 44th minute, while Sean Collins finally got his eye in when knocking over two by the 56th minute.

By this stage London were offer- ing no resistance and were finally put out of their misery by Richard Molo- ney’s final whistle — however, before it came Clare notched up a further 1- 6 in the final ten minutes.

Enda Coughlan grabbed four points, Liam Markham and David Tubridy got the others while Gary Brennan goal with virtually the last kick of the game.

JUST as the three quarters point of this final was passing, Sixmilebridge pulled the trigger and rattled home 1- 2 in less than three minutes.

Before this, the teams were locked together at 0-9 each and once that deluge of scores rained down from the Bridge’s front six, Crusheen couldn’t react or, more accurately, they weren’t allowed react.

For the remaining 15 minutes, Sixmuilebridge — who hadn’t won this competition since 2003 — defended with serious authority. They allowed Crusheen just one more score, a point from Conor O’ Donnell a minute into injury time.

That Crusheen played most of the final 20 minutes of the game swith- out scoring wasn’t entirely surpris- ing. They went through a similar drought in the opening half, failing to put a score on the board from the 17th minute until just after the re- eae

It typified the game and in fairness, the real beauty of the hurling over the hour lay in the sound defening of both sides. Strong and fair chal- lenges, effective hooking and hard blocking pockmarked the evening in Clarecastle and in the end, it was Sixmulebridge’s forward line tha picked most locks through their op- posite defence.

They opened up a quick two- point lead with a score from Barry O’Connor along with a free, half way out the field, from Caimin Mo- rey. But from there, Crusheen settled into the momentum of the game, found their rhythm and blasted off five unanswered points with Joseph Meaney orchestrating and executing the bulk.

After his side’s fifth score, though,

the Sixmilebridge defence really closed for business and though Ci- aran O’Donnell’s presence at centre back for Crusheen was immense in that opening half hour, neither he nor his colleagues could prevent Sixmi- lebridge going in at half time two points to the good.

Speaking after the game, Sean Stack, Sixmilebridge manager said

he was pleased with the first half and content to lead by two but waiting for the game to resume and with the wind to come for Crusheen, it was easy to speculate that Sixmilebridge may not have made the most of their dominance of the final 10 minutes of Werle nee

When Crusheen started with a blaze of scores, that theory was bolstered

but Stack knows his team far better than us sideline speculators.

With thirteen minutes of the game to come, the best move of the game arrived and produced the defining moment. All evening it looked as if Declan Morey could open up at any moment and in possession on the right wing, he dropped his shoulder and headed for goal. Having sla-

lomed past a handful of Crusheen de- fenders he let fly from 20 yards out. In the first half, a similar shot from Morey was brillianlty saved from Donal Touhy but this time, Morey’s precision was flawless.

His shot nestled in the top corner of the net and at last, Sixmilebridge had some daylight. Crucially, they immediately followed up with two more points, a 65 from Caimin Mo- rey and a lovely point from substitute who showed sublime control of the ball before firing over from a tight enough angle.

Lynch’s point meant Sixmilebridge scored three off the bench, a tidy haul in a game that at times, looked like an extra score or two could make all the difference. In the last ten, Sixmi- lebridge tacked on a smattering of points and eased their way over the line. A soft enough finish to a game that never lacked intensity or heat and a result that will be celebrated with zeal in the Bridge.

BALLYEA kept their championship hopes alive by the skin of their teeth on Sunday morning as a last gasp Gary Brennan goal earned them a dramatic reprieve. A Daire Keane free for Kilmaley deep into injury time appeared to have been enough to finally see off Ballyea’s challenge but they had one last sting in their tail when Niall Keane’s long free into the square first broke to Don Flannery whose pull was partially blocked, only for Gary Brennan to react the quickest to finish to the net.

It was a bitter pill for Kilmaley to swallow, especially considering that they were six points clear by the 41st minute but in many ways, they were the architects of their own downfall.

Instead of killing off the game, they sat back and invited Ballyea onto them and tired legs resulting in indiscipline gave Ballyea a renewed window of opportunity that they eventually grasped.

There were some contentious deci- sions towards the finish but with the crowd totally immersed in the drama, the tension was heightened on the field as the tie reached it’s dramatic and ultimately fitting conclusion. Both sides had their moments over the hour with Ballyea’s haltf-back line and midfield bossing the open- ing half, despite facing the breeze that blow towards the clubhouse.

It meant that Kilmaley only led by 1-3 to 0-3 at the break, with Kilma- ley’s Michael O’Neill proving a con- stant irritant to the Ballyea defence, hitting 1-1 of that total with the goal coming in the 17th minute when John Cabey’s ball inside was fumbled by goalkeeper Seamus Doohan.

With only O’Neill, John Cabey and the impressive Noel Casey propping them up in the first period, Kilmaley were fortunate to hold that three point advantage into the interval as Ballyea hit nine wides against the conditions but on the restart, Kilmaley finally

began to assert themselves.

Chief marksman throughout the championship, Daire Keane came to life and along with the lively O’ Neill, they tacked on a brace of points each with only Gary Brennan replying for Ballyea as Kilmaley opened up a 1-

7 to 0-4 lead with less than twenty minutes remaining.

However, Ballyea got themselves back into the game through placed balls, although their recovery was slow and tense. The first signs of a fightback came when Declan Keane

was fouled and Francie O’Reilly stepped up to take the resulting 20 metre free but his effort was tapped over the bar by goalkeeper Bryan O’ Loughlin.

A Niall Keane free followed soon afterwards to cut the deficit to four

and the crowd were also left gasping when a Gary Brennan shot from close range was though to have gone past goalkeeper O’Loughlin but in fact, his effort was just left of the post.

Ballyea kept up the pressure though and after Don Flannery hit a huge point from distance, Niall Keane converted another free to claw it back to two points.

Not having scored in over twenty minutes, Kilmaley finally lifted the siege when Daire Keane pointed a free after being fouled himself in the 63rd minute but there was still time for one last attack and when Cathal O’Connor was fouled on the *45, Bal- lyea finally got themselves out of jail with that Gary Brennan goal.

It was to prove the final puck of the game and with the sides due to meet again this weekend, Kilmaley will pray that this late laspe won’t come back to bite them.

IT’S advantage Avenue United B in the race for the second division championship after Sunday’s win over Lifford B.

Richie O’Grady’s goal six min- utes from full time sealed a win that pushes Avenue four points clear of Lifford at the top of the league.

The victory also ensured Avenue’s promotion to division one and three more points from their final game against Rhine Rovers will guaran- tee that Ben Mulcaire’s side go up as champions.

O’Grady’s goal also inflicted on Lifford their first defeat of the season while at the same extended Avenue’s unbeaten league record to 17 games.

Lifford B, meanwhile, are not yet assured of their place in division one for next season.

They are three points ahead of third placed Rhine Rovers but will need to secure four points from their final two games against Sporting Ennisty- mon and Kilmaley in order to ensure promotion.

Sunday’s local derby was fiercely contested, if a little low on quality and goalmouth incident. Though the game never spilled over into anything nasty, referee Michael Rock was still forced to issue five yellow cards, four to Lifford and one to Avenue.

Cassidy Park was no place for the faint hearted.

Keith Dormer, Albert Hardiman

and Gary Seery kept it tight at the back for Avenue. Likewise Adrian Walsh, Marty O’Regan and Mark Whelan for Lifford.

Both sides lined up with five players across midfield. In such a condensed area, players were allowed pre- cious little time on the ball and the first half unfolded as a full-blooded

drama of hard tackles and thumped clearances.

Pumped up by their stunning cup win over Newmarket Celtic, Lif- ford’s best chance of the half arrived in the 26th minute when Eddie Kil- leen dispossessed Seery and laid off to Francis Franks. Franks’ crossed to McDonagh who lifted his shot nar-

rowly over the bar.

McDonagh and Darren Daly had other chances for Lifford but at the break the sides were level 0-0. Liam Meeney’s right wing cross, six min- utes after the re-start, picked out Mannion at the back post but the midfielder saw his half volley held by Avenue goalie Cillian Culligan.

Killeen fizzed another effort straight at Culligan minutes later. Avenue weathered the storm and gradually took a grip on the game.

Cian Griffin, lively on the left flank, fizzed a half volley that was held by Lifford goalie Joe Burke.

Then Michael Dinan crossed to Richie O’Grady who squared to Conor O’Brien who’s stabbed effort had Burke scrambling.

By now, Avenue were well on top and the goal arrived from their best move of the game. Hardiman pushed a fine pass to Dinan on the right. The midfielder squared to O’Grady who finished from close range.

WITH just six weeks to polling day it is believed that Fianna Fail are preparing to enter another candi- date into the race for a seat on Clare County Council.

The party’s headquarters are ex- pected to ratify Shannon pharmacist Shane Hillery as a candidate for the newly expanded Shannon electoral area.

With a strong local political pedi- gree, the son of outgoing town coun- cillor and former county councillor Sean Hillery, it is hoped that the father of two will get the nod from headquarters.

Mr Hillery spent his early life in Sixmulebridge before moving to Shannon and opening his own phar- macy in the Shannon Shopping Cen- tre 18 years ago.

Although his current address is out- side the electoral area, Fianna Fail are hoping his strong business pres- ence in Shannon and the strong fam- TUNA et-bo elem ADU MEoLO1ED Roam O0losO0 MEN Olomoy.@0 0:1 seat in the six seater area.

Married to Ennis woman Valerie Normoyle they have two children.

While Fianna Fail is considering entering a new candidate into the lo- cal election race, the party has lost its MEP candidate for the North West area.

In what was a shock to many, sitting MEP Sean O Neachtain announced his intention not to run for re-elec- tion on Raidio na Gaeltachta, having

being ratified by the party in Mayo just week’s ago.

On Sunday former European Par- liament President Pat Cox launched the election campaign of Independ- ent Marian Harkin MEP.

“Times were too serious, and the stakes too high, to allow policy myths to displace or replace policy substance in public debate during the European Parliament Election,’ he said.

Meanwhile Republican Sinn Féin is considering running a candidate in the North Clare area, having origi- nally considered a candidate for En- nis West.

The party will meet on Thursday night to consider putting forward a candidate for the county council elections.

It is believed well-known member Paddy Kenneally is to consider run- ning for the party in the new five-seat

area.

The Crusheen man said, “The ap- palling treatment that Clare has suf- fered at the hands of the Fianna Fail and Green coalition must be raised with the local election candidates on doorsteps throughout the county.”

DURING the Celtic Tiger era prop- erty prices in Quin grew exponen- tially. But, those days have gone and even in trendy Quin you can now find some great property bargains.

The pick of the crop this week is on the books with Costelloe Estate Agents. It’s a detached bungalow located in Arbutus Grove, occupy- ing a half acre site, priced at just €285,000.

Arbutus Grove is situated in the heart of the picturesque village of Quin, opposite the post office and overlooking the church.

According to selling agent Noel Moore, “This is a truly well laid out family home with very generous ac- commodation and it is right beside all the key amenities in Quin village, yet the site is private.

The 135.45 square metres (1458 square feet) of internal space com- prises an entrance porch leading into the entrance hall, a good sized sit- ting room, a kitchen/breakfast room, family room, family bathroom, and there are four double bedrooms, with the master bedroom en-suite.

In addition there is a detached ga- rage that incorporates a utility room and WC.

The house occupies a very attrac- tive site with mature gardens. The front and rear, featuring trees, ex- tensive shrubbery, flowerbeds and a

patio area.

“While this property does require some refurbishment and redecora- tion, at this asking price it is an abso- lute bargain buy,” said Noel.

For further information contact

Costelloe Estate Agents on 065 6821299.

WEDDINGS in the former “capital of County Clare” are being affected because of a lack of signage on the N18 Ennis bypass, a meeting has heard.

Cllr Bernard Hanrahan (FF) told a meeting of the Ennis electoral area that Clarecastle has become a popu- lar spot for couples tying the knot.

However, Cllr Hanrahan claimed that many people on their way to at- tend weddings in Clarecastle end up in Doora because there is no sign for the village on the N18 Ennis bypass.

“You have people coming into Clarecastle and they end up travel- ling all the way up to Doora because there isn’t a sign on the bypass for Clarecastle,” said Cllr Hanrahan.

He continued, “You have signs for Quin, you have signs for Carrigoran. I mean, what do Quin and Carrigor- an have to offer more than Clarecas- tle? Clarecastle was once the capital of Clare.”

“All I want ye to do is erect sig- nage on the main road. I spoke to the deputy head of the National Road’s Association (NRA) and they were in favour of it,’ added Cllr Hanrahan.

Supporting Cllr Hanrahan’s call, councillors urged Clare County Council to erect signs on the Ennis bypass.

Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) told yesterday’s meeting that the issue of signage for Clarecastle had been raised repeatedly at area meetings.

“That came up at the last meet- ing. It’s coming up at every meeting. Could we not just put the signs up?” he said.

Cllr Brennan added, “Why can’t we just go ahead and do it?” Cllr Pat Daly (FF) said a sign for Clarecastle should be situated at the roundabout near the Clare Inn hotel.

Cllr Sonny Scanlan (FG) also called for clearer signage along all sections the N18 Ennis bypass.

‘People are going up as far as Bare- field. When you are coming from the other direction, you see signs for Scariff and Tulla and none for Ennis. How are people supposed to know’? It’s a pure joke. We need signs for Clarecastle and we also need them for Ennis as well,’ he said.

THE Mayor of Clare has said it is imperative that the Criminal Justice Surveillance Bill be quickly imple- mented in an effort to bring crimi- nals to justice.

Councillor Madeleine Taylor-Quinn (FG) was speaking as she launched the International Police Association (IPA) annual conference in Ennisty- mon at the weekend, which was at- tended by the Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy.

Police from Luxembourg, Poland, USA and the UK attended the two- day conference, which is one of the major events of the IPA (Irish sec- tion).

She spoke of the importance of the police force in the community and said the new bill — the details of which were announced by the Gov- ernment last week — would provide much assistance to gardai.

She said that the community has a crucial role to play in the detection and prevention of crime.

‘The co-operation of the public re- lating to crime is essential for crime detection and prevention. We cannot afford to remove ourselves when we have knowledge or sightings of acts or behaviour that could be helpful to police investigations.

“Democracy is based on_ the strength of the security of our citi- zens. The public and gardai are in- terdependent. We are secure because of their presence and they can only

be as effective as the public enable them to be,” she said.

She said the IPA should be com- mended for the work it carries out at local, national and international levels.

“The building of transnational rela- tionships between current and retired members of police forces across the world greatly assists and enhances the work of Interpol and other inter- national police organisations. It also serves to assist the members’ under- standing of other cultures, traditions

and police practices in the many na- tions represented,’ she said.

Retired Garda Sergeant and presi- dent of the IPA (Irish section), Billy Saunderson said the conference pre- sented members with the opportunity to discuss matters of mutual personal and professional concern.

Mr Saunderson, who was based in Ennistymon for a number of years, said members of the IPA have the op- portunity to avail of support during difficult times.

‘There are many benefits for retired

and serving members of An Garda Siochana in joining the organisation. Members are provided with immedi- ate support at times of crisis while at home or abroad. The children of members engage in international cultural gatherings and exchanges, and members engage in fundraising for local and community causes,” he said.