Month: May 2009

A MAN who took a car without the owner’s consent and then crashed it has been handed a jail sentence and put off the road for five years.

Garda Niall Cosgrove told Ennis District Court that he received a call about a road accident on August 9 last, where one car had crashed into the back of another. He said the ac- cused, Barry O’Sullivan, c/o Cluain Mhuire, Athenry, Galway, told him

he had permission to drive the car. However, when Gda Cosgrove con- tacted the owner, she told him this was not the case.

Defending solicitor Jenny Fitzgib- bon said that the accused was staying in the same house as the owner of the car that night. “It wasn’t a case that Mr Sullivan randomly met a stranger and took their keys,” she said.

The owner of the car told the court that she had met the accused that weekend, through a mutual friend.

They were at a house in Ennis and he asked her for a cigarette. “I told him they were in my handbag and to take them from my handbag,” she said. She later heard he was arrested, having crashed her car.

“T wouldn’t let my friends drive my car, let alone a fella I had just met the night before,’ she told the court.

A six-month jail term was imposed, along with a five-year disqualifica- tion. A bond was fixed in the event of an appeal.

AN ENNIS man charged arising out of two incidents in the Cloughleigh area of the town has been ordered to sign on twice daily at the local Garda station.

Michael Molloy (20), of Gordon Drive, Ennis, is accused of dangerous driving and engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour, at Gordon Drive, on April 18 last.

He is also accused of engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting be- haviour, at Gordon Drive, on April 21 last.

Sergeant Sean Maher told Ennis District Court on Friday that the ac- cused replied, “I don’t even know what you are talking about,’ in re- sponse to one of the charges. He did not reply when charged with the other two alleged offences.

The case was adjourned, at the re- quest of the accused’s solicitor and free legal aid was granted.

Bail was granted and a number of bail conditions were imposed. These included that he reside at his home address; abide by a curfew and sign on twice a day at Ennis Garda Sta- tion.

A MAN HAS been charged with de- manding money from another man, in exchange for having a threat on his life lifted.

Kieran Custy (43), of Lismul- breeda, Darragh, Ennis, is accused of demanding €4,000 from Paschal Hurley in return to have a threat on

his life lifted. The alleged offence was committed in the car park of the Auburn Lodge Hotel, Gort Road, Ennis, on November 7 last.

Garda Michelle Holian told Ennis District Court on Friday that she ar- rested the defendant that morning. He did not make any reply to the charge, after caution. Defending so- licitor William Cahir applied for free

legal aid for his client. ““The defend- ant is going to take a certain course in relation to the charge,” he said.

Inspector John O’Sullivan told the court that the DPP directed that the case could be dealt with summar- ily, in the district court, but only on a plea of guilty. Mr Cahir replied, ‘“He’s pleading.”

However, Judge Eamon O’Brien

said he was declining jurisdiction. “It’s a serious charge,’ he said.

Mr Cahir then said, “In the circum- stances then, I’d ask you not to mark a plea.”

Inspector O’Sullivan asked for the case to be adjourned for several weeks, to allow the book of evidence to be prepared. Judge O’Brien grant- COM NOD ECe

FIVE BROTHERS, charged in con- nection with a volatile feud between two Traveller families in Ennis have re-appeared in court.

The accused are Michael (36), Ed- ward ‘Ned’ (33) and David (24) Mc- Donagh, of 20 John Paul Avenue; Gerard McDonagh (26), Bramble Lane and Jason McDonagh (25), Dun na hInise, Ennis. They are charged with assault causing harm to John McDonagh, at John Paul Avenue, Ennis, on March 28 last.

John McDonagh was knocked un- conscious after he was struck to the back of the head with a spade and knocked to the ground, in an alleged attack. While on the ground, he was hit in the face with a plank of tim- ber. He sustained a broken chin, jaw, nose, eye socket and received cuts to

the head and inside his ear. He had all of his top teeth knocked out and spent a week in hospital.

When the five accused appeared in court last Thursday week, gardai strongly objected to bail. At the end of a lengthy hearing, bail was re- fused for Edward ‘Ned’, Michael and Gerard McDonagh, while Jason and David McDonagh were granted bail.

On that occasion, they were repre- sented by solicitor Charles Foley. At Ennis District Court last Friday, the accused were represented by another solicitor, Michael McDarby. He ap- plied for bail for those in custody.

However, Inspector John O’Sullivan pointed out that that application had been made previously.

Judge Eamon O’Brien told the so- licitor, “You have to appeal that deci- sion to another court.” The case was adjourned until later this month.

Petition set up for sacked garda

ENNIS rugby is on the cusp of a fa- mous double this week as they go into battle against storied Garryo- wen in the final of the North Munster Under 18 Cup final.

Already this season the Ennis side coached by Frank Considine, John Colleran and Niall McGann have claimed the league title.

‘To win the cup would be great and we have exceeded all expectations since starting out last July with this team,’ Frank Considine told

A GOAL, one minute into injury time, from Damien Kennedy sealed a dramatic first league victory for St Joseph’s Doora Barefield on Sat- WIKOE AYA

In an exciting and incident-packed final quarter, Joseph’s were reduced to 14 men and then saw their three point lead wiped out.

Paddy Meaney’s goal gave Crush- een a 1-13 to 1-12 lead before Joe Meaney’s point in the 29th minute looked to have capped a stirring comeback from the men in red.

But there was still final one final twist to come. And it arrived when the Crusheen defence failed to clear Michael Cullinan’s highball and Kennedy pounced to bury the match- BUON Coe

Kennedy’s first goal in the 40th minute had put Barefield five points clear and firmly in the driving seat.

While not’ totally dominant, Joseph’s were still the better team for much of the game, leading by two points at half time and playing with evident hunger and determination.

Crusheen looked a few yards off the pace throughout but did enough to stay in touch when Niall White was sent off for Barefield and the momentum of the game shifted in the visitor’s favour.

Fergus Kennedy scored the first point of the game in the 2nd minute. Three well taken points from Conor Hassett swept Joseph’s into the lead before David Hoey launched an ex- cellent strike over the bar in the 15th minute.

Crusheen were struggling to gain a foothold but hit back with two points from Joe Meaney and Cian Dillon.

Points from Hassett, Diulleen, Kennedy and Enda Lyons were just reward for Barefield’s dominance. Three superb points, into a strong breeze, from Gearoid O’Donnell kept Crusheen within striking dis- tance and left the half time score 0-8 to 0-6, in Joseph’s favour.

It was tit for tat after the break be- fore Barefield really took control.

Full forward Declan Malone helped on Greg Lyons’ pass before Damien Kennedy nipped in and made just enough contact to force the sliotar over the line from two yards, despite the best efforts of Alan Brigdale.

Crusheen hit back with points from Ciaran O’Doherty and Paddy Meaney before White’s dismissal in the 47th minute.

Joe Meaney added another point before Hassett converted a free in the 55th minute. A free from O’Doherty left Crusheen trailing O-13 to 1-12 before Paddy Vaughan breached Joseph’s defence and teed up Paddy Meaney to finish well from close range.

Paddy Meaney passed up two further goal chances but Crusheen still looked set for victory after Joe Meaney’s free.

The fat lady was warming up but there was no song. Joseph’s and Kennedy had other ideas.

ANOTHER sigificant scalp for Tub- ber who maintained their unbeaten start to the year with a comprehen- sive victory on Saturday. A powerful second half display in which they outscored their opponents by 2-8 to Q-1 eased Tubber to another valauble two points in their push for promo- tion but essentially it was their work- manlike opening half performance against the gale that laid the founda- tions for this win.

Led by their half-back line of county minor Patrick O’Connor, and Conor and Mark Earley, Tubber defied the storm to lead by the minimum at the break and really from that point on, it was only a matter of how big the winning margin would be.

It did take the home side a while to settle though as despite having a large share of the possession, they played

right into Corofin’s hands early on by hitting everything down the cen- tre that Gerry Quinn easily mopped up. In fact, Corofin could have go- aled with their very first attack when Quinn’s long clearance was not dealt with and Kevin Heagney should have finished to the net but Tubber some- how survived. Corofin led by O-3 to Q-2 by the turn of the opening quar- ter but with Barry O’Connor moving deeper out the field, Tubber finally came to life in the 17th minute when O’Connor converted a penalty after Jack Neylon was fouled. It had an inpsirational effect and points from David O’ Donoghue and a Clive Ear- ley free pushed Tubber four points clear by the 23rd minute.

It caused Corofin to shuffle the pack themselves, bringing out Kevin Heagney to the half forward line and in their most productive period of the game, that switch yielded three

late points as Corofin cut the deficit to only a point by the interval at 1-4 Kone nor

Any thoughts of a Corofin rebel- lion were son put to bed on the re- start as Jack Neylon opened the scor- ing with a goal in the 36th minute. After a number of wides, that goal kickstarted Tubber’s challenge once more and a flurry of points followed, with Corofin having to play the ma- jority of the second period in their OD seme lee

To signify their dominance, Tub- ber tacked on a further 1-8 for the remainder and could even afford to hit nine second half wides. Typifiy- ing their luck at the moment, an out of sorts Corofin could not even take advantage of three 20 metres frees awarded in the final ten minutes as they shipped their second successive heavy defeat of the campaign, a total contrast to high flying Tubber who

continue to lead the way in the divi- sion.

A STORMING second half display saw Clarecastle ease comfortably to their third win in the Clare Cup.

Cratloe led by a point at half time but were soon cast adrift by a spell of swift, incisive hurling from Clare- orale

Facilitated along the way by some very careless defending in the Crat- loe full-back line, Clarecastle picked off eight unanswered points in 11 minutes after the break.

Full forward Derek Quinn top scored with 1-8, with 1-4 of his to- tal coming from play. Apart from Quinn there were noteworthy con- tributions from the very impressive Aaron Considine and wing forward Sean Talty.

And with their tails up, the Mag- pies defended well to restrict Cratloe to few openings.

Even the introduction early in the second half of Martin Ogie Murphy, Liam Markham, Damien Browne and Michael Hawes failed to prevent Cratloe succumbing to their second league defeat.

Both sides lined up without their re- spective county players who were ab- sent due to commitments with Clare. There was nothing to choose between the teams in the early stages.

Aided by a swirling breeze, Crat- loe posted three points through Sean Chaplin, Conor McGrath and a mighty effort from Philip Gleeson.

Clarecastle stayed close, with points from Patrick Kelly and two Quinn frees.

The Magpies then edged 0-6 0-3 clear thanks to a brace from Sean Talty and a point from Eamon Call- suerte

Driven on from midfield by Sean

Chaplin, Cratloe regained the lead points from Chaplin (S), Barry Glee- son, Gearoid Ryan and McGrath. Quinn converted a free to leave Cla- reacastle trailing O-8 to O-7 at half time.

Clarecastle made Cratloe wait a few minutes out on the pitch before breaking from their half time huddle to take the field.

Whatever was said certainly had the desired effect. Two points from Quinn and a well-worked individual effort from Considine put Clarecas- tle O-10 to 0-8 ahead. Even allowing for Cratloe’s poor defensive display, the link up play between the Magpies during this period was very easy on the eye.

Callinan could have goaled, but

struck over the bar after being teed up by Quinn’s handpass.

Cratloe flooded the pitch with sub- stitutes but the scores kept coming for Clarecastle. Considine picked off a Short puck out to point before Jamie O’Connor was allowed in for another handy Clarecastle point.

McGrath posted the visitor’s first point of the second half in the 42nd minute.

The Cratloe defence then froze un- der Talty’s high ball and were pun- ished by Quinn’s goal from close eR Oem

Sean Chaplin tapped over a free and Ryan pointed in the 52nd minute to complete Cratloe’s scoring.

Clarecastle gave Conor Plunkett a run out at full forward as the Magpies signed off with points from Consid- ine, Quinn and Jonathan Clancy.

IT’S still early days in the season but there is already the feeling surround- ing Clooney/Quin that they have fi- nally turned a corner. Last year, their significant rise up the senior ladder was halted by their inability to hold onto leads and win tight games, re- sulting in their exit from the champi- onship despite being in total control of their own fate and again in the senior B final against Wolfe Tones, that unwanted tag reared it’s head to cost them the title.

Somehow, Clooney/Quin appear

to have remedied that fraility this season as in all their three Clare cup games, they have edged close matches. It happened against Doora/ Barefield and InaghKilnamona but perhaps Thursday’s late usurpation of the points against Tulla was their most significant result.

Having to concede home advantage due to flooding, Clooney/Quin’s ap- peared second best for long periods of the second half but an injury- time haul of three successive scores floored their opponents and contin- ued Clooney/Quin’s perfect start to this year’s campaign.

On the flip side, Tulla will wonder how they actually came out on the losing side. Granted, they were for- tunate to be only a point behind at the break as a sun dazzled Clooney/ Quin hit seven first half wides but on the resumption, it was the home side, backed by Andrew Quinn and substi- tute Brian Lynch, who took the inia- tive. In fact, after going ahead for the first time in almost thirty minutes shortly after the break, they stiffled Clooney/Quin and forced the play to lead until the final minute. Fun- damentally though, they hadn’t the firepower to cement the win and only

leading by the minimum approach- ing the hour mark, they failed to win valuable clean possession.

Clooney/Quin levelled it up in the 59th minute when Cathal Egan hand- passed outside to John Earls to point and after an Eanna Torpey wide, the game finally turned with a hotly con- tested free against Danny O’ Halloran that Derek Ryan gladly converted for his sixth free of the day. Tulla needed to win the puck-out but instead Sean Conheady gathered at halfway and his delivery was caught by Mar- tin Duggan to seal the win. A stark difference to last year’s mentality, Clooney/Quin are now flying high near the top of the division and only a fortnight away from their open- ing championship tie against Smith O’Brien’s, that resilience could be the spark they need to get to the next Aro F