Month: September 2009

CLARE took a leaf out of the book being read by Kerry’s men folk on Saturday when producing their best performance of the year to advance to the All-Ireland final in four weeks abeelon

That book is the one about the Munster championship having very little in common with the real busi- ness of the All-Ireland series — Clare proved that when crushing Waterford by eight points and thereby reversing their four-point defeat to the Deise in the Munster final in Bruff back in July.

It was a brilliant display by Clare’s forwards that did the trick — they needed to be on top of their game because their sometimes leaky de-

fence conceded three goals over the hour and were thankful to the bril- liance of Denise Walsh between the sticks who deprived the Deise of a few more goals.

Walsh put her body on the line for the cause of reaching the All-Ire- land final, while further afield some brilliant combination play involv- ing Eimear Considine, Aine Kelly, Majella Griffin and Niamh Keane simply overwhelmed a shell-shocked Waterford side.

Add in the considerable influence of captain Louise Henchy, Fiona Laf- ferty and Eithne Morrissey around the middle and you had a Clare team what were not to be denied their shot at All-Ireland final redemption on September 27.

The final scoreline reflected the

gulf in standard between the two sides, but an Achilles heel of conced- ing goals threatened to wreck Clare’s day in the first-half. Seven minutes in a poor kickout was returned with interest by Waterford, with Elaine Power putting Louise Ryan in on goal and she made no mistake when drilling home from 10 yards.

It put Waterford 1-1 to 0-1 ahead and while Clare hit back with points from Majella Griffin (2), Eimear Considine and Aine Kelly to lead again by the 12th minute, a second Waterford goal from Aoife McGov- ern in the 17th minute rocked them back on their heels again.

Waterford looked capable of work- ing goals anytime they broke into the attack, but a much improved defen- sive display in the closing ten min-

utes of the half and the continued brilliance of Eimear Considine et al in attack turned this game decisively in Clare’s favour.

Niamh Keane scored a _ brilliant solo point in the 21st minute and fol- lowed up with another a minute later when picking up a break from Ma- jella Griffin. Then in the 25th minute Griffin turned provider for Aine Kel- ly in a neat one-two that saw the Fer- gus Rovers girl rifle a low left-footed drive into the bottom right hand cor- ner of the net.

Clare were back in control and fur- ther points from Niamh Keane and Eithne Morrissey helped them into a 1-11 to 2-5 interval lead. This three- point lead became eight four minutes into the second-half thanks to a blitz- krieg restart from Clare.

Majella Griffin pointed inside eight seconds; Louise Henchy pointed in the 33rd minute while a minute later Aine Kelly thumped a rebound to the net after Eimear Considine goal ef- fort was stopped by Aimee Jordan in the Waterford goal.

The game was as good as over — it was just a matter for Clare to keep their heads for the remainder of the game. That they did, albeit that a third Waterford goal in the 40th minute courtesy of Michelle Ryan brought it back to a six point game.

Clare led by 2-14 to 3-5 but held their nerve admirably in the closing stages, with Majella Griffin, Louise Henchy and Eimear Considine chip- ping in with points before Eithne Mortrrissey’s 53 minute goal put them 3-17 to 3-7 ahead.

Waterford gave up after Denise Walsh saved Michelle Ryan’s poorly hit penalty in the 55th minute.

AT the beginning of the year, the Kilrush management sat down and put their faith in the up and com- ing talent at the club. A few months later and the first hurdle has been navigated. In reaching the quarter- final stage of the championship, they haven’t even clipped the hurdle and go into the next round without hav- ing the bitter taste of defeat in their mouths. a

It means that Eire Og are out of the championship. The county capital will thus have no representative in the quarter-final of the senior hurling or the senior football championship.

That’s something that needs to be ad- dressed for a number of reasons, but this isn’t the place.

A couple of swings in this game more or less broke down Eire Og’s resolve and resigned them to defeat. The first came with the introduction of Paddy Clancy to midfield for Kil- rush. He put in a storming second half around the centre of the field, covering ground, winning possession and breaking down Eire Og attacks.

If Clancy’s performance helped Kilrush to the points, then so too did the hour logged by Con O’Brien. The wing-back was a constant thorn in the side of the Ennis club. He defended well, raided up the field at every op-

portunity and ended the game with three points to his name.

But that wasn’t all. With a quarter of an hour to go, Kilrush had a one point lead, Peadar McMahon having just scored to keep Kilrush ahead, their first point in 18 minutes.

Right after McMahon’s score, it looked for all the world as though Eire Og were about to put their stamp on the game and take the lead for the first time all afternoon.

David Russell was through on goal, the Kilrush defence having breached for one of the only times in the game. Russell struck and the crowd waited for the net to bulge. That it didn’t was down to a fantastic save from Tony

Burke. It kept Kilrush in the lead and heaped added frustration on Eire Og. From there, it took Eire Og a further 11 minutes to score, by which time Con O’Brien had rattled over his third score of the game.

They were now ahead by three and as clock began to wind down, ste Og pushed on and heaped an amount of pressure on the Kilrush defence. After mounting a number of attacks in search of a goal that could draw the game, they eventually had to set- tle for a point.

It came from the boot of Shane Daniels — their most effective play- er on the day — but it was far from enough.

A poor season ended for Eire Og ended in the grey of Kilmihil but for GUT MU e Med eomcl ube ebeeto) mm orca LUrcimoleraUbOe

DARKNESS was again an issue on Sunday evening, but even in the bright sunshine of an August morn- ing, it is unlikely that it would have made any difference to this result. Already qualified, Newmarket, de- spite being understrength, could af- ford to be somewhat lacklustre and still end up comfortable winners as a disappointing Clarecastle side could not muster up even a championship SP NADOTSAR@AT-H OLesbTSXon

The fierceness of the rivalry be- tween this neighbouring pair down through the years made this an entic- ing game for neutrals, with the larg- est attendence of the weekend saved for last. Only pride was at stake for Newmarket, having eased into the quarter-finals with a game to spare whearas this should have meant eve- rything to the Magpies who were hanging onto to their championship lives by their fingernails.

Nothing but a win would suffice but far from making it difficult for their neighbours, they found them- selves four points down within three minutes and from that point on, the Magpies were always chasing the game more in hope than with any real conviction.

After such a blistering start, New- market looked to be heading for a comfortable victory but despite be- ing urged to push on, began to mis- fire and failed to score for the next

ten minutes. Clarecastle couldn’t capitalise though; Tyrone Kearse didn’t catch a 20-metre free correctly but managed to convert the resultant 65 and Aaron Considine weaved through for a point. Newmarket soon brushed off that recovery when on the puck-out Kieran Devitt picked out the unmarked Eoin Hayes at

halfway and his high delivery broke through for Colin Ryan to hammer home from close range.

By half-time, the Blues held a I- 5 to 0-3 advantage but had also hit eight wides and even though substi- tute Michael McInerney made an 1m- mediate impact on the restart with a point, the Magpies finally found their

range, led by Kearse, to hit four unan- swered points by the 39th minute and topple the lead to just two points. Any thoughts of a rebellion were soon quenched by another Newmar- ket goal, this time from a Colin Ryan penalty after Seanie Arthur was tripped by Alan O’Loughlin going through on goal in the 41st minute.

That sucker-punch drained the life out of Clarecastle’s challenge and while they did empty the bench in search of inspiration, the Blues man- aged to match them point for point for the remainder. Without a sniff of goal, Clarecastle’s championship lives, much like the daylight, faded into the nightsky while neighbours Newmarket march on with their per- fect championship record still intact.

AFTER their shock defeat to O’Callaghan’s Mills last time out, for Clonlara, this game was all about just getting over the line and finally se- curing a quarter-final spot. The Mills had exposed a flaw in the defending champions’ armoury that had not been evident in 17 previous encoun- ters over the last 12 months and they were fully aware that a determined Scariff side were planning a similar coup in order to get themselves back into the running for qualfication to the next round.

Scariff, to their credit, were much more spirited and focused than they were against Inagh/Kilnamona in Round 3 but while they made life dif- ficult for Clonlara, they still hadn’t the firepower to push Clonlara to their limit. The holders are not back to their free-flowing selves just yet but had enough in the tank to prevail on this occasion, with a haul of 1-1 just after half-time decisive in push- ing them towards the last eight.

Siero eOM Ker teh baron affair, with Scariff having the aid of the breeze in the first period, set- tling early with a Brendan McNa- mara 20-metre free to the roof of Ger O’Connell’s net in the seventh minute to give them a 1-1 to O-2 ad- vantage. Clonlara soon got back on

level terms with points from Tommy Lynch and a second Nicky O’Connell free but inevitably it was Darach Ho- nan who set the defending champions ODN ASToIDMAWE-NAMY GLH OMe-DeLOlN atom be-Le(oveer-Du. goal. The Under 21 star had received close attention and hard hits from the

Scariff defence up to that point but in the 18th minute, a crossfield ball from Tomas O’Donovan was per- fectly placed into the path of Honan who turned and soloed towards goal before unleashing an unstoppable drive past McNamara to give his side

a 1-4 to 1-2 advantage. Two Ross Ho- ran points had Scariff on parity by the 23rd minute and by half-time, the sides were split at 1-6 to 1-6.

Within three minutes of the restart though, Clonlara were four points clear, an advantage they would pre- dominantly hold for the remainder. The game sprung to life with a goal in the 33rd minute when this time Honan turned provider, sending in a teasing ball for William Slattery and goalkeeper Brendan McNamara to challenge for and when the Clonlara man’s pull proved strongest, Donal Madden was on hand to finish to the net. From the puck-out, Honan point- ed and with Scariff now dependent on Ross Horan and Michael Scanlan for scores, it was going to take an al- mighty fightback from the east Clare side.

Three successive Horan frees in five minutes by the 54th minute cut the deficit to three but repeatedly misfiring, they never really looked like grabbing that crucial goal.

Instead, a battlehardened Clonlara finished the stronger, with Nicky O’Connell thriving in a sweeping role in defence along with his im- mense contribution from long range frees and Cormac O’Donovan doing the hard miles to earn two significant frees towards the finish. The only downside was a hamstring injury

sustained by Darach Honan that saw him substituted with less than ten minutes remaining. Neither Clonlara nor indeed the county can afford his absense in their quest for silverware over the coming weeks.

THERE are just two weeks left to apply for the Deloitte Fast 50 Tech- nology Awards. Deloitte is calling all indigenous technology companies to apply to ensure they are in with a chance of achieving a place on the industry recognised ranking. The closing date for entries is Monday, September 7. Details of how to en- ter the awards can be found at www.

fast50.1e.

The awards, now in their tenth year, recognise and rank Ireland’s indig- enous technology companies with exceptional growth in turnover over the last five years.

David O’Flanagan, Partner at Deloitte said, ““The Fast 50 awards are an opportunity for technology businesses to gain recognition for their successes and achievements. In what has been a turbulent business

environment, there has never been a more important time for businesses to highlight their achievements. Our aim is to really showcase how the technology industry in Ireland is coping and successfully overcoming the challenges that exist. Therefore, with just two weeks left to apply for the awards, we want to ensure that all eligible companies throw their hat in the ring.”

To enter the Fast 50 Awards com- panies must meet the criteria set out by the organisers. These include; the company has been operating for a minimum of five years; it has to be considered a technology com- pany, which is defined as producing technology, manufacturing technol- ogy-related products, be technology intensive, or use unique technology to solve problems, devoting a high percentage of effort to technology research and development.

The parent company must be Irish- owned and have its headquarters in Ireland (subsidiaries of multina- tional organisations do not qualify).

Operating revenues must be at least €50,000 for 2004.

Companies who wish to enter the programme, which have not been in business for the minimum five years may qualify for the Rising Star cat- egory on Satisfaction of the follow- ing criteria; That they have been in business for a minimum of three years and less than five years; they are considered a technology com- pany, which is defined as producing technology, manufacturing technol- ogy-related products, be technology intensive, or use unique technology to solve problems, devoting a high percentage of effort to technology research and development.

The parent company must be I[rish- owned and have its headquarters in Ireland (subsidiaries of multinational organisations do not qualify) and Operating revenues must be at least €30,000 for the year 2006.

Entries must be sent in electroni- cally, with the necessary supporting documents (audited financial state- ments).

DETAIL of the sixth annual Long- board Classic event in Lahinch, which takes place later this month, have been announced. The surf com- petition, which is organised each year by the West Coast Surf Club (WCSC), has become one of the seminal events in the Irish surfing calendar in recent years.

The WCSC Longboard Classic is

the only event of its kind in Ireland and attracts hundreds of surfers to Ireland’s surf capital each year. Last year’s event – which was blessed with good weather and perfect surfing conditions – saw a record number of local entrants, with the overall prize going to Lahinch surfer Stephen Kel- store

The 2009 competition, which will tale place on September 19 and 20 – and organised by Cliodhna Fawl,

Noel Cronin, Alan Black and David Collins – is already in full swing, as they are expecting a large entry this year.

“As in previous years, we are de- lighted to have a custom-shaped Cequential triple-stringer longboard from our local shaper Ian Johnson for our first prize,’ said organiser Chodhna Fawl.

“Please watch the WCSC website for announcements of second, third and fourth prizes.

“Subject to weather and swell con- ditions, we anticipated that Septem- ber 19 will see the initial heats and quarter finals run off, with the sem1- final and finals possibly stretching into September 20. An experienced panel of judges following ISA stand- ards are assisting in the event headed up by international judge Pascal De- at lone

In the previous years the compett- tion has featured winners from the Kerry region, and all eyes will be on the local surfers this year to see if they can hold off the challenge from

the Kingdom once again.

“We’ve always been greatly im- pressed with the level of interest and support we’ve attracted since the in- augural event in 2003,” said WCSC Chairman, Dave Flynn.

“Without all of our sponsors this event would not have become the success it 1s. Equally, the commit- ment and dedication of the organis- ers as well as the surfers participat- ing all combine to produce an event that is fun, relaxed, well organised, properly resourced and above all, a display of some of the best long- boarding skills this country has to 0) 5 (oe

The deadline for applications 1s this Sunday, September 6, and any- one interested in taking part should download an entry form from west- coastsurfclub.com or send their ap- plications by post to Lahinch Surf Shop, Old Promenade, Lahinch.

A non-refundable entry fee of €15 is required on application, as is cur- rent Irish Surfing Association mem- bership.

THE Lismorahaun Singers will this week begin their new season and have invited anyone interested in becoming involved to come along to open and friendly rehearsals at the Town Hall Pavillion Theatre in Lis- doonvara.

Rehearsals will take place each Sunday in September from 6.30pm and anyone with any interest in tak- ing part is warmly invited to attend.

The Lismorahaun is Ireland’s most successful amateur choir but is also unique as it is Ireland’s foremost “teaching choir”.

This means that it welcomes new members of all ages who have little

or no singing experience.

“We are starting our new season on the first Sunday of September and that would be a good time for anyone who had been thinking of joining the choir to come down and have a look,” said choir founder, Archie Simpson.

‘Over the next six months or so we will be doing a programme of mu- sic which the choir has done before, revisiting the songs which the choir has done over the first 10 years of its existence. In the run up to Christ- mas, we will be doing a number of concerts for various charities; which should be great.”

The choir will also be going over to London next year to sing with the London Symphony Chorus at the

Barbican Centre.

‘The idea of a choir from the mid- dle of nowhere being invited to sing in the Barbican in unbelievable,” continued Archie.

“It’s another aspect of the choir. The last trip we had was over to Venice, which was great great fun. Things like that bring a great social aspect to it. We would really like to get some young people involved, es- pecially some more young boy.”

Indeed, one of Lismorahaun’s first members, Peter O’Donoghue, will next year sing in Carnegie Hall in New York at the invitation of Frank Patterson’s widow, Eily Patterson.

According to Peter, he would never even have started singing if it hadn’t

been for the Lismorahaun Singers.

“Everything that has happened to me is down to the choir. When I joined I had never sang before in my life – I had no idea whether I could sing or not,” said Peter, who was just ten when he joined the choir.

‘IT remember there is a funny vid- eo of me trying to sing when I was younger, and I hadn’t a note in my head. But thanks to the Lismorahaun I now have a music degree and am going places as a singer; it’s funny how things work out.”

TRIBUTES have been paid in the last week to well-known west Clare musician Peadar Crotty.

The Moyasta man died suddenly on Wednesday morning, August 19, just hours after he chaired a meeting of the Nell Galvin Festival Committee.

The 69-year-olds unexpected pass- ing was a shock to family and friends, among them some of the county’s most revered musicians.

Peadar’s popularity in music circles was clear following his burial when 20 musicians gathered in the local public house and played in his hon- o)ine

It was, however, as a husband, fa-

ther and kind neighbour that the committee chairman and farmer will be missed most.

Secretary of the Nell Galvin week- end, and long-time neighbour of Mr Crotty’s, Mary Haugh paid tribute to his kind and placid nature, and a su- perb since of humour.

‘He was one of the best neighbours anyone could be blessed to have,” she PALO

‘He was ideal as chairman for the Nell Galvin. He never lost the cool, and if things were tense he always had a funny word.”

Fellow musician Murt Collins de- scribed the death of Peadar as “an awful loss and a loss to the festival as well.”

Peadar, a talented player of the concert flute and tin whistle, played regularly with Mr Collins, Bernie Keane nee O’Halloran and Bernie Eustace in pubs and at events around the county.

A keen singer, Peadar was also one of the musicians to grace “Blondes” in Miltown Malbay on a regular basis with other local musicians, including the last Michael Mahoney and Gerh Collins who also passed away in the past year.

A regular member of the choir at Lisdeen Church, one of Peadar’s proudest achievements was to play for the former American ambassador Jean Kennedy-Smith in the Phoenix Park.

Peadar Crotty came from a family steeped in Irish traditional music and dance.

His father Tommy played the fiddle, as did his grandfather also Tommy, who was well-known for dancing the “orange and green’. Peadar’s brother, the late PJ Crotty, was also a well re- nowned musician.

He is survived by his wife Jose- phine (O’Brien), sons Brian and Ger- ard and two sisters Bridget Leonard and Maura Clohessy.

THE energetic Shannon Flyers Spe- cial Olympics Club is making acome back after its summer break in a new location.

The athletics club, which previous- ly used the Shannon Leisure Club as its base, will now meet every week at the hall in Newmarket-on-Fergus.

Chairman of the club, Frank Fit- zgerald said the new location will be open to all and encouraged potential members to come along and see the fun and training for themselves.

The athletes train every Saturday from 10am to llam.

They will continue using the hall in Newmarket-on-Fergus for this train- ing until next year, and will then move to outdoor training.

For the last number of years the club has undertaken it’s summer training in Lees Road, Ennis.

In its fifth year, the Shannon Fly- ers club is going from strength to strength and is looking for more ath-

letes for its prize-winning club.

The 15 athletes currently members of Shannon Flyers did the town and county proud last year, returning with numerous medals from the re- gional games in Cork.

Roisin Fitzgerald and Colleen Mulcahy even went on to secure a place on the Munster team and will take part in the All Ireland Games next June, in Limerick.

The athletes at the Shannon Flyers Special Olympics club train for vari- ous athletic events including various distant running, the short put and the long jump.

As well as the 15 athletes the club also has more than 20 volunteers, in- cluding coaches and helpers.

The mission of Special Olympics Ireland is “to provide year-round sports training and athletic compe- tition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with an intellectual disability, giving them continuing opportunities to de- velop physical fitness, demonstrate

courage, experience joy and partici- pate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendships with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.”

With more than 11,000 athletes participating in 12 sports through 402 clubs, supported by 100 commu- nity networks and 18,000 volunteers, Special Olympics Ireland is now one of Ireland’s largest community and

voluntary organisations, reaching 27 per cent of persons with intellectual disabilities all over the country.

FOR 50 years, John Allen has been involved in some way or other with the Scariff Show. And he and others who have been involved for all those decades are delighted to see that the show will celebrate its 65th birthday this year by going from strength to strength.

86-year-old John has been presi- dent, manager and chairman, and his son Tom has been involved as secretary before his daughter-in-law, Joanne, took that task on.

John – who is now still involved in the show and is also now the long- est serving member of the National Show Society – says there are many people who got stuck in early on and are still involved.

“It’s a great show and the commit- tee and the people who support are a lot of its success. There is great involvement from people. People like John Blake, the vet – he’s been involved since day one and is still 2100 Une

One of the biggest changes John has seen recently is in having to raise sponsorship for the show. “For a long time, we didn’t have trouble getting sponsors but it was that bit harder this year.”

One of the important show sec- tions is the All-Irleand Yearling Filly Championship and the Giblin brothers of Irish Sports Netting have stepped up to the mark to sponser this section and the Irish Show As- sociation have also come on board, promising €100 for each entrant in the competition.

The Scariff Show Society will cele- brate the milestone birthday this year on Saturday, September 5. Staged every year at Fossabeg, the 65th birthday show is expected to draw record crowds and entries. There’s something for everyone at the show, with an indoor section as well as sec- tions for horse, ponies and sheep.

There will also be a Most Appro- priately Dressed Lady competition, kindly sponsored by Karena’s; a Most Appropriately Dressed Child

competition, sponsored by Bane’s Gift Shop; and a Bonny Baby com- petition, sponsored by the Dunphy Allen School of Irish Dancing. There will also be a dog show, pony and horse jumping and many trade stands and activities for young and old on the day.

And just for the fun of it, there will be bungy bull, giant slides, kids

Sumo, costume characters, laserzone, hotshots football and pony hops, novelty races and hurling penalty shoot-outs, while face and nail paint- ing and temporary tattoos will add colour to the day.

Entry forms for all the competi- tions will be available from Bane’s Gift shop, Scariff Post Office, Scar- iff Library or online at www.scariff-

Sate wacrerne

“Even if people don’t enter any of the competitions, we really hope they will come along and support the show on the day,” said Joanne Allen. “We are conscious that there are many demands made on the community throughout the year. However, the committee appreciate that the area has kindly supported us in the past

and would greatly appreciate its con- tinued involvement with the Scariff Show Society. We hope to see you all on Saturday, September 5,” she said.