Month: April 2011

Parteen 4-6 – Feakle/Killenana 1-15 at Dr Daly Park, Tulla

JUST desserts of a draw and another day out for both at the end of this entertaining game in Tulla on Saturday afternoon, but certainly Feakle/Killanena were by far the happier side as they jogged off the field at the call of full-time.

They’d gone into the game without the injured Shane McGrath and school tour-tied Padraig Brady who bagged 4-2 in the semi-final, found them six points adrift at half-time and three down with only five left, but somehow they summoned the resolve and scores to fight another day.

And, it was what they deserved after a storming second half in which Colin Nelson, Gary Guilfoyle and substitute Shane McGrath they reeled in a Parteen side that looked to be on the high road when they opened up a 3-2 to 0-5 interval lead.

A goal inside the first five minutes from the pacy Noel Bridgeman when he raced onto a ball from Brian McSweeney and whipped to the net helped Parteen into a 1-1 to 0-2 lead and from there they dominated the first half.

Bridgeman’s second goal when he cut through the defence on 14 min- utes and rifled low past Eibhear Quilligan seemed to herald a one-sided final against a Feakle/Killanena side sorely missing both McGrath and Brady.

Only points by Gary Guilfoyle (2) and Ronan McGuinness kept Feakle/Killanena competitive, but they looked a spent force when luck favoured Parteen in the 22nd minute when a long free cannoned off the upright into the path of Sean Quinn who blasted the ball to the net from 10 yards.

However, Feakle/Killanena dug very deep on the turnover, posting their intentions with early points from Ronan McGuinness and Declan Noonan, while Shane McGrath’s goal in the 11th minute brought the game alive.

It left Feakle/Killanena only 3-4 to 1-8 adrift, but seven minutes later they were level thanks to points via a massive effort from play by Ronan McGuinness and another from Shane McGrath.

The force was with Feakle/Killanena only for them to be rocked by a Darragh Yelverton goal in the 52nd minute, but the last ten minutes played by referee really summed up the Feakle/Killanena attitude.

It was never say die – first when points by Colin Nelson and Gary Guilfoyle (2) had them level again by the 55th minute; then when they twice came from behind in the frantic closing minutes to earn a replay.

James Long edged Parteen a point clear on 57 minutes, only for Shane McGrath to level matters, while McGrath again came to the rescue in the dying seconds to cancel out Noel Bridgeman’s lead point that came two minutes into injury time.

Feakle/ Killanena
Eibhear Quilligan, Killian Bane, Martin Glynn, Henry Purcell, Colin Nelson (0-1), Michael Noonan, Colin McNamara, Ronan McGuinness (0-3), Declan Noonan (0-2), Gary Guilfoyle (0-6, 2f, two 65), Paul McArthur, Stephen Moloney, Gavin Fox

. Sub
Shane McGrath (1-3, 2f) for Fox

Parteen
Eoin Kelly, Jason Smyth, Philip Lavin, Gearóíd Cox, Martin Moroney, Matthew McSweeney (0-1), DarrraghYelverton (1-1), Paraic O’Connor, Brian McSweeney (0-1), James Long (0-1), Sean Quinn (1-0), Noel Bridgeman (2-2, 1f), David Small.

Subs
Cian McCarthy for Cox

Man of the Match
Noel Bridgeman (Parteen)

Referee
Martin Kennnedy (Kilmaley)

Ballyea 0-18 – O’Callaghan’s Mills 0-05 at Cusack Park, Ennis

THESE are heady days for hurling out Ballyea way – just because they expect to win county titles and because of the strong pool of talent that’s come through the underage ranks in the club.

Much of that talent was on show at headquarters on Sunday as they clinically dispatched the O’Callaghan’s Mills challenge to claim their second under 21 title in three years.

And, like previous rounds of this year’s campaign much of the credit for Ballyea’s hegemony rested on the considerable shoulders of midfielder Tony Kelly – this year’s Clare minor captain who had accounted for 4-29 before this decider.

To say the 0-10 he contributed here was crucial is putting it midly – he was the talisman, the thorn in the Mills’ side, the match-winner as Ballyea bade farewell to the under 21 B ranks for 2012 (they have to be in the A grade) with this comprehensive 13-point victory.

It was the Tony Kelly show, with a considerable supporting cast that overwhelmed an O’Callaghan’s Mills that tried hard, but was limited in many departments and second best in nearly every departmeant by the end as Ballyea cruised to victory.

The gulf between the sides was really shown up in the second half when Ballyea hit ten points without reply, with Kelly being difference as he ripped the Mills apart and killed the game with the three brilliant points from play inside the first ten minutes.

Indeed, it was Kelly who had them on their way with a point inside two minutes, while he added two more by the seventh as Ballyea made a fast start to this county final.

The Mills did stay with them in the first half and three-in-a-row from Eoin McInerney, Aidan O’Gorman and a Jamie Lynch free did have the sides level by the 13th minute, but in truth it was as good as it got for them.

Ballyea edged 0-5 to 0-3 clear by the 15th minute thanks to points from Martin O’Leary and Niall Griffin. All the Mills could muster for the rest of the half were two Jamie Lynch frees as Kelly (2) and Martin O’Leary with the point of the half eased Ballyea into an 0-8 to 0-5 interval lead.

There was still much to play for, but once Kelly got into his stride in the second half this game had an inevitability about it as Ballyea were shooting for fun long before the end.

With Ballyea leading 0-11 to 0-5 by the 40th minute, that there was a lull was no surprise as they went ten minutes without a score before they cranked it up again in the final the final ten minutes.

Kelly reached double figures with another point on the run after 20 minutes and a free five minutes later; Niall Deasy produced a closing cameo of three points, while Paudge McMahon and Gearóid O’Connell also got on the scoresheet.

Clare 5-13 – Wicklow 2-12 at Templetuohy, Tipperary

CLARE secured promotion back up to Division 2 of the National League on Saturday. Within a year of relegation, they will be back competing there in 2012 thanks to their semi final victory over Wicklow at Templetuohy, Tipperary.

It was Wicklow who started the better team and dominated early on in this game. Wicklow centre forward Niamh Carroll notched 1-2 from play to give her side a 1-5 to 0-4 lead sixteen minutes into the match. A goal from Kilmihil’s Eimear Considine then got Clare motoring and Wicklow failed to score for the remainder of the half. Points from team captain Niamh Keane, midfielder Louise Henchy and full forward Niamh O’Dea saw Clare retire at half time 1-9 to 1-5 ahead.

Wicklow again started well and had cut the deficit to two points and it was clear the next score would be crucial. It fell to Clare wing forward Naomi Carroll and from here Clare took over and controlled the remainder of the game. O’Dea had the first of four second half Clare goals and Shannon Gaels Colette Corry got Clare’s third. At this stage Clare led 3-13 to 1-11.

The next score was another Clare goal, this time from Eimear Considine who made no mistake from close range and Katie Geoghegan had Clare’s final goal. The last score went to Wicklow who managed a consolation goal in injury time.

Overall it was a fine team performance which was shown by the score board and Clare can now look to Division 3 Final against Fermanagh with real confidence. They now have an opportunity to collect some silverware when they face Fermanagh in the Division 3 final at Parnell Park, Dublin on Saturday May 7th.

Clare
Emma O’Driscoll (Banner Ladies); Clare Hester (Fergus Rovers), Lorraine Kelly (Fergus Rovers), Laurie Ryan (Banner Ladies); Eimear O’Connor (Coolmeen), Roisin McMahon (Newmarket), LouiseWoods (0-1) (Banner Ladies); Marie Considine (Liscannor), Louise Henchy (0-2, 1f) Banner Ladies); Colette Corry (1-0) (Shannon Gaels), Niamh Keane (0-3) (Banner Ladies), Naomi Carroll (0-1) (Banner Ladies); Eimear Considine (2-1) (Kilmihil), Niamh O’Dea (1-5, 3f) (Banner Ladies), Sarah Bohannon (Shannon Gaels). Subs: Carmel Considine for C. Corry, Katie Geoghegan (1-0) for N. Carroll, Carol O’Leary for S. Bohannon, Grace Lynch for L. Kelly.

Wicklow
Emer Miley,Aoife Heffernan, Caitriona Byrne, Lisa Brady, Sarah Miley, Caitriona McKeon, Niamh Kelly, Caoilfhoinn Deeney (1-3, 2f), Loretta Gilbert,Amie Byrne (0-1), Niamh Carroll (1-2), Eadaoine Lenihan (0-1), Laurie Ahern, Jackie Kinch, Lucy Mulhall (0-4f). Subs: S Hogan for L Brady, J Miley for C Byrne,AMDoran (0-1f) for L. Mulhall, MShelley for E Lenihan, CByrne for E Kelly, L Hogan for L Ahern

Referee:
Richard O’Connor (Tipperary)

The Clare Ladies Football Minors will travel to Cork on Wednesday to play the Rebels in the second round of the Munster Minor A Championship. The Clare girls will feel they could have played better against Kerry last week and should come out with all guns blazing if they are to play to the level they set themselves at the start of this year’s campaign. With all the ground work done in the lead up to the Munster Championship, their biggest test will be to see if they retain the appetite for the big game. It doesn’t get much bigger than going to Mallow to play Cork who have come off the back of a big win over Tipperary. Clare last met Cork in the final of the 2010 Munster A Championships and already know they will have to be ready to take any and every scoring opportunity against Cork and also to defend tirelessly.The team bus will depart Bank Corner Miltown Malbay at 4pm and leave the West County Hotel at 4.50pm sharp. The Clare Panel is as follows:

Niamh O’Dea, Laurie Ryan, Niamh Walsh, Eleanor Carey, Orlaith Lynch, Aoife Martin (Banner) Megan Byrne, Kayleigh McCormack, Roisin Howley (Burren Gaels) Roisin Looney, Aoife O’Gorman (Cooraclare) Karen O’Brien (Doora-Barefield) Tara Sheehan, Alana O’Brien, Shaunagh O’Brien: (Eire Og) Ciara O’Malley, Aoife Clohessy: Eimear O’Shea (Fergus Rovers) Edel McMahon, Eleanor O’Gorman (Kilmihil) Aisling Torpey, Roisin Rouine, Threase Shannon (Liscannor) Niamh Pender, Shauna Crowley, Ciara Burke (Miltown) Shauna Harvey, Grainne Harvey (West Clare Gaels)

Clare face Tipperary in the third round of the Munster Minor A Championship which is set for this Saturday April 23rd at St. Joseph’s Doorabarefield at 3:30pm THE BANNER Ladies’ Under 14’s will accompany West Clare Gaels, Kilmurry Ibrickane and Doorabarefield into the semi-finals of the Feile Peil na mBan after emerging strongest from their group at the weekend. The Banner Ladies coasted to the semi’s with emphatic wins over New

market, Wolfe Tones and Crusheen at the St. Flannan’s pitches last Sunday. The semi-finals and final will be concluded in Gurteen on Bank Holiday Monday at 10am. This year’s football Feile is hosted by Cork and the winners of the Clare Feile will be grouped in Division 1 with Cork local teams Fermoy and Aghada and the Feile winners of Mayo.

Newmarket Celtic 2 – Bridge United 0 at McDonough Park, Newmarket-on-Fergus

NEWMARKET Celtic boss Liam Murphy handed a first Premier League start to Tom Monaghan for their Sunday morning local derby against Bridge United.

And what an inspired selection it proved to be as Monaghan, who has plied his trade in the B team to date, notching three goals in the season parachuted into the A team with stunning effect as his two-goal blast in the first half kept them on course for a first league title in four years.

Monaghan was the man, making an instant impact on top flight football with his goals that helped Newmarket stroll to the three points.

The first came 15 minutes in when Monaghan latched onto a perceptive through ball from junior international Davy Wall and fired a wonder gaol into the top corner of the net from 25 yards.

Then on the half-hour mark Monaghan doubled his tally when he got on the end of Seamus Considine’s cross from the left wing, hitting a sidefooted volley confidently past Derek Fahy in the Bridge United goal.

There was no way back for Bridge, even though they felt hard done by the fact that they weren’t awarded a penalty in the first minute when Tervor Maxwell was tackled from behind in the area by Mark Donnellan.

But afterwards Bridge had no complaints, while Newmarket could have ran riot, such were the plethora of chances that they missed over the 90 minutes. Eoin Hayes was most guilty after opportunity knocked a number of times, while sub Michael Crosby also had gilt-edged chance when Derek Fahy lost the ball outside the area, but he proceeded to kick the ball tamely at Fahy.

Newmarket Celtic
Ciaran McGlynn, Mark O’Malley, Seamus Lawlor, Mark Donnelann Daren Culinan, Eoin O’Brien, Mike O’Malley, Michael Devitt,TomMonaghan, Seamus Considine (Crosbie), Eoin Hayes, David Wall (Kieran Devitt)

Man of the Match
TomMonaghan (Newmarket Celtic)

Referee
Julian Stanford

Bridge United B 3 – Rineanna Rovers B 1 at Sixmilebridge

DESPITE a disappointing league campaign this year’s Bridge United B have booked their place the Clare Cup semi-final for the second year in succession following a battling display against Rineanna Rovers B in Sixmilebridge on Sunday.

Having overcome the Bridges’ A team in the previous round, the Shannon club were full of confidence on the arrival in Sixmilebridge and started the match the brighter with some good early pressure.

The pressure paid off after half an hour with a moment that Bridge keeper Barry Deasy will want to forget. His attempted clearance from a firmly struck back-pass bobbled over the hapless keeper’s foot and into his own net.

This setback seemed to spur on the home side who came out of themselves and thought they had equalised before half time when a Kevin Meehan corner was bundled to the net – only to be ruled out for an infringement on the Rineanna keeper.

The equaliser finally came in the 65th minutes when super sub Alan Mulready was taken down in the box allowing Gavin Downes to drill his penalty to the net.

The home side were well on top at this stage and could have won the match within the 90 minutes. One final quilt edges chance fell to Dominic Murphy in injury but his effort went wide meaning extra time. The writing was on the wall in the first minute of extra time when a Gavin Downes’ cross was headed home by Brendan Murray. Rineanna had their chances howev- er and Barry Deasy made amends for his earlier error with a superb double save from Tiago and Alan Barrett in the opening exchanges of the second period. The tie was put to bed five minutes from the end when Robert Conlon made great progress down the left before crossing for Gavin Downes to head home to complete his brace. Revenge for the Bridge and bragging rights secured for the B-team.

Bridge Utd B
Barry Deasy, Podge Flannery,Albert Finnan, Dominic Murphy, Kevin Meehan, Paul Corbett, Damian Murray, Robert Conlon, Brendan Murphy, Jamie Gorman, Gavin Downes.

Subs
Alan Mulready for B Murphy, Darragh Fitzgerald for Gorman, Geoff Flynn for Corbett,Alan McAuley for Flannery.

Rineanna Rovers B
Eugene O’Mahony, Darra McCarmac, Ger Cahill, Dabvid Barrett, Conor Cusack, Enda Barrett, Ciaran O’Cpnnor, Martin Frawley, Ronan McCarmack,Alan Barrett, Shane Meehan.

Subs
Tiago for Shane Meehan, Declan O’Mahony for O’Connor.

Man of the Match
Gavin Downes (Bridge United B)

Referee
Declan Hehir

TUAMGRANEY Handball Club, one of the most famous and historic in the country, celebrates 100 years in existence this year. Since the building of the 60×30 alley in 1911 and the early thriving and flourishing of the club, through the glorious ‘70s with multiple All-Ireland and World Championship titles (and the addition of the 40×20 court) and on to the present day heroics of more provincial, national and world glory, the club has always been synonymous with high achievement and community involvement.

To mark the occasion of the centenary, the club will hold a gala handball weekend in July. The weekend will feature tournaments in both alleys, the unveiling of a commemorative monument, prize draws and a social event.

The roof of the 60×30 alley is also being renovated and a ‘club history’ will be published toward the end of the year.

Tuamgraney Handball Club has put together a special ‘Centenary Committee’ who have been working hard over recent weeks and months to make the occasion a success.

To launch the centenary year and to mark the fantastic Munster and AllIreland successes of Tuamgraney handballers in 2011, a social night will be held this Saturday (April 23) in Teach ui Bhriain, Tuamgraney. Music is by Hush and admission is free. There will be presentations by the club on the night as well as a raffle draw. All are welcome to come and celebrate.

To fund the renovation work on the 60×30, which will run to a cost of almost € 25,000, the club will run a number of fundraising events throughout the year. Also, a number of people have agreed to take part in a loan-share agreement whereby they will each give a loan of € 500 to Tuamgraney Handball Club which will be paid back in full, while all past and current club members have been invited to contribute with a donation of € 100. If you feel you can help in this regard, please don’t hesitate to contact any club officer or Centenary Committee member.

DIARMAID Nash continued in his history-making vein of form on Saturday when he was crowned All-Ireland Intermediate Singles champion. The Tuamgraney clubman played out a classic final against Ruairi Kelly (Tyrone) in Roscommon, eventually coming through on a 21-16, 21-20 score.

In the first game, Nash built up an early 10-0 lead but it didn’t take long for the Red Hand to come into the game and, using an effective lob serve and pinpoint ceiling shots, clawed his way back into contention.

Nash’s early lead was too big a gap though and the Clareman always had a healthy lead, finishing strongly to win 21-16.

At the start of the second, Nash again raced ahead and went 8-1 up before Kelly again came back strongly. Using the tricky lob serve all the time, the Ulster champion was killing brilliantly in both corners and came back to 7-11 before Nash went on a good run of his own to lead 169.

Both players found it hard to make scores, such was the quality of handball played, and there were a number of fantastic rallies. Nash pushed on again, up 19-14. Kelly coming back again, 19-17, levels it at 20-20.

The All-Ireland title was hanging in the balance, but Nash showed no nerves and nailed the final serve of the day to seal it and crown a glori- ous year for the Clareman.

Munster Senior Open Singles Champion; All-Ireland Colleges Open Singles Champion; Munster and All-Ireland Intermediate Doubles Champion; and now Munster and All-Ireland Intermediate Singles Champion. Nash has had a fantastic season and Clare’s highest achieving handballer in a generation.

There was less success for the Banner County in the two other All-Ireland finals played on Saturday. In Junior Singles, Cathal Hannon was defeated by Wexford’s Paul Lambert. In another outstanding match, the Tulla man took it to the full three games but was defeated 12-21, 2119, 15-21 in Nenagh. John Cawley and Teddy O’Hanlon travelled to O’Loughlins, Kilkenny to play Kildare (Paul Ruane and Cyril Carr) in the Golden Masters B Doubles Final. Despite a great Clare showing in the first game, the Lilywhites moved up a gear in the second and third to win 18-21, 21-11, 21-12.

Ballina’s Fergal Collins secured the under 21 Singles title for Tipperary when he comfortably defeated Patrick Funchion (Kilkenny) 21-9, 21-13 in Carlow. Collins won under21 All-Irelands in both the big and small alley last year and will be favourite to do so again this year.

ROUNDS three and four of the Connacht Competition Engines National Hillclimb and Sprint Championship took place in Ballyvaughan at the weekend. The co-promoted event by Clare and Galway motor clubs proved an outstanding success.

Fantastic sunny weather on both days and a large entry of 55 competitors for Saturday and 71 for Sunday made for a smooth running of the event.

Local man Sylvie Mullins stormed to victory in his Judd V8 powered Gould on the one-mile Corkscrew Hill with a time of 48.39 seconds which he achieved on his third run. Mullins smashing Simon McKinley’s hill record of 56.00 seconds which he set in 2010. Defending Champion Simon McKinley finished in second place while former Champion Frank Byrnes finished third.

The action moved to Ballyalban Hill on Sunday, where Simon McKinley put in a spectacular drive to finish the 2.2-mile course in only 93.56 seconds. again smashing his own hill record of 95.02 seconds, which he set in 2010. Frank Byrnes finished second with a time of 101.28 while Brendan Keane finished in third on 109.71 seconds.

Local ace Sylvie Mullins failed to make the start on Sunday as he sheared two gears on his Judd V8 powered Gould. Clare Motor Club were well represented in the results with John O’Sullivan finishing second in Class 8 in his Citroen C2 and Tony Tuttle finishing third in Class 9 in his Ford Escort on Saturday.

On Sunday’s Ballyallaban Hill, John O’Sullivan was the winner in Class 8 in his Citroen C2. Tom Ryan finished third in Class 8 in his Opel Corsa while Al Meaney finished second in Class 2 in his Suzuki Swift.

CULLAUN Sailing club held its annual spring regatta on Sunday 17th of April. Sunshine and light south easterly winds were the order of the day. The wind was a light force 2 which tested the sailor’s light wind skills and suited the enterprise fleet. Chris Forristal and Emily Gallagher got a clear start in the first race, despite being challenged by Tom Mc Hugh and Colm Ward, they ultimately finished clear ahead.

The wind dropped and became variable in the second race. In this race it was Tom Mc Hugh and Colm Ward who got a clear start. This led to nip and tuck racing between Tom Mc Hugh and Chris Forristal in the lead Enterprises. However despite rounding the last leeward mark together Chris Forristal pulled away to finish first, followed by Tom Mc Hugh and then Eoin Barron taking 3rd place in his Wayfarer.

The wind increased slightly and veered southerly for the third race. The increased wind conditions allowed the Wayfarer sailors to be more competitive, however it was still Chris Forristal in the Enterprise who won the third race. Eoin Barron finished second followed by Tom Mc Hugh.

The overall result was Chris Forristal and Emily Gallagher first, Tom Mc Hugh and Colm Ward second and Margaret Hynes and Emmet O Mahony in third place.

May promises to be a busy month for Cullaun Sailing Club. The May evening series will have racing every Thursday evening starting at 7.15pm. Cullaun sailing club open day featuring the fleet launch and the blessing of the boats is scheduled for 8th May. The adult introduction to sailing weekend is the 28th and 29th of May, See www.cullaunsailingclub.com for further details and applications.