Month: August 2011

St Senan’s Kilkee 3-6 – St Breckan’s 0-12 at Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown Malbay

WHEN Barry Kelly blew the final whistle in his home patch of Miltown Malbay last Sunday evening, many of the St Breckans players fell to their knees with a sudden weight of disappointment and regret.

As the week will progress this will definitely be viewed as missed opportunity by both players and management alike and who knows how costly this case of a one that got away could be in this year’s senior football championship for the North Clare men. To have merely been behind two points at the interval after playing against a gale of a breeze in the first half and then to have actually regained the lead midway through the second half and to still come out on the wrong side of this 3-6 to 0-12 result will really have hurt the Lisdoon faithful.

On the other hand St Senans Kilkee were far from feeling the blues as their drive, hunger and most important of all, their experience drove them over the winning line to really open up group two after this second round of matches.

This victory arrived in many ways not only because of Breckan’s gradual decrease in control of proceedings but crucially Kilkee’s clinical nature in front of goal. The Blues found the net on three occasions while Breckans never saw that magical moment of the green flag waving in the blustery conditions of Miltown.

The first of the hat-trick of killer blows was in fact the opening score of this encounter. Despite Breckans adopting a defensive formation from the thrown in with Denis O’Driscoll acting almost as a sweeper, their tactics were to no avail when Gearoid Lynch crept in behind the far too hesitant and unresponsive Lisdoon full-back line.

Michael O’Shea’s expertly judged over the top pass landed safely in the hands of the on rushing wing forward who remained calm and confident to blast the football low into the bottom left corner of the net. Last year’s intermediate champions now needed to awaken from their early match snooze and to realise a senior encounter was going to have to be contested and fought for.

The eventual response came from the boot of accurate free taker Pat Nagle five minutes later. His first sailed between the posts from the ground while his next attempt from his hands from practically the same spot in front of the goals reduced the deficit to one.

A Conor Cormican kick levelled the game after quarter of an hour after good work from midfielder John McDonagh who would find a score of his own later on in the match.

The comeback however was short lived when killer blow number two materialised in the form of a Kilkee penalty. Again the lively Lynch was involved as another perfectly planned run this time only prevented and stopped by a Michael Reddan foul. O’Shea did the honours and left it at 2-1 to 0-3 to push Breckans back to square one.

Another response was needed and duly it came minutes before the break. O’Shea and the powerful Christopher Williamson had added scores to the Kilkee tally but the half would finish with a flurry of scores from the eventual losers. Cormican and Nagle found their range again while the excellent Stephen Tierney burst forward from defence to pitch in with two other fine points from play to leave it at 2-3 to 0-7 at half time.

The second half erupted into action with a trio of placed kicks from key marksman Nagle. His reliability in front of goal nudged Breckans into the lead for the first time. The momentum appeared to have followed the outfit who had now the wind at their backs. Strike three though would prove this advantage to be full of hot air as the treble of three pointers was completed with Kilkee’s first score of the second half also being a goal as in the first.

A scramble and goal mouth scrum somehow so the ball land in David Russell’s hands before he popped off a hand pass to Lynch who again found himself in the right place at the right time.

The football was hammered high into the net as was the final nail in the Breckans coffin. Of course the towel was never going to be thrown in with Nagle and Tierney the bravest of the losing warriors finding the last two punts of the game but unfortunately it was too little too late as Kilkee found the win they so desperately desired.

St Senan’s Kilkee
Kevin Harte (7), Darren Clarke (7), Darragh Kelly (7) Darren Owens (6),Thomas Galvin (7), David Russell (7),Alan Russell (7), Micheal Keane (7), Christopher Williamson (7) (0-2), Gearoid Lynch (8) (2-0), Kevin Larkin (7) (0-1), Brian Clancy (7), Barry Harte (7), Michael O’Shea (8) (1-2, 1-0pen), Diarmuid Keane (6)

Subs
Senan Larkin (6) (0-1) for D. Keane, Keith Downes (6) for M. Keane, Robert Fitzpatrick (6) for Galvin

St Breckan’s
Craig Flanagan (7), Daniel Carey (6), Conor Howley (7), Michael Redden (6), Raphael Considine (7), Greg O’Leary (7), StephenTierney (8) (0-3), John McDonough (7) (0-1), Michael Keating (6), Donal Howley (7), Sean Cormican (7), Dennis O’Driscoll (7), Conor Cormican (7) (0-1), Pat Nagle (8) (0-7f), Eric Murrihy (6)

Subs
Mark O’Donnell (6) for Murrihy

Man of the Match
Gearóid Lynch (St Senan’s Kilkee) Referee Barry Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown)

Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-10 – Kildysart 0-7 at Cooraclare

KILMURRY Ibrickane’s train is beginning to build up a head of steam – not just at senior level with the O’Gorman and Cusack Cups already on the sideboard back in Peter O’Dwyer’s homestead in Mullagh.

The intermediate train is purring along nicely too – like their senior brethren they’re in the knockout stages, for them it’s a semi-final thanks to this hard-earned win over Kildysart on early Sunday afternoon.

Kildysart looked like they were on their way to victory early in the second half when they forged 0-7 to 0-3 clear, but from there Kilmurry finally found their feet, began to use the wind to maximum advantage and eventually reeled off seven points in succession to get home by three.

It was tough on Kildysart who were beaten semi-finalists last year, when they went down in a replay to eventual champions St Breckan’s. They went into this game on the back of a four-point win over Kilfenora in the first round, with a semi-final spot with a game to spare at stake in this one.

It looked to be Kildysart’s for the taking as they led 0-6 to 0-3 at halftime. With Ger ‘Bobby’ Kelly displaying his usual accuracy from frees – he landed two in the half, as well as chipping in with one from play, they grabbed the initiative in the second quarter of the half.

The sides were locked at 0-3 apiece after 18 minutes, Odran O’Dwyer (2) and Senan McCarthy were on the mark for the men for Ibrickane, but from there Kildysart dug deep to open up a double scores lead at halftime.

Christy Clancy, Keith Murphy and Kieran Ayres contributed points from play in the half as they were full value for that three points advantage, while a point early in the second half from Ger ‘Bobby’ Kelly stretched that lead out to four.

However, Kilmurry gradually came to life, with the introduction of veteran John Talty into fray playing a crucial part in giving them a stanglehold of the midfield exchanges, dominance that ultimately paved the way for the scores to give them to two precious points.

Odran O’Dwyer and Colm Donnellan were on the mark with points as the comeback cranked to life – they held Kildysart scoreless for the final 25 minutes.

The lead score came from Mark Moloney after 53 minutes, while Thomas O’Connor and Odran O’Dwyer also chipped in with points as they eased to their three-point comeback success.

Kilmurry Ibrickane
DavidTalty, Eamon Dunne, John Sexton, John McNamara, Mark Moloney (0-1), Gary Donnellan, Pat Sexton,Vinny Talty,Thomas O’Connor (0-1),Adrian Murrihy, Thomas Greene, ColmDonnellan (0-1),Aidan Moloney Jnr, Odran O’Dwyer (0-6, 2f), Senan McCarthy (0-1). Sub JohnTalty for McCarthy.

Kildysart
John Murray, John Guinane, Shane McNeilus, Kieran Ayres (0-1), Brian Ayres, Keith O’Connor, Michael Eustace, Brian O’Sullivan, Neil O’Connor, John Clancy, Christy Clancy (0-1), Niall Guinane, Ger Kelly (0-4, 3f), Keith Murray (0-1), Kevin Kelly. Subs Eoin Cleary for Niall Guinane, Damian Murtagh for Kevin Kelly.

Man of the Match
Odran O’Dwyer (Kilmurry Ibrickane) Referee Pat Cosgrove (Corofin)

Liscannor 1-9 Lissycasey 1-8 at Pairc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty

LAST year’s finalists Liscannor returned to their game-edging best after a late surge got their championship campaign back on track on Saturday. Agonisingly overturned by the minimum in the opening round against Ennistymon, this time it was Liscannor’s turn to come back from a two point deficit in the final quarter to snatch a dramatic victory.

It was a cruel twist on Lissycasey who for the second successive game, failed to hold onto a match winning position and in the end, it was predominantly their inexperience that cost them dearly. Inexperience is something that cannot be labelled at Liscannor however as 16 out of the 17 players used on Saturday had featured in last year’s county final and they used that match winning knowhow and patience to eventually get them over the line.

Their strong finish was matched by an equally impressive opening when surging into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead by tenth minute thanks to Alan Clohessy, a superb Michael Foley point and one apiece from the towering full-forward duo of Johnny Considine and Alan Flaherty who posed a major aerial threat everytime the ball was lofted in their direction. Lissycasey meanwhile used placed balls to settle them into the tie through Enda Finnucane and Niall Kelly and by the interval, they had gained parity at 0-5 to 0-5.

Again Liscannor took control on the restart and should have troubled goaleeper Joe Hayes with a flowing move involving Niall Considine and Alan Flaherty that was teed up for the onrushing Gerard Considine to strike just over the crossbar after only 30 seconds. Two poor wides along with a Clohessy smothered shot ensured that Liscannor would not profit further on their period of dominance and they were to be punished to the maximum at the other end in the 36th minute with a bizarre goal against the run of play.

It stemmed from a hopeful Michael Melican effort from 45 metres that swirled in the wind and eluded the despairing Noel Kilmartin in a moment that almost seemed like slow motion. It was to be the kickstart that Lissycasey so badly craved and they capitalised on that fortune to open up a four point lead by the 40th minute following points from Paul Nagle and Niall Kelly.

Liscannor didn’t panic however and utilising their aerial advantage in the full-forward line, they grabbed a lifeline only five minutes later when a Dara Blake high delivery was caught and offloaded by Johnny Considine to Alan Clohessy who did well to hold off the attention of several defenders before getting a successful shot away to the left corner.

With that, Liscannor’s match winning character came to the fore and while they were perhaps fortunate to maintain their full side after Brian Considine threaded a thin line to avoid a second yellow, pressure didn’t seem to bother them when it came to taking their chances from frees when it mattered most.

1-8 to 1-6 down with six minutes remaining, a Clohessy free was matched by one from Kieran Considine in the 57th minute to equalise. And there was almost a sense of inevitability in a tumultuous, ill-tempered finish when Niall Considine was fouled 35 metres from goal and Clohessy stepped up to get Liscannor off the mark in the championship.

Liscannor
Noel Kilmartin (6), Dara Blake (7), David McDonagh (7), Michael Foley (8) (0-1), Shane Canavan (7), Ronan Slattery (7), Denis Murphy (7), Brian Considine (8), Niall Considine

(7), Joe Considine (6),Alan Clohessy (8) (1-4 3f), Gerard Considine (7) (0-1), Kieran Considine (7) (0-1f),Alan Flaherty (8) (0-1), Johnny Considine (7) (0-1)

Subs
Robert Lucas (7) for Joe Considine (HT), Paul Guerin for Johnny Considine (60 mins)

Lissycasey
Joe Hayes (7), Martin O’Connor (7), Gerry Moran (7),Alan Nagle (7), Cathal Hill (7), Michael Melican (8) (0-1), Cyril Sheehan (6), Enda Finnucane (7) (0-2f), Danny Clohessy (7), Paul Nagle (7) (0-2), Francis Hayes (8), Matt O’Shea (7), Derek McMahon (7), Niall Kelly (8) (0-4 3f), Fergal Talty (6)

Subs
OisinTalty (6) for F.Talty (36 mins), Martin Moran for Sheehan (36 mins), Dermot Nagle for Clohessy (54 mins)

Man of the Match
Alan Clohessy (Liscannor) Referee Michael Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane)

Doonbeg 3-7 – Ennistymon 1-9 at Pairc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty

WITH an immaculate, carpet-like pitch and a full stand in Pairc Naomh Mhuire on Saturday evening, the stage was set for this top of the table decider between the respective Magpies of north and west Clare.

After all, Doonbeg are defending champions and Cusack Cup finalists while Ennistymon are Garry Cup and Under 21A holders that suggested it would be just as close as the first game of the double header.

As often as is the case however, it is the most anticipated championship matches that fail to ingite and so it proved on this occasion also as Doonbeg kicked two first half goals to quell the early Ennistymon rebellion and always looked like winning the game without ever making it comfortable for themselves on the scoreboard.

Ennistymon appeared to have expended most of their energy in the pre-match ‘introduction’ on their way to the field as aside from an early Sean McConigley goal, they displayed scarcely any of the determined, fighting qualities that saw them snatch victory from the clutches of last year’s finalists Liscannor last time out.

Instead, Doonbeg brushed off the early 1-1 to 0-1 deficit and hit back by playing to their strengths, with midfielders Enda Doyle and Colm Dillon working tirelessly to feed the quality of David Tubridy and Shane Ryan up front.

Tubridy as ever was the focal point of the attack, scoring points from both feet as well as setting up Frank O’Dea for their opening goal in the tenth minute. Ten minutes later, they regained full control when a Shane Ryan free was floated towards the square and Colm Dillon rose unmarked to punch to the net and give the Magpies a 2-4 to 1-3 lead.

It was a lead that they would never relenquish, despite making much harder work of it than was entirely necessary. Another Tubridy free had them 2-5 to 1-4 clear by the break while they would only score thrice more in the game, thanks in the main to seven second half wides.

Unfortunately for Ennistymon, they just couldn’t muster up enough grit to take advantage as the management made several alterations and substitutes but to little avail. They did get to within a goal of the lead- ers by the 47th minute after points from Joe Dowling and Brian Conway but it always seemed as if Doonbeg could pull away if needed and sure enough, it came to pass in the 56th minute when David Tubridy cleverly punched a Colm Dillon break into the net to give them some breathing space once more.

Ennistymon hit back with late points from Willie Murphy and Brian Conway but again Doonbeg upped the ante before the finish with Paul Dillon’s goalbound shot saved before Tubridy put the rebound over the bar to maintain Doonbeg’s perfect start.

Doonbeg
Nigel Dillon (7), RichieVaughan (7), Padraig Gallagher (7), Conor Whelan (7), Brian Dillon (7), Paraic Aherne (8), Shane O’Brien (7), ColmDillon (8) (1-1), Enda Doyle (9), Shane Ryan (7), Shane Killeen (6), Frank O’Dea (7) (1-0), Paul Dillon (7), Kevin Nugent (6), DavidTubridy (8) (1-5 2f)

Subs
EamonTubridy (6) for Nugent (14 mins, inj), Conor Downes for E.Tubridy (55 mins)

Ennistymon
David McInerney (7), Michael Hohey (6), Laurence Healy (8), Michael Anthony Devitt (7),Willie Murphy (7) (0-1), Micheál

O’Loughlin (8), OisinVaughan (7), Ronan Linnane (6), Sean O’Driscoll (7) (0-1 ’45), Robert McDonagh (7) (0-1), Kevin Scales (6), Joe Dowling (7) (0-2 1f), Joey Rouine (7), Brian Conway (7) (04 3f 1 lineball), Sean McConigley (7) (1-0)

Subs
Cathal Malone (7) for Linnane (38 mins), Michael McDonagh (6) for Scales (38 mins), Brian McDonagh (6) for R. McDonagh (49 mins), Michael Houlihan for Rouine (55 mins)

Man of the Match
Enda Doyle (Doonbeg) Referee Rory Hickey (Éire Óg)

WHITHER the big ball game in Kilkishen and the Mills was most definitely the cry when they were taken for 14 points by a rampant Kilmurry Ibrickane on June 5 last in Ballynacally.

But, it must have been a case of it being the darkest hour before the dawn, because since then they’ve won league honours and now, on the back of this 14-point win they’re back in contention for the Talty Cup.

For Kilfenora, who were crowned junior champions last year, it was a chastening experience, so much so that after back-to-back defeats and the prospect of facing group leaders Kilmurry Ibrickane in the final game, they are now haunted by the real threat of relegation and a quick return to the junior ranks.

They were simply outclassed here by an O’Callaghan’s Mills side that showed eight changes in personnel from that ill-fated maiden voyage against Kilmurry over the June Bank Holiday weekend.

The writing was on the wall as early as the 15th minute, by which time the Mills had raced into a 1-3 to no score lead. Early points by Fergus Donovan, Eoin Pewter and Bryan Donnellan settled the east Clare side before Donnellan rattled the Kilfenora net at the midway point of the half.

The centre-forward, who was the game’s most influential performer coolly dispatched a penalty passed Liam Keane – a penalty Donnellan himself won when being bundled over just outside the small square.

From there futher points by Donnellan (2), full-forward Noel Nash helped the Mills into an unassailable 1-7 to 0-1 interval lead.

Kilfenora, who were a pale shadow of the team that beat Éire Óg in last year’s junior A final, needed goals, but all they could muster were five points over the hour as the Mills tacked on a further nine points in the second half as they complete superiority continued unchecked.

Killian and Aidan Malone showed well at times in the Kilfenora full-forward line, registering point each for their efforts, while Jason Connolle and sub James Brody also found the range, as the Mills followed up their recent Division 5 league final win over Kilrush Shamrocks with their best performance of the year.

The final game against Kildysart is now a winner take all affair. The met a few years ago in a junior champions final, with victory going to the east Clare side.

O’Callaghan’s Mills
Enda McNamara, Gary Neville (Capt), Niall Donovan, Gerry Cooney, John Lyons, Declan Donovan, Patrick Donnellan, Conor ‘Rocky’ Cooney (0-1), Conor Cooney, Fergus Donovan (0-2), Bryan Donnellan (1-5), James Murphy (0-1), Eoin Pewter (0-2), Noel Nash (0-2), James Hook (0-1).

Subs
Padraig Hickey for Pewter, Billy Donovan for Nash, Sean O’Connor for Gerry Cooney, Flann McMahon for Declan Donovan, Eoin Kelly (0-1) for Conor ‘Rocky’ Cooney.

Kilfenora
LiamKeane, Shane Longe, Diarmuid Nagle, MJ Malone, Paudie Ireland, Cathal Nagle, Paul Reddan, Pat Connole, Jonathon O’Gorman (0-1), Jason Connole (0-1), James Keane, Kevin Theasby,Austin Kelly,Aidan Malone (0-1), Cillian Malone (0-1). Subs LiamO’Brien for Reddan, Daniel Egan for Killian Malone, James Brody (0-1) for Theasby.

Man of the Match
Bryan Donnellan (O’Callaghan’s Mills) Referee JimHickey (Cratloe)

GOLDEN Vale milk Clare community games had a very successful weekend at the natioanl finals in Athlone I.T. They had great success in the boys pitch & putt from Doora/Barefield winning gold as did Doora/Barefield sisters Roisin & Ciara Cahill in Judo. Winning gold also was Eoin Rouine of Ennistymon/Lahinch/Liscannor and Rory McEvoy Doora/Barefield in swimming events. The 3 silver medals were won in the judo.

Clare had 98 competitors at the finals & brought home a total of 78 medals which is a great achievement for any county. 9 Gold, 3 silver, 15 bronze & 51 of the lovely 4th place medals. All 5 judo competitors brought home medals.

The standard in swimming was extremely high but most of Clare children qualified for semi finals.

In cycling all 4 competitors took to the track in very wet conditions with 3 of them qualifying for finals. Standard was extremely high with last years gold medalist Lauren McConway getting a well deserved bronze and Cathal Browne also of Quin/Clooney who fought hard for the 4th place.

On Saturday evening the variety group team from Sixmilebridge/Kilmurry took to the stage and put on a brilliant display of music, song, dance & comedy and won them- selved 4th place.Following their long tradition of representing the county.

Doora/Barefield did extremely well in the medals.

In the gymnastics u-14 boys Peter Stack of Clarecastle/Ballyea has represented Clare in the national finals for seven years and this was his 1st medal.

Results
Gold – Eoin Rouine – Ennistymon/Lahinch/ Liscannor in u-10 freestyle Rory McEvoy-Doora/Barefield u-14 backstroke Roisin Cahill – Doora/Barefield – judo up to 25kgs Ciara Cahill – Doora/Barefield – judo up to 50kgs Boys pitch & putt Doora/Barefield – Colum Devine, Niall Keane, Cathal Clune, Danny Mungovan, Sean Myatt Silver –Tara Walsh – Ennis St Johns – judo up to 30kgs Nicki hardiman – Doora/Barefiel – judo up to 25kgs IkemUgwuery – Ennis St Johns – judo up to 45kgs Bronze – Lauren McConway – Quin/Clooney – cycling u-14 Hugh McMahon – Doora/Barefield – u-14 freestyle Dianne Carmody – Doora/Barefield – gymnastics u-10 Eleanor O’Loughlin – Ennistymon/ Lahinch/Liscannor Gymnastics u-12 Hugo Kinahan – Cratloe – gymnastics u-10 Peter Stack – Clareccastle/Ballyea – gymnastics u-14 Girls pitch & putt – Ennis St Johns – Hannah Bredin,Aisling Maher, Rachel Coote, Emma Neylon, Elana Bradley Boys swimming squad u-16 – Doora/Barefield – Rory McEvoy, Lorcan Casey, Patrick Cooney, Hugh McMahon 4th place medals –Cathal Browne – Quin/Clooney – cycling u-12 Dara Gleeson – Ennis St Johns – u-14 butterfly Laura Culliney – Doora/Barefield –gymnastics u-16 Girls u-13 swimming squad – Ennistymon/Lahinch/ Liscannor – Aoibhin O’Sullivan , Eva Guinane, Isabel Coleman, Lea Gosseau, Kate Gilna Girls u-16 swimming squad – Doora/Barefield – Sarah O’Reilly, Orlaith O’Neill, Hannah O’Brien, Eimear McGrath, JaneTaylor Sixmilebridge/Kilmurry variety u-16 – James Connor, Jennifer Gaule, Claire Corbett, Caroline Hogan, Shane Hayes, Eimear McDermott, Kim Stephen, Jenny Flynn, Dervla Murray, Jessica Wilmot, Leanne Gaule, Sarah Collins, Slaine Carey Ennis St Johns u-12 boys soccer – Jack Connolly, Frank Roche, IkemUgwuery, Jesse Onejekwe, Darren O’Brien, Kevin O’Connor, Josh Costin, Conor McDaid, PhilipoTalty, RobbieWoods, Ronan Lanagan, Fionn Nolan, Rory Brennan, Sam Ogundare, Stephen Kennedy Girls volleyball u-16 – Doora/Barefield – Kate Norton, Cliodhna Fanning, Gabrielle De Silva, Jessica O’Connor, Caoimhe Feerick, Meghan Fitzgerald, Claire Purcell, Niamh Courtney, Sarah Jane O’Connell, Jenny Hansbury