Category: Sport

AS Éire Óg prepared for their biggest hurling game since they contested the millennium county senior final against Sixmilebridge, they are mourning a stalwart of the club this week after the hugely popular Francie McMahon passed away after illness.

McMahon was part of the great Éire Óg squad that contested three county finals in the early 1980s, winning senior medals in 1980 with the Éire Óg Dalcassians that beat Newmar- ket-on-Fergus and then another in 1982 when the Townies beat Sixmilebridge after two epic encounters.

Away from his involvement with Éire Óg over many years, McMahon was also a stalwart of Clare Camogie. McMahon had a long involvement with Clare Camogie at club and county level since the late ‘60s, coaching teams at all levels and most recently at Minor level.

He was part of the management team that led Clare to the Junior All Ireland Finals in 2003 and 2005. He managed the Clare U16s in ‘08 and ‘09, when they won the Munster U6A title. More recently, Francie was the Manager of the Minor team that in 2010 won the Munster Minor title and went on to contest the All Ireland Minor Final.

“Clare Camogie Board was deeply saddened on hearing the sad news of the death of Francie McMahon on Monday,” Clare camogie PRO Brid MacNamara said. “His passing will be felt deeply throughout Camogie circles,” she added.

Sixmilebridge 2-15 – Clonlara 1-13 at Knockalisheen Park, Meelick

SIXMILEBRIDGE qualified for their fourth successive minor final on Saturday after eventually seeing off a stubborn Clonlara side. Don’t be misled, they were ahead from start to finish and after building up a 2-6 to 0-2 advantage with the aid of the breeze by the 24th minute, Clonlara would never get to within four points of the winners but equally had the underdogs taken their goal chances, this game might have developed in a different path.

The Bridge deserved their victory though, mainly because they had the better balance overall with Brian Carey keeping a watchful eye on Cathal O’Connell, Dylan Fleming also rising to the occasion while county minors Jamie Shanahan, Seadna Morey and Alan Mulready controlled the attacking sector, aided intermittently by Brian Corry and Conor Deasy.

Clonlara too depended on their Munster minor winners for inspiration, with Colm Galvin, Cathal O’Connell and Shane and Oisin O’Brien to the fore but they didn’t have enough strength on the flanks to keep Sixmilebridge on their toes.

The Bridge started in impressive fashion, picking off the first four points of the game in as many minutes through Jamie Shanahan (2), Seadna Morey and Brian Corry. Clonlara finally settled with a brace of their own courtesy of Oisin O’Brien and Tots O’Connell but they were to be the exception to the rule as the Bridge hit the front once more.

They cemented their authority with two quickfire goals from Seadna Morey, who completed a flowing move in the 20th minute, followed soon afterwards by a superb solo goal from Conor Deasy who arrowed an unstoppable shot past goalkeeper Ryan Morris from 30 metres.

Clonlara did recover briefly to cut the deficit to nine by the break at 28 to 0-5 but Sixmilebridge still ap- peared more than comfortable at that stage, despite hitting ten first half wides.

Their supporters did begin to shift nervously as the second half developed as a momentum filled Clonlara hit the first five points of the half to slash the lead to just four. But they required a goal to really make the ‘Bridge anxious.

That chance fell to Cathal O’Connell in the 40th minute but his effort was crucially saved by Pa Freeman while Tom O’Neill also hit the side-netting soon afterwards.

In all, Clonlara would hit seven second half wides and you would have to feel that they needed a near perfect strikerate if they were to upset the favourites.

Instead, Sixmilebridge got themselves off the ropes and with Alan Mulready coming into the game at centre-forward and Jamie Shanahan converting frees, they soon reopened an eight point advantage by the hour mark.

Oisin O’Brien did wreck Sixmilebridge’s hopes of a clean sheet in the 61st minute but it was to be the last puck of the game as the ‘Bridge set up an expected final showdown with Ballyea.

This game should stand to the Bridge as they line up the Ballyea boys in what should be a very hotly contested final. Of course minors like Jamie Shanahan and Seadna Morey will have another county final to think of before knuckling down to concentrate on the U-18 decider.

Sixmilebridge
Pa Freeman, Brian Carey (0-2), Darragh McNamara, Evan McInerney, Eoin Hogan, Conlith Agnew, Dylan Fleming, Seadna Morey (Capt.) (1-1), John Mulready,Alex Morey, Jamie Shanahan (left) (0-7f), Brian Corry (0-2), Sean Lynch,Alan Mulready (0-2), Conor Deasy (1-1)

Subs
Darragh Fitzgerald for Ltnch (41 mins)

Ballyea 2-18 – Clarecastle 1-06 at Fr Murphy Memorial Park, Newmarket-on-Fergus

IT ALL went according to the form book on Saturday as championship favourites powered their way to the final, following an convincing victory over their nearest neighbours.

It was always going to be a tough ask for the Magpies who were the only side in the semi-finals not to have had a player on the Munster minor winning panel this year.

Ballyea had more than enough county experience at that level with Jack Browne, Gearoid O’Connell, Niall Deasy and Tony Kelly in particular proving too hot to handle for the Magpies.

Under 16 Bobby Duggan was Clarecastle’s main scoring threat throughout and it was his 17th minute goal from a 20 metre free that provided a glimmer of hope for the Magpie supporters.

However, they failed to build on it and the revolution was soon quashed as Ballyea finished the half strongly with Kelly and Deasy doing the main damage on their way to a 0-12 to 103 half-time lead.

Ballyea’s focus on the final strengthened significantly after the break when Tadgh Lynch punished a defensive error to give his side a nine point advantage.

And when Niall Deasy struck a second major at the turn of the final quarter, there was only going to be one outcome, a comfortable success as was the case when these two met in the group stage.

From that juncture to the finish, it was damage limitation for the young Magpies who were predominantly made up of 16 and 17 year olds.

However, that was no concern of Ballyea’s as they ruthlessly closed out the game to put themselves to within touching distance of a historic title.

Waiting for them in the final will be the all conquering Sixmilebridge and a clash of epic proportions is expected. With stars of Clare underage hurling on show like Tony Kely and Jamie Shanahan, a large crowd can be expected for this contest.

Clarecastle
Jamie Coughlan,Tommy Howard, Mark McGuane, Dylan Broderick, Pat Tuohy, Gearoid Ryan, Padraig Callinan, StephenWard, Joseph Barry, Robert Duggan (1-5), Michael Casey (0-1),Aaron Green, Mark Foley, Conor Galvin, Kevin Scanlon.

Subs
Shane Galvin, Seanie Lynch, Johnathan Griffey,AdamCrowe, Eanna Cooney, John McInerney, Justin Neville, Brian Gilroy, Conor

Ballyea
Conor Harkins, Darragh Crowe, Jack Browne (0-2), Eoghan Donnellan,Aonghus Keane, Gearoid O’Connell, Joe Nylon, Stan Lineen,Tony Kelly (0-08) (right), Michael Nagle, Martin O’Leary, Tadgh Lynch (1-2), Lee Brady (0-1), Niall Deasy (1-5), Martin Quigley,

Subs
Shane Harkins, Ryan Griffin, Stephen Longe,Aaron Nugent, David Brassil, Niall Lynch, Lee Sherlock, Diarmuid Lorigan, Eoghan O’Leary

Referee
KevinWalsh (WolfeTones)

Newmarket-on-Fergus 3-14 – O’Callaghan’s Mills 0-11 at O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge

NEWMARKET made hard work of it at times but there was no doubting the final result as they eased into their first senior championship final in three years. The game had undoubtedly highs and lows as Newmarket’s blistering start and finish thrilled the small attendence but equally, the needless skirmishes that greeted the final quarter saw straight reds for Martin O’Hanlon and Adrian Donovan.

As always, central to Newmarket’s attacking cause was county senior Colin Ryan who would end the day with 2-7, with the opening goal coming after only two minutes when a long Darren O’Connor delivery was broken into his path by Anthony Kilmartin.

The Blues would continue in that powerful vein when building up a 22 to 0-0 lead by the seventh minute with Kilmartin turning executioner for the second goal when controlling and half-volleying a Shane O’Brien handpass to the back of the net to pour more misery on their opponents.

A rout appeared on the cards at that stage but instead of kicking on, the Blues would only score twice more in the half as the Mills finally awoke from their sleepy start. The catalyst was the move of Gary Neville back as a third midfielder and they started to get a grip around the centre, hitting seven out of the remaining nine points of the half, three from Neville to peg back the deficit to only three by the break at 2-4 to 0-7.

Indeed, had Adrian Donovan’s minute shot through a crowd of players found the net just after the restart, the narrative of this game might have altered significantly. However, goalkeeper Kieran Devitt was alert to the danger and with that, despite Gary Neville’s three ripostes, the Blues would gradually pull away from their opponents. It was Ryan, predominantly through placed balls that did the damage in an impressive 1-6 second half haul, with his second goal from a 20 metre free in the 48th minute, effectively killing off the Mill’s hopes.

From there, the game became more fragmented but Newmarket finished strongly to hit the last four points of the game, two from full-forward Kilmartin, to seal a mouth-watering derby clash with Clarecastle this weekend.

Newmarket- on- Fergus

THE Clare County Board has pledged to establish a seven-man committee to examine the management of club fixtures in the county for 2012, with the new blueprint devised between now and the County Convention in December where delegates can accept or reject its contents.

This commitment to look at the possibility of change came after O’Curry’s delegate Michael Curtin hit out at the fact that club players are left without games for much of the summer months.

“I want test the waters,” said Curtin. “We’re now in October and we’re reviewing our competitions. What I’m talking about is a lack of competition for most clubs that I am very, very concerned about.

“You’re talking about promoting the game, but if you don’t play your hurling and football in the best part of the year? What I’m asking the meeting is: have we got the ability to think outside the box?

“What I would be suggesting would be that a powerful committee would be set up between now and Convention to look at the whole area of competition and structures and fixtures going forward.

“Effectively what I’m saying is that the way our competitions are run, at all levels,

should be looked at. I think there should be a proposal put as to how they should be structured to give our clubs meaningful competitions throughout 2012 and onwards,” he added.

The O’Curry’s delegate said that the hiatus in the summer months where many clubs are left was having “a very, very serious effect on the promotion of our games” and that change should be brought in on an experiment basis to avoid players being lost to other codes.

“It’s just to see if there is feel for taking some action going forward with regard to our competition,” he said. “We have to take a risk and be for the common good to get our players playing football – unpalatable decisions may have to be taken by clubs for the common good going forward, because as it is at the minute, it’s not good and is not doing anything for our games.

“If nothing happens in the best ten weeks of the year, your greatest coach, or a Director of Hurling or a Director of Football is wasting his time. Come before Convention with a blueprint as to the best way forward to incorporate all of us.

“If it means starting our competitions at the end of January, so be it. If it means playing championship in April, so be it. Managers of senior teams will have to be brought in. We are going to have to get some sort of structure that would be rigid,” he added.

Responding, county board secretary Pat Fitzgerald said “we are hamstrung by the national fixtures. There is no question about it. That doesn’t say we can’t look at altering the make-up or the structure of competitions and do the thing another way.

“All Michael Curtin is saying is that we look at it. Get a report done and look at it, and if we’re not happy with it, we don’t implement it,” he added.

“The ‘Bridge had a great motion to Convention in relation to the hurling championship,” said chairman Michael O’Neill.

“I don’t think it got the recognition it deserved at Convention. Maybe it might come back and it’s something that should be considered . I’m not saying that it should be implemented, but it certainly should be looked at,” he added.

Cratloe 2-10 – Ennistymon 2-7 at Cusack Park, Ennis

CRATLOE deserved this.

On the year for what they’ve been through in football and hurling, but above all on the day because when you parse what was a hugely entertaining decider that was in the balance until the end it was the boys in blue who produced when it mattered most.

A wonder goal from Michael O’Dwyer in the 40th minute that would have done his famous namesake from the Iveragh peninsula proud seemed to have set Ennistymon up for back-to-back titles.

It put them 2-6 to 1-6 clear, but crucially Ennistymon’s final score of the hour came via a 43rd minute free from Danny Rouine – from there it was all Cratloe as they turned the screw by hitting 1-3 without reply to win their second title in three years.

It was as if the realisation of another defeat – to go with the under 21 hurling final, as well as senior semi-finals in both codes – that would usher in their annus horribilis sparked them to life.

Something did, because in those closing stages, key players like Liam Markham, Padraig Collins and Conor McGrath stepped up to save day, as did the youngest member of the team David Collins with a 49th minute goal that gave Cratloe a lead they never looked like losing.

In a way that crucial goal was in keeping with the day, as the game swung like a pendulum for the most of the hour before Cratloe finally broke free and broke Ennistymon’s spirit at the death.

It was going Ennistymon’s way in the early stages, with two early points Sean McConigley and Danny Rouine by the third minute was followed up by a tenth minute goal after Conor McGrath had opened Cratloe’s account in the seventh minute. The goal came from a penalty coolly sidefooted home by McConigley after he had been fouled by keeper Jamie Joyce.

However, just when it seemed as if Ennistymon might kick on from this dream start of being 1-2 to 0-1 up, back came Cratloe with a goal from Conor McGrath inside a minute when he fly-hacked to the net after David Collins’ effort came back off the post.

So began this gripping encounter. Cathal McInerney and Danny Rouine traded frees by the 20th minute be- fore produced a rousing finish to the half with three brilliantly taken points from play to lead by 1-5 to 1-3 at half-time. Padraig Collins grabbed the first in the 21st minute before two booming efforts from midfielder Wesley Deloughery gave Colm Collins’ charged their two-point lead.

That finish was a portent of things to come but when Ennistymon made a blistering start to the second half when putting 1-3 on the board inside the first ten minutes it seemed as if the Marrinan Cup was heading for the town of the cascades for the second successive year.

Cathal Malone got them going with a point, while they then hit back after a Cathal McInerney free with points from Michael McDonagh and an inspirational effort from centreback Sean O’Driscoll before Michael O’Dwyer tore up the left wing and floated a brilliant goal into the top corner of the net to put his side a goal clear.

For a few moments it looked as if Cratloe would fade away, but by the 50th minute everything had changed.

Frees by Cathal McInerney and Liam Markham that sandwiched a Danny Rouine effort for Ennistymon was followed by another great goal strike, this time from David Collins when he blasted to the net after Noel Sexton had failed to collected Wesley Deloughery’s high lobbing ball.

Cratloe never looked back with points by Cathal McInerney and Wesley Deloughery closing out the game.

WHEN THE betting Gods, or indeed odds, smile down upon you, it would be remiss of anyone to anger them. In a similar position last year, this reporter punted for Crusheen from the outset, sensing the unfulfilled potential that duly came to the surface as the year progressed. So when weighing up this year’s crown, the abilities of the respective candidates and the recent upredictability of the championship in recent years ahead of this year’s race, much introspection led to a change of horses to an up-and-coming ‘Bridge side that had progressed steadily in winning a Clare Cup and Under 21A crowns in the previous six months.

Now it must be made clear in Sixmilebridge’s subsequent run to the final that this hurler on the ditch is not in any way claiming to knowit-all when it comes to hurling. Nothing could be further from the truth in fact. It is only mentioned as an aside in not wanting to jump ship ahead of Sunday’s decider.

After all, it wasn’t as if Sixmilebridge were rank outsiders, they were championship favourites even before a ball was pucked in the championship and that included the defending champions.

Like any championship though, there is also a large slice of luck involved in winning it outright. How each of the respective sides would have fared had their first round escapes failed to materialise could be debated endlessly as Clarecastle and Kilmaley should perhaps have taken their chances against Sixmilebridge and Crusheen respectively.

They are all whimsical if’s however as the saying goes ‘if my aunt had dangly bits, she’d be my uncle.’ The fact remains that both sides survived that day and haven’t looked back since, with Sixmilebridge and Crusheen comfortably easing through the remainder of the group and in the latter’s case, through the business end of the campaign as well with the minimum of fuss.

Sixmilebridge on the other hand, Dona l Tuohy Only 22 but the shotstopper already has a wealth of experience behind him. An All-Ireland Under 21 title tops the bill but he has also played championship for the county seniors. He is vital to Crusheen’s cause, has only conceded four goals so far and has kept successive clean sheets in the knock-out stages. Another one in the final would go a long way to retaining the title. Crusheen 8 Cr ona n Dillon V Nia ll Gilliga n A veteran duel that could well decide the outcome of this final. Gilligan is the Bridge’s undoubted leader, with his strength and guile difficult to stop. The eldest of the Dillon’s has buckets of experience though and will relish the challenge. Crusheen 7 Sixmilebridge 9 Paddy Vaugha n V Sha ne Golden Another crucial match-up, simply because both are

the engine rooms for their

respective sides. Vaughan is Crusheen’s top scorer

and freetaker and while he has been troubled by injuries, he is invaluable to

their cause. Golden is one

of the best up-and-coming talents in the county, has

ten points to his name and will relish taking on the county captain. Crusheen 9 Sixmilebridge 8 J oe Mea ney V Tony Ca r mody Pa Sheehan started in the midfield berth for

Sixmilebridge in the semifinal but a fit again Tony Carmody might just get

the nod, mainly due to his wealth of exprience. The All-Ireland intermediate

captain has settled in well

with his new club and will hope to get the better of Meaney who has finally filled the troublesome midfield spot to partner Paddy Vaughan. Crusheen 7 Sixmilebridge 8 J ohn Br igda le V Ca imin Mor ey All-Ireland Under 21 winner Morey hasn’t hit top gear yet but there were signs against Cratloe that is approaching his devastating best. Has the capability to win a game on his own but won’t get anything easy from Brigdale. Crusheen 7 Sixmilebridge 8 Ala n Br igda le V Da nny Mor ey Could be the headto-head battle of the game as these folically challenged livewires face off. Morey is the ‘Bridge’s top scorer from play with 4-10 while Brigdale is probably playing his best hurling at the moment. Crusheen 8 Sixmilebridge 8 Cia n Dillon V Ror y Sha na ha n The youngest of the Dillon brothers in the side is also the most vital to their prospects. Man-of-thematch in last year’s final, he will find Shanahan difficult to mark though. And if Shanahan can break even with him, it could well be enough. Crusheen 9 Sixmilebridge 7 Cia r a n O’Doher t y V Decla n Mor ey O’Doherty is an important part of Crusheen’s lauded half-back line but he will need to keep an eye on Morey who grabbed 1-2 in the semi-final. The Bridgeman has an eye for goal and his mazy solo runs could cause O’Doherty some concern. Crusheen 7 Sixmilebridge 7 Cat ha l Dillon V J a mie Sha na ha n Dillon is a talisman for Crusheen and invariably when he is going well, so do his side. He should have the strength and aerial dominance here but Shanahan is arguably Clare’s best prospect and on form, can do a lot of damage, despite his relative inexperience at this level. Crusheen 8 Sixmilebridge 8 Nia ll Gr iffin Michael Liddy Colm O’Connor

(Cha ir ma n) Michael Br owne (Ma nager ) Eddie Fit zgibbon by Eoin Bren n an Ma nagement

A HUGE smile was etched upon the delighted face of Colm Collins after Cratloe’s hard-fought 2-10 to 2-7 victory over Ennistymon in the curtain raiser of county final day last Sunday afternoon. The U21 manager had experienced a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the match as he watched on from the stands due to a recent suspension but he could not hide his excitement in the surroundings of the post-match celebrations.

“I am absolutely thrilled with them. They are a fantastic bunch of lads. They are never beaten and they never lay down.

“The game ebbed and flowed. It was a fantastic match. A lot of good players were playing out there with Ennistymon too. We’re absolutely delighted to have won it.”

Trailing by two points midway through the second half a Cratloe goal completed a dramatic turnaround which incredibly saw his side find a two point lead of their own in a matter of minutes. Collins agreed that this was the match changing moment.

“That was the big difference. It was very important to get that score. We needed to put the pressure on as another score for them would have put them out of sight.

“As I said there is a great spirit in these lads and they’re never beating. The only time they are beaten is when they’re on the road home.

“The level of football they have been playing all year is very important. The higher the level you play the better you should get. We were very disappointed with the senior but next year is another year so hopefully we can go one better then. We have to try and get to a county senior final and that’s the next step. Please God we can eventually do that.”

Very few would be surprised if that does in fact materialize in the near future. A heartbreaking semi-final loss to eventual county champions Kilmurry Ibrickane by a single point illustrates how bright the future of Cratloe football could be in the following seasons.

The task of curtain raiser could well be replaced by a starring role in next year’s footballing showpiece event. This victory has to be enjoyed first but the dream for senior glory starts now!

SAME old, some old, everyone thought where the men from the Village of the Little Cross were concerned. More unrequited love in the senior hurling championship. They hit three wides in succession between the 53rd and 58th minutes and then slipped a point down in the 59th.

But cometh the end of the hour, cometh Crusheen. Match-winning points from Fergus Kennedy and Conor O’Donnell got them over the line in this pulsating county semi-final. Firstly, Fergus Kennedy grabbed the sliotar in a few feet of space, and the man who was wearing the number 19 jersey, as the number five had been retired for the day in solidarity with the suspended Cathal Dillon, split the posts from 55 yards.

Then 40 seconds later Conor O’Donnell was fed the sliotar by Joe Meaney and 45 yards out from the Stamer Park end he drilled the winner over the bar. The ‘Bridge still had time, but ran out of it as Crusheen celebrated a first county final appearance in three years.

It was rough justice on the ‘Bridge, as a draw would probably have been a fair result. The sides were level on ten occasions during the hour, evidence of a game in which they nearly traded score for score – and it didn’t end there because they traded wide for wide as well, with both sides guilty of some alarming profligacy that would never be good enough to win a county final.

Crusheen led by 0-7 to 0-6 at the break, but the ‘Bridge got off to a flier in the second half thanks to two Caimin Morey points inside a couple of minutes, before Gearóid O’Donnell and Pat Vaughan replied.

Then it was the ‘Bridge’s turn with two more Gilligan frees by the threequarter stage to put his side 0-10 to 09 ahead. Another Gilligan free in the 50th minute cancelled out Gearóid O’Donnell’s third of the hour to keep that one-point lead intact as the game entered the final ten minutes.

Gerry O’Grady hit the equaliser in the 51st minute before Crusheen’s travails set in and the ‘Bridge looked to be heading back to a first county final in eight years. Kennedy and O’Donnell had other ideas though.

Crusheen
Donal Tuohy, John Brigdale, Cronan Dillon,Alan Brigdale, PaddyVaughan (0-3f), Cian Dillon, Ciaran O’Doherty,Tony Meaney (0-1), Fergus Kennedy (0-1), David Forde (0-1), Joe Meaney (0-1), Gearóid O’Donnell (0-3), Paddy Meaney, Gerry O’Grady (0-1), Conor O’Donnell (0-2).

Subs
AlanTuohy for Paddy Meaney.

JOHN Kennedy may only have linked up with Kilmurry Ibrickane with the first rays of summer, but you could say that he goes back a long way with the club that’s only a scenic boat ride from Asdee around Loophead to Quilty.

All because, back in 2004 when Clare had its biggest football day of the new millennium by beating Sligo by 1-11 to 0-11 in the inaugural Tommy Murphy Cup for the All-Ireland B Championship, Kilmurry provided more to Banner side than any other club.

Dermot O’Brien, Odran O’Dwyer, Enda Coughlan and Evan Talty saw action that day seven years ago – for Kennedy’s second coming as a championhip winner in Clare the latter three were still invovled.

As Kennedy peeled away from the throng after the final whistle, he was just happy to be part of it all, having been drafted into the backroom team after his commitments with the Kerry under 21s were over with and in Kilmurry’s hour of need.

“It’s a great day for Kilmurry, it’s a great day for the parish, it’s a great day for everyone involved in the team,” he says.

“We have worked really hard for this. This was a job started off by Ger Lawlor, Joe Hurley and Patrick Murrihy. I came in in May.

“These guys are fantastic. They worked extremely hard in the time I’ve been with them and before that. I would say we have been threatening a display like this for some time and today everything seemed to come right for us.

“We said to ourselves beforehand ‘this is their first county final, we need to start well’.

“We have started well in a lot of games, but haven’t been carrying it on. Today we did, we got the scores on the board early and kicked on from there and weren’t going to let them back into it.

We worked extremely hard over the past few weeks. We were creating the chances in previous games, we just weren’t taking them. It would be a lot more worrying if we weren’t taking the chances. We had to turn more of our possessions into scores. Today we did that. We only ended up with six wides in 60 minutes. That’s a good return.”

With that Kennedy is swept away by well-wishers. Job done. Jack Daly heading for the Hand, with Kennedy preparing for night in Quilty as the most prized possession in Clare football heads for what has been it’s favourite home since the new millennium dawned.