Category: Sport

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.

ANYONE who is under the illusion that Kilmurry Ibrickane are entering into Sunday’s county final with even the slightest hint of complacency should pay heed to captain Peter O’Dwyer.

The experienced midfielder has been down this road numerous times before, bought the t-shirt and in his professional capacity as a graphic designer probably even designed the t-shirt. From his first county final in 1999, O’Dwyer has been instrumental in Kilmurry Ibrickane’s undoubted rise to the top of the Clare football ladder, winning championships in 2002, ’04, ’08 and ’09 that also included two Munster titles as well as an All-Ireland final appearance last year.

More than that though, he is part of the O’Dwyer dynasty that reached its height in 2004 when Peter along with brothers Odran, Robert and Michael captured county and provincial titles under the management eye of their father Patrick.

With such vast experience, O’Dwyer is not about to take his eye off the ultimate prize, even if he is leading out his side on Sunday.

“I haven’t really though about the captaincy that much. It’s the same as any other final really because you can get carried away with things like that to be honest and it only uses up your energy and concentration. So, honestly I’m just treating it as another game and staying focused on it.”

That unwavering focus typifies a Kilmurry Ibrickane side that despite winning two out of the last three titles, are not about to rest on their laurels and are always striving to improve.

“We’re not entirely happy with the way we are playing. If you even take the last game against Cratloe, we played well for parts of the game but also for long stages of the game, we weren’t satisfied with our performance and that’s something we feel we have to address. So if we are going to win this final, we are going to have to be more consistent and up our game significantly.”

Upping their performance will be essential against the relatively unknown entity that is St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield who have defied the odds and are on the cusp of a wave of momentum going in the decider.

“I think they are a super side. I was surprised when a number of commentators seemed to think that it was a shock that St Joseph’s got through to the final. I wasn’t a bit surprised because they have been coming and I have been expecting this for a number of years to be honest.

“They have been coming good at underage for a while now and they’ve had success and along with that, they have some very experienced players who have played at inter-county level from their goalkeeper Declan O’Keeffe, up to Kevin Dilleen at centre-back and Colm Mullen in the forwards. So it’s a good combination to have and they are really going to be a force to be reckoned with. They are going to be serious, serious opposition I feel.”

So balancing up Kilmurry Ibrickane’s experience and the rising tide of St Joseph’s, where does the Mullagh man see the ingredients for a third county title in four years?

“I think every player is going to have to play to his full potential and best of his ability to be honest. I think it’s going to be a dogfight, it’s going to be a very difficult game and I believe the hunger is there in the squad to win the game and get over the line but as I’ve said it’s going to take a massive, massive effort to do so.”

MICHAEL Browne’s record of getting teams to county finals continued on Sunday as he guided his native club to their second consecutive decider and his third in five seasons if you include his involvement with Tulla in 2007. It’s a achievement that cannot be argued with but he’s not taking a third success as a given, de- spite a powerful second half display from his side who outscored their opponents by 2-6 to 0-7 in that period.

“It’s brilliant, just fantastic to get back to a final for a second year in a row so we’ll see what happens. There’s a huge battle ahead of us, we know that, but at least we’re there.

“They always say ‘goals win matches’ and that’s all that was in it at the end and not alone were the goals cru- cial but also psychologically they put the opposition under a lot of pressure as well so we were lucky, we got them and thanks be to God, we’re there.

“The defence did very well. Maybe in the first seven or eight minutes, I thought they were very wobbly and dodgy and they didn’t seem to be getting their calls right but once they settled in, they were enormous in fairness to them.”

And just like Sixmilebridge manager Christy Chaplin the previous evening, Browne’s main reference point for the final inevitably stems from last year’s semi-final meeting between the pair that went Crusheen’s way by the barest of margins.

“One point is all that decided the teams last year and with time up, we were two points down if I remember correctly so I mean that’s how tight this is going to be.

“And I think the ‘Bridge are a better team this year than they were last year.

“They looked awesome to me yesterday but look we haven’t given any thought to them, we just prepared for this game because this was the only one we were interested in so we’ll prepare as well as we can for the county final and fingers crossed.”

Limerick 4 – Clare 0 at Jackman Park, Limerick

WHERE there’s football there’s hope but Clare’s hopes of mounting any sort of campaign in this year’s blue riband of inter-league fare is already hanging by a thread after they were comprehensively taken apart by an impressive Treaty side on Wednesday evening.

They were in this game for most of the first half but the hammer blow of the concession of a second goal just before the interval was the hammer blow from which their challenge never recovered.

And it was a tough call on Clare that paved the way for that Alan Barry’s goal that effectively killed the game as a contest.

Up to that Clare were in this game, after opening brightly when they should have taken the lead after six minutes when Daryl Eade but the speedy Eoin Hayes through on goal, only for his shot to go the wrong side of the post.

Indeed, there was no beating Limerick keeper Gary Neville on the night – Hayes shot straight at him on 24 minutes, while he then made brilliant save to thwart Dave McCarthy on 37 minutes, before Ian Barnes scrambled the ball away to safety.

By this stage Clare a goal adrift when they were hit by a breakaway goal from the home side on 17 minutes. Moving at pace from defence they opened up Clare’s rearguard with John Tierney applying the final strike from just inside the area.

They could have been two adrift on 30 minutes, with Darren Cullinan making a crucial interception to save what looked to be a certain goal, while John Healy was alert to danger in the 33rd minute when opportunity again knocked for the home side.

However, it was a case of what might have been before the break for Clare – on 42 minutes Eoin Hayes had another chance, but again Neville stood firm, while Colm Ryan’s charges had that sinking feeling right on the stroke of half-time when Alan Barry’s header from a controversially awarded free kick on the edge of the area put

They needed an early strike in the second half to have any chance, but instead it came down the other end when Shane Clarke was composure personified in the box when finding himself in space, coolly slotting past Healy on 56 minutes.

It was damage limitation from there until the finish – to that end they succeeded until being hit for a fourth in the 92nd minute when Conor Kavanagh completed Limerick’s impressive campaign opener.

Clare now entertain Galway at the County Ground on October 22 next, with victory now a must if they are to entertain any hopes of advancing in the competition.

Clare
John Healy (Avenue Utd), Matty Nugent (Avenue Utd), Darren Cullinan (Newmarket Celtic), Darren Murphy (Bridge Utd), David Russell (Avenue Utd) (Capt), Packie Darcy (Lifford), Darryl Eade (EnnisTown Rock), David McCarthy (Avenue Utd), Colin Ryan (Newmarket Celtic), Eoin Hayes (Newmarket Celtic), Jay Regan (Shannon Olympic)

Moher Celtic 0 – Shannon Olympic 2 (after extra-time) at Lahinch

SHANNON Olympic advanced to the next round of the Munster Junior Cup with a battling win over Moher Celtic in a windswept Lahinch on Sunday morning.

Played in difficult conditions, and despite only having the bare 11 players, and finishing the game with 10, Olympic managed to overcome the West Clare side with a goal in both halves of extra time.

The first 90 minutes was entertain- ing, if lacking any gilt-edged chances, and to be honest, it was a game that always looked like going to extra time.

In extra time, even though they had no substitutes to freshen up the team, the Shannon side looked far stronger, and they were rewarded in the 98th minute when diminutive striker, John Keogh, was hauled down in the penalty area. Captain Jason Regan confidently stroked the spot-kick home.

Just a minute later Olympic suffered a setback when the fiery red head John Keogh was sent of after an altercation with Moher’s Graham Kelly.

Olympic did not look weakened despite this and indeed they extended their lead in the 109th minute when midfielder Ray Quigley made a great run and squared the ball for Sean O’Connor to tap home from inside the 6 yard box.

So it’s Shannon Olympic who advance to the next round of the Munster Junior, and a visit to Connolly Celtic.

Best for Olympic on the day were; Karl Fogarty, and the midfield pairing of Ray Quigley and Jason Regan.

Shannon Olympic
Gary McGettrick, Ciaran Keane, Karl Fogarty, Donncadh Kelly, Ian Hogan, Eamonn O’Neill, Jason Regan, Ray Quigley, Sean O’Connor, Richie Hanly, John Keogh.

Moher Celtic
Shane Keane, GrahamKelly, Declan Fawl, Joe Dowling, Cathal Honan, Robert Lucas, David Commane, Barry McGovern, Pa McEvoy, IanWhite, Jack Queally.

Subs
Alan Clohessy,WilliamMurphy , Kevin Scales, George Benn.

BORD na nÓg Peil are to take the lead in raised the lowly stock of football in Clare, by starting the process toward developing a ‘Strategic Plan’ for the development of the game throughout the county.

The first steps towards putting a new blueprint in place will be taken on Tuesday, October 25 when a Club Forum takes place in the West County Hotel in Ennis, a move that the underage board hopes will develop into the beginning of a revival of Clare’s football fortunes.

“We want to look at football and see how football can be improved in the county,” Bord na nÓg representative John Smith. “This is important for football in Clare and I would ask that all clubs would attend that meeting,” he added.

This new drive is being spearheaded in the chairmanship of a committee chaired by Shannon Gaels chairman, Eamonn Keane – a body that has been charged with responsibility “to outline the issues which they feel are relevant to underage football in Clare”.

Topics which will be discussed on the night include coaching, fixtures, football development in primary and secondary schools, regional and divisional squads, games promotion, football development in urban areas, rural club issues, availability of funding and any other issues that clubs feel are important.

“It is envisaged that the feedback from the Forum could be used in preparing a Strategic Plan for juvenile football in Clare,” a Bord na nÓg statement has revealed. “It is therefore important that all areas are looked at,” the statement added.

If club officers or members of the public want to make suggestions on topics they feel should be discussed on the night, the are asked to email Eamonn Keane at ekeane@odonnellkeane.com or ring him at 086-2646827.

Shannon Gaels 1-7 – Kilrush Shamrocks 0-8 at Cooraclare

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Kilrush Shamrocks 3-5 – Corofin 1-8 at Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown

THE cry went out from Miltown all the way down the N67 to Kilrush and down plenty of other roads too – loud and shrill that the Shams are back.

That they’re minor champions after 21-long years was down to a team effort, of course, but 15-year-old Liam Madigan was the man with his brilliant return of 3-3 bringing the PJ Lynch/Tom Malone Cup back to the west Clare capital.

First off he put the Shams on the high road with a goal as early as the fourth minute, then in the second after Corofin were dominating af- ter pegging back a five-point deficit to two points, he bagged two goals in the space of three minutes to put them eight points clear entering the last ten minutes.

The Shams got a dream start when hitting 1-2 inside the first five minutes of the game, but more than that it was the tactics that they employed that suffocted the Corofin challenge.

Pat ‘Rico’ Clancy may be looking across the estuary at Kerry from his home out the Killimer road, but this was more Tyrone than Kerry as the tactic of dropping his half-backs deep closed down the space that Corofin forwards needed to make any im- pression on this county final.

By then they were fighting a losing battle after an early free from Liam Madigan, followed by a Gearóid O’Brien point from play settled the Shams into the game after four minutes, while they were on the high road a minute later after a long ball by the hardworking Con Prendeville broke kindly for Madigan to toe-poke the ball to the net.

When Madigan followed up with another pointed free in the tenth minute it looked as if this would be cruise for the Shams. And, it was for the rest of the half save a spirited Corofin burst in a five-minute spell that nearly brought them back into the game.

Gearóid Kelly opened their account with a free in the 15th minute, but a minute later they were unlucky not to strike for a goal when Jamie Malone’s rasping drive crashed off the inside of the post and back into play.

Gearóid Kelly did land another free in the 19th minute, but the Shams closed the half impressively with points from Jonathon Stack from play after a brilliant flick by Liam Madigan and then another Madigan free to lead by 1-5 to 0-2 at the break.

Corofin were vastly improved on the turnover with two inspirational points from Jamie Malone either side of a Gearóid Kelly free had them back in the game by the 40th minute.

When Kelly’s fourth free reduced the margin to two points the defending champions had the scent of victory, only for Madigan to tip the balance decisively in the Shams’ favour once more.

He drove home a penalty in the 48th minute after a foul on Jonathon Stack – then three minutes later slalomed through the Corofin defence soccerstyle and slammed to the net to kill the contest.

Corofin did battle back when hitting 1-2 without reply in the closing minutes, with Jamie Malone goaling from a penalty but the Shams, through Madigan had done enough to trigger off celebrations that would have done a senior team proud.