Category: Sport

BENEATH the obvious joy of a third senior title in four years, you could sense that between the handshakes and hugs, Banner Ladies manager Joe Reidy had been through the wringer for the previous hour. Having led from the seventh minute to the finish without decisively shaking off a stubborn West Clare Gaels challenge, Reidy was thoroughly relieved to have got over the line and wrestle back control from the west Clare amalgamation.

“You couldn’t put words into it at the moment. It’s an amazing feeling to win with such a young team. We were beaten here last year but at least five of the team that started last year weren’t there today for various reasons of work and family commitments so it makes it all the more amazing.

“I mean we finished up there today with two Under 14’s on the field and it’s a fabulous feeling because I love seeing young players coming through. The likes of Laurie Ryan, the captain of the team, she is only a minor but she played with the county all year as well as doing her Leav- ing Cert. The same goes for Naomi Carroll and Niamh O’Dea, they are all minors and it’s a great feeling to come out on top with young players like that.”

O’Dea’s was the decisive contribution however, picking up an impressive haul of 1-7 along with a tireless work-rate that saw her collect the player-of-the-match award from Clare County Board Chairman Johnny Hayes afterwards.

“The first day I saw Niamh O’Dea play, she was eight years of age playing in Kilfenora in a boys football game and I immediately went to her parents to ask would she play for the Banner. That girl played in an AllIreland Under 14 Féile at only eight years old above in Galway. And not only is she a brilliant footballer but she is a lady as well. You can play her full-back or full-forward and she just goes out and gives it everything, every day.”

With the county title secured, has he even considered a Munster assault?

“We are now in the senior competition, playing the likes of the Cork and Kerry champions who are in the senior ranks for years. Clare were never senior and because of the West Clare Gaels All-Ireland intermediate win last year, Clare have been moved to the senior competition and it’s like going from the League of Ireland to the Premier League in England.

“There is also the camogie to consider. When we played in Munster two years ago, there were five of our team missing as the camogie county final was on the same day so it will all depend on who is available to us.”

After such an inspiring victory, the Banner will certainly steele themselves for the challenge of Tipperary champions Cappawhite in the Munster Senior B Championship Semi-Final on Saturday, October 1. Although Joe Reidy is probably just hoping that it isn’t as nailbiting as Saturday’s county final.

O’Callaghan’s Mills 1-09 – Kildysart 1-08 at Shannon

WHITHER the big ball in the Mills and Kilkishen was the cry after they were pummelled by 14 points by Kilmurry Ibrickane in the opening round of the championship.

That was June; that was then; this is now as they’re now 60 minutes away from an historic first ever county intermediate final place after they edged past a determined and neversay-die Kildysart side on Saturday afternoon.

O’Callaghan’s Mills took control of the tie once Conor Cooney bagged a goal in the 12th minute – lead by four at half-time and by the same margin entering the last 15 minutes but in the end had to thank a last minute free from Bryan Donnellan to sneak through to a semi-final date against Clondegad.

Kildysart made a positive start with points by Damien Hill and Ger ‘Bobby’ Kelly inside the first ten minutes, but Conor Cooney’s goal settled the east Claremen and in the final 20 minutes of the half they outscored their opponents by 1-4 to 0-2 to take control of affairs.

Cooney’s goal was followed by points from Eoin Pewter, Bryan Donnellan (2) and Jonathon Lyons, while points from Damien Hill and Ger ‘Bobby’ Kelly left matters resting at 1-5 to 0-4 in the Mills favour at half-time.

That four differential remained after both traded four points between them with Ger ‘Bobby’ Kelly and Niall Ginnane on the mark for Kildysart, with John Cooney and Bryan Donnellan finding the range for the Mills.

However, the game was thrown back into the melting pot in the 49th minute when a Ger ‘Bobby’ Kelly point was followed immediately by a Damien Hill goal that left the sides deadlocked at 1-7 apiece entering the last ten minutes.

In the end it was Bryan Donnellan who came up trumps – he edged his side back in front with a point from play in the 54th minute, only for Kildysart to bounce back inside 30 seconds with the equaliser from Christy Clancy, but it was Donnellan who landed the decisive score with a 59th minute free to bring his tally for the hour to 0-6.

O’Curry’s 1-14 Corofin 1-06 at Pairc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty

THE O’CURRY’S machine cranked up a gear in its pursuit of a quick return to senior level by seeing off Corofin in this winner-takes-all semi-final decider. O’Curry’s displayed a healthy blend of youth and experience to recover from an early setback when Corofin grabbed a 12th minute goal against the conditions.

Perhaps it was the kickstart they needed after a slow start that saw a young Corofin side take the game to their opponents. The game wasn’t even a minute old when a Darragh Shannon lineball was worked from Jamie Malone to Stephen Heagney whose shot for a point dropped short and allowed Fergal Neylon to ghost in at the back post to punch the ball agonisingly wide. Corofin did opening the scoring through the impressive Jamie Malone in the right corner and despite Ger Quinlan’s equalising free and a glorious goal opportunity for Eoin Troy, the north Clare side finally made amends for their earlier miss when Jamie Malone played a pass across the square for the waiting Damien Ryan to volley first time to the net in the 12th minute.

Corofin failed to build on that ad vantage and if anything, the goal only angered O’Curry’s who despite six first half wides would manage to kick eight points without reply in the remainder of the half while keeping their opponents scoreless. Three Ger Quinlan frees bookended good ap- proach work from Michael Carmody and attacking centre-back Ollie Quinlan, and scores for impressive minor Jack Scanlon (2), Eoin Troy (2) and Damien Carmody to hold a 0-9 to 1-1 half-time advantage.

Corofin improved in the second period mainly through Damien Ryan’s free but with Ger Quinlan unerring from placed balls as well, they predominantly cancelled each other out.

Still, for all O’Curry’s control, they were still only four points up with just over ten minutes remaining, having survived a scare when Jamie Malone and Ryan again combined but this time goalkeeper Eoin Clohessy made the decisive save from Ryan with his feet.

That miss was magnified when substitute Mark Roche finished off a slick handpassing move from back to front with his first kick of the game finding the net.That goal put the result beyond doubt and with Corofin becoming increasingly desperate, O’Curry’s finished strongly with further points from Scanlon, Ger Quinlan and Roche again to cement their position in the last four against Kilmurry Ibrickane. However, Corofin’s young side still have a Under 21B final to look forward to in the coming weeks.

O’Curry’s
Eoin Clohessy (7), Gearoid Lynch (7), Michael O’Shea (7), Paul Roche (7), BrianTroy (7), Ollie

Quinlan (8),TomDownes (8), Ger Quinlan (8) (0-7f), DerekTroy (7), Damien Carmody (7) (0-1), EoinTroy (7) (0-2), Michael Foran (7), Michael Carmody (8), Sean Haugh (7), Jack Scanlon (8) (0-3)

Subs
JimDownes (6) for Ml. Carmody (47 mins), Mark Roche (8) (1-1) for Foran (48 mins), Ryan McMahon for O’Shea (57 mins), Eoin Murray for E.Troy (57 mins), DeclanWalsh for D. Carmody (60 mins)

Corofin
Kieran Carkill (7), Brian McGauran (5), Brendan Keane (6), Ollie O’Loughlin (6), Diarmuid Daly (6), Eamon Malone (7), Manus Malone (7), John Keane (7) (0-1), Luke O’Loughlin (7), Fergal Neylon (6), Damien Ryan (7) (1-3 3f), Darragh Shannon (7), JasonTierney (6), Jamie Malone (8) (0-2), Stephen Heagney (6)

Subs
Donnacha Kelleher (6) for McGauran (21 mins), HaulieVaughan (6) for Neylon (48 mins), Killian Neylon (6) for Tierney (48 mins)

Man of the Match
Ollie Quinlan (O’Curry’s) Referee Michael Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane)

St Joseph’s D/B 3-09 – Shannon Gaels 0-11 at Pairc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty

THE PRECARIOUS nature of the senior championship was exemplified by this dramatic group changer. The Gaels, after a rousing victory over Miltown last time out, were within touching distance of the last eight while point-less Doora/Barefield were in the relegation zone with a big victory needed to emerge. And even then they needed a favour from east Clare side Cratloe in the other group game.

Things weren’t going their way either in the early stages as the Gaels eased to a 0-5 to 0-1 lead by the end of the opening quarter with Michael Coughlan and John Paul O’Neill converting eyecatching points while David Neylon was causing concern for St Joseph’s last line. Indeed, that four point advantage was maintained up to the 27th minute before a dramatic u-turn took effect.

How did it happen? Well, it was a combination of Shannon Gaels hitting the self-destruct button while Doora/Barefield developed a keen eye for goal that saw Enda Lyons set up late goals for midfielders Kevin Dilleen and Alan O’Neill. By the break, Doora/Barefield had exacted an eight point shift at 2-5 to 0-7 to leave shellshocked Shannon Gaels praying for the half-time whistle.

To their credit, the Gaels didn’t fold and came right back at their opponents with three unanswered points in the opening five minutes of the restart through Michael Coughlan (2) and Brian O’Shea to cut the deificit to the minimum.

However, with Sean Flynn using his roving role to perfection and goalkeeper Declan O’Keefee both effective from kick-outs and placed balls at the other end, St Joseph’s stopped the rot with points from David O’Brien and an O’Keeffe ’45. They also had a goalbound shot excel lently saved by Keith Ryan from the impressive Enda Lyons before making amends with the killer blow in the 50th minute when Alan O’Neill fed Cathal O’Sullivan for their third goal.

That major sucked the remaining life out of the Gaels’ challenge and while David Neylon remonstrated with referee Michael Rock for an effort that he felt crossed the line soon afterwards, they would only score one more point through Sean Reynolds. Meanwhile, the now inspired St Joseph’s finished strongly through Declan O’Keeffe and John O’Brien to seal a memorable victory and book their place in the quarter-final against Doonbeg.

St Joseph’s Doora/ Barefield
Declan O’Keeffe (8) (0-2 1f, 1’45), Stephen Collins (8), Declan O’Halloran (7), Ger Fannin (8), Gavin O’Sullivan (8), Damien Kennedy (7), Mark Rafferty (7), Kevin Dilleen (8) (1-0),Alan O’Neill (8) (1-0), David O’Brien (8) (0-4), Sean Flynn (9) (0-1), Greg

Lyons (7), Enda Lyons (8), Cathal O’Sullivan (7) (1-0),Aidan O’Connor (7) (0-2f)

Sub
John O’Brien (7) (0-1).

Shannon Gaels
Keith Ryan (6), Frank Cleary (6), John Neylon (7), Fergal Kenny (6),Tomás Madigan (6), Brian Bermingham(6),Tomás Cleary (6), Micheál O’Donoghue (6), Sean Reynolds (6) (0-1), Bryan Cunningham(7) (0-1), John Paul O’Neill (8) (0-1), John Bermingham(6), Brian O’Shea (6) (0-2), David Neylon (6) (0-1 1’45), Michael Coughlan (6) (0-5 4f)

Subs
ShaneTubridy (6) for O’Shea, Nigel Hehir (6) for Coughlan.

Man of the Match
Sean Flynn (St Joseph’s Doora/ Barefield) Referee Michael Rock (Ennistymon)

Cratloe 1-10 – St Joseph’s Miltown 0-06 at Cusack Park, Ennis

A PERFORMANCE of two halves for Cratloe on Saturday who after initially struggling to break free of St Joseph’s Miltown Malbay finally found their groove to confirm a place in the knock-out stages.

For that opening 30 minutes, last season’s quarter-finalists got mired in gridlock and appeared to have trouble finding a route to navigate through.

Miltown contested well around the middle, denied Conor McGrath and Cathal McInerney the kind of space they normally thrive in and picked of a few decent points. Cratloe weren’t without their faults, particularly in their ponderous build up play.

At half time with the scores 0-3 03 apiece, the game was anybody’s. That all changed after the break once Cratloe quickened their distribution, a policy that brought the best out of Conor McGrath. After twice skinning Miltown’s full back line for two points, the full forward rocketed a shot to the net in the 42nd minute to send Cratloe six points clear. That was more or less that.

Miltown toiled away but their industry was rarely accompanied by inspiration. Even the return from America of Gordon Kelly failed to provide the spark that was sorely lacking from Miltown’s performance.

Dessie Molohan was having one of those days when it looked like he might shoot the lights out yet Miltown could not establish a regular and accurate supply chain to their talismanic full forward. Unlike Cratloe whose high standard of kick passing, as exemplified by Martin Ogie Murphy and the Collins brothers, Sean and Padraic, was one of the key differences between the sides.

Molohan did provide the opening point, shooting over from distance after neat approach work in the 1st minute.

A Cathal McInerney free leveled matters before Sean Collins powered through for a point in the 14th minute.

Overall the quality of shooting was fairly poor in the first half though there were some genuine moments of quality.

Gary Egan grabbed Miltown’s second point before Molohan caught, swiveled and curled over a sweet point in the 18th minute. A point from Sean Collins in the 28th minute ensured the sides entered the break all square.

It didn’t take long for Cratloe’s greater urgency to manifest itself on the scoreboard when action resumed.

McGrath was involved as Padraic Collins blasted over from close range as Cratloe went for the kill.

The full forward then pointed before a McInerney free and a point from substitute Padraig Chaplin pushed Cratloe 0-7 0-4 ahead.

The goal arrived seconds later and embodied the best of Cratloe’s play in the second half. Murphy’s precise pass afforded McGrath time to turn and speed past Sean Meade. Despite the Miltown man’s close attentions, McGrath kept his balance and roofed his shot from a tight angle.

Points from Michael Malone and Molohan steadied Miltown but it still looked grim for the west Clare side who were now relying on results from elsewhere and on the vagaries of score difference.

Jamie Joyce produced a firm save to deny Darragh McDonagh in the 52nd minute as points from Liam Markham and McInereney copperfastened Cratloe’s seven point victory.

Clondegad 3-14 – Ballyvaughan 0-07 at Pairc Finne, Corofin

A GAME that mattered little in terms of the overall championship and in truth, it showed. Clondegad were safely into the semi-finals as group winners before a ball had been kicked while Ballyvaughan were at the opposite end of the spectrum and facing a relegation battle regardless of the result. And that previous form didn’t lie as last year’s finalists strolled to a handsome win in second gear and could afford to experiment with positions, tactics and even empty the bench to encouraging effect ahead of their semi-final showdown against O’Callaghan’s Mills.

In fact, budding spectators could have saved themselves a few bob and double-backed to the gate before the throw-in as the respective warm-ups succinctly displayed the contrasting difference in confidence and inten- sity. Clondegad’s near 30 minute session was high tempo stuff befitting a side determined to finally get over the line in the championship while Ballyvaughan’s leisurely gathering typified their moral crushing struggle this year with a threadbare squad.

Unquestionably Ballyvaughan did their upmost to impose themselves on their opponents and were honest to a fault but in terms of scoring prowess, pace and purpose, were never going to trouble a Clondegad side desperate not to become another Michael Cusack’s in terms of near misses at intermediate level.

And yet had Ballyvaughan’s most influential player, James Hynes grabbed a 18th minute goal, the north Clare side might have even rallied somewhat but instead the midfielder saw his shot just drift outside the far post. That chance was against the rain somewhat as it was Clondegad who commanded the opening quarter, led by the attacking half-back unit of Francie Neylon and Kieran Browne. On the scoreboard, their control was capped by 1-1 from always available corner-forward Pat Coffey who finished off a great move in only the sixth minute involving Shane Brennan, Eoin Griffin and Eoghan Donnellan before Coffey executed the cool finish under the body of goalkeeper Damien McNamara. That goal added to a brace of frees from Padraig McMahon lifted Clondegad to a five lead by the turn of the opening quarter which was extended to seven by the break at 1-7 to 0-3.

Inbetween James Hynes was effective at both ends, just missing that 18th minute goal chance after receiving the perfect pass from Lorcan Mahon while at the other end only five minutes later, he threw his body in front of McMahon’s goalbound shot to keep his side in the game.

Clondegad used the break to introduce Tony Kelly and Conor Gavin and both would be influential in Clondegad’s more potent second half showing.

With Ballyvaughan increasingly war weary, that added pace gave Clondegad the license to finish the game in style, with Kelly in particular central to that charge.

In all, the dual star would score 1-3 himself and set up two further final quarter goal chances, with Podge McMahon seeing his effort rebound off the butt of the post to safety while the clinical Pat Coffey made no mistake for his second goal of the game in the 54th minute.

In some ways, it was a valuable workout for Clondegad but in others, it was perhaps a phoney war in terms of the imminently tougher challenge to come in the last four.

Clondegad
Declan Flynn (7), Flan Enright (7), Paddy O’Connell (8), Cormac Ryan (7), Kieran Browne (8), Francie Neylon (8), Brian Murphy (7), Cormac Murphy (7), Shane Brennan (8), Francie O’Reilly (7) (0-1), Eoghan Donnellan (8) (0-2), Eoin Griffin (7) (0-2), Kenneth Kelly (7), Padraig McMahon (8) (0-3 3f), Pat Coffey (8) (2-1)

Subs
Tony Kelly (8) (1-3) for O’Reilly (HT), Conor Gavin (7) (0-1) for B. Murphy (HT), James Murphy (6) for C. Murphy (44 mins), Paddy Breen (0-1) for McMahon (51 mins), Flan King for Enright (52 mins)

Ballyvaughan
Damien McNamara (7), John Linnane (6), Sean McNamara (7) (0-1), Mark O’Loughlin (7), Phelim Coyne (6), Kieran Casey (7) (0-1), Marc Walsh (7), Ray Casey (6) (0-1f), James Hynes (7), Lorcan Mahon (6), John McCormack (7), John Mooney (6),Adrian Niland (7) (0-1), Donnacha Mahon (7) (0-2),Thomas Francis (6)

Sub
CianWalsh (6) (0-1) for Mooney (HT)

Man of the Match
Francie Neylon (Clondegad) Referee Pat Cosgrove (Corofin)

CLARE Motor Club are delighted to announce The Auburn Lodge Hotel, Gort Road, Ennis, as the title sponsor of the 2011 Clare Stages Rally. Clerk of the Course Dermot Kelleher said, “The Clare Motor Club are delighted with the continued support of The Auburn Lodge Hotel, for a third consecutive year. The Club would also like to thank the Special Stage Sponsors, Service Area Sponsor and the programme advertisers for their support. The event will bring a vital boost to the local economy and this would not be possible without their support”.

The rally takes place on the weekend of September 17 and 18. and is a counting round of The Dunlop National Rally Championship and The Top Part West Coast Rally Championship which will see some of the top cars and drivers in action on the stages around Ennis.

The organising team is offering competitors a very compact event featuring three very competitive stages which will be repeated three times. Together with the service park and scrutiny all within walking distance of the hotel, the event should prove to be as successful as last year’s rally.

Event regulations are available to download at the club’s website www. claremotorclub.com.

With five victories from as many events, Tim McNulty and co-driver, Paul Kiely (Subaru WRC) are on the cusp of clinching the Dunlop National Rally Championship in clare. The Auburn Lodge Hotel Clare Rally offers them the first of three title winning events to claim the Vard Memorial Trophy. Tim was also the winner of last year’s Clare Stages Rally and he also won it back on 2007.

It’s a unique season insofar as McNulty can become the first driver to win both the Dunlop series and the Irish Tarmac Championship in the same season, currently, he also leads the ITC prior to the final event, the Cork 20 International Rally.

With a resounding victory in last weekend’s Galway Summer Rally, the Meath ace reached the 100 points mark in the Dunlop series where competitors can count their best seven scores from the ten rounds. Should McNulty claim another maximum score in Clare and provided Kevin Barrett garners less than 18 points, McNulty can claim the title in Ennis, just like Welsh ace, Melvyn Evans did twelve months ago.

Meanwhile, Monaghan’s Sam Moffett, who is actually second overall in the Dunlop series, can also edge closer to the Motorsport Safety Team award for the top overall Group N driver with Robert Barrable (Skoda Fabia S2000) and Shane Maguire (Subaru) his nearest rivals.

Meanwhile, the rally.ie award for the top two-wheel drive competitor is shaping up for an exciting finish with Frank Kelly (Ford Escort), Washington James (Darrian) along with Sam Smyth, Wesley Patterson and John McQuaid (Ford Escorts) all in the hunt for the crown.

Cooraclare 2-12 – St Breckan’s 0-07 at Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown

COORACLARE are beginning to motor – evidence of which they drove home with ruthless efficiency on Saturday evening when they took a wrecking ball to St Breckans’ hopes of marking their first year back in the senior ranks with a run to the quarter-final stages.

This was a thrashing every bit as clinical as the scoreline suggests as Cooraclare sauntered into the quarter-final, but more importantly than that by dint of their 11-point winning margin they laid down a marker that they won’t be making up the numbers when they lock horns with Kilmurry Ibrickane in the quarter-final.

It was impressive stuff as they kept the pedal to the floor right until the end, despite being very secure in the knowledge that the points were in the bag long before the finish.

St Breckan’s never got closer than being four points adrift in the half – the goals they needed to kickstart any kind of sustained comeback never looked like coming, so much so that when they trailed by 0-11 to 0-7 after 55 minutes the game looked like trundling towards a tepid conclusion.

Not so thanks to Aidan Moloney’s side that really threw down a marker when hitting 2-1 in the last five minutes to leave St Breckan’s thoroughly forlorn and dispirited by the end.

In truth, it was a command performance from whistle to whistle by a Cooraclare side that was never headed at any stage. Firstly they kept with a pacy and industrious St Breckan’s in the first half when playing against the breeze, before really turning the screw with five points within the space of the final five minutes of the half to move 0-9 to 0-4 clear.

Game over really. The life was drained out of the St Breckan’s challenge in those minutes – they did try to pick it up again in the second half, but even had they fallen to their knees at the half-time break and chanted prayers to St Jude, theirs looked a hopeless case.

Cooraclare had forced the pace in this game from the off, with a couple of early bursts from Sean Maguire setting the tone and character of their display that was to last for the hour.

Maguire pointed in the second minute, while two minutes later he teed up Gearóid Looney for a point, just after Stephen Tierney had got St Breckan’s off the mark with a smart point from play.

A Pat Nagle free in the eighth minute levelled matters, but two John Looney points by the 20th minute had Cooraclare 0-4 to 0-2 ahead. His effort from play in the ninth minute really crystalised Cooraclare’s performance on the day – Mark Tubridy, Joe Considine and Rory Donnelly played their part in an incisive move that was finished over the bar by the full-forward.

And, even though St Breckan’s hit back to level matters with two Pat Nagle points by the 23rd minute, it was Looney again who did more than anyone to ensure that Cooraclare had matters well in hand by half-time.

He landed three frees in as many minutes before the break, while efforts from play by David Marrinan and Michael McMahon turned the game decisively in Cooraclare’s favour before the break.

St Breckan’s were their industrious selves on the turnover, but penetration was sadly lacking, with three Pat Nagle pointed frees being all they had to show for their endeavours as the promise and confidence they showed when ambushing Éire Og in the first round slowly drained away.

Cooraclare were like old time prize fighters – toying their opponents for much of the half, content to grab points from John Looney in the 42nd minute and Mark Tubridy ten minutes later, before finally moving in for the kill and registering their knockout blows in the final minutes.

Haymaker number one came in the 55th minute when Cooraclare sliced through the now porous St Breckan’s defence before Gearóid Looney drilled low into the left corner of the net; two minutes later Sean Maguire matched this feat with a goal of his own, while St Breckans’ misery was complete in the 60th minute when John McDonagh saw red from referee Gerry Keane.

Cooraclare
Declan Keane (7), Fergal Lillis (7), Conor Marrinan (7),Thomas Downes (7), David Marrinan (7) (0-1),Thomas Donnellan (7), Declan McMahon (7),AndrewO’Neill (7), Joe Considine (7), Michael McMahon (7) (0-1), MarkTubridy (7) (0-1), Sean McGuire (7) (1-1), Rory Donnelly (7), John Looney (8) (1-7, 6f), Gearóid Looney (7) (11).

Subs
Michael Kelly (6) for McMahon [39 Mins], Kieran Hassett (6) for Conor Marrinan [60 Mins].

St Breckan’s
Craig Flanagan (7), Daniel Carey (7), Conor Howley (6), Donal Howley (7), Raphael Considine (6), Michael Reddan (7), Cathal Blood (7), Shane O’Connor (6), StephenTierney (6) (01), Denis O’Driscoll (7), Sean Cormican (7), John McDonagh (7), Mikie Keating (6), Conor Cormican (6), Pat Nagle (7) (0-6, 5f).

Subs
John Stack (6) for Tierney [20 Mins], Stephen Flaherty (6) for Considine [Half-Time], Neil Hawes (6) for Conor Howley [44 Mins], Eric Murrihy (6) for O’Connor [50 Mins]., Darragh Curtin (6) for Stack [58 Mins].

Man of the Match
John Looney (Cooraclare) Referee Gerry Keane (O’Curry’s)

THE RECENT 60×30 All-Ireland adult semi-finals were succesful for all three Clare doubles pairs in action, albeit with the help of a pair of walkovers.

In the Ruby Masters Doubles, John Kirby and Jimmy Walsh received a bye when Mayo’s John Kenny and Tom Derrig pulled out due to an injury to Kenny. In Ladies Junior Doubles, Ashling Fitzgerald and Edel O’Grady got a walkover from Mayo’s Stephanie Coleman and Mary Duffy.

The one Banner County pair to play their semi-final were Pat Donellan and Stephen McInerney in the Golden Masters and they had a comprehensive win in Tuamgraney when they defeated Galway’s Willie Corc- oran and Mike Shaughnessy, 21-16, 21-12.

Both Masters Doubles pairs will play their All-Ireland finals on Saturday September 24 in St. Coman’s, Roscommon at 3pm. Donellan and McInerney will play Cavan’s Dermot Dolan and Andy Clarke while the Ruby Doubles pairing will be in opposition against Pat Ryan and Michael O’Brien of Dublin. On the same bill, Ashling Fitzgerald plays the Ladies Junior Singles decider against Westmeath’s Aoife McCarthy.

Before then, the Banner County will be well represented in the first round of adult All-Ireland finals to be played this coming weekend when four Clare players play All-Ireland deciders. On Sunday in Ballina, John Kirby will play Dermot Howard (Kildare) and Pat Donellan faces Kilkenny man Eamn Purcell. The action starts at the Tipperary venue at 1pm. Ashling Fitzgerald and Edel O’Grady travel to St. Coman’s, Roscommon on the same day to take on Aoife McCarthy and Niamh Egan (Westmeath) in the Junior Ladies Doubles final (1.00pm).

Meanwhile, this weekend also sees the All-Ireland 60×30 Juvenile finals taking place and Clare have a strong interest here too. Clooney’s Fergal Coughlan plays the Boys Under 14 Singles final against Daniel Curry from Wicklow while Fergal’s sister Natasha, along with Michelle Nihill (also Clooney) take on Mary Buggy and Catherine Foley of Kilkenny in Girls Under 15 Doubles. Both finals are in Cashel this Saturday with a starting time of 11.30am.

Éire Óg 1-12 – St Senan’s Kilkee 0-11 at Pairc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty

A DEAD rubber in terms of the overall championship but crucial to Éire Óg who needed a lift ahead of their relegation play-off following two demoralising losses. Kilkee, for their part, had already secured top spot in the group and it certainly bore out that way as a more urgent Éire Óg led from start to finish to secure their first victory of the championship.

Despite an understength side that saw their second string severely dented and a below-par display, Kilkee did finally rise to the challenge late on to cut the deficit to two but it was simply too little too late to knock the Townies off their perch.

When the masters fixtures list was finalised earlier in the year, this was expected to be a thrilling potential group decider but the lack of a competitive bite did make for a low-key affair that even their respective supporters failed to come out for in large numbers.

That didn’t concern Éire Óg however as they simply needed to kickstart their campaign after failing in all their major tests this year, including the Garry Cup final. Their strength lay in centre-back Alan Malone who controlled the backline before succumbing to injury just after half-time; Brian Frawley and Shane Daniels dominated the midfield exchanges; up front, corner-forwards Eoin Glynn and Sean O’Meara posed a constant threat while David Russell led the line expertly, even helping out his own backline on numerous occasions when needed most late on.

Indeed, they were 0-7 to 0-4 ahead by the break, taking advantage of a changeable wind with six different players getting on the scoresheet as compared to only Michael O’Shea and Barry Harte for Kilkee. There was also goal chances at either end with Sean Crotty’s 12th minute effort kept out by Kevin Harte while just before the interval, Barry Harte was denied by Eoin Slattery.

However, it was only after Sean Crotty’s 42nd minute goal for Éire Óg that Kilkee finally developed some urgency. A defensive error allowed Sean O’Meara to raid down on goal before passing to the un- marked Sean Crotty for the easiest of finishes. That put Éire Óg 1-8 to 0-6 ahead by the turn of the final quarter but Kilkee finally found their rhythm and four unaswered points in eight minutes, two from the foot of O’Shea, left only two points between the sides by the 54th minute.

Éire Óg battened down the hatches, led by captain Russell who swept up at the back and they were rewarded with the last three points of the game, two from placed balls, to secure the moral boosting victory.

Éire Óg
Eoin Slattery (7), Saren Butler (7), Donie Lyne (7), Michael O’Regan (7), Paul Madden (6),Alan

Malone (8), Conor Healy (7), Brian Frawley (8) (0-2), Shane Daniels (8) (0-3f), David Ryan (7) (0-1 1’45), David Russell (8) (0-1), Brian McMahon (7) (0-1), Eoin Glynn (8) (0-2), Sean Crotty (7) (1-0), Sean O’Meara (8) (0-2)

Subs
Robbie Malone (6) for A. Malone (36 mins, inj), Darren O’Neill for Madden (54 mins)

St Senan’s Kilkee
Kevin Harte (7), Darren Clarke (6), Darragh Kelly (7), Darren Owens (6), Diarmuid Keane (7) (0-1), Thomas Galvin (7),Alan Russell (6), David Russell (7), Christopher Williamson (7) (0-1), Brian Harte (6), Barry Harte (7) (0-3), Ronan Brown (6), Gearoid Lynch (7) (0-1), Michael O’Shea (8) (0-5 3f), Micheál Keane (6)

Subs
Gavin Melican (5) for M. Keane (22 mins, inj), Christy Kirwan (7) for Brian Harte (36 mins), Derek Deloughery (6) for Clarke (40 mins), John Enright for Melican (50 mins)

Man of the Match
David Russell (Éire Óg) Referee Barry Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown)