Category: Sport

Cratloe 0-8 – Inagh/Kilnamona 0-7 at Cusack Park, Ennis

THOSE who argue that hurleys should be for burning and not for playing ball with certainly had much ammunition for their argument at Clare headquarters on Sunday evening after this truly forgettable hour.

Not that Cratloe minded – they may have looked tired, very tired at times but they still had enough to stumble over the winning line thanks to Conor McGrath’s 62nd minute point, just over two minutes after he missed a 65.

Cometh the end of the hour he was in the right place at the right time and wasn’t found wanting when Sean Collins and Martin ‘Ogie’ Murphy created the opening for the matchwinning point from 25 yards.

It was probably the highlight of the hour as it inched Cratloe into the quarter-final for the third successive year, leaving Inagh/Kilnamona to shoot it out with Tubber in the last game to see who joins the 2009 champions at the business end of the championship.

This was the game that neither side seemed to want to win – first it was Cratloe who failed utterly to use the wind to their advantage in the first half, only to be thrown a lifeline in the second by an Iangh/Kilnamona side that was just as culpabale when it came to translating possession into scores.

It was pedestrian stuff from the off, with Cratloe’s profligacy being the main feature of the first half as they racked up eight wides while playing towards the scoreboard end.

They did lead by 0-5 to 0-4 thanks to Conor McGrath, who hit four points over the half hour, while his county senior colleage Sean Collins chipped in with the other as they eked out their advantage.

Inagh/Kilnamona had four wides of their own, but they were much more economical with the scoring chances, setting the tone early when Conor Tierney showed pace and accuracy to open the scoring inside two minutes.

In a half there was little between the sides, albeit that Cratloe’s dominance in the possession stakes seemed to give them the scope to kick clear by half-time and give them the cushion they looked like needing for the second half.

They did lead by 0-4 to 0-2 after 20 minutes, with McGrath accounting for all of their scores, while Inagh/ Kilnamona kept the scoreboard ticking – however slowly – thanks to Ger Arthur and Niall Arthur frees that brought them within a point by the 25th minute.

That’s how it stayed at the break as Sean Collins and Niall Arthur traded points in the final three minutes of the half as a very mediocre 30 minutes came to an end – a lead that scarcely seemed enough for a Cratloe side that failed to show the energy and application that marked their ascent in the senior ranks over the last couple of years.

What followed in the second half was equally as bad as the scoring rate deteriorated further with the statistic of six points over the half hour telling the story. Inagh/Kilnamona looked to have the force with them when a Niall Arthur 65 and a point from play by Conor Tierney that sandwiched a Conor McGrath free levelling matters by the 38th minute, but wides from Ger Arthur and Niall Arthur (2) cost them dear. Haulie Vaughan and Cathal Lafferty also hit wides, but the sides were still deadlocked at 0-7 apiece entering injury time after Niall Arthur and Conor McGrath had swapped points.

Enter McGrath once more with his sixth point, while Niall Arthur missed a 65-yard free to level matters in the third minute of injury time.

Scariff 2-12 – Tubber 2-11 at Gurteen

IT WAS drama all the way as a remarkable Scariff comeback blew the group wide open again on Sunday. Ten points down after only 20 minutes, Scariff it seemed required a mini miracle to get anything out of the game and ease their relegation concerns. However they made vital switches that actually turned the tables on previously unbeaten Tubber and opened the door for an upset in the group standings.

With the quarter-final line in sight, Tubber will be kicking themselves that they let this game slip from their grasp. Victory would have greatly aided their passage to the last eight but now, they will need a result in their winner-takes-all last round clash with Inagh/Kilnamona.

They were simply cruising early on after Eamon Taaffe and Darragh O’Connor’s goals pushed them 2-5 to 0-1 clear by the 21st minute. Scariff reshuffled the pack in the hope of sparking a revival and it had the desired effect as Alphie Rodgers and Ross Horan switched wings while the influence of Cathal Nash’s move to centre-back and his brother Diarmaid at midfield were also crucial.

Rodgers picked off two points, Cathal Nash also scored while Ross Horan converted a free to soften the blow by the break at 2-6 to 0-5. Now inspired and gaining momentum, Scariff continued their recovery after the break with Ross Horan bagging 2-3 by the turn of the final quarter to gain parity. Further points from Kenny McNamara and Barry Murphy put the east Clare side ahead for the first time only for Clive Earley and Shane O’Connor to peg them back once more. However, a brace of points from Ross Horan proved decisive and while Patrick O’Connor reduced the gap to the minimum in injury-time, Tubber failed to take their late opportunities as an overjoyed Scariff hung on for the points.

Scariff
Shane Mulvihill (7), Barry McNamara (7), Darragh Kelly (7), JimMinogue (7), Cathal Nash (8) (0-1),

Padraig Brody (7), Patrick Minogue (7), Matthew Horan (6), Diarmaid Nash (8), Ross Horan (9) (27 3f), Kenny McNamara (7) (0-1),Alphie Rodgers (7) (0-2), Mark Mulvihill (7), Michael Moroney (7), Barry Murphy (7) (0-1)

Subs
Shane Corry for M. Horan, Brian Corry for M. Mulvihill

Tubber
RonanTaaffe (7), Paul Fogarty (6), Justin McMahon (7), Eoin Ruane (8), Fergal O’Grady (7), Conor Earley (7), Patrick O’Connor (7) (0-2f), Clive Earley (8) (0-2), Mark Earley (7) (0-2 1f), David O’Donoghue (7), Shane O’Connor (7) (0-1), Gerard O’Connor (7) (0-1), Darragh O’Connor (7) (1-1), Barry O’Connor (7) (0-1), EamonTaaffe (7) (1-1)

Subs
Nigel O’Donoghue for D. O’Donoghue, Conor Clancy for Fogarty, Blaine Earley for B O’Connor

Man of the Match
Ross Horan (Scariff ) Referee Fergie McDonagh (St Joseph’s Doora.Barefield)

DESPITE A large number of setbacks that have befallen Pat Hoban’s Kilkenny Intermediate side this year, it is difficult to muster up much sympathy considering their near perfect record at all grades in the last ten years. Already picking from intermediate and junior clubs, Hoban and his management team had to pick a completely new squad for this year’s competition thanks to their All-Ireland intermediate success last year but that is only the beginning of the supremo’s woes this season.

“It’s been a tough sort of campaign for us this year. One match is hardly ideal preparation going into an AllIreland final and as well as that, we have lost five of the team that played in that Leinster final against Wexford including senior panelists Eoin Murphy, Kieran Joyce and Richie Doyle who are training with the seniors on Saturday. But we have had a few challenge matches which is the only way we can prepare as it has been intermittent with club championship games as well.

“Without playing the poor mouth, number one we have had to pick a completely new panel and we are already picking from junior and intermediate clubs so we are truthfully stretching it but we will still have 15 lads in black and amber out there next Saturday.

“I know some counties like Tipperary and Galway this year got their senior club players involved, putting certain parameters on themselves of who they could and couldn’t pick but we’re working off the old system I suppose of junior and intermediate clubs. To be fair, we have had our fair share of minors in the last few years that have c o m e from junior and intermediate clubs which is unusual and w e h a v e seen a g o o d b u n c h of lads m a k – ing the step up to the senior grade and hopefully they will all stay in the county set-up.”

Having won the last four successive Leinster intermediate titles and played in four All-Ireland finals as well, winning two of those, Hoban is an experienced coach that recognises that his side are in for a battle against Clare on Saturday.

“We’ve done a bit of homework. Clare have had three good wins and at the start of the year, I would have thought that Tipperary were going to walk this championship but they were beaten by Cork who in turn were beaten by Clare and since they have gone on to beat Limerick and

Galway. So my thoughts on Clare

are they are a good solid team

with a couple of experienced

guys in it and I don’t think

that Clare will be beaten

too easily anyway.

“Genuinely the loss

of the three senior lads is a big, big blow to us because they gave us great options. I know it’s going to be a right battle of a game. Clare, from what I’ve heard seem to have a good solid full-back line and a couple of nippy corner-forwards and that so like any of these matches it’s going to be very hard to call.

“It’s an unusually grade in that you have no real knowledge of the opposition. At senior level, you know each player you are coming up against but at intermediate level, you are ten or fifteen minutes into a game before you know who you are marking. So there’s a bit of a learning curve for us all there.”

A learning curve that Hoban has mastered many times before and whatever team that togs out against Clare on Sunday, will be treated with the utmost respect. After all, there is no such thing as a bad Kilkenny team.

Sixmilebridge 1-14 – O’Callaghan’s Mills 0-08 at Cusack Park, Ennis

THE Bridge are building – bigtime, a fact of hurling life they hammered home once more after this local derby encounter with O’Callaghan’s Mills that opened Sunday afternoon’s fare at Clare GAA headquarters. What harm that it was their second championship match in five days – such an inconvenience proved no obstacle as they brushed aside the challenge of their near neighbours to make sure of their passage to the last eight. And, in the process it was their fourth win in a row, following on victories earlier in the campaign against Clarecastle, Wolfe Tones and Tulla. They secured the points here thanks to a sustained burst in the second half when within the space of eight minutes from the start of the final quarter they hit the Mills with 1-3 without reply to move 1-11 to 0-6 clear. It was winning of the game, with Tony Carmody’s brilliant 47th minute goal being the pivotal score as the ‘Bridge finally sprinted clear of a dogged Mills side that was left to rue their profligacy at the start of the second half when they hit four wides in succession when the sides were locked at 0-4 apiece. The first half was an even affair as the initiative ebbed both ways – firstly the ‘Bridge were on the front foot with points via a Niall Gilligan free and efforts from play by Tony Carmody and Danny Morey putting them 0-3 to no score ahead after eight minutes. However, thanks to Adrian Flaherty’s accuracy from placed balls when he landed frees in the 13th and 21st minutes the Mills played their way back into things, while James McMahon then levelled matters with their first from play in the 27th minute. Niall Gilligan and Alan Duggan then traded points before the break to leave matters delicately poised for the second half. Páidí Fitzpatrick put in an outstanding hour for the ‘Bridge in the first half, but on the turnover it was the Mills who looked the likelier side, only for those four wides in the first four minutes to haunt their progress. This was especially true when the ‘Bridge flexed their scoring muscles once more with three-in-a-row after Tony Carmody and Alan Duggan had swapped points by the 37th minute. An effort from play by Fennessy, followed by two Gilligan points had the ‘Bridge 0-8 to 0-5 clear before Adrian Flaherty pegged them back with another free in the 44th minutes. But, in the end it was as close as the Mills would get – they only managed two more points in the remaining 15 minutes thanks to a consolsation scores from Fergus Donovan and Gary Neville as they could lit- tle to do to stem the ‘Bridge tide that tacked on 1-6 in the same period. Jamie Shanahan’s first of the hour at the three-quarter stage put three between the sides, while Carmody’s goal was followed up by points from John Fennessy, and Seadna Morey by the 53rd minutes to leave the championship favourites 1-11 to 0-6 clear and coasting. And they had the final say too when points by Gilligan and Pa Sheehan left them nine clear and winners as they liked – yet again, with the scare they received on day one against Clarecastle now firmly behind them as they inch closer to a first county title in nine years. They’re the team to beat on the evidence of everything the group stages has thrown up thus far.

Sixmilebridge
Derek Fahy (7),Tadhg Keogh (7),Aidan Quilligan (8), Paul Fitzpatrick (7), Barry O’Connor (7), Paidí Fitzpatrick (8), Robert Conlon (6), Shane Golden (7), John Fennessy (7) (0-2), Seadna Morey (7) (0-1),Tony Carmody (8) (1-2), Declan Morey (6), Jamie Shanahan (7) (0-1), Niall Gilligan (8) Capt (0-5, 2f), Danny Morey (7) (0-1).

Subs
Pa Sheehan (7) (0-2) for Conlon, David O’Connor (6) for Declan Morey.

O’Callaghan’s Mills
John Cooney (7), Sean O’Gorman (7), Conor Cooney (8), Gerry Cooney (7), Ger Frost (7), Patrick Donnellan (8), Bryan Donnellan (7), Jonathon Lyons (7), James McMahon (7) (0-1), Gary Neville (7) (0-1f), Declan Donovan (6), Adrian Donovan (6),Adrian Flaherty (7) (0-3f), Niall Donovan (6),Alan Duggan (8) (0-2).

Subs
Fergus Donovan (7) for Declan Donovan, Eoghan Pewter (6) Niall Donovan, Kevin O’Callaghan (6) for Lyons

Man of the Match
Paidi Fitzpatrick (Sixmilebridge) Referee KevinWalsh (WolfeTones)

ON SATURDAY evening, Andrew Fahey becomes only the sixth goalkeeper to have represented the county in an All-Ireland final in the last 20 years. That’s an achievement in itself really but Fahey isn’t one to rest on his laurels, especially with an All-Ireland medal at stake.

“When we won the Munster championship it was a great thing. To win a Munster medal is super and it’s a huge honour to get one. An All-Ireland was the next step and thankfully we beat Galway but mostly it’s a team effort. It’s great to be part of the team but definitely it’s a 34 man effort. We have great guys over us, we have great players who are great triers, they is a good bond there and hopefully on Saturday, we can get over the line and bring back an AllIreland to Clare.

“When you have guys of the experience we do have, it is a great help and other fellas naturally drive on from that. The last day we went two goals down against Galway and it showed the character of the younger fellas to get us over the line and it means that we have another game to look forward to.”

However, when reflecting on All- Ireland’s past, the Whitegate man immediately turns to the great goalkeepers that made the 90s and 00s a great era for netminders.

“When you are playing out in east Clare, there aren’t too many that want to play in goal and you would be naturally left in that position if you happened to make a few saves and that. But growing up, watching the likes of Davy Fitzgerald, Brendan Cummins and Damien Fitzhenry, you would always watch them carefully in games and the way they are able to make those saves and the distance that they were able to strike the ball. I always wanted to be a goalkeeper and thankfully it seems to have worked out so far.”

Now to create some goalkeeping history himself, starting with Sunday’s intermediate final against the Cats when Clare take yet another step into the unknown.

“Kilkenny will be good, I’ve never met a Kilkenny team yet that is bad so it will take a lot of hard work. They have a lot of players and names but it’s also good that we don’t know much who we are playing. A great thing against Cork was that we didn’t know too much about them, it was the same against Limerick and Gal way and hopefully similar against Kilkenny. We don’t know a whole pile about them but if we focus on our game, it’s a plus and hopefully we will be able to deal with whatever they throw at us.

“The big thing in games like this is that you have got to be able to work hard all over the field. You have to make sure you get off to a good start. We got off to a bad one against Galway but we came back and showed the character we had in the team. We know it’s going to be a battle and if every man can win his own position and hopefully I can keep them out as well, we should be able to get over the line.

“I don’t think the occasion will get to us. Every game we have improved but more importantly we should enjoy the occasion because All-Ireland finals are what the game is all about.”

Hopefully it will be the first of many for the county Under 21.

Clarecastle 4-17 – Wolfe Tones 0-15 at O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge

ELEPHANTS are renowned for their memory and it appears that Magpies don’t forget easily either as they exacted full revenge on Wolfe Tones for their comprehensive defeat two years ago at the same venue. That 5-11 to 2-10 defeat back in September 2009 put Clarecastle in the relegation play-offs for the first time in their history while Saturday’s reverse means that the Shannon side are now in the unwelcome relegation dogfight themselves, regardless of their final round result.

In similar circumstances to that last championship meeting, it was goals that effectively decided the tie with a first half individual effort from Conor O’Gorman added to in the second half by further majors for debutant David Green, Man-of-the-Match Eamon Callinan and Tyrone Kearse as the Magpies finished strongly.

That O’Gorman effort after only seven minutes was the deciding score of the opening half as the sides went toe to toe for the majority. Eamon Callinan was unerring from frees, Danny Scanlon made the difference when moved to midfield while at the other end, county minor Aaron Cunningham, Kevin McCafferty and John Guilfoyle were causing the Magpies problems as they held a slender 1-10 to 0-11 interval lead.

There was no doubt about the result in the second period however as the Magpies more balanced side turned the screw on their vastly understrength opponents. Clarecastle, without goalkeeper John Casey, former county seniors Conor Plun – kett and Derek Quinn, Ollie Plunkett, Aaron Considine, Mark McNamara and Jamie O’Connor themselves, eased clear through a Jonathan Clancy brace before their second goal arrived in the 40th minute.

It stemmed from a Darragh Moloney delivery to Green who turned his marker Patsy Keyes and found the top left corner of the net to push his side six clear. With that, the Tones dropped their heads a little and they were punished further when Eamon Callinan flicked a Clancy high delivery to the net while Kearse completed the rout five minutes later.

Victory eased any relegation worries for the Magpies and secured a senior B place while Wolfe Tones will have an anxious wait before deciding their fate in the relegation lottery over the coming weeks.

Clarecastle
Donnagh Murphy (7), Seanie Moloney (7), Stephen O’Halloran (7), Kevin Clohessy (7), Fearghus Ryan (7), Patrick Kelly (7), Danny Scanlon (8), Jonathan Clancy (8) (0-3), Eric Flynn (7), Eamon Callinan (8) (1-10 7f), Kieran O’Dwyer (7), Darragh Moloney (7), Conor O’Gorman (8) (1-2), David Green (7) (1-0),Tyrone Kearse (7) (1-2)

Wolfe Tones
Ronan Hehir (6), Eamon O’Neill (6), Patsy Keyes (6), Brendan Hughes (7), Shane Chambers (6), Bobby McPhillips (7) (0-2 1f, 1’65), Barry Loughnane (7), John Guilfoyle (8) (0-3), Joe McGauley (6), Kevin McCafferty (7), Daithi O’Connell (6),Aaron Cunningham(8) (0-5), Stephen McInerney (7) (0-1), Gary Leahy (7) (0-2), Garret McPhillips (6) (0-2 1f)

Subs
Paul Hogan (6) for Hehir (8 mins, inj), Richie Lillis (7) for Chambers (46 mins), Mark Regan (6) for McGauley (47 mins), Paul Walsh (6) for G. McPhillips (48 mins), Niall Murphy for O’Neill (56 mins)

Man of the Match
Eamon Callinan (Clarecastle) Referee Ger Lyons (Ruan)

SUNDAY saw the second running of the Sky Ride Etape Hibernia around the closed roads of Clare.

Nearly 2,000 riders took on the 134km circuit with Australian David McIntosh first over the finish line in a time of 3.53.29 hours (only 12 seconds faster than the 2010 winning time).

The first Irish man home was West Clare club man Jarlath Hassett just four minutes behind the winner. Last year’s winner and wearing number one in the 2011 edition of the event, Phillip Colleran was unable to match last year’s result however he did cross the line in ninth place, finishing in four hours.

Lizzie Wiltshire was the fastest female in 4.26.54 hours. She just edged last year’s fastest Jo Millin by two seconds.

The field of riders from 14 countries saw Irish cycling legend, Sean Kelly starting alongside Irish starlet, World Youth Champion Kate Veale and former British Champion and Great Britain international Dean Downing.

This second running of the event attracted over 1,200 riders from outside of Ireland. Coupled together with partners, families and friends, this resulted in hotels, B&Bs and hostels being full to the bring for the duration of the weekend.

Sunday’s event was the result of eight months of careful planning, activated by over 300 event staff made up of 50 volunteers, 30 Garda, 20 moto marshalls, 30 medics, 40 traffic management team, 60 stewards, plus sponsors, council members and over 25 local businesses who were directly involved in the events success.

On completing the 134km, Sean Kelly said, “That was exciting. I really enjoyed the second Sky Ride Etape Hibernia. The closed roads made for an enjoyable event and the pace was steady and achievable.

.At the finish, Kelly was the centre of attention with fans asking for autographs and posing for photographs.

Kate Veale said, “This was my first cycling event and I was a little apprehensive about the distance but it was amazing to have so much company on the roads, I’m used to training solo and the camaraderie was just brilliant. I’ll definitely do more cycling in the future, I love the challenge of any endurance sport.” For more on the Sky Ride Etape Hibernia visit www.etapehibernia. com.

Kilmaley 1-19 – Clooney/Quin 0-10 at Cusack Park, Ennis

IF at first you don’t succeed, try and try again – that motto stood for Kilmaley on the double in this fourth round clash in Cusack Park on Saturday evening, something they came out on the right side of thanks to this comprehensive double scores win.

First and foremost they were out for a rare championship victory after drawing their opening two games; secondly, as the first half of this game wore on, they were out for a goal, with one finally coming their way on the stroke of half-time.

And, when Eoin Enright flashed to the net from ten yards, Kilmaley finally put four missed goal opportunities behind them with a goal that tipped the balance firmly in their favour and from which they never looked back.

That strike which was teed up by a brilliant overhead flick from Seamus Hurley helped Kilmaley into a 1-6 to 0-7 lead, an advantage they pressed home with a vengeance on the turnover when outscoring a dispirited and disjointed Clooney/Quin side by 013 to 0-4.

It was a procession, so much so that long before the end yet another underachieving year for Clooney/Quin at senior level had arrived – their fifth since graduating from the intermediate ranks as a Munster championship winning team.

They had no winning demenour about them on this day, despite a positive opening that saw them moved 03 to 0-1 clear by the seventh minute after Sean Conheady and a couple of Peter Duggan frees got them going.

However, the reality was that these opening salvos represented the height of Clooney/Quin’s day once Kilmaley settled down and picked off points through Michael O’Neill (2), Brian McMahon and Niall McGuane to tie things up at 0-4 apiece by the 15th minute.

And Kilmaley could have been out of sight at half-time thanks to the many goal opportunities that came their way. Niall McGuane, Seamus Hurley, Eoin Enright and Diarmuid McMahon all had chances as they laid siege on Clooney/Quin’s goal only to get nothing for their efforts.

Undeterred, points via Colin Lynch and an Alan Markham free moved them 0-6 to 0-4 clear by the 23rd minute before Martin Duggan and Fergal Lynch hit back to level matters as the game drifted into injury time.

However, the initiative was firmly with Kilmaley by the break after Hurley’s audacious overhead flick, was gathered by Eoin Enright and he blasted to the net. A Peter Duggan free did peg it back to a 1-6 to 0-7 game at the interval, but Kilmaley’s determination to finally land a championship win ultimately over- whelmed a limp Clooney/Quin side in the second half.

Midfielder Kenneth Kennedy was the man, setting the tone for his side’s domination with three points inside the first ten minutes as they turned the screw on a Clooney/Quin side that rapidly began to lose heart, application and interest.

Indeed, this game was over by the 45th minute, by which time Kilmaley had hit seven points without reply to move 1-13 to 0-7 clear as Kennedy continued to lord it around midfield and on the scoreboard.

A couple of points from Martin and Peter Duggan did stem the tide by the 50th minute, but three more Kennedy points to bring his tally to seven for half and another by John Cabey put them 11 clear and out of sight as Kilmaley revelled in the freedom of finally knowing that they were going to win a championship game.

It was exhibition stuff in the end as Eoin O’Malley and Colin McGuane tacked on points to leave a dozen between the sides in the end.

Clooney/ Quin
Damian O’Halloran (7), Joe O’Loughlin (7), Conor Harrison (7), Shane McNamara (6), Donncha Murphy (6), Cillian Duggan (7), Enda Harrison (6), Sean Conheady (7) (0-1), Mike McNamara (6), Martin Duggan (7) (0-2),Adrian Fleming (6), John

Earls (7) (0-1), Michael Daffy (7), Fergal Lynch (7) (0-2), Peter Duggan (7) (0-3f).

Subs
Cathal Egan (6) for Fleming [Half-Time], Padraig Ward (6) for Mike McNamara [44 Mins], Seamus Conroy (6) for Earls [22 Mins].

Kilmaley
Kieran Dillon (7), Martin O’Connor (7),Anthony Cahill (7), Colin McGuane (7) (0-1), Noel Casey (7),Alan Markham(7) Capt. (0-1f), Conor McMahon (7), Kenneth Kennedy (8) (0-8, 4f, one 65), Colin Lynch (7) (0-1), Diarmuid McMahon (7), Brian McMahon (7) (0-1), Michael O’Neill (7) (03), Eoin Enright (7) (1-0), Seamus Hurley (7) (0-1), Niall McGuane (7) (0-1).

Subs
Conor Neylon (6) for Enright [54 Mins], John Cabey (7) (0-1) for McGuane [54 Mins], Eoin O’Malley (6) (0-1) for Lynch [58 Mins], Declan Clancy (6) for O’Neill [59 Mins], John Clohessy for O’Connor [60 Mins].

Man of the Match
Kenneth Kennedy (Kilmaley) Referee Ger Hoey (Killanena)

WITH THE 60×30 handball provincial championships now concluded, Clare’s three Munster Singles Champions were in All-Ireland semi-final action over the weekend and all three were victorious. The legendary John Kirby had a straight-forward 21-5, 21-11 win over Paddy Walsh (Sigo)in his Ruby Masters semi-final in Ballina while in Golden Masters B Singles, Pat Donellan had a 21-10, 21-11 victory against Galway’s Willie Corcoran at Williamstown. Ashling Fitzgerald travelled to Roscommon to play Stephanie Coleman of Mayo in Junior Singles and came away with an impressive 21-8, 21-15 success.

All three are also Munster Doubles champions and are again in All-Ireland semi-final this Saturday. John Kirby teams up with Jimmy Walsh to take on Mayo pair Tom Derrig and John Kenny in Castlebar (5.00) while there are two games down for decision in Tuamgraney. Starting at 2.00pm, Pat Donellan and his partner Stephen McInerney face Galway opposition in the form of Willie Corcoran and Mike Shaughnessy. Ashling Fitzgerald is again up against Mayo when she partners Edel O’Grady to take on Stephanie Coleman and Mary Duffy.

This weekend also sees the 60×30 All-Ireland Juvenile Semi-Finals take place and on the Munster v. Connaught side of the draw, there is a full list of games down for this Saturday in both Ballina (Tipp) and Hospital (both 12.00). Clare will be represented on Saturday by Fergal Coughlan, who plays his Boys under 14 Singles semi final against either Sligo or Mayo in Ballina.

Crusheen 0-16 – Ballyea 1-08 at Cusack Park, Ennis

FOR THE second successive year, it was an uncomfortable ride before Crusheen finally overcame a stubborn Ballyea challenge.

It was by no means a convincing display from the county champions but at this stage of the competition, a win is a win and Crusheen gave further creedence to their defence of the title by securing top spot in the group and a coveted place in the last eight.

Despite a nervy third quarter when a Tony Kelly-led Ballyea threatened to upset Crusheen’s final group outing, the holders led from start to finish and were 0-9 to 0-3 ahead at the break, thanks to the experience of David Forde (3), Gerry O’Grady (2) and Gearoid O’Donnell (1).

0-6 to 0-1 clear by the 27th minute, Crusheen’s nine first half wides kept Ballyea in the game and it might have proved costly when Kelly’s free from 45 metres dropped around the square but Kevin Sheehan’s effort just went the wrong side of the crossbar.

Former county captain Gerry O’Grady had a pull saved at the other end before the half was completed but he did make amends with the final two points of the half to give his side a six point interval cushion.

Sick of moral victories, the young Ballyea side went for the jugular on the restart, with 1-1 inside the opening three minutes through a Kelly free and a goal for substitute Francie O’Reilly. That pair would also pick off a brace of points around the turn of the final quarter to reduce the deficit to only the minimum as the game was swinging in the balance

Crusheen dug deep, introduced Conor O’Donnell and county senior captain Paddy Vaughan and finished strongly with the last four points of the game through Fergus Kennedy, Paddy Meaney, Vaughan and Gearoid O’Donnell as Ballyea frustratingly tired once more despite emptying the bench.

It means that Crusheen top the group and move a step closer to be the first side to retain a senior championship in 12 years while Ballyea frustratingly go in the oppositie direction and will contest the relegation play-offs, despite another encouraging performance.

Crusheen
Donal Tuohy (7), John Brigdale (7), Cronan Dillon (7),Alan Brigdale (7), Ciaran O’Doherty (7), Cian Dillon (7), Cathal Dillon (7), Shaun Dillon (6) (0-1), Fergus Kennedy (8) (0-1), Jamie Fitzgibbon (6), Joe Meaney (7) (0-2f), David Forde (8) (0-4), Paddy Meaney (7) (0-2), Gerry O’Grady (7) (0-2), Gearoid O’Donnell (8) (0-3)

Subs
Conor O’Donnell (6) for S. Dillon (43 mins), PaddyVaughan (6) (0-1f) for J. Meaney (49 mins)

Ballyea
Shane O’Neill (7), Declan Keane (6), Paul Flanagan (8), James Murphy (6), Cathal O’Connor (7), Gearoid O’Connell (7), Cathal Doohan (8), Paddy O’Connell (7) Tony Kelly (8) (0-5 3f),Tony Griffin (7), Niall Keane (7) (0-1), Niall Deasy (6), Brian Murphy (6), Kevin Sheehan (6) (0-1), Francie Neylon (6)

Subs
Eamon Griffin (6) for J. Murphy (21 mins), Francie O’Reilly (7) (1-1) for B. Murphy (HT),Alan Carrig (6) for O’Connor (41 mins), Frankie Griffin for Neylon (51 mins, inj), Donal Chambers for Doohan (54 mins, inj)

Man of the Match
David Forde (Crusheen) Referee Rory Hickey (Éire Óg)