Category: Sport

Cratloe 1-13 – Éire Óg 1-6 at Newmarket-on-Fergus

THE CURRENT U21 champions Eire Og won’t be retaining their crown in 2011 as they were beaten by a very strong Cratloe side who proved to much for the townies on St. Patrick’s day as they went out on a score line of 1-13 to 1-6.

Éire Óg held their own in a first half that were neck and neck to the interval with only a point separating the sides at half time. However, Cratloe should have built a much stronger lead if it wasn’t for some wayward shooting and great defending by Eire Og full-back Ciaran Russell.

The second half then saw the townies begin to get the better of Cratloe as they came at them from all angles. A goal then from Eire Og’s David O’Halloran looked as if it would ignite the belief that his side needed to go on and win but in fact it was just the opposite.

Eire Og failed to register a score again until the closing minutes and Cratloe went on to hit 1-8 without reply as Conor McGrath began to find his form. Some loose marking in the middle of the park gave Cratloe plenty of opportunities to feed the dangerous forwards who began to pick off scores.

Both teams were reduced to 14 men when a bust up between Eire Og’s Thomas Downes and Cratloe’s Pa Carey saw them receive second yellows as there looked to be little chance of an Eire Og comeback. Then an off the ball incident resulted in another red for Eire Og as Niall McMahon got his marching orders and it looked to be all over.

Fiachra Connellan then got the last point of the day but it was too little too late for his side as they were beaten by a dominant Cratloe team that is dripping with inter-county talent. They now face the winners of Newmarket-on-Fergus and Kilmaley.

Cratloe
Dean DeLoughrey, Joe Conroy, Sean

Hynan, Enda Boyce, Conor Ryan, LiamMarkham (0-2); Jack McCourt,Wes DeLoughrey, Podge Collins (0-3); Pa Carey, Cathal McInerney (0-2); David Collins, Joe O’Connor, Conor McGrath (15);Thomas Ryan (0-1).

Subs
David McInerney for Boyce, Boyce for David Collins, Robert Foskin for Boyce.

Éire Óg
: Kevin Brennan, Kevin Hally, Ciaran Russell, Niall Malone, Jack Walsh, Kevin Moynihan, Cathal Whelan,Thomas Downes, Conor Stack, Fiachra Connellan (0-1); Niall McMahon, Graham Glynn (0-1); Shane O’Donnell, David O’Halloran (1-4, 2f); Niall O’Connor.

Subs
Aaron Fitzgerald for Stack, Caoimhin Fitzgerald for O’Connor.

Tubber 1-13 – Tulla/Bodyke 2-08 at Gurteen

IT WAS A dramatic finish, but in the end Tubber throughly deserved to advance to the quarter-finals on Sunday. Despite an immense leadership display by county senior Patrick O’Connor who scored 11 points over the hour, Tubber generally had the better balance and the two point winning margin certainly didn’t reflect Tubber’s dominance for the bulk of the game.

The north Clare side led from start to finish, held a six point half-time advantage that even swelled to eight mid-way through the half yet still could have been caught in a nervous final quarter as the amalgamation finally gelled.

However, while Tulla/Bodyke outscored their opponents by 1-3 to 0-1 in the run-in and also had a multitude of further goal chances including a penalty that flew over the crossbar, several close-in frees and goalmouth scrambles, they found goalkeeper Ronan Taaffe in stubborn form as time eventually ran out.

That late charge would make one wonder how competitive this game could have been had Tulla/Bodkye shown as much urgency from the outset but instead it was Tubber who opened up an 0-8 to 0-3 advantage by the 29th minute, with O’Connor scoring all but one of that total while the fielding of Cathal Murray and work-rate of Nigel O’Donoghue were also highlights.

Aside from Trevor Vaughan placed balls and some good defensive work by Daragh Corry, Tulla/Bodkye hopes of gaining a foothold in this game stemmed from infrequent goal chances, the first of which Taaffe superbly saved from John Fitzgerald while they did finally break the deadlock on the half hour mark when Tomás McMahon picked up a break to drive a low shot to the net.

Had they been able to go into the break only two points down, Tulla/ Bodyke would have been wholly satisfied but crucially Tubber cancelled that score out when Neil O’Loughlin earned a penalty for Ronan Taaffe to convert to the net in the 34th minute to lead by 1-9 to 1-3 at half-time.

Three Patrick O’Connor placed balls extended that advantage to eight by the turn of the final quarter but they would only score once more as Tulla/Bodyke finally fought back. Four Trevor Vaughan frees cut the deficit to five but a plethora of missed chances in front of goals meant that they were repeatedly frustrated.

Tula/Bodyke did eventually bypass goalkeeper Taaffe in the 62nd minute when substitute Cathal Bolton acrobatically flicked a rebound to the net but it was too little too late as it was Tubber who march on to meet Ballyea this Saturday.

Tubber
RonanTaaffe (1-0 Pen), Paddy O’Connor, Paul Fogarty, Philip O’Connor, Sean Brosnan, Fergal O’Grady, Sean Naughton, Nigel O’Donoghue, Kevin Fawl, Darragh O’Connor, Conor Clancy (0-2), Cathal Murray, Evan O’Donoghue, Patrick O’Connor (0-11 7f, 1’65), Neil O’Loughlin

Subs
Francis McCormack for P. O’Connor (37 mins),Adrian Nilan for Fawl (43 mins)

Tulla/ Bodyke
Alan Leamy, Gavin Moroney, Eoin Halpin, Manus Maguire, Daragh Corry, Sean McGrath, Donnacha McNamara, David McInerney (0-1), Oisin Molloy,Trevor Vaughan (0-7 5f, 1 Pen, 1’65), ColmHalpin,Tomás McMahon (1-0), John Fitzgerald, Danny Maguire

Subs
Cathal Bolton (1-0) for Molloy (43 mins), Cormac Lynch for C Halpin (50 mins)

Man of the Match
Patrick O’Connor (Tubber) Referee Fergie McDonagh (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)

Inagh/Kilnamona 2-10 – Broadford/O’Callaghan’s Mills 0-14 at Dr Daly Memorial Park,

TWO GOALS in three minutes midway through the second half was enough to turn this tie on its head and send Inagh/Kilnamona into the last four. Up to that point, the east Clare amalgamation of Broadford and O’Callaghan’s Mills appeared to be the side most likely to advance and play Sixmilebridge in the semifinals. However, the brace of goals from Brian Foudy and Martin Barry altered the narrative of this game decisively and while Broadford/’Mills had ample opportunities to get something out of the game, Inagh/Kilnamona and full-back Brian Glynn in particular ensured that the leaders held on.

In hindsight however, Broadford/ Mills will reflect on the fact that they only scored two points from play over the 60 minutes. Indeed, it was James McMahon’s solo and point in the 20th minute that handed Broadford/’Mills the lead for the first time in the game at 0-5 to 0-4 after a freetaking duel between Paurig Taylor, Cathal Chaplin and Niall Arthur.

That score was the third in an unanswered haul of six straight points as the east Clare combo finally found their feet to pull four points clear at 0-8 to 0-4 and they might have even added a goal had Aidan O’Gorman managed to field a James McMahon handpass on his way towards goal in the 27th minute.

Crucially however, Inagh/Kilnamona came off the ropes to finish the half strongly with Sean McConigley to the fore by setting up one for Martin Barry while scoring another himself to cut the deficit to only two by the break.

Broadford/O’Callaghan’s Mills maintained their advantage on the resumption with Chaplin and Taylor frees sandwiching another from Arthur at 0-10 to 0-07. Their comfort zone was dented though in the 38th minute when Inagh/Kilnamona launched a counter-attack to score the first goal of the game and tie the game up. Ciaran Devitt raced down the right wing and played a crossfield pass that broke off two players before falling into the path of the overlapping Brian Foudy to pull to the net from close range.

In the next passage of play, Inagh/ Kilnamona almost got in for a second goal but Niall Arthur’s rasping shot was somehow saved by goalkeeper Cian O’Brien at his near post for a ’65 that Arthur duly converted. With the hardworking Vaughan brothers, Eoin and Haulie doing the spadework around the centre, worse was to follow for Broadford/’Mills two minutes later when a Martin Barry free from his own half was misjudged by Chaplin and creeped into the corner of the net to hand Inagh/Kilnamona a 2-08 to 0-10 lead.

To their credit however, Broadford/ ’Mills displayed great character to recover immediately with Chaplin and Taylor (2) converting frees, with only a superb point from Niall Arthur on the left wing in reply.

Mark Moloney’s 52nd minute point cut the deficit to only the minimum but try as they might, that was as good as it would get. A Niall Arthur free restored Inagh/Kilnamona’s two point advantage and with Brian Glynn having a near-perfect game at full-back, a series of threatening Broadford/’Mills attacks were all thwarted. The best opportunity fell for Niall Moloney who caught a Cathal Chaplin cross just outside the square but surrounded by defenders, he chose to handpass towards goal and Mark Moloney failed to connect with a overhead pull as the ball drifted wide.

A further brace of frees also went the same way as Inagh/Kilnamona clung on to set up a repeat of the minor final of three years ago in the last four against Sixmilebridge.

THE ENNIS Triathlon club are holding their first Ennis Duathlon on Sunday, April 3, which will start and finish in Lees road as a build up to the European Duathlon Championships taking place in Limerick two weeks later.

Anyone is entitled to take part in the Ennis Duathlon and the Ennis Triathlon Club are encouraging peo- ple who have never done a duathlon or triathlon before to come along and take part. It will consist of a run-cycle-run, starting in Lees Road; the run will take place through the forest area covering 2.7k and they will then take off from here cycling the by-pass for 14.3k before eventually returning to lees road for a further 2.4k run to the finish.

All you need to take part is simply runners, a bike and a helmet. All en- trants will be provided with a timing chip that will give split results for the cycle leg, both runs and transitions. The cost of entry is € 20 per person including a € 5 fee for a one-day license from Triathlon Ireland if you are not already a member. All proceeds from the event will go towards Clare Haven. The Clare People spoke with Bryan Mathias, a member of the Ennis Triathlon club on the upcoming event and he hopes it will be a big success. The main focus is on targetting it at beginners and people who are new to duathlons and that you don’t have to join the club you can just come for the event on the day. He also hopes that this will now become an annual event in Ennis for Clare Haven and that they have invited the Triathlon Ireland Junior elite squad to take part in the event.

Bryan will be taking part in the Eu- ropean championships in Limerick on April 17 with other members of the club such as Paddy Quinn from Clarecastle and Conor Rooney from Inch who will also be featuring in the first Ennis Dualthlon.

If you are looking to register or for more information you can log onto www.ennistriclub.com. Registration will also be taking place on the day from 9am to 10am with the event starting at 10.30am sharp.

Newmarket-on-Fergus 2-11 – Kilmaley 2-11 at Knockalisheen Park, Meelick

NEWMARKET WILL be disappointed that they didn’t hold on while Kilmaley will wonder how they lost their foothold in a game they seemed to be controlling for two-thirds of the tie but deep down, it’s unlikely that either club will turn their nose up at a chance to get another competitive game under their belts before facing joint-championship favourites Cratloe in the last four.

Kilmaley appeared to be cruising towards victory following an impressive first half showing that saw them lead by five. They got off to the perfect start with an early settling goal from Daire Keane after two minutes when he doubled on a long range Michael O’Neill free to the net. Newmarket responded well to gain parity by the ninth minute through Sean O’Connor, Shane Liddy and Darren Duggan but with centre-back Darren O’Connor sweeping up everything, the switch of Keane to centre-forward was the tonic needed to curb his influence. It allowed Kilmaley to pick off six points without reply from Daire Keane (3), John Cabey, Michael O’Neill and Shane Darcy and by the interval, Kilmaley held a 1-6 to 0-4 advantage.

Having been uncharacteristically sluggish in the opening half, Newmarket were determined to get back into the contest on the restart but needed a spark to ignite their flame. That came in the 38th minute when a defensive error allowed Shane Liddy to pick up possession, drive at the Kilmaley defence and unleash a shot to the top corner. That goal changed matters dramatically and with Sean O’Connor pulling the strings at midfield, Newmarket maintained that intensity to score a further 1-3 without reply to open up a four point lead by the turn of the final quarter.

Sean O’Connor had a hand in all those scores, setting up Niall Enright and Frank Melody to equalise before grabbing the second goal himself when collecting a Darren Duggan lineball and striking an unstoppable shot from distance to the net.

Meanwhile, freefalling Kilmaley finally stopped the rot in the 51st minute through a Daire Keane ’65 following a batted shot from the same player that was turned away by goalkeeper Niall Woods.

Two further close efforts were also spurned by a resurgent Kilmaley who by the 60th minute were still trailing by four at 2-11 to 1-10. However, after a John Cabey point, Michael Pyne earned his side one final opportunity with a 20 metre free and inevitably up stepped Daire Keane to smash the ball to the net and ensure another day out for both sides this weekend.

Newmarket- on- Fergus
Niall Woods, Shane McDermott, Niall O’Connor, Niall Garry,Alan McInerney, Darren O’Connor, David Liddy, Sean O’Connor (1-2), Frank Melody (0-2), Noel Frawley (0-1), Niall Enright (0-1), LiamClancy (0-1 1f), Thomas Griffin, Darren Duggan (0-3 1f, 1’65), Shane Liddy (1-1)

Subs
Shane Kelleher for Griffin (23 mins, inj), Ian Cusack for Clancy (53 mins)

Kilmaley
Bryan O’Loughlin, Martin O’Connor, Stephen Griffey, Niall McGuane, Kevin Collellan, Colin McGuane, Kevin McNamara (0-1), Eoin Enright, Conor Cleary, Michael O’Neill (0-1 1f), Michael Pyne, John Cabey (0-2), Shane Darcy (0-1), Daire Keane (2-6 1-2f, 1’65), Shane Culligan

Subs
Paul Kennedy for Culligan (44 mins), Eoin Fitzgerald for Darcy (52 mins)

Man of the Match
Sean O’Connor (Newmarket- on- Fergus) Referee Ger Hoey (Killanena)

Rineanna B 1 – 0 Bridge United at Cassidy Park, Ennis

BRIDGE UNITED made a shock exit from the Clare Cup as they were beaten by Rineanna Rovers B thanks to a very late goal from Rineanna which saw them progress with a one nil win.

Only a week after Bridge Utd had beaten Rineanna’s A team in the Premier Division they faced Rineanna’s B side in the cup but this affair did not go as smoothly as they might have liked. Bridge could have easily went a goal behind in the early stages of the game as what looked to be a penalty for a foul on Ronan McCormack was not given and the sides remained level until the half.

Rineanna found it hard to break down this Bridge side in order to create chances but on the opposite end they also managed to keep Bridge out as they kept this encounter nip and tuck all the way to the finish denying Bridge of any clear cut chances.

Bridge United then had a great chance to take the lead with 20 minutes remaining but Trevor Maxwell’s effort struck the post. Then as extra- time was looming up stepped Ronan McCormack with only minutes left to give Rineanna the lead. They finally found a gap which put him through on goal as he took it over the ‘keeper and into the back of the net to put his side ahead.

There was little time remaining for a shell-shocked Bridge United side and they failed to create any chances in the closing minutes to force the game into extra-time which meant Rineanna Rovers B will now progress into the next round after a great performance.

Rineanna Rovers B
Eugene O’Mahoney, Ger Cahill, Darragh McCormack, David Barrett, Paudie O’Looney, Kieran O’Connor, Martin Frawley,Alan Barrett, Ronan McCormack, Enda Barrett, Shane Meehan.

Subs
Declan O’Mahoney.

Bridge United
Paul Touhy, Johnny Hayes, Donald Devanney, Darren Murphy,AdrianWhyte, Shane Devanney, Steve Stewart, Mark Culbert, Kieran Quinlan, Trevor Maxwell, JasonWhyte.

Subs
Niall Gilligan, Paul Fitzpatrick, Greg Deegan.

Man of the Match
Ronan McCormack (Rineanna Rovers B) Referee

CLARE manager Micheál McDermott had harsh words for his team in Cusack Park on Sunday after their hopes of promotion to Division 3 for 2012 were finally extinguished after their 0-16 to 1-10 defeat to Connacht champions Roscommon.

For 15 minutes he held his players in conclave, admitting to The Clare People afterwards that this latest defeat – their third of the campaign to date – wasn’t “good enough”.

However, in telling the players some home truths about the performance, McDermott says that the character is within the squad to bounce back for the challenges of the final three league games against and the Munster championship opener against Cork in June.

“The second half was good from Clare, but this is the bottom line: we threw it away.

“We threw away victory against Roscommon. To me we were the better team. We had chances to win that game and we just didn’t take them.

“When you have chances and you don’t take them, you get punished, especially against a good quality opposition like Roscommon. Roscommon really punished us.

“I take no defeat easily. We are as goo a team as the Connacht champions. In fact we were better than them, but we didn’t win. That’s very frustrating and not good enough. Our finishing let us down. Our options let us down. That’s not good enough,” said McDermott.

“We gave a performance we can feel proud of.

“We actually worked hard and upped our level of performance from our last couple of games.

“If we played like that against Carlow or Leitrim, we would have been sitting here still in contention to win this division and get promotion.”

“My view is that the league is never over until the final whistle in the final game is blown.

“We’re not going to be promoted this year, but we have to make sure that eight Longford, Fermanagh or Wicklow are not promoted on the back of a victory against us.

“Then we have to look to championship. I know the lads have the character.

“After the final whistle I would have been worried about where we go from here, but talking to them I know the character is in them to bounce back next week after pick it up again,” he added.

Avenue United 1 – Lifford 0 at Cassidy Park, Ennis

AVENUE United’s chances of retaining their Premier League title remain faint but alive after a narrow derby victory over Lifford on Thursday.

David Russell’s 67th minute goal settled a game of few chances and keeps the title race alive for another few weeks at least.

Avenue have six games in hand over first place Newmarket who sit 14 points clear at the top of the table.

The reigning league and Clare cup champions will have to embark on a major winning streak if they are to steer the trophy away from Newmarket’s hands.

Given Avenue’s record of success and the talent and experience within their squad, such a prospect is by no means beyond the bounds of possibility.

It looked for a long time on St Patrick’s Day that Avenue would have to settle for a point after being frustrated in their efforts by a resilient and well-organised Lifford side.

Lifford had defended very well until a momentary lapse in concentration proved fatal.

Mattie Nugent picked out the unmarked David Smyth on space at the edge of Lifford’s 18-yard box.

Smyth turned the ball wide to a similarly unmarked Russell. On his return from injury, the second half substitute produced a thumping finish that gave Lifford goalkeeper Jean Silva no chance.

Lifford went looking for an equaliser but despite the trickery of Ryan Boyle and Clare youths player Ruairi Norrby on the flanks, they failed to breach Avenue’s sound defence.

Substitute Roberto did come close with a close range header while David Herlihy missed a glorious chance to further enhance Avenue’s lead in the closing moments.

The result leaves Lifford looking nervously over their shoulders towards the lower end of the table. Yet while they could get sucked into a relegation battle, Lifford, with Limerick FC coach and former Bunratty manager Donal Magee now on board, appear a far stronger unit than the one taken to the brink in last year’s pulsating play-off with Mountshannon Celtic.

Chances were few and far between with Avenue’s best moments in the first half largely restricted to a couple of long range efforts from David McCarthy.

The visitors enjoyed more possession after the break but couldn’t break down a Lifford defence well marshalled by Hamed Kuku.

Barry Nugent went close with a header in the 61st minute before Rus- sell secured the all important match winner.

Lifford
Jean Silva, Joe Lynch, Connor Donnellan, Michael Joe Sullivan, Hamed Kuku, Gary Browne,TJ Ajisomo, Gary McNaboe, Pat Nagle, Ruairi Norrby, Ryan Boyle

Subs
Kieran Neenan for Nagle, Roberto for McNaboe

Avenue United
John Healy, Simon Cuddy, Richard Lillis, Mattie Nugent, Con Collins, Gary Flynn, Pa Wilson, David McCarthy, Barry Nugent, David Herlihy, David Smyth

Subs
David Russell for McCarthy, Richie O’Grady for Flynn, Eamon O’Reilly for Lillis

Referee
John Murray

BURREN United came from a goal down at half-time to ease their way into the quarter-final stage for the second consecutive year and so end Cratloe’s cup ambitions.

It was a lively game all through, especially in the opening half, when a depleted Cratloe side that only had the bare 11 players held sway after conceding a goal as early as the tenth minute when Ian McInerney’s through ball was squared by Liam Keane for Patrick Darcy to head home.

Cratloe were back on terms after 15 minutes when Padraigh Chaplin’s in-swinging corner from the right took a deflection on its way to the net, while the south east Clare side were cock-a-hoop on 35 minutes when midfielder Michael Hawes beat Craig Flanagan for the lead goal.

However, it was as good as it got for Cratloe as Burren turned the screw on the turnover. The equaliser came in the 60th minute when Ian McInerney’s corner was headed home at the far post by Enda Coughlan.

The lead goal came five minutes later when sub Danny Burke raced into the box and was brought down, with Mark McCarthy converting the kick, while Martin McDonagh made it 4-2 on 80 minutes when heading home another McInerney corner. Aly McMillan got a consolation for Cratloe two minutes from time.

Burren
Craig Flanagan, Daniel Carey, Enda Coughlan, John McDonagh, Marine Gihat (Eric Murrihy), Ian McInerney, Martin McDonagh, Evan Talty, Mark McCarthy, LiamKeane (Danny Burke), Patrick Darcy (John McCormack).

Cratloe Forest
Pierce de Loughrey, Philip Counihan,Thomas O’Connor, Brian McMillan, Padraigh Chaplin, Jeremy Cortrious,Aly McMillan, Chris McGrath, Michael Hawes, Damian Browne, Martin McMillan.

Referee
Julian Stanford

CLARE CRICKET will be in the spotlight this Friday night as the two clubs in Clare, Lahinch and County Clare Cricket Club took part in an event that will be shown on Nationwide on RTE 1 at 7pm this coming Friday.

The RTE crew were in Shannon on Monday morning as both the Lahinch Cricket team and the County Clare Cricket team who are based in Shannon took part in some training and skills demonstrations for the cameras before heading back the coast to play a match between the two teams on the Lahinch beach which gathered quite some interest. The Clare People caught up with Colin Humphrey, a co-founder of the Lahinch Cricket Club which was set up two years ago to talk about his club and how it was formed. “We gathered together a crew of lads who used to play cricket at some time and we put together a broad mixture of people from Australia, New Zealand, India, England and Ireland and decided to start a team up.” He says that although they are currently only playing friendly matches, with a squad of 24 players they are hoping to enter the Munster League next summer. He then went on to tell of how the idea for the programme came about,

“Well Nationwide got in touch and they wanted to get footage of us for the programme this Friday. I think it was due to the interest of Ireland beating England in the World Cup so we organised a bit of training this morning in Shannon and then came back to Lahinch and organised a match on the beach.”

He also added that the days events were a great success and he hopes that the clubs will grow in size and support as a result of the coverage they will get.

County Clare Cricket Club beat The Lahinch Cricket Club by a single run in the game which was played on the beach but they will join together forces in early May once more as they will be playing league games throughout the course of the summer months.