Category: Sport

THERE were heated words at last Tuesday night’s November monthly meeting of the Clare GAA when the top table was questioned by Doonbeg delegate Michael Neenan as to why a number of coaching programmes put before the board over the past decade were not implemented.

The stormy exchanges were sparked during a lengthy debate that arose out of the findings of the Clare ‘Club Forum’ that was organised by Bord na nOg Peil and took place in the West County Hotel on October 25.

“I’m afraid all this has been done before and unless we are going to implement it and help the club going forward with coaching structures, these recommendations won’t mean one iota whatsoever,” said the Doonbeg delegate in opening the debate.

“There have been plans put before the county board and they were never acted on. There was a fantastic play put by Noel O’Driscoll, coaching officer. Michael O’Doherty put a fantastic plan and had structures with schools and clubs and it wasn’t implemented, wasn’t worked on, wasn’t carried forward.

“I’m amazed how we are going back again to this. Why haven’t the previous plans been acted on, Mr Chairman. Is it a lack of funding? There is no word of funding here. A lot of people I spoke to said that this won’t make any difference whatsoever. Where did previous plans breakdown. Was it lack of leadership. Was it lack of money,” he added.

These comments provoked a series of verbal exchanges between Mr Neenan and board chairman Michael O’Neill.

“It is time to move bloody well forward,” said O’Neill. “Forget about reports that were done in the past. We have one now – let’s move on it and let’s work it and let’s do the best we can on it.

“We will certainly endeavour to make it work, but it is up to the people in the clubs and ourselves to get it going. I can’t guarantee that is going to work, but I will strive to make it work,” he added.

“But the previous plans were way past where we are tonight with this plan,” responded Neenan. “What happened to those plans?” he added.

“I wasn’t chairman at the time,” responded O’Neill, “but I will endeavour to ensure that that plan is implemented as much as possible. That’s all I have to say on it.”

“Can I ask the question of Pat (Fitzgerald) then,” said Neenan. “You were there when Michael O’Doherty put forward his plan – he had structures for clubs and schools and he had bodies out there, but it fell down. Could you put a bit of light on it? Why did it fall down?”

“From what I know of it, that was a coaching and games plan,” responded Fitzgerald. “He put the structures together and they were there for a long time. In fairness people like Seamus Clancy and those got involved but there was nobody take up the cudgels afterwards.

“Sean O’Halloran is beside you and he’ll tell you Bord na nÓg Iomáint find it impossible to get people involved. It’s not about money, it’s not about structures. The structures are there. Michael O’Doherty’s plan was a great plan and he got the people and they got tired after a number of years. That’s what happened as I see it. It’s just a question of physical resources.

“After couple of years things do fall down, but there are certainly good structures in place now that weren’t there ten years ago. But we have to look at that to see if it’s good enough to bring players where we want them to be in hurling and football at senior, minor and under 21 level.

“It is time to go forward,” said Tom Downes. “We have a plan. Eamon (Keane) and his committee have put a lot of time into it and have got it out to the clubs. Different areas are broken down, who is responsible for everything. We are all responsible in the football to carry this through. There is a terrible responsibility on the clubs. That was pointed out at the end of the meeting the last day by Gordon Kelly.

“This is an excellent plan and there are four or five areas where responsibility falls into. The clubs. The county board. Bord na nÓg. Let’s go forward now,” added the Munster Council delegate.

CLARE GAA should embark on a public relations offensive to win the support of the grassroots on the association in the county, one delegate claimed in a colourful contribution to the November monthly meeting of the county board on Tuesday last.

Kildysart delegate, John Meade, who is also a match day steward in Cusack Park, proposed that a series of regional meetings between the board and clubs take place.

“There’s an attitude out there that the county board and the executive of the county board are away from the grassroots of the GAA,” said Meade.

“I see it in my own club – they don’t realise that the clubs are the county board. Maybe it’s time to have regional meetings and meet the clubs and maybe. There is an awful stigma out there with the officers of the county board,” he added.

“Everybody involved in the county board and county board are very or- dinary people,” said board chairman, Michael O’Neill. “We all come from the background of a club,” added the Ballyea clubman.

“I know that,” said Meade, “but that’s what’s out there. I told you last year people were saying to me ‘what the f**** are you involved with that shower of c****’,” he added to roars of laughter from fellow delegates.

In contributing to the debate, board secretary Pat Fitzgerald said, “I know people are saying ‘you are being paid by the board’. But what they don’t realise is that I’m putting in another 45 hours. I have no problem if someone gives me a job and I will still do my 45 hours.”

CUTTING the number of senior clubs in hurling and football will be one of the radical topics on the table for discussion by the new county board committee charged with responsibility for coming up with a new blueprint for club structures.

The possibility was sounded out by O’Curry’s delegate, Michael Curtin, who is the brainchild behind the seven-member committee that has been put together by county board chairman, Michael O’Neill.

The move to cull the number of senior clubs – from 20 in hurling and from 16 in football – was first broached on the hurling front by outgoing senior hurling boss Ger O’Loughlin when he addressed the September meeting of the Clare County Board at the end of his twoyear term.

In the course of his address to delgates about the terms of reference of the new committee, Curtin said it would “start a process with the objective of getting down to the number of senior teams, both hurling an football right down along the line”.

And, in making his comments, Mr Curtin appealled to delegates to back the committee, by ensuring that their efforts to “think outside the box” that their final deliberations, findings are implemented instead of being reducing the whole exercise to a talking shop.

“We are looking at giving all of our players the opportunity of playing games over the summer period and it’s going to take a leap of faith to do this,” said Curtin of the committee, seven members of which were ratified at last Tuesday night’s county board meeting.

The six drawn exclusively from either football or hurling clubs are: Padraig Boland (Broadford), Rosaleen Monaghan (Tubber), Denis Tuohy (Whitegate), Nuala Shanahan (Doonbeg), Gerry O’Neill (Kilmihil) and Colm Browne (Kilrush Sham- rocks).

“What I would suggest is that all the clubs embrace this to the extent that it is going to be a very open forum whereby clubs would be allowed to make submissions and also meet the committee themselves,” added Mr Curtin.

“In other words, nobody’s hands are tied. You go along and decide what’s best, not necessarily for our clubs at the time, but what’s best for the promotion of our games and our competitions in the county.

“I would also say that when the final proposals are made that it would be binding. It’s vital. There’s no point in having a talking shop here. What- ever comes back has to be binding, at least for a year.

“It’s for the clubs. Going back with things I was involved years ago, the thing was it only succeeded when clubs talked about it, embraced it and came in with good ideas.

“It’s time to move on and incorporate what’s best for the county in both hurling and football. It’s a waste of time having another talking shop,” he added.

“It’s very open ended,” said chairman Michael O’Neill of the committee, “and every club will be written to in the coming weeks. There will be one more member added from a dual club,” he added.

Ca r r igt wohill (Cor k) v Cr usheen @ Pa ir c Ui Chaoimh, Sunday 2pm NEWLY REAPPOINTED county champions Crusheen will be determined not to be once more disappointed at the first Munster championship hurdle as they prepare for their second successive provincial assault this Sunday. After the unprecedented high of capturing a first ever Canon Hamilton crown this time last year, the Blood and Bandages were soon brought back down to earth when ousted on home soil by Tony Considine’s Kilmallock.

It wasn’t necessarily the defeat but the manner of it that cut the deepest as some basic defensive errors and injuries to key performers saw them self-destruct at the first obstacle. County final man-of-the-match Cian Dillon dislocated his thumb early in the game but came back on to help the cause while a persistent injury to chief midfield architect Pat Vaughan refused to halt another leadership display despite his obvious discomfort. However, from a position of comfort, Crusheen uncharacteristically imploded to dramatic effect before their inevitable late rally.

That game still rankles with Crusheen and now back as Clare’s senior representatives, they will be doubly determined not to let another glorious opportunity pass them by as in reality, they are only 60 minutes away from a provincial decider.

However, they aren’t the only side in this encounter to be smarting from their first foray into Munster action. Cork Champions Carrigtwohill began their Munster career in the Intermediate Club Championship quarter-final against none other than Clare champions Clonlara in 2007 and appeared to be heading for victory after rallying from a two point half-time deficit to lead by six in the second period. However, a feature of Clonlara’s emerging campaign that year was their remarkable ability to bounce back off the ropes and face adversity head on and it would stand them in good stead as they eventually powered back to win by three on their way to the Munster crown that year.

Perversely, it seems that Carrigt- wohill have learned greatly from that valuable lesson and honed a neversay-die attitude of their own to rise meteorically to the top of the Rebel hurling ladder. Their’s is a remarkable rags to riches story in itself as they struggled to fend off relegation in their opening two years at the sen- ior grade before bucking the 100/1 odds placed upon them for this year’s championship to finally bridge a 93 year gap of senior championship success.

That battlehardened exterior makes them tough opponents for Crusheen, particularly as they have grafted for every victory in their five championship outings, with three points their biggest winning margin.

Cork senior Niall McCarthy remains their inspiration at centre-forward but they are also bolstered at centre-back where Noel Furlong has been imperious all season. Added to McCarthy’s exprience up front is full-forward Mickey ‘Da’ Fitzgerald who picked up a cool six points in their 0-15 to 1-11 county final victory over CIT in the county decider while former Cork attacker Seanie O’Farrell, who grabbed three goals in the 2007 county intermediate decider and a goal against Clonlara in the Munster campaign, is still as potent as ever which he proved in the county final when popping up for the winning point.

However, if Crusheen have proven anything over the past few years, it’s that when it comes to grinding out results, there are few better around. In particular their half-back unit of Cathal and Cian Dillon and Ciaran O’Doherty have been unstoppable, County senior captain Pat Vaughan is the unquestionable engine and main source of inspiration while up front, David Forde, Fergus Kennedy, Gerry O’Grady and Gearoid O’Donnell have all been to the fore in the business end of the championship.

Clare’s record in this competition doesn’t inspire confidence as since Tulla reached the Munster decider in 2007, their three successors Clonlara, Cratloe and Crusheen have all crashed out in their opening match.

Crusheen certainly have the ability and more importantly the motivation to alter that dismal statistic and despite having to travel to Cork, they won’t be found wanting this time around. Verdict: Crusheen Sunday Oct ober 31, 2010 Munst er Senior Club Cha mpionship Qua r t er -Fina l Kilma llock 2-11 Cr usheen 0-14 at Cusack Pa r k, Ennis A SIX MINUTE horror show made this a Halloween nightmare for Crusheen as they disappointtingly exited the Munster championship at the first hurdle. Despite holding the upper hand for large chunks of the game, Crusheen’s undoing came in the six minute period immediately after half-time when they uncharac teristically conceded 2-4 and from that point on, it left a mountain to climb for the newly crowned Clare champions. Their much vaulted defence were surprisingly the villains of the piece

this time around as both goals were eminently preventable and while Kilmallock would only score two more points for the remainder, Crusheen were unable to pull back a goal that would have set up a grandstand finale.

In essense, it was the fortunes of their three county senior stars Paddy Vaughan, Cian Dillon and Donal Tuohy that would have a significant bearing on the outcome of this game. Vaughan’s persistent groin problems made him a doubt for this game but he more than played his part by scoring seven points and giving everything for the cause before being forced to retire late on. Added to that was a dislocated thumb sustained by defensive lynchpin Cian Dillon early in the contest that saw him substituted after only ten minutes, only to reappear in the second quarter. Those injuries severely dented Crusheen’s chances of advancing to the quarter-finals but the match altering goals were ultimately the nails in the coffin that buried the Clare champion’s bid.

Crusheen had dominated the first half exchanges and should have been much further ahead than the 0-7 to 0-5 half-time scoreline. In fact, defensive errors coughed up three of Kilmallock’s first half total but Crusheen still appeared comfortable going in at the break.

Whatever was in the half-time oranges however, Kilmallock emerged a completely different side and quickly tacked on four points within three minutes, including two from the stick of the impressive Graeme Mulcahy and one from his brother Jake. However, it was the hammer blow to Crusheen of conceding two soft goals in a minute that turned this game on it’s head and left them eight points in arrears.

They appeared dead and buried but somehow dug deep to muster up one final rally, scoring seven of the next eight points mainly through the leadership of Gearoid O’Donnell and the varied skills of Paddy Vaughan who was equally adept from play, frees or sidelines.

Having held Kilmallock scoreless for 18 minutes, Crusheen simply couldn’t obtain the goal they so badly craved mainly due to the outstand ing defending of Gavin O’Mahony and they were finally undone when Paudie O’Brien scored the insurance point in the 60th minute.

Ultimately, on a Halloween day that promised so much, there were more tricks than treats for the Clare cham- pions who exited the competition at the first hurdle for the third consecutive year.

Kilmallock
Barry Hennessy, LiamHurley, Philip O’Loughlin, Kevin O’Mahony, LiamWalsh, Gavin O’Mahony, Bryan O’Sullivan, Eoin Ryan (0-1), Paudie O’Brien (0-1), Paudie O’Dwyer (0-2), Shane O’Donnell (1-0), Gavin O’Sullivan, Graeme Mulcahy (0-2),AndrewO’Shaughnessy (1-3 3f), Jake Mulcahy (0-2)

Subs

Ballyduff 3-08 – Éire Óg 2-10 at Austin Stack Park, Tralee

GREEN was the colour for Ballyduff, but it was speckled with traditional Kerry gold on Sunday as they deservedly booked their place in the provincial final in what’s fast becoming the greatest year in their history since they won All-Ireland senior honours way back in 1891.

The Éire Óg Townies came to Tralee in confident mood, saw what the Ballyduff boys were made of, but could have no complaints about being conquered such was the passion play produced by these hardy annuals from north Kerry.

Ballyduff won, simply by dint of having the physicality that suited the soft underfoot conditions, but also because of their intensity and, most of all, their ability to get goals at crucial stages.

The first came just after the Townies’ star performer, Davie O’Halloran, put his side a goal clear in the first half – Mikie Boyle’s strike brought Ballyduff back to parity, while a brace via Gary O’Brien and Aiden Boyle inside two minutes either side of the three-quarter stage put them six clear and on the high road.

These goals buttressed them for the Éire Óg onslaught in the last ten minutes as they finally threw off the shackles and brought the game to the wire when Fergus Flynn’s 21-yard free was deflected to the net through a forest of Ballyduff defenders.

The gap was back to the minimum, but hand on hurleys, even the most partisan of Townies would admit that a travesty would have transpired if Ballyduff were caught at the death.

Put simply, Ballyduff seemed to want it more – much more, as they went about showing that hurling is alive and well in the traditional heartland of the game in north Kerry.

Firstly they laid down a marker with the opening score of the game – one that was a portent of things to come as the Boyle brothers combined, with Liam firing a long delivery to Michael on the edge of the square who fielded brilliantly and drove over confidently from 25 yards.

Liam ‘Jap’ Boyle was a colossus all through at left-half-back – Mikie Boyle was man-of-the-match, whether at full-forward, centre-forward or back behind midfield with fielding that would have done a Kerry footballer proud.

Éire Óg couldn’t cope with them and were too dependent on Davie O’Halloran for scores, while those around him failed to reach their county final heights.

But still, the Townies were more than holding their own in the first half as the sides were level on four occasions inside the first 24 minutes – Danny Russell finding the range from two placed balls from distance, while Davie O’Halloran chipping in with two from play, which ensured the sides were level at 0-4 apiece.

And when O’Halloran blasted to the net after 25 minutes it looked briefly as if he had liberated the Townies from the dogged resistance of the Kerrymen – only to gift them an equalising goal two minutes later when Bobby O’Sullivan’s free was batted clear by Kevin Brennan, but straight into the path of Mikie Boyle who flashed it back one-handed to the net to tie the sides at 1-4 each.

In truth, Éire Óg never really recovered from that strike, even though the sides were level at the break after Danny Russell and Bobby O’Sullivan swapped frees. It could have been much worse for the Townies, had Ballyduff not spurned two glorious opportunities for points and had the combination of Kevin Bren- nan and the butt of his right post not prevented Mikie Boyle from hitting a second goal.

However, there was nothing Brennan could do to stem the Ballyduff powerplay in the first 16 minutes of the second half when they outscored the Townies by 2-2 to 0-2 to move 3-7 to 1-7 clear. They showed their intent with points from Bobby O’Sullivan and Mikie Boyle inside the first six minutes only for a Danny Russell free and Davie O’Halloran’s third from play to restore parity by the 38th minute.

But there was no denying Ballyduff as they carved open the Éire Óg defence on 44 minutes, with Padraig Boyle teeing up Pat Joe Connolly for a goal chance – he missed but Gary O’Brien made no mistake when crashing to the net from seven yards.

O’Brien turned provider two minutes later, when the Éire Óg defence was again marked as láthair , this time it was Aiden Boyle’s turn to goal and put his side 3-7 to 1-8 clear.

It was the point of no return for the Townies, but they went down fighting thanks to a grandstand finish that just came up short. A couple of Davie O’Halloran frees pegged the gap back to four by the 56th minute before substitute David Reidy added another in the 58th minute.

A minute later Reidy looked to have levelled matters up only for this chipped effort from 12 yards to come back off the post – the goal the Townies craved eventually came via Fergus Flynn’s 21-yard free in the 63rd minute but only after Bobby O’Sullivan’s point from a 21 had given Ballyduff the crucial bit of breathing space their play over the hour richly deserved.

Ballyduff
PJ O’Gorman (7), Jason Bowler (7), Paud Costello (7), David O’Grady (7),Ally O’Connor (7), Padraig O’Grady (8), LiamBoyle (9), Bobby O’Sullivan (7) (0-4f), Barry O’Grady (7), Gary O’Brien (7) (1-1),Aiden Boyle (8) (1-0), Padraig Boyle (7), Pat Joe Connolly (7), Mikie Boyle (9) (1-3),Anthony O’Carroll (7).

Subs
TomO’Rourke for O’Carroll [55 Mins], JP Leahy for Connolly [62 Mins].

Éire Óg
Kevin Brennan (7), Cathal Whelan (6), Cormac O’Regan (6), Marc O’Donnell (7),Tadhg McNamara (6), Fergus Flynn (7) (1-0f), Kevin Moynihan (7), Noel Whelan (7), Mark Fitzgerald (7), Danny Russell (7) (0-3, one 65), David Ryan (6), Ronan Keane (6), David O’Halloran (9) (1-5, 2f), Barry Nugent (6),Thomas Downes (6).

Subs
AdrianWalsh (6) for Noel Whelan [51 Mins], Kevin Hally (6) for O’Regan [51 Mins], David Reidy (7) (0-1) for Downes [62 Mins]

Hermitage A 1 – Burren United 1 at The Fairgreen, Ennis

IT was a case of honours even at the Fair Green on Sunday as Hermitage and Burren United battled it out for a share of the spoils.

A superb strike from Burren’s Evan Talty was cancelled out shortly before half time by Richie Fitzgerald’s tap in. Level at halftime, both sides pressed for the winner after the break. But despite the game opening up neither side could make the breakthrough. Burren’s failure to do so owed much to a couple of outstanding saves from Tage goalkeeper Joe Burke.

The Ennis side created a couple of decent chances of their own but couldn’t find the back of the net,

Tage, beaten in their opening two league games, made the brighter start. Gerry Dullaghan tested Burren goalkeeper Craig Flannagan with a couple of long-range efforts before Eoin O’Meara Daly headed over in the 18th minute.

Having pushed Avenue United all the way in last week’s extra time defeat, Burren responded to the early pressure in a positive fashion. Talty and Chris Maoczek both went close before Dan Carey’s header was tipped over the crossbar by Burke.

The visitor’s energetic spell was rewarded with a goal in the 36th minute. Decent work by Pat Connole on the right wing teed up Talty in yards of space midway inside the Tage half. With options aplenty, the midfielder elected to go for an early and powerfully hit shot that eluded Burke.

It didn’t take long for Tage to hit back. Fitzgerald latched onto Gerry Dullaghan’s precise through ball in the 40th minute. Flannagan kept out the first effort but Fitzgerald was on hand to tap in the rebound.

Burren were the better side for long periods of the second half. Yet for all their pacy approach work the north Clare team could find no way past Burke in the Hermitage goal.

Martin McDonagh’s stinging half volley drew an outstanding save from the former Lifford man who later denied the same player as the game drew to a close.

Tage had some decent moments in the latter stages but both sides had to settle for a share of the points.

Hermitage
Joe Burke, Eoin Kane, Rhys Phillips, Eoghan Ryan, Neil Mills, John Maher, Gerry Dullaghan, Sean McGhee, Eoin O’Meara Daly, Richard Fitzgerald, Paul Dullaghan

Subs
Robert Dunne for O’Meara Daly, Paul Dinan for P Dullaghan, Chris Gaulier for McGee

Burren United
Criag Flannagan, Michael Reddan, Eric Murrihy, Dan Carey, Michael Keating, EvanTalty, Pat Connole, Pat Nagle, Martin McDonagh, Chris Maoczek,Alex Garcia

Subs
Stephen Moloney for Nagle, Marine Ghiat, Mark McCarthy

Referee
Pa Gleeson

WHEN it was all over, Ballyduff’s play everywhere man-of-the-match Mikie Boyle thundered over to the grandstand, scaled much of the wire and with his right hand that broke Éire Óg hearts all afternoon gave a series of fist-clenched salutes to their Kerry Kop.

Fully five minutes later, the crescendo that greeted Ballyduff’s victory had barely died down when Éire Óg boss Tony Nugent tried to explain away where it all went wrong for his emerging side.

Yes, Ballyduff were a senior side and Éire Óg were intermediate. But it was still Kerry v Clare in hurling, with the mantle of favourites always going to fall with Éire Óg, something they ultimately couldn’t live with in the face of Ballyduff’s powerplay.

“To have trained hard since last February and to finish up here,” reflected Nugent (below), with his words barely audible above the din. “They might never get a chance like this again. It was a huge opportunity for them. They know that as well.

“We knew Ballyduff would be good and they proved that today. We saw them against Courcy Rovers in Coughduv and we know ex – a c t l y what they w e r e going to br i ng. It wasn’t i nt erm e d i a t e h u r l ing out t here, it was senior hurling.

“They are a senior team, with big strong men and if we were to try and mix it with them, we were going to come off second best. The conditions suited them. We have a small halfforward line and we need the ball to be going at 90 miles an hour. It suited their game.

“The only thing is, if we played Ballyduff in June, July or August – September even, I think the game would be different. The ball would be moving faster and we would be better. With small, slight guys, if it’s too slow for them, they’re going to get knocked out of it. If it’s moving fast they’re better,” he added.

Of course, the one exception over hour was Éire Óg’s star man, Davie O’Halloran – probably the smallest man on the field but head and shoulders above every other Townie on the field, winning lavish praise from Nugent for his attitude and application of a gameplan responsible for bringing the Townies back into the senior ranks.

“Davie was Davie,” said the former Clare senior captain. “He brings huge intensity to it. At the start of the year we wanted to defend from number 15 back, not from number one up. In fairness they did that and Davie’s number 15 and he works extremely hard for us.

“He got his few scores today and fair play to him. He’s the type of guy I’d be looking to for the future of Clare hurling – a guy like him inside in the corner, giving you everything.”

Clare League 1 – Roscommon League 0 at The County Grounds, Doora

LAST year Clare reached the semifinal of this competition and were unlucky losers against Kilkenny in that penultimate round tie – this year it’s a case of starting from scratch with no survivors from that side.

However, it was certainly a case of a good start being half the work as the county side – managed by Alfonso D’Auria who is assisted by Dave Kerin and Keith Flynn – got their 2011/2012 Inter-League Youths campaign off to a winning start on Sunday.

The winning goal came 15 minutes into the second half when Dara Kerin’s corner was headed home by Niall Pender for the only goal of the game.

Clare were full value for the win that was built on a solid team performance, with the familiarity between the Avenue players in the starting 11 – they made up eight of the team – being key to the impressive display.

Indeed, they could have won by more than the lone goal. Donal O’Halloran was unlucky in the first half when his drive from 30 yeards seemed to be destined for the net only to hit the post.

The winning start now sets up Clare to challenge strongly to come out of the group and reach the knockout stages. Next up will be the Galway League at an away venue in three weeks time.

Clare League
Nathan Murray (Avenue United), Dean D’Auria (Avenue United), Paddy O’Malley (Avenue United), Kaylan O’Loughlin (Avenue United), Mark Hehir (Bridge United), Donal O’Halloran (Avenue United), Conor O’Brien (Avenue United), Sean Corry (Avenue United), Dara Kerin (Avenue United), Niall Pender (St Pat’s Kilmihil), Emmanuel Abadeyi (Ennis Town Rock)

Subs
Simon McDonagh (Manus Celtic), Raymond Esedebe (EnnisTown Rock), NickyTomasi (Ennis Town Rock).

THE ANNUAL GAA Handball AllStar Awards function will take place in the Croke Park Hotel, Dublin, on Saturday November 19th. The AllStars (in 15 seperate categories) are selected on a provincial basis, with with all four provincial winners in each category nominated for the national awards, which will be announced on the night.

Three Clare handballers were selected as Munster All-Stars as recognition of their success in 2011 Diarmaid Nash (Player of the Year), Pat Donnellan (Masters Player of the Year) and Tommy Hegarty (Official of the Year).

Tuamgraney clubman Nash had a stellar year in 2011, winning the Munster Senior Singles, All-Ireland Intermediate Singles and Doubles and the All-Ireland 3rd level colleges Open Singles titles as well as finishing runner-up in the Irish Nationals.

Scariff native Nash, who is also an inter-county hurler of note having represented Clare on underage teams right up to Minor and Under 21, faces stiff competition if he is to take the national award, the other nominees being Paul Brady (Cavan & Ulster), Robbie McCarthy (Westmeath and Leinster) and Dessie Keegan (Mayo and Connacht).

Pat Donnellan won Munster and All-Ireland titles in both Singles and Doubles this year, winning both Golden Masters B titles in the big alley. His selection as Munster Masters Player of the Year also made mention of his continued dedication to hand- ball at adult and juvenile level, particularly in his club, Kilkishen.

Clarecastle man Tommy Hegarty is a former County Board Secretary and is the current Treasurer and Leagues Secretary. Tommy receives the Munster Official of the Year award as a “key administration figure in his own club and county, where he is well known for his tremendous efficiency, and has done so for many years. Coordinated and ran one the most successful Feile competitions ever in 2010. In addition to club and county level, he is a delegate to the Munster handball council. This award is justification for all the time, hardwork and dedication he puts in as a very committed official of handball”.

The AGM of Clare County Handball Board was held recently and there were changes at the ‘top table’ as Willie Roche stepped aside as treasurer and will be replaced by Tommy Hegarty. Roche continues in his role as Chairman of the Munster Handball Council while Newmarket’s Michael Hogan was elected to the position of Secretary, replacing Padraic Garvey.

Matthew McMahon continues as County Chairman and Shane Walsh as PRO and the other new face on the Board’s executive is Kilrush’s Jason Ryan (Assisstant Secretary). The County Adult Handball Leagues will resume for the 2011-12 season in the coming weeks, clubs are reminded to forward final entry lists to Tommy Hegarty immediately.

WHERE the FAI Junior Cup is concerned, Avenue United are the bluebloods – thank God for that, Clare Soccer League officials must have been thinking on Sunday as they reflected on a bleak day for the county in the biggest knockout tournament in Europe.

All because, The Avenue apart, all the remaining Clare clubs who saw action on the day bowed out at the third round stage in the Clare/Kerry/ Desmond area section of blue riband of the junior game.

Worse still, three of the defeats came at home, with Manus Celtic, Ennis Town Rock and Newmarket Celtic failing to use the advantage of home comforts as all three went down to Limerick opposition.

Manus fare worst of all, going down 6-1 to Broadford, Ennis Town Rock came off second best by 3-1 to Newcastlewest, while Newmarket Celtic were pipped 3-2 by Ballingarry in a five goal thriller.

Bunratty/Cratloe made the long journey to the west Kerry Gaeltacht to take on Dingle Bay Rovers. The sides were level 2-2 after extra time, but the home side advanced when winning the penalty shoot-out 4-2.

That left Avenue to carry the Clare flag as they made the journey to Tral- ee a profitable one as they beat Classic FC 3-1. Classic had beaten Killarney Celtic in the previous round, but Avenue were full value for the win.

The opened the scoring through after 25 minutes when David Smythe’s corner was fumbled to the net by the Classic keeper. The Tralee side got back on terms from a penalty on 35 minutes but second half goals from Mikey Mahony and Sean Corry sealed Avenue’s win on the road.

Avenue United
John Healy, Simon Cuddy, Con Collins, David Russell, Mattie Nugent, David Herlihy, Barry Nugent, Gary Flynn, David Smythe, David McCarthy, Mikey Mahony. Subs Sean Corry for Mahoney, Shane Browne for Barry Nugent, Paddy O’Malley for Flynn.