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BRIDGE Celtic were the victors af- ter this one sided Premier Division clash against Lifford on Wednes- day last. The final tally of five goals tells it’s own story and portrays how dominant the Bridge team were over their Ennis counterparts. They took the early initiative and attacked from the kick off. After a few chances they finally found their goal scoring touch through Ger O’Connell on 20 minutes. They did not have to wait as long for their second however as O’Connell scored again a few sec- onds later when Bridge won posses- sion back from Lifford’s kick off. He slotted the ball home confidently and now really set up Bridge to push on and ensure this win as early as pos- sible. Lifford were stunned but they did get a chance to get themselves back into the game. They were awarded a penalty and Roberto Pinto stepped up to take the kick. His ef- fort however was unsuccessful and

this became a huge turning point in the game. Instead of pulling back a goal they really missed their oppor- tunity. The significance of this miss increased when ten minutes later

Bridge found their third goal. The dangerous Shane Byrnes was the pro- vider and the insurance goal had now been found. Then three became four when Trevor Howard scored a crack-

ing volley just before half time. This was becoming a landslide victory and the prospect of more goals must have sent Lifford in at half team really fearing the worst. In fairness to this Lifford team, they did manage to re- store some pride. They scraped back two goals, with Ryan Boyle’s finish in particular providing the Lifford fans with something finally to cheer about. Suddenly had hope of a mirac- ulous come back been moulded. Un- fortunately for Lifford, Bridge now felt they had conceded enough goals and decided they wanted to score a few more. They only got the one though. Dave Hickey wrapped up his team’s goal scoring in the middle of the second half after a great period of well controlled passing. Burke in the Lifford goal had no chance and sadly for him had to pick the ball out of his net for the fifth time. The threat of any possible fight back had now been neutralised for good. Bridge contin- ued to attack but some credit must be given to young centre half Darren

O’Neill who gave his all throughout the game but his efforts alone were not enough to prevent Bridge Celtic maintaining their unbeaten start to the campaign. Lifford now really have to go back to the drawing board as with three losses from three, their prospects for the season are already looking very bleak.

“IT IS a road accident waiting to happen.” That was the warning of Kilrush Town Councillor, Paul Mo- roney (Ind) who also works for the fire brigade, one of the services that attend road traffic accidents on a Korea UN Vn Oyen Ae

The councillor was referring to the junction of Griffin Road and the En- nis Road, and questioned its legality.

He told this month’s meeting of the council that drivers had to go over the broken line to see if there was any traffic “coming in the Ennis Road”.

“IT am harping on about what has been said before. I am bringing it up again because it is not good enough,’ he said.

Cllr Moroney described the junc- tion as a nightmare.

Executive Engineer, Derek Troy told the meeting that the sightlines and the sight distance at this junction are very restricted due to the location of a shed/garage that adjoins the last property on Griffin Road, as you exit on to the N68 Ennis Road.

‘The exact ownership of this prop- erty is currently unknown,’ he said, pointing out that the shed was not Korea Ko Klee

“Road users must act in an appro-

priately safe manner when using the junction, as is the case at all public road junctions,” he added.

“Realignment works to improve the sightlines are ongoing at this junction.”

The works proposed consist of widening the footpaths at both sides, re-marking and re-aligning the road carriageways on the N67, and re-lo- cating the stop line.

‘Further investigation into the own-

ership of the property in question is on-going,’ said Mr Troy.

Father of the council, Tom Prendev- ille (FF) told the meeting that the owner of the shed was known to him, as the site received planning permission from the council in the last number of years.

KILMURRY — Ibrickane — steam- rolled the challenge of O’Curry’s to progress to the semi-finals of the championship on Saturday.

Any possibility of underdogs

O’Curry’s shocking the champions basically vanished inside the first 60 seconds, by which time Kilmurry al- ready had the ball in the net.

Paul O’Connor’s goal was a brutal statement of intent and though it took Kilmurry until the second-half to re-

ally tear into a commanding lead, O’Curry’s never really recovered. Ger Quinlan’s frees and O’Curry’s overall workrate in energy sapping heat, ensured Kilmurry didn’t com- pletely run amok in the first-half. But graft alone was never going to

be enough. O’Curry’s struggled in attack, a failure reflected in the fact that their first score from play didn’t arrive until the 39th minute. They had one great chance to draw level in the 10th minute when Ollie Quin- lan was pulled to the floor by Kil- murry goalkeeper Dermot O’Brien. A goal would have tied the game at 1-1 apiece and no doubt have done wonders for O’Curry’s confidence. But Michael O’Shea’s weak strike was comfortably saved by O’Brien. O’Curry’s moment passed and Kil- murry were not in a mood to give up other soft chances.

Leading 1-6 to O-3 at half-time, the men in red and green really flexed their muscles after the break.

Three swift points pushed Kilmur- ry nine points clear and sucked all the competitive juice from what was rapidly becoming a fairly bloodless Neeuoe

The job done, Kilmurry unloaded their bench. Noel Downes, just back from a groin injury, hit the field and bagged a quick I-l. Odran O’Dwyer also got some precious game time as the champions coasted home.

Peter O’Dwyer was a central figure throughout and it was his pass that kickstarted the move that led to Kil- murry’s first goal. Stephen Moloney kept possession alive at the end line. Johnny Daly and Mark McCarthy were both involved as the ball was swiftly transferred across O’Curry’s defensive cordon to Paul O’Connor who rifled the ball to the net.

Ger Quinlan’s second minute free steadied O’Curry’s but a sense of erim inevitability was beginning to set in. O’ Dwyer was lording it at mid- field. O’Shea fluffed his penalty and by the 17th minute Stephen Molo- ney’s expertly taken point pushed Kilmurry 1-3 0-1 ahead.

O’Curry’s packed the defence and tackled like crazy but Kilmurry still found scores easy to come by. A bril- liantly incisive move saw Moloney go close before lan McInerney thumped over two frees and McCarthy slot- ted over on the stroke of half-time to leave Kilmurry 1-6 to 0-3 ahead.

As they had done at the start of the game, Kilmurry again went for an early kill after the break. Points from Michael Hogan (2) and Moloney took the wind from O’Curry’s sails. Kilmurry could afford to start think- ing about the semi-finals.

Downes entered the fray in the 43rd minute and his first meaningful con- tribution was to slot the ball over the

bar. Daly added a free before Ger Quinlan kicked his fifth point of the day. By now the effort of having to hunt Kilmurry’s forwards was begin- ning to take its toll in O’Curry’s wea- ry defence as the game turned into a target practice session for Micheal McDermott’s side.

Downes took a handpass from Michael Hogan and buried the ball high to the net for Kilmurry’s second goal in the 54th minute.

Michael Carmody registered a point for O’Curry’s before Shane Hickey’s hard running was rewarded with a powerfully hit point. Ger Quinlan landed the game’s final score but it’s the champions who roll on.

FRIENDSHIP and Community — that is the theme for Clare Men- tal Health Week, which runs from October 5 to 10. The event aims to raise awareness of issues which af- fect mental health and to promote positive mental health and wellbeing in the community.

This year the focus is on connect- ing communities during these diffi- cult times of financial crises. Forums will be held throughout the county to encourage communities and groups to come together to show solidarity and support to each other in times of unemployment and recession.

All events are free to the public and there are many well known fig- ures taking part.

On Monday, October 5, Mary Flan- agan and Anne Buckley have advice for parents on Relaxation Skill and Stress Reduction in the Clare VEC Community Education Centre. On Monday evening, West Clare Mental Health Association will explore ‘En- hancing Community Co-operation in West Clare’ in the Kilrush Family Resource Centre.

Men Count Too is the theme of a men’s forum which will take place

in the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis on Tuesday, October 6 at 7.30pm.

REFEREE Rory Hickey was in the car park ahead of most of the sup- porters in Quilty last Saturday – gear bag in hand and ready for the quick escape.

Such was the level of anger at the final whistle, with Cooraclare grab- bing a controversial – if well deserved – equaliser five minutes into injury time, that the Eire Og man thought discretion to be the better part of val- our and so he made a quick departure from Quilty.

In truth however, it’s hard to under- stand what either side had to com- plain about.

Doonbeg and Cooraclare had served up a thrilling 60 minutes of football – filled with commitment, tension and no little amount of skill – when two injury time decisions left the large crowd exhilarated, and no doubt counting down the days until the replay.

The controversy, if you want to call it that, began in the 60th minute with the sides deadlocked. A high specula- tive ball from Kevin Nugent was lost by the Cooraclare keeper Joe Killeen and wound up in the back of the net.

Pandemonium erupted in the stands as the Magpies took the lead for the first time since the seventh minute as the Cooraclare faithful cried foul and square-ball.

Hickey consulted with both lines- men before rightly awarding the goal.

Gasps abounded, but the biggest drama was yet to come.

In the fifth minute of injury time Co- oraclare substitute Declan O’ Looney lofted a free kick that landed menac- ingly in the Doonbeg area sending bodies from both sides flying in all directions.

In the disarray that followed, Doon- beg stalwart Padraig Gallagher came away with the ball and a whistle from

the referee appeared to bring the match to an end.

The celebration in the stand was Short lived however, as it soon be- came apparent that the whistle was for a foul, with the umpire deciding that Gallagher had picked the ball off the ground, and not the final whistle.

Mark Tubridy showed great nerve to goal the spot-kick – sparking relief for Cooraclare and anger from a sec- tion of the Doonbeg players.

It had been a hot-blooded but fair encounter, with no quarter asked or given, and it’s easy to understand some of the frustration at the final

whistle. But, as one of the few neutral spectators in Quilty on Saturday, this reporter can say that this was a great game and, by and large, a fair result.

Cooraclare were in a different class for the first 40 minutes – sti- fling Doonbeg with their speed and relentless running – and they were good value for their 1-6 to 0-4 lead. Doonbeg had raced into an early lead with points from Jamie Whelan and David Tubridy.

But Cooraclare were proving much more mobile around the field and began to make that pay on the scoreboard. Points from Don Garry,

Hughie Donnelly and Cathal Lillis followed with Sean Maguire’s well taken goal giving them a healthy erYee

Colm Dillon and Brian Egan point- ed late in the first half to keep the Magpies in touch but Cooraclare took up where they left off after the break with scores from Andrew O’Neill, Mark Tubridy and Sean Maguire.

The half-time introduction of Frank O’Dea into the Doonbeg midfield was starting to pay dividends. The Magpies’ talisman rallied the troops and scores followed from David Tu- bridy (2), Enda Doyle Brian Dillon

and O’Dea himself to level the match and set up the grandstand, injury time finale.

What a finale it was.

A MYSTERY businessman has ap- proached Clare County Council ex- pressing an interest in taking over the operation of the Central Waste Management Facility in Ballyduff resem

According to information released at last night meeting of Clare County Council, the unnamed businessman approached the local authority with a proposal before it became public knowledge that the local authority was examining future options for the EE Tateueee

Clare County Council were heavily criticised last nights for circulating information about the possible future of the landfill to members of the Bal- lyduffbeg Liaison Committee before it was shown to the elected members of Clare County Council.

‘I tabled this motion after receiving an email from a council official in re- lation to the future of Ballyduffbeg.

“Part of that email stated that the Community Liaison Forum met the previous night and was told that the council was examining a number of options for the landfill,’ said Cllr Martin Conway (FG)

“I support a detailed discussion on this. We need to consider all the options, especially the fact that it 1s over a million euros below it’s target for last year.

“But I have a problem with this be- ing discussed with people who are not the policy makers of this council. We are the policy makers of this council. This discussion needed to take place here first — with the elected members of Clare County Council and not with other non-elected groups. I am demanding that we receive an apol- ogy for this happening.”

Speaking on the motion north Clare

councillor and chair of the Ballyduff- beg Liaison Committee, Joe Arkins (FG) said that the council had a “rush of blood to the head” when position- ing the Central Waste Management Facility in Inagh.

“For the record, I was one of the people who never believed that the council should have gone down this route.

“IT don’t know why we ever went down the route of a central waste management facility. I think that some county council officials must have had a rush of blood to the head,’ he said.

‘We need to see what the best op- tion should be for the community around the landfill. Whether we like it or not, a number of issues have been raised by the EPA about our management of the landfill down the years. We need to have a serious look at this landfill.”

Responding to the discussion Coun- ty Manager, Tom Coughlan said that it was “regrettable” that the infor- mation was circulated to the liaison committee before the councillor and also criticised sections of the local media “misleading” reports about the future of the facility.

KPa e moe ere I BKor aay

CLARE County Council is to seek written confirmation from Limer- ick County Council that no houses in Clare have yet been purchased as part of the Limerick Regeneration Programme.

Earlier this year, the elected mem- bers of Clare County Council decid- ed not to play any role in the regener- ation programme – with fears being raised by councillors that anti-social behaviour would spill into section of south and east Clare as a result of the relocation of families from Limer-

ee

The local authority has suspended any further decision on the project until written assurances have been received by Limerick City Council.

“This 1s a catch 22 situation,’ said Cllr Pascal Fitzgerald (Ind) who raised the issue.

“T would like the director to get me confirmation from the Limerick City Council that houses are not be- ing purchased in Clare. I have seri- ous problems with the devious way in which this whole thing is been Coy stone

Commenting on the Limerick Re-

generation Programme, Cllr Gerry Flynn (Ind) said that the regeneration issue was being put forward again in an underhand fashion.

“This has been dropped in under the radar like a scud missile and no- body knows where it will drop,” he said.

“I’d like to know where the coun- ty manager and all the directors of services will be when we get calls at three o’clock in the morning because of anti-social behaviour. This is a very Serious issue.”

Speaking on the motion, County Manager, Tom Coughlan, urged

councillors to engage with the Re- gional Housing Strategy rather than ignoring it.

“We all know that this is a very se- rious issue. We all know that this 1s having an impact and it will continue to have an impact,” he said.

““T think that it is important that the council manages the project and the impact that this process will have on County Clare. It 1s very important that Clare County Council has an input into how these houses are al- located.

“We know that when the HSE de- termine the allocation of houses,

there isn’t the vetting that we would like to see. Whatever we do, there will most certainly be a regeneration DEOL enIce

“If Clare is part of the Regional Housing Strategy then we have some chance of influencing how this is managed in the county but we do know that if we are not in the strat- egy then we will have less and less influence on this.

“The clock is ticking and the longer that Clare County Council stay out- side of this process the less influence that we will have on this,” added Mr Sree Ete

THE decision, by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to close the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food office in Ennis has been met with strong opposition.

According to the Chairperson of Clare ICMSA and Chairman of that organisation’s National Beef & Cat- tle Committee, Martin McMahon, a valuable resource and service for Clare farmers has been lost and measures must be taken immediate- ly to minimise the impact on Clare JET U NN ae

“As things stand, the reality is that

most Clare farmers who need to visit the local department office will now have to travel a much longer distance to the far side of Limerick city and deal with the time and traffic prob- lems that involves. The local Clare office provided many vital services to farmers and it is imperative that reasonable alternative arrangements are put in place so that Clare farmers can still access department services in their own county and at a con- venient location,’ stated the Clare ICMSA Chairman and well known O’Callaghan’s Mills farmer.

“In this regard, we believe that the department should make _ person-

nel available at various locations throughout the county on specific days so that farmers can have their issues dealt with locally rather than travelling to Limerick city.

“This service could be made avail- able at the local social welfare of- fices. There are five social welfare offices servicing County Clare, namely Ennis, Ennistymon, Kilrush, Tulla and Gort, and Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food per- sonnel located in these offices would be in a position to provide a service that would be convenient to all Clare farmers,’ he said.

Clare ICMSA have met both Minis-

ter of State Tony Killeen and Deputy Timmy Dooley and briefed them on this solution to what Mr McMahon says is fast becoming a source of much anger amongst the local farm- ing population.

“We have suggested a means where- by local farmers can access services at locations throughout Clare in a manner that facilitates everyone in- volved. The alternative is people hav- ing to take half a day, or indeed a full day off, to head off to the far side of Limerick to access the same services that could be provided in Clare at no extra cost. We want a bit of imagina- tion to be used here,’ he said.

A MOTORIST overtook cars despite the fact that oncoming traffic was approaching, a court has heard.

Gavin Farrell (21), of Rafter’s Road, Drimnagh, Dublin 12, was charged with dangerous driving, at Carnacalla North, Kilrush and drink evunanetee

Garda Stephen Moyles told Kilrush District that the defendant overtook cars while oncoming traffic was ap- proaching. He said the accused drove at a speed of up to 140 kph.

Defence solicitor Geardid Wil- liams said his client has had very serious difficulties in his life and had turned to serious drinking. “He had too much to drink and got involved in this incident,” he said. He said the defendant has now turned his life around and is currently attending college. A two-year driving ban was imposed, along with a fine of €300.