Month: March 2011

THE CLARE Minors Ladies Footballers continued to hone their match skills when they hosted current AllIreland Minor Champions Galway at Quilty GAA Grounds last Sunday.

Another fast paced work-out for the Banner girls over three twenty minute games, Clare were faster off the mark than they were against Dublin last week showing an increase in appetite that is vital for their first round of the Munster A Championship against Kerry on April 9.

The overall result for the day was the fairest possible outcome but Clare were decidedly sharper than the Tribeswomen in their first selection.

This position was reversed in the second challenge and Clare took the win in the third game but results are secondary in this type of event as both sides are continually changed and tested over the course of the day.

The Clare Minors will take on Limerick at Parteen GAA Grounds next Sunday at 11am in a similar event.

A bus will leave Miltown Bank Corner at 8.15am and depart from the West County Hotel, Ennis at 9am sharp.

Lifford 2 – Newmarket Celtic 1 at Cassidy Park, Drumcliffe

NEWMARKET Celtic are flying high at the top of the Premier Division and closing in on their first title in three years, but their Clare Cup drought will extend to a dozen years at least.

All because they were dumped out of this year’s competition by Lifford, who have go all the way back to 1976 for their last success in the blue riband of the game in Clare.

They reached the last eight for the first time since 2009 thanks staving off Newmarket in the second half, with Jean Silva in goal and central defenders Mickey Joe O’Sullivan and Hamed Kuku in inspiring form as they doggedly held on to the 2-1 lead they’d carved out by half-time.

The home side got a dream start when Lunga Balman latched onto a through ball from midfield, used his strength to fend off a couple of Newmarket defenders before planting the ball past Kieran McGlynn in goal.

Newmarket were back on terms after 30 minutes when Davy Wall’s pile-driver took a deflection off Eoin Hayes and flew to the Lifford net past Jean Silva, but Lifford wee back in front five minutes later when Gary McNaboe raced into the area and was fouled for a penalty that Ryan Boyle dispatched to the net.

Those three first half goals may have rounded off the scoring, bu there was no shortage of goalmouth action in the second half as Newmarket laid siege on the Lifford goal.

The Ennis side were content to soak up the pressure and try and hit Newmarket on the break, a ploy which nearly paid dividends in the 63rd minute when Conor Donnellan was foiled by a great save from Kieran McGlynn.

Donnellan also had a penalty claim turned down, as did TJ Ajisomo, but the other penalty area was the scene for much more activity as Newmarket threw everything into getting the equaliser.

Substitute Kieran Devitt, a cup winner with Rineanna Rovers two years ago, had a great chance to get his side on terms on 84 minutes but was foiled by Jean Silva.

However, Newmarket were conviced they’d got back on terms five minutes from time when Mike O’Malley’s header looked goalbound only for Jean Silva to claw it back into play. Newmarket protested that the ball had crossed the line but Dave McCarthy waved play on and with it Newmarket’s cup race was run.

Lifford
Jean Silva, Joe Lynch (Conor Donnellan), Hamed Kuku (Kieran Connelly), Mickey Joe Sullivan, Dylan Blake, Ryan Boyle,TJ Ajisomo, Gary McNaboe (Gary Browne), Ruairi Norrby, Roberto Pinto, Lunga Balman (Kieran Neenan).

Newmarket Celtic
Kieran McGlynn, Mark O’Malley (Davy O’Grady), Mark Donnellan, Eoin O’Brien, Paudie Hayes (Mike O’Malley), Mike Devitt (Kieran Devitt), Eoin Hayes (Gary Collins) (Neil Ryan), Darren Cullinan, Seamie Lawolor, Davy Wall, Mikey Crosby.

Man of the Match
Mickey Joe O’Sullivan (Lifford)

Referee
David McCarthy

A QUINTESSENTIAL cup tie that appeared to be heading for extratime before centre-half Michael Concannon unleashed an unstoppable injury-time winner to send Corofin Harps into the last eight. It was a cruel way for home side Kilmaley to exit the cup. The victory was no more than Corofin Harps deserved on the day.

While the goal was a rare strike from general play, there were several opportunities from set-pieces with Kilmaley hitting the woodwork in each half.

That was as good as it got for Kilmaley who were second best possession-wise for the bulk of the encounter. On the flip side, Corofin played some eye-catching passing football but found Kilmaley’s defence difficult to break down.

So when Paul Linnane’s 88th minute free whistled just over the crossbar, extra-time seemed to be on the cards. That was until the ball fell kindly for Concannon to strike from 35 yards into the top right corner.

Kilmaley Fern Celtic
Gerry Healy, Pa Sherlock, Noel Healy, Philip Noonan, Jamie Meehan, Eoin McNamara (Alan Hehir, 78 mins), Jamie Mills, Conor Brennan, Greg O’Flanagan, Liam Meaney, Sean O’Flanagan

Corofin Harps
Mike Heath, Steven Quinn, Jason O’Connor, Michael Concannon, John Keane, Ronnie Meere (Fergal Neylon, HT), Paul Linnane, James Keane, JasonTierney, GaryTierney, Brian Halpin (Damien Ryan, HT)

Man of the Match
John Keane (Corofin Harps) Referee Paddy Dunne

Rock Rovers 2 – 3 Tulla United at Lees Road, Ennis

THESE are heady days for Tulla United. Back in the bigtime of the Premier Division after a number of years in the lower divisions and now in the Clare Cup quarter-final thanks to this thrilling win over former champions Rock Rovers.

Indeed, taking down Rock was a huge achievement for a Tulla side that’s more than holding its own in the top flight of the league thanks to their current standing of third place.

Rock were favourites given their sterling cup exploits in recent years – apart from being winners in 2008 they were quarter-finalists the following year and semi-finalists last year where they were shocked by Bridge United B.

And the Ennis side had things their own way early on, forcing the pace before breaking the deadlock after 20 minutes when Eoin Glynn’s cross from the right wing was volleyed to the net by David Ryan.

However, from there until half-time it went horribly wrong for Rock as they leaked two goals to a cock-ahoop Tulla side. Indeed, it only took four minutes – the equaliser came on 23 minutes when Stephen Loftus failed to gather a cross from the left and Mike McDermott gleefully tapped home to the net.

A minute later a free kick was floated into the Rock area from the right, with centre-forward Niall Whelan rising highest at the far post to head to the net.

Rock did have chances to equalise in the second half, but David Ryan and Marty McLoughlin both missed great chances early in the half. Opportunity knocked for McLoughlin again on 56 minutes, but his free header flashed over the bar from close range.

These misses came back to haunt Rock on 75 minutes when Tulla struck for a third on the break. A shot from left hit the cross bar and bounced down to Keith Lenihan who slammed the ball to the net from range.

Rock did give themselves a lifeline on 86 minutes when from a cross by Eoin Glynn, sub Stephen Hickey volleyed to the net from a yard out, but try as they might in the closing stages, the equaliser that would have brought the game to extra time never came as Tulla marched on.

Rock Rovers
Stephen Loftus, Michael Dinan (Ashley Glynn), Ciarán Russell, JasonWhite, Shane Daniels, Dean Gardiner, Eoin Glynn, Francis Daniels (Ronan Judge), David Ryan, Barry Woods, Marty McLoughlin (Stephen Hickey)

Tulla United

Shane Collins, PaudgeVaughan, Gearóid Doherty (Tommy McKeon), Dennis Murphy, Darragh Corry (Brian Hehir), Mike McDermott, Padraic O’Malley, Shane Mason, Niall Whelan,Alan Brigdale, Keith Lenihan.

Man of the Match
Darragh Corry (Tulla United) Referee Martin Monaghan

Hermitage A 0 – 0 Manus Celtic B (AET) Manus won 4-3 after penalties at the Fairgreen

33 PLACES separate Premier Division high-flyers Hermitage and bottom tier promotion hopefuls Manus Celtic B but the cup is a great leveller as it proved on Sunday when the tage’s flag was lowered.

And with every giantkilling story, there has to be a hero and on this occasion, the dragon slayer was Manus Celtic’s goalkeeper Jason Considine who not only kept his side in the game in open play, saved a penalty in the shoot-out and score the winner himself but was also only playing his first game of the season.

With such a dramatic storyline, you’d have to believe the script was written for Manus to take the Tage’s scalp and it was a plucky performance from the third Division side who may not have had many clearcut chances but more than matched their opponents in what was a dogged midfield battle.

Indeed, Manus started the better side and had a Bernard Scanlon shot inside the opening minutes hit the side netting but the Premier Division side grew into the game and could have snatched a goal just before the break, only for goalkeeper Considine to pull off a superb stop.

Hermitage continued where they left off on the restart and piled on the pressure but aside from a Scott Hennessy effort that hit the bar, they found Manus’ defence difficult to break down.

Contrary to expectations, it was the Premier side who appeared the more tired in the final quarter and as the game drifted into extra-time, both sides were happy to settle for penalties.

Up stepped Considine who saved the Tage’s second spot kick and when Hennessy put the fourth over the bar, the goalkeeper drove home the winner and secure Manus’ passage into the last eight.

Bunratty 2 – Avenue 3 (after extra-time) at Bunratty

THIS was the tie of the round between two Premier Division bluebloods who have 13 Clare Cup titles between them over the past 25 years – The Avenue with nine titles, Bunratty with four.

And, it was the biggest meeting between the two sides since their final game shoot-out for the league title two years ago that went to penalties before Bunratty claimed the title.

This one threatened to go to penalties when it went to extra-time, but in the end Bunratty old boy Con Collins who won the day for Avenue, turning from villain to zero when he fired home the winner eight minutes into the first period of extra time.

It was an entertaining game that seemed to be going Avenue’s way when they lead 2-0 inside 20 minutes and created a glut of chances in the half.

The opener came seven minutes in when Mikey Mahony and David McCarthy combined to put David Smyth in the clear – he out-paced the Bunratty defence before coolly dispatching to the net past Fintan Quinn.

On 20 minutes Smyth’s corner found David McCarthy, who fed Gary Flynn inside the area and he drove to the net.

Avenue were on their way, but three minutes before half-time Con Collins spectacularly headed Christy Griffin’s cross into his own net when attempting to head the ball to safety.

Bunratty had a lifeline and they grabbed it when Avenue failed to put the game beyond reach in the second half, equalising with eight minutes remaining when Evan Glynn picked up the pieces after the champions failed to deal with a corner and fired through a forest of players to the net.

It brought the game to extra-time and with it the prospect of another penalty shoot-out, only for Collins to emerge as the hero against his old club. He played a one-two with David Smyth before firing home a great goal to the bottom corner of the net.

Out of respect to his old teammates he didn’t celebrate, a la Denis Law for Man City against United all those years ago.

At least from Bunratty’s point of view, they weren’t relegated.

Avenue United
John Healy, Con Collins, David Russell, Dylan Casey, Mattie Nugent, Gary Flynn

(Richie Lillis), Pa Wilson, Dave McCarthy (Simon Cuddy), David Herlihy, Mikey Mahony ((Eamon O’Reilly), David Smythe.

Bunratty
Fintan Quinn, David Hogan, Gearoid O’Connell Tadgh Keogh (John Ryan), Eoin Nash, Chris Griffin (Brendan Hughes), Ryan Kelly (Jamie Cullen), Evan Glynn, Sean McDonald, Diarmuid Nash, Daithi O’Connell

Man of the Match
David Russell (Avenue United)

Referee
Martin O’Brien

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.

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

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

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