Month: May 2011

Clonlara 0-12 – St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield 0-12 at Shannon

AS paradoxical as it may seem, nearly every draw has a winner and loser and for the second year running, it is Clonlara who will feel that they left this game behind them while St Joseph’s will be more than content with a draw.

With two minutes of normal time remaining and four more of injurytime to come, Domhnall O’Donovan gained parity for Clonlara with his second successive point and with a gale at their backs and momentum gathering, nothing but a win seemed on the cards. However, St Joseph’s dug deep and never allowed the 2008 champions the opportunity to pick off a winning point in the remaining six minutes and in the overall anaylsis, while possibly paying too much respect to their opponents in how defensively they set up in the second period, Doora/Barefield will take great encouragement from a repeat of their opening day heroics of last year.

On that occasion, it was St Joseph’s who rallied late to secure an unlikely draw but with the wind dictating play on Sunday, this time Doora/Barefield got the opportunity to build up a halftime advantage. Indeed, they had five points on the board before Clonlara would even score through a Nicky O’Connell free in the 14th minute. Ivor Whyte was at the heart of their scoring powers by hitting three of those points and adding two more on their way to a 0-9 to 0-3 half-time advantage.

With the gale taking from the quality, goal chances non existent and Clonlara unusually sleepy, St Joseph’s chose to go on the defensive in the second period bringing back full-forward Kevin Dilleen as a spare midfielder and Damien Kennedy as sweeper.

That tactic seemed to backfire early on as it only invited Clonlara onto them for the second period but fortunately for ‘The Parish’, Clonlara’s shooting radar was off as they hit 14 wides over the hour. As ever, John Conlon stood above the pack in the leadership stakes in an attempt to topple the six point deficit, hitting two frees in as many minutes of the restart. However, as the wides piled up, St Joseph’s took advantage with an Ivor Whyte free before Clonlara replied through Conlon, Colm Galvin and Darach Honan entering the final quarter. In a rare attack, Niall DeLoughery gave St Joseph’s some breathing room to restore a three point advantage but a further brace from Conlon cut the deficit to only the minimum by the 55th minute. Try as they might however, the equalising point would not come and instead, Doora/Barefield used the opportunity to counteract with a point from substitute Eamon Clohessy. Up stepped centre-back Domhnall O’Donovan to show his forwards the way with two excellent points from distance and as unlikely as it seemed at that stage, they were to be the last scores of the game as Clonlara’s creative division faded and the spoils were shared once more.

Clonlara
Ger O’Connell (7), Senan Nihill (7),Tomás O’Donovan (7), John Moloney (7), Cillian Fennessy (7), Domhnall O’Donovan (8) (0-2), Paul Nihill (7), Nicky O’Connell (7) (0-1f), ColmGalvin (7) (0-2), John Conlon (8) (0-5 4f), Donal Madden (6), Cormac O’Donovan (7),Tommy Lynch (7), Darach Honan (7) (0-2), Cathal O’Connell (6)

Sub
Pat O’Hare (6) for Madden (34 mins)

St Joseph’s Doora/ Barefield
Paul Madden (7), Cathal O’Sullivan (7), Marty O’Regan (7), Sean Flynn (8),Alan O’Neill (7), Ken Kennedy (7), Darragh O’Driscoll (7), Damien Kennedy (6), Mark Hallinan (7) (0-2 1’65), Niall DeLoughery (7) (0-2), Noel Brodie (7), Ivor Whyte (7) (0-6 4f), Emmet Whelan (7) (0-1), Kevin Dilleen (7), Jarlath Colleran (6)

Subs
Shane O’Connor for Colleran (29 mins), Eamon Clohessy (6) (0-1) for O’Connor (37 mins, inj), Gary Hassett for D. Kennedy (59 mins)

Man of the Match
John Conlon (Clonlara) Referee Seanie McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus)

Eire Og 1-15 – Ogonnelloe 0-5 at Dr Daly Park, Tulla

Eire Óg got off to a great start in this year’s Intermediate championship as they comfortably overcame Ogonnelloe on Sunday in the first round at Tulla.

A good start from Eire Og saw them go four points to one up early on with scores from Ronan Keane, David O’Halloran and Danny Russell. Ogonnelloe came back into the game as Kieran Forde converted three frees to draw level but this was to be there last scoring action before the half. Eire Og regained control from here and with Danny Russell on target from placed balls they went in at the break on a 7-4 lead.

The townies started the second half much like they ended the first and continued to dominate a poor Ogonnelloe side. Ogonnelloe’s only score of the half came from a free that was deflected by Eire Og ‘keeper Kevin Brennan over the bar, having only scored one point from play Ogonnelloe never looked like any real threat. More Danny Russell frees and further points from Barry Nugent, Niall Daly and David O’Halloran built a commanding advantage. Then a goal from substitute John Lawlor wrapped up a solid performance for Eire Og to secure the win.

Eire Og will look at this result as the first stepping stone back to Senior level for 2012 and will be happy with such a performance which they will hope to build on in the coming weeks as preparation for their second round tie.

Eire Og:
Kevin Brennan; Kevin Hally, Marc O’Donnell, Cathal Whelan;Tadgh McNamara, Fergus Flynn (0-1), Kevin Moynihan; Noel Whelan, Mark Fitz; Ronan Keane (0-1),AdrianWalsh, Danny Russell(0-6, 4f); David O’Halloran (0-3), Barry Nugent (0-2), Niall Daly (0-2). Subs: John Lawlor (1-0) for Nugent, Ronan Cooney for Hally,Tomas Downes for Daly.

Ogonnelloe:
Tomas McKenna; John O’Brien, Michael Costelloe, Eoin Sheedy; Paschal Sheedy, Patrick Barton,Tomas Condon; Barry Kiely, Michael Noel Bugler; Paul Healy, Kieran Forde (0-4, 4f), Ozar McMahon; Robert Dreelan (0-1), John McKenna, Peter English.

Newmarket on Fergus 4-15 – Ballyea 0-11 at Cusack Park, Ennis

A STROLL for the Blues as they took up the challenge of trying to bridge a 30-year cup since the Canon Hamilton last did a tour of local hostelries starting at O’Neills on the Ennis Road and finishing on the Sixmilebridge road near Fr Murphy Park.

The hurlers on the high stool, many of them with as many medals as loose change in their pockets, won’t be taking up the Blues’ championship challenge just yet, but who knows what will happen if the ruthlessness they showed in front of goal stays with them for the year.

They banged them in for fun in the first half, exposing Ballyea for what they were – a team with poor numbers at training and consequently poor preparation and whipping boys for a Newmarket team intent of laying down an early marker.

And they did that as early as the first minute when Colin Ryan picked up the pieces of a defensive mistake and fed Eoin Hayes who drilled the ball to the net past a stationary Shane O’Neill.

From there the tone of this match was set – the first half at any rate as Newmarket seemed to have goal on their mind any time they mounted an attack, while an under siege Ballyea were depending of the talents of the two Tonys, Griffin and Kelly, to keep them competitive in the half.

They did their job, keeping their score ticking over, only for a porous defence to let them down the other end as Newmarket knifed through them for further first half goals through Colin Ryan (2) and Shane O’Brien to decide things by half-time as Newmarket 4-8 to 0-7 lead.

Forget the second half when Newmarket’s soccer wing and neutrals alike were more interested in events at Old Trafford than they were in events in Cusack Park – maybe this disinterest seeped through to the players in a totally underwhelming half as the Blues pulled the handbreak and still cruised to a 16-point success.

It was that easy after those goals, even though Ballyea’s spirit had them plugging away until the end in search of their own goals to take a lop-sided look off the scoreboard.

It began to look lop-sided as early as the sixth minute when David Barrett raced through and teed up Colin Ryan for goal number two and listed further when Ryan hit another bullet to the net in the 22nd minute are points by Tony Kelly (2) and Tony Griffin threatened to keep Ballyea competitive.

And, finally the point of no return arrived in the 32nd minute when Shane O’Brien sauntered forward and had his turn at blasting to the net to leave 13 points between the sides at the call of half-time.

That whistle couldn’t have come quick enough for Ballyea – as it turned out Newmarket could never summon the same enthusiasm afterwards as the game listed as much as the scoreboard did in the first.

Remarkably the Blues could carve no more goal openings, but still racked up 0-7 to Ballyea’s 0-4, rattling off the first four points of the half throgh Eoin Hayes from play and three Colin Ryan frees to move 17 points clear.

Ballyea did limit the damage from there on in, but the real damage had been done and could never be undone.

It’s will be a short and painful championship for Ballyea, going on this. As always the jury is still out on the Blues.

Newmarket on Fergus
Kieran Devitt (7), Eoin O’Brien (7), Stephen Kelly (7), Niall O’Connor, (7), Sean O’Connor (7), James McInerney (8), Darren O’Connor (7), Enda Barrett (7), Martin O’Hanlon (7), Enda Kelly (6), Shane O’Brien (7) (1-1), David Barrett (7) (1-1), Colin Ryan (8) (2-9 7f), Eoin Hayes (7) (1-2),Tommy Griffin (6).

Subs
James Liddy (7) (0-1) for Griffin [46 Mins],Alan Barrett (6) for [49 Mins] Darren O’Connor, Paudie Collins (6) for Shane O’Connor [49 Mins],Anthony Kilmartin (6) for Ryan [51 Mins],

Ballyea
Shane O’Neill (6), Eamon Griffin (6), Kevin Sheehan (7) (0-1), Jack Browne (6), Brian Murphy (6), Paddy O’Connell (7), Niall Keane, (7) Paul Flanagan (6), Gearóid O’Connell (6), Cathal Doohan (6),Alan Carrigg (6), Niall Deasy (6) (0-1), Tony Kelly (7) (0-6, 3f, two 65), Francis O’Reilly (6), Tony Griffin (7) (0-2)

Subs
David Sheahan (6) for Eamon Griffin [Half-Time], Francie Neylon (6) for Murphy [Half-Time], James Murphy for Carrigg [44 Mins],

IN AN effort to improve the conduct of mentors in underage hurling games, Bord na nÓg Iomaint have issued new regulations to be observed with immediate effect.

Every club secretary was subsequently emailed a letter advising of the new rules that ban managers, coaches or selectors from entering the field of play unless to attend an injured player, give drinks or provide a replacement hurley.

Also mentors are also ruled out from carrying a hurley while on the sideline during a match.

‘The carrying of a hurley by a men tor can be very intimidating to young players and will not be permitted.’

‘The referees have been made aware of the Bord na nÓg requirements.

“We would ask you to ensure that all of your mentors observe them and cooperate with referees, who have been asked to report any instances where transgressions occur.

Where such reports are received, Bord na nÓg will apply appropriate sanctions,’ the letter concluded.

Gr oup 1 Killanena v Smit h O’Br ien’s @ Sca r iff, Sunday 1pm KNIVES and forks at the ready as the both sides will have hungrily eyed this game up as one that they could potentially garner two valuable points. Even in this opening tie, points are valuable because the initial instinct from the respective sides will be to consolidate their senior status before even thinking about extending their ambitions.

Smith O’Brien’s will enter a senior championship game as rare favourites after paying their dues at senior level and looking to advance to the next stage. They partially impressed in last year’s championship, winning their opening game against Tulla while they should have shown more resilience against Whitegate in round 2 and that defeat began a slippery slope that was only halted in the final relegation play-off against Corofin.

The Killaloe side have certainly held their own in this year’s competitive fare though as in Division 2A of the Clare Cup, they have won three out of four games and should be confident of victory this weekend.

Killanena will also hold out significant hope of success in what could otherwise be a less than comfortable maiden voyage in the top tier. Without key forward Ronan Flaherty and set to lose more players to emigration in the summer, Killanena will look to the two games in May as their best hopes of securing the points needed to survive another year at senior level.

As ever, Mark Flaherty will be Killanena’s trump card and without question, Killanena will throw every drop of sweat and blood into this game in order to dig out a result. How much Smith O’Brien’s have learned from last year will only be known this Sunday but undoubtedly the loser of this tie will be under pressure for the remainder of the championship to avoid the relegation dogfight and that alone should see the tension lifted to 11. Ver dict: Killanena Br oadfor d a bye Gr oup 2 Whit egat e v I nagh /Kilna mona @ Cusack Pa r k, Sunday 4pm CAST your mind back almost 12 months ago to the day in the opening round of the senior championship at the same venue when Whitegate, on the crest of a wave after finally winning the intermediate championship and following it up with an unprecedented run in the top tier of the Clare Cup, took on the perennial championship favourites Newmarket. That day, the east Clare side threw the kitchen sink at the Blues and were only beaten in the final quarter when Newmarket got out of jail. That enthusiasm and confidence has largely subsided since then however and as Whitegate bid to recapture that form, Inagh/Kilnamona appear to be heading in the opposite direction as they attempt to get the right balance of youth and experience in their line-up.

How Whitegate would love such a luxury of strength-in-depth as they lament the loss of Tommy Holland and also their young starlet Michael Dooley who is out due to an ankle injury.

That inequality should get Inagh/ Kilnamona over the line in this opener as Gerry and Niall Arthur, Conor Tierney, Cathal Lafferty, Eamon Glynn, Ronan O’Looney and Patrick Kelly should provide a superior cutting edge. Ver dict: Inagh /Kilna mona Sca r iff a bye Gr oup 3 Sixmilebr idge v Cla r eca st le @ Cusack Par k, Fr iday 7pm THE theory that every action has an equal and opposite reaction could have been written with this game in mind. You see, everything seems to be coming together nicely for Sixmilebridge at the moment, defending their Clare Cup title in confident fashion at the top of the Division 1 table along with adding a second Under 21A championship in three years only a few weeks back, with the majority of that team primed to hit the senior championship running.

On the flip side however, Clarecastle have struggled to find their form entering the championship having lost their last three competitive games to Whitegate, Inagh/Kilnamona and fellow group contenders Tulla, and are still experimenting with their team having lost key player Conor Plunkett to a long term injury just over a week ago.

The championship inevitably should rally some pride within the Magpies’ camp, especially against one of their rivals while the ‘Bridge will certainly be wary of them, especially as half of Clarecastle’s line-up have championship winning experience.

In saying that, form cannot be turned on like a tap and therefore it’s Sixmilebridge’s game to lose unless the Magpies can make a stand not seen against one of their main rivals in four years. Ver dict: Sixmilebr idge Tulla v O’Ca llaghan’s Mills @ Cusack Pa r k, Sunday 5. 30pm The third successive championship meeting between these east Clare neighbours and like any trilogy, there will be an air of familiarity that should add an extra spice to proceedings this weekend, more like The Godfather Part Three rather than Toy Story 3.

The Mills have had the best of the two previous meeting by taking three of a possible four points but the advantage could swing in the Senior B champions direction on this occasion as the Mills have injuries to key performers Adrian Donovan, Diarmuid Hehir and James McMahon and Tulla are entering the championship in a confident manner after two straight victories over group rivals Clarecastle and Sixmilebridge.

Derbies are never that straightforward however and expect a few twists and turns before this must win opener is concluded, with perhaps Tulla to emerge the slenderest of victors. Ver dict: Tulla Wolfe Tones a bye Gr oup 4 Cr usheen v Kilmaley @ Cusack Pa r k, Sat ur day 7pm THIS could potentially be the game of the weekend as the defending champions make their championship bow against a resurgent Kilmaley side. Crusheen will have to be even more resilient than last year as they know they will be a target for every side to up their performance against the county champions. That will apply particularly in this opening tie against Kilmaley who have a point to prove after last year. Kilmaley hold the unwanted record of being the only side ever not to have lost a championship game and still exit the championship having drawn three and won one of their four games in last year’s championship. Still, with an experienced county spine and their younger crop having a year’s more experience, they will be hoping to turn those draws into victories, starting with Crusheen. Ironically, it was the last meeting between the pair two years ago that essentially ended Crusheen’s involvement at the group stage and sharpened their hunger for their historic run to last year’s county championship. Kilmaley should have the hunger this time around but with arguably the best defence in the championship, the holders should have enough grit to survive. Ver dict: Cr usheen Clooney/Quin a bye

Clare 3-10 – Fermanagh 1-12 at Parnell Park, Dublin

IT was a struggle at times, but then again it was never going to be, or supposed to be a canter. That said when it came to the crunch, Clare’s class in front of goal shone through as they maintained their unbeaten record over Fermanagh by laying claim to a first National League success in three years.

Back then it was a Division 2 title over Donegal – this time it was Division 3 honours over their near neighbours thanks to a three-goal blitz in the second half that finally put paid to dogged Fermanagh persistence.

The key for Clare was that they had the more balanced team against a Fermanagh side that relied too much on the three Little sisters. It was their collective performance in the first half that gave Fermanagh a fighting chance, but ultimately the Ernesiders’ failure to build up a first half lead was their undoing as they turned to face the elements in the second half.

Shauna Hamilton rattled the crossbar early on for Fermanagh, while Sharon Little blasted over the bar when teed up for a great goal chance by her sister Caroline after 15 minutes, but two minutes later Clare had their best goal chance of the half when Roisin Gleeson made a great double-save from Niamh O’Dea and Naomi Carroll.

It was that kind of game – always open, with a bit of controversy thrown in as Fermanagh’s Marcella Connolly was sin-binned in the 20th minute for a high tackle on Eimear O’Connor while Clare captain Niamh Keane’s sin-binning in the final minute of the half seemed very harsh.

However, it was Fermanagh who suffered most because, their numerical disadvantage in the closing ten minutes of the half meant they only had a share of the spoils at the break with matters resting at 0-5 apiece.

In all the sides were level on five occasions in the half, trading point for point after Marcella Connolly opened the scoring in the fifth minute. Louise Henchy levelled matters before the Sharon Little showcased her talents with a great point from play.

In all she scored three from play in the half, tormenting the Clare defence as Fermanagh threatened briefly to cut loose and bag what could have been a crucial breakthrough goal.

However, Clare had Louise Henchy, her sheer energy around the field as she ranged from one end to the other took the fight to Fermanagh, while the understanding between Clare’s forwards was also key. It kept them in the game by half-time – Henchy hitting two points on the way, while Niamh O’Dea hit three.

Then came a stunning second half display as Clare rattled off 3-5 in the half-hour to move up to Division 2 as champions.

Making light of their numerical disadvantage they hit the ground running, Niamh O’Dea pointing in the first minute before responding to Caroline Little’s equaliser in the fifth by a great goal a minute later when midfielder Marie Considine raided from midfield and slammed the ball past Roisin Gleeson to give Clare a 1-6 to 0-6 lead.

Fermanagh did rally with points from Marcella Connolly and Sharon Little, but they were always fighting a losing battle once Eimear Considine illuminated the game when blasting to the net after 48 minutes.

Running on to a long delivery from midfield, the Kilmihil star hit a thunderbolt to the net from all of 14 yards. Clare led by 2-7 to 0-8 and were never going to surrender the initiative from there, despite Fermanagh’s never-say-die attitude that kept them fighting to the end.

Points by Eimear Considine and Ailish Considine ensured that Clare’s five-point lead was intact at the final ten minutes loomed when but then the result seemed to be put beyond any doubt when Niamh O’Dea struck for Clare’s third goal.

In truth, the Banner Ladies star had goals on her mind all afternoon and was finally rewarded for her busy hour when from a long punted free from Louise Henchy, she outfielded three Fermanagh defenders on the edge of the square and coolly sidefooted the ball to the net to put Clare seven points clear.

A Caroline Little point and then a goal by her sister Sharon when she pounced on a rebound from Aisling Moane’s shot left only a goal in it with two minutes remaining, but Clare nerves were eased when O’Dea brought her tally for the afternoon to 1-5 with a last minute point.

Clare
Emma O’Driscoll (The Banner), Claire Hester (Fergus Rovers), Lorraine Kelly (Fergus Rovers), Laurie Ryan (The Banner), Eimear O’Connor (Coolmeen), Róisin McMahon (Newmarket), LouiseWoods (The Banner), Marie Considine (Liscannor) (1-0), Louise Henchy (The Banner) (0-2, 1f), Colette Corry (Shannon Gaels), Niamh Keane (The Banner), Naomi Carroll (The Banner) (0-1), Eimear Considine (Kilmihil) (1-1), Niamh O’Dea (The Banner) (1-5, 2f)), Sarah Bohannon (Shannon Gaels).

Subs
Ailish Considine (Kilmihil) (0-1) for Corry [half-time], Katie Geoghegan (West Clare Gaels) for Carroll [53 Mins], Sinead Eustace (Coolmeen) for Bohannon [55 Mins], Carmel Considine (Liscannor) for Hester [59 Mins], C O’Leary for O’Dea [62 Mins].

Fermanagh
Roisin Gleeson, ClaireWoods, Nuala Curran, OReihill; DMurphy,Tara Little, Patricia Melanaphy, Marcella Connolly (0-2),Aisling Moane (0-1) Shauna Hamilton, Sharon Little (1-4, 1f), Louise McFrederick, Nuala McManus, Caroline Little (0-5f),Aine McBrien.

Subs
Kyle McManus for Hamilton (37), Joanne Doonan for McFrederick (46), Roisin O’Reilly for Woods (57), Aisling Maguire for McManus (58), Louise Slevin for Melanaphy (59).

Player of Match
Louise Henchy (Clare)

Referee
Des McEnery (Westmeath)

THE real job of journeywork was the prize of winning promotion back to Division 2 for 2012 was already in the bag – this was about climbing back up the league ladder as champions.

When it was duly achieved after 60 minutes, many of them nervous before the calm waters of the second half when Clare shook the rigging of Fermanagh’s net three times, manager David O’Brien was quick to jump on the significance of the four-point success.

“Yes we were promoted before a ball was kicked, but we wanted this national title badly,” he said. “When there’s a cup to be played for, you want to win it. You don’t want to lose anything you enter.

“We were disappointed with the first half, because we were so caught up in our determination not to con cede goals to them as we did in the league game in Clarecastle that we forget to play ourselves.

“It was all about containing them. At half-time we knew what they had, but felt we hadn’t given anything ourselves, but then we upped it in the second half and played a lot better.

“We had the breeze in the second half and it was a lot stronger than it looked. We felt that if we got enough ball in that we’d do. We moved the ball that little bit quicker for the first ten minutes of the second half while Niamh Keane was off the field.”

It was in that ten minutes when Clare were down to 14 players that they struck for the crucial opening goal, with Marie Considine’s strike putting a goal between the sides for the first time – the most important score of the game, according to O’Brien.

“Fermanagh wanted to play a sweeper in the second half but once we got ahead with our first goal, they had to push on. The longer it was level, the longer they would have been able to keep using a sweeper to keep us out, but once we went four or five points up they couldn’t play that system and it opened it up a bit more for us.

“The second goal was the clincher. It put us seven points up and I know they came back at the end of it, but it was more or less game over when we went five or six up. You couldn’t see them outscoring us from then on,” he added.

The win means that Clare will go into their Munster semi-final meeting with Division 1 champions Cork as national champions in their own right – a game that O’Brien says won’t be about Clare just making up the numbers against the best team in Ireland.

“No one is going to give us a chance, but if we can give a good defensive display, our forwards will always scores,” he told The Clare People defiantly.

“Last year Cork beat us well in the Munster final, but we still hit 2-10. If we don’t concede much we have a chance and we have to believe in ourselves in the next seven weeks that we have a chance.

“If you don’t beat Cork we are in the Qualifiers, but the easiest way to get from A to B is in a straight line. We want to go through the front door and reach another Munster Final.

“There’s no point turning around seven weeks before we play Cork and start thinking of back doors. We might as well not bother training for the next seven weeks if we think that.

“We must believe that we can beat Cork and that’s all we can train for from now on. We’re looking forward to taking them on because beating them is what this Clare teams has to aspire to,” added O’Brien.

Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-13 – Shannon Gaels 1-06 at Labasheeda

KILMURRY Ibrickane secured their place in the Cusack Cup semi-final on Saturday, while at the same time the exacted some revenge of the Gaels who put paid to their chances of lifting the trophy last term when shocking them at the semi-final stage.

There was no shock on the cards here as Kilmurry did more than enough to maintain their unbeaten league run, easing themselves to a comfortable four-point win in a game played out in dreadful conditions.

Kilmurry’s superiority could be summed up in their response to John Paul O’Neill’s 42nd minute goal for the Gaels, which left only a point between the sides. The Gaels took heart that this three-pointer could drive them on – instead it was Kilmurry who clicked into gear by hitting four unanswered points to kill off the home side’s challenge.

Matters were even enough in the first half – Kilmurry held the early initiative with two early points from Ian McInerney before John Paul O’Neill opened the Gaels’ account with a fisted effort in the fifth minute.

Stephen Moloney and Mark McCarthy hit points from play by the 11th minute before two Michael Coughlan points kept the Gaels only a point adrift after 16 minutes. That gap was still there at half-time after a brilliant Enda Coughlan point from the right after 22 minutes was responded to at the death by Cathal O’Neill, who raided from his full-back position to land a point.

However, when Kilmurry hit three points without reply inside the first eight minutes of the second half to move 0-8 to 0-4 clear, it seemed as if they would pull away to a comfortable win.

O’Neill’s goal altered that complexion for a few minutes, but order was restored with Noel Downes (2), Peter O’Dwyer, Ian McInerney and Johnnie Daly put Kilmurry 0-13 to 1-4 by the 55th minute.

Even the sending off of Evan Talty for a second yellow card after 53 minutes didn’t unsettle Kilmurry. Points at the death for Michael Coughlan and John Paul O’Neill were of the consolation and damage limitation variety.

The win leapfrogs Kilmurry to the top of the table with nine points from five games, while Shannon Gaels are now deep in relegation trouble with only two games left in the sevenmatch campaign, at the foot of the table.

Kilmurry Ibrickane
Darren Sexton, John Willie Sexton, Darren Hickey, Declan Callinan, Evan Talty, Paul O’Connor, Shane Hickey (0-1), Seamus Murrihy, Peter O’Dwyer (0-1), Stephen Moloney (0-1), Mark McCarthy (0-1), Ian McInerney (0-4, 1f, one 45), Johnnie Daly (0-1f), Enda Coughlan (0-2), Noel Downes (0-2).

Subs
Michael Hogan for Murrihy,Thomas O’Connor for Daly

Shannon Gaels
Keith Ryan, Francis Cleary, Cathal O’Neill (0-1), Fergal Kenny, John Bermingham, John Neylon,Tomas Cleary, Michael O’Donoghue, Fergal O’Neill, Sean Reynolds, Bryan Cunningham, Brian Bermingham, Michael Coughlan (0-3, 1f), John Paul O’Neill (1-2), Brian O’Shea.

Subs
Ruairi Norrby for O’Shea, Michael McMahon for Cunningham

Man of the Match
Peter O’Dwyer (Kilmurry Ibrickane)

Referee
Michael Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane)

Clare 1-10 – Sligo 1-08 at Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown

IT was a challenge game, but the fists that were thrown just before the break gave this game to mark the opening of the new stand at Hennessy Memorial Park a championship feel to it.

Therefore, it was a good workout for Micheál McDermott’s side as they edged out last year’s Connacht finalists by two points thanks in the main to a strong first half display when they were playing with the strong breeze blowing down towards the town end goal.

Clare built up a 1-7 to 0-3 interval lead, with Graham Kelly’s goal in the 16th minute being the catalyst for a strong first half performance. Wingback Martin McMahon opened the scoring in the first minute with a point from play, while Adrian Marren and David Tubridy swapped points by the 13th minute.

Kelly’s goal, which he palmed to the net after being put through by Gary Brennan, was followed by points by Davide Tubridy and Joe Dowling as Clare forged well clear by the break.

Sligo’s only resistence was points from Adrian Marren and David Maye as Clare rattled off points from David Tubridy (2) and Martin McMahon to move seven points clear by the break.

Graham Kelly didn’t re-appear for the second half after the dust-up before half-time, but points by Rory Donnelly in the 36th and 55th minutes, that sandwiched to Adrian Marren efforts for Sligo ensured Clare’s seven-point lead was intact entering the last 15 minutes

A blast of scoring from Adrian Marren between the 57th and 62nd minutes that yielded 1-2 did make it interesting and reduced the marging to two points, while it was down to the minimum when Tony Taylor pointed in the 65th minute.

However, Clare held firm and substitute Darragh Blake 67th minute point sealed victory and a good workout for Clare.

Clare
Joe Hayes, Kevin Hartnett, Laurence Healy, MarkTubridy, John Hayes, Gordon Kelly, Martin McMahon, Gary Brennan, Niall Browne, Darren O’Neill, DavidTubridy, GrahamKelly,Alan Clohessy, Joe Dowling, Rory Donnelly. Subs Ger Quinlan for O’Neill, Michael Foran for GrahamKelly, Shane Brennan for Dowling, Darragh Blake (0-1) for Clohessy.

Sligo
Philip Greene, Charles Harrison, Ross Donovan, Brian Kennedy, Paul McGovern, Brian Curran, Keelan Cawley, Brendan Egan, Stephen Gilmartin, TonyTaylor, Eamon O’Hara, Frank Quinn, Mark Breheny, David Maye,Adrian Marren.

ENNIS RFC’s under 12 panel recently travelled to Frankfurt to play in SC 1880 Frankfurt RFC’s annual underage rugby tournament. With forty players travelling it allowed Ennis to play three teams in the competition against their German and French counterparts. It is the second year Ennis has taken part in this tournament that caters from under 8’s up to under 14’s, with over 700 players taking part in the tournament over the two days of competition. The touring party enjoyed great hospitality from SC 1880 Frankfurt and enjoyed their stay.

It is with great credit to the panel of players that the tour was self financed with multiple fundraising events held over the last six months by the players, their parents and friends with help also coming from the ‘Temple Gate Hotel’ and sponsorship from ‘McDonalds (Ennis)’ after a ‘Drive Thru challenge’.

Last year Ennis got to the under 12 final only to be beaten by their hosts and were hoping to go one better this year. With Ennis Green, white and gold teams playing in different groups it was the Gold team that made the best headway in the first day by wining their 2 matches in their reduced group with the Green team winning 2 and loosing one while the Green team were unfortunate to be playing in the most difficult group and didn’t register a win.

Day two saw all three teams playing two games and it was the Ennis Gold team that had to play the favourites Lille RFC in the tournament semi final and what can only be called an act of defiance, they met the larger French team head on and with aggressive tackling and great ball handling skills beat the what were now the favourites by 4 trys to nil with the help of some great vocal support from their teammates on the line.

This rewarded them with a final against the ‘Rheindahlen Rhinos’ Black team that was mostly made up from players of British army families stationed in Germany and coached by an Irish man from Abbyfeale, Co. Limerick. It was a fifteen minute game with no halves so there was no time for poor starts. Ennis still a little stiff from their earlier battle started the slower and looked to be in second gear when Luke Carmody scored the first try after five minutes.

The Rhinos stepped it up a gear and harried and scored within one minute of the restart. When the Rhinos’ outstanding centre tracked down David Mescall on his own line after a long kick down field, Ennis were against the ropes from the resulting penalty for holding on the ground and the Rhinos scored from the ensuing phases of play.

With 3 minutes on the clock this was to be the winning score and it just didn’t afford Ennis enough time to reply with a levelling score. At the final whistle the agony on the player’s faces was evident but they regrouped to congratulated a very surprised Rhino team that has only been in existence for 2 seasons. After such a hotly contested semi final, where all players stepped up their game, it was considered that the final was just a bridge too far for an Ennis team that had great performances from the likes of Darragh ÓSé, Grainne McNeilis, Ronan Corey, Niall O’Brien, David Mescall and Luke Carmody and with some great individual trys scored throughout the tournament by Cathal Talty, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Stephen Hogan, things are looking bright for Ennis RFC underage programme.

As with the ethos of rugby, some Ennis players even played with German Teams in the closing day with Cian Chapman, Stephen Hogan, Tim Hannon and David Kirwin playing for ‘Heusenstamn RFC’ with Jack Connolly, Harry Meechan, Aidan Cleland, Jason Warren and Nathan Coote playing for the ‘Rheindahlen Rhinos’ Red team.

Although experiencing disappointment after the final whistle it was acknowledged that all players, coaches and parents that travelled have great memories to take with them into the future.

Ennis Green:
Garreth Kelly,Aidan Cleland, Connor Sheedy, Hugh Black, Mark Cabey, Jack O’Donnell, Jack Connolly, Connor Cahill, Eoghan Grace, David Kirwin, Cian Chapman, Stephen Hogan, Jack Colleran

Ennis White:
Breifne O’Reilly, Fionn Nolan, David Kelly, John Hartigan, CallumFarrell, Cian Keogh, Harry Meechan, Leon Byrne, Mark Fitzgearald, Stephen Maher, Stephen Magliocco,Tim Hannon, Nathan Coote, Connor Tierney

Ennis Gold:
Cathal Talty, David Mescall, Eoin Leen, Eoin O’Ceallaigh, Grainne McNeilis, Jack DColleran, JasonWarren, Luke Carmody, Niall O’Brien, Ronan Cahill, Ronan Corey, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Dara ÓSé