Category: Sport

Tippeary 3-13 – Clare 1-6 At St Brendan’s Park, Birr

LAST year Clare were unlucky losers against Dublin in the All-Ireland quarter-final and watched enviously as the Jackies marched on to All-Ireland glory; this year it was a case of the nightmare of the 2008 All-Ireland final revisited as they were ambushed by Tipperary.

And, Clare’s meltdown from AllIreland senior contenders to be being dumped out of the championship race was every bit as comprehensive as the final scoreline suggests – they were outclassed in all departments by a rampant Tipperary side who were full value for the 13-point victory.

Where did it all go wrong?

Everywhere is the curt answer, as early dominance in the possession stakes, but a failure to take a nubmer of gilt edged scoring chances was subsequently punished in clinical mannner by a ruthless Tipperary side that had this Qualifier in the bag by half-time as they led by 1-9 to 0-4.

That was bad, but it only got worse on the turnover as the Premier County’s rampage continued – they played within themselves to out-score David O’Brien’s shell-shocked charges by 2-4 to 1-2 to inflict what can only be looked on as a hammer blow to the ladies game in Clare.

And, it would have been much worse but for the first half heroics of Emma O’Driscoll in goal. Twice she foiled Máiréad Morrissey from point blank range with brilliant saves before her goal was finally breached by Tricia Hickey in the 27th minutes.

Up until that point, Clare were still in this game, even though they were mal-functioning badly. They had opened the scoring through Niamh Keane in the first minute, while a great point by Louise Henchy in the sixth minute had them 0-2 to 0-1 ahead.

However, as Clare’s wides mounted in the half, all they could muster before the break was two Louise Henchy frees as Tipperary upped their intensity and ripped through Clare at pace and grabbed this game by the scruff.

After Ailish Considine and Mairéad Morrissey spurned gilt-edged goal chances before the tenth minute, points by Tricia Hickey (2) and Gillian O’Brien which were responded to by two Henchy frees left Tipperary 0-5 to 0-4 ahead by the 20th minute.

Things looked very different at half-time though, with Hickey’s goal, which she followed with a point and two points form Máiread Morrissey eased them into an eight point lead.

And, Clare’s nightmare got worse when Morrissey blasted home a goal a minute after the resumption. Eimear Considine hit hit back with a Clare goal two minutes later, but it was damage limitation stuff for most of that second half as Tipperary kept their composure to win as they pleased.

Morrissey’s second goal after 40 minutes stretched the lead into double figures and in the closing 20 minutes added to that as Clare’s challenge petered out – the rich promise they had shown in that game against Dublin in Banagher last year and in the Division 3 final against Fermanagh in Parnell Park ebbing away with every passing minute.

This was a disaster. Pure and simple.

And, mysteriously there was no Niamh O’Dea on the Clare team.

Clare
Emma O’Driscoll (The Banner), Claire Hester (Fergus Rovers), Sinead Eustace (Coolmeen), Laurie Ryan (The Banner), LouiseWoods (The Banner), Róisín McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus), Carmel Considine (Liscannor), Eimear O’Connor (Coolmeen), Louise Henchy (The Banner) (0-4, 3f), Colette Corry (Shannon Gaels), Niamh Keane (The Banner) (0-1), Marie Considine (Liscannor), Eimear Considine (Kilmihil) (1-0), Naomi Carroll (The Banner),Ailish Considine (Kilmhil) (0-1).

Subs
Sarah Bohannon (Shannon Gaels) for Corry, Fiona Lafferty (St Joseph’s Miltown) for Carroll, Carole O’Leary (Newmarket-on-Fergus) for Woods, Lorraine Kelly (Fergus Rovers) for Eustace, Naomi Caroll for Ailish Considine.

Tipperary
Nora Noonan,Treasa McGrath, Carmel Condon, Claire Carroll, Siobhan Condon, Samantha Lambert, Barbara Ryan, Gennifer Grant, Sile Carew, Gillian O’Brien, Mairead Morrissey (1-8, 7f), Siobhan Costello,Aine Staunton,Tricia Hickey, Caitriona Walsh.

Player of the Match
Mairéad Morrissey (Tipperary)

Referee
KeithTighe (Dublin)

Meelick 1-5 – Coolmeen 0-8 at Clareabbey, Clarecastle

COMPELLING viewing if not always because of the quality of the football but mainly due to the incident packed nature of this decider.

It was a strangely ill tempered affair dogged by an explosive undercurrant with eight cards shown, one of those red for Coolmeen corner-back Kevin McMahon that sometimes took from the undoubted potential of two sides that would also fancy themselves to be in the shake up come the business end of the Junior A Championship.

And while Coolmeen were always chasing the game and never headed their opponents, a draw was arguably the fairest result for the sides’ endeavours over the hour.

With a strong breeze blowing towards Ennis, Meelick had the advantage in the first half and while they did score 1-3 without reply, there is no doubt that they could have been out of sight by the interval.

Unbeaten Coolmeen were surprisingly slow to settle into the game, needlessly kicking away and coughing up too much possession but took great heart from the fact that they were only five points in arrears by half-time after Kieran Neenan had finally opened their account in a rare attack in the 34th minute of the first half.

Instead, county senior Kevin Harnett and Patrick Finucane pulled the strings for the south east Clare side with the former scoring his side’s opening two scores by the fourth minute. However, their prolifiacy in front of goal halted their further progress until Darragh Quinn fed Brian O’Neill to score the only goal of the game in the 11th minute.

There should have been a second for Meelick seven minutes later when first a Gary Moloney shot was deflected by Dermot McMahon off the post while only seconds later, Paul Flannery’s penalty was excellently stopped by goalkeeper Pa McMahon.

That save should have inspired Coolmeen but instead in the 20th minute, an off-the-ball incident saw Kevin McMahon sent to the line while Meelick’s Niall Mullen was yellow carded.

There were only two more scores before the break however, with Harnett converting another free while Kieran Neenan gave Coolmeen a much needed lift with an injury time opener at 1-3 to 0-1.

With the wind now at their backs, Coolmeen were a much improved side on the restart, even though it took them seven minutes to open the scoring when a Sean McMahon lineball broke to Kieran Neenan who might have scored a goal but struck his shot just over the crossbar.

It was the beginning of Coolmeen’s best period of the game as they simply owned the ball for the next ten minutes, with Meelick unable to win their own kick-outs. A further four unanswered points followed to level up the game by the 47th minute, with county senior Cathal O’Connor finally finding his range with three points, the highlight of which came from the right sideline in the 41st minute.

It appeared as if Coolmeen’s momentum would see them take the game from that juncture but somehow Meelick found another gear and two settling frees from Harnett put them clear once more by the 50th minute.

Up stepped Kevin Val McMahon to save the day for Coolmeen, first striking a free from distance and then deep into injury time he collected a pass from Brian Markham to gain parity for the final time. Further skirmishes, and talk of Coolmeen’s 15th man for a brief period of the second half, at the final whistle only heightened the ante ahead of the much anticipated replay.

Meelick
Gerry Markham, Peter Reidy, Sean Cooney, Mickey Kelly, Eanna Mulvihill, Niall Mullen, Brian Barrett, Stephen Hayes, Kevin Harnett (0-5 4f), Darragh Quinn, Patrick Finucane,WilliamO’Shaughnessy, Paul Flannery, Brian O’Neill (1-0), Gary Moloney

Subs
Jamie O’Sullivan for Flannery (HT), Michael Russell for O’Shaughnessy (56 mins)

Coolmeen
Pa McMahon, Noel McMahon, Kevin (Val) McMahon (0-2 1f), Kevin McMahon, Michael Kirrane, Noel Meaney, Brian Markham, Cathal O’Connor (0-3 1f, 1’45), Sean McMahon, Martin McMahon, David Neenan, Dermot McMahon, Enda Haugh, Donal Houlihan, Kieran Neenan (0-3)

Subs
Joe Corry for M. McMahon (15 mins), Martin McMahon for N. McMahon (41 mins), Kevin Corry for K. Neenan (49 mins), Shane McMahon for Sean McMahon (58 mins)

Man of the Match
Kevin Harnett (Meelick)

Referee
Flan O’Reilly (Cratloe)

THE ATHLETICS Assocation of Ireland Pentathlon for athletes from U/14’s to U/19’s also the All-Ireland B Championships and the Senior Mens Decathlon which was held in Tullamore and Clare athlete Rachel Clancy St Johns was in action in the girls U/15’s Pentathlon and she captured a bronze medal for the second year in a row with Deirbhile Ryan taking the gold.

Ronan Barry Marian taking gold in the Boys U/15’s 100metres with a time of (12 . 85secs) and a silver in the High Jump with a leap of (1 . 35m) in the All-Ireland Juvenile B’s. Championships.

Rachel Clancy St Johns competing in the girls U/15’s and taking on five events and a field of ten athletes in this final which started at 11 . 00am in the morning where she finished very well in the 80metres Hurdles with a time of (15 . 28secs) she had a leap of (4 . 44metres) in the Long Jump which was well above her previous best, a fine throw of (7 . 45metres) in the Shot Putt, on the afternoon she once again produced another fine performance in the High Jump with a leap of (1 . 51metres) and with one event remaining she was in the top three going into her final event the 800metres and what a performance over two laps and finishing third with a time of (2mins 48 . 36secs) and she captured the bronze medal with a total of (2385pts) the gold going to a Clare athlete and running with Nenagh A. C. on (2790pts).

Results:
U/ 14’s Pentathlon. 9 Cliodhna Blake St Johns =(2185pts)

Girls U/ 15’s Pentathlon.
Rachel Clancy St Johns =(2385pts).

U/ 16’s Pentathlon.
6 Nollaigh Blake St Johns =(1761pts) THE ATHLETICS Assocation of Ireland Decatathlon for Senior athletes which was held at Tullamore and one Clare man David Courtney Ennis Track was in action and had to settle for fourth position and his first track event was the 110metres hurdles with a time of (21 . 75secs) the Shot Putt with a fine throw of (8 . 73metres) in the High Jump with a leap of (1 . 38metres) Discus (28 . 91m) Pole Vault (2 . 60m) Javelin (37 . 87m), 100m (13 . 34secs) 400m (62 . 51secs) 1500m (5mins . 52 . 33secs) and he finished 4th on (3092pts).

A BATTLE of youth against experience with Doora/Barefield’s younger legs eventually edging this Division 6 decider. Kilkee had the county senior winning experience of Denis Russell and Derek Deloughery to name but two while St Joseph’s lined out with three of their Minor Division 1 winning side from last year in Paudie Nugent, Leo Duggan and Stephen Barron. Nugent and Martin Brooks were among those to impress in the backline while up front Mark Hanrahan and Eoin Kane did the majority of damage on the scoreboard.

The winners held a slender 0-6 to 0-5 half-time advantage with points from Conor O’Reilly (2), Eoin Kane (2) and Mark Hanrahan and the latter pair were instrumental in getting their side over the line for their second successive victory over the seesiders in sharing out St Joseph’s second half tally of eight points between them.

St Joseph’s Doora/ Barefield
Gerry Dullaghan, Martin Brooks, Barry Galvin, Paudie Nugent, Leo Duggan, Noel Nagle, Eamonn Clohessy, Don Barron, Pa Mannion, Stephen Barron, Jamie Collins, Mark Hanrahan, Conor O’Reilly, Rory Mullane, Eoin Kane

Subs
Brian Dilleen for Mullane, Joe McNamara for Collins, Peter O’Toole for S. Barron

St Senan’s Kilkee
Georie Roche, Eoin O’Sullivan, Robert Fitzpatrick, Ronan Browne, Darren Clarke, Robert Daly, Alan Russell, Derek Deloughery, John Hickey, Brian Harte, Denis Russell,Trevor Clancy,Thomas McGrath, Brian Cummins, Gavin Melican

Subs
John Garvey, Brian Keane, Rory McCarthy, Eugene O’Meara

Referee
Vivian Killeen (Doonbeg)

THE LIMERICK City and County Sports Partnership held its Feet on street and the 5th Summer Series at the Country Club Old Cratloe Road on Thursday and a hugh success over 5miles with a fine turnout of Clare athletes once again on to the starting line and Sharon Rynne Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare once again going out very hard from the start along with Loretto Duggan St Marys, Liz Huzzey West Limerick , Teresa Tuohy Bilboa, all going through the first mile in (6mins . 30secs) and as they made their way towards the 2mile mark where 170 competitors went to the start and at the half way point Sharon Rynne was well clear of the rest of the field and over this hilly course she recorded a fine win with a time of (32mins . 35secs) with Loretto Duggan second in (34mins . 32secs) and a fine run by Christina Organ Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare when taking the masters ladies O/45’s in (38mins . 48secs)

The mens race a big number of Clare athletes going to the start but one man made all the running from the start Michael Shannon Kilnaboy after the first mile he was well clear of the rest of the field with James Liddane Olympic Harriers in the top three and they made there way up the hill before the two mile mark and Ambrose Heagney Kilnaboy along with Terry Hennessy St Cronans going well in the chasing pack.

Michael Shannon had a minute to spare over Adrian Linehan Duhallow when he crossed the finishing line in (26mins . 20secs) and James Liddane finishing 4th in (27mins . 52secs) with Ambrose Heagney 7th and finishing 2nd O/45 in (28mins . 51secs) and he was followed home by Terry Hennessy St Cronans O/45’s finishing 11th (29mins . 45secs) and James Sexton Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare 30th and the leading O/55 in (34mins . 45secs) and Martin Hynes Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare taking the O/60’s in (39mins . 02secs).

The Next Race and the 6th in this Summer Series will be Thursday August 4th at the Shannon Rowing Club O’Callaghan Strand Limerick starting at 7 . 00pm with No 7 on August 11th in Vistakon and that’s a 4mile in the National Technology Park starting at 7pm

Results
Senior Ladies.

Kilmurry Ibrickane 2-10 – Cooraclare 0-11 at Shanahan McNamara Memorial Park, Doonbeg

ONE could say that after the lull of 2010 on domestic front that normal service has been resumed by Kilmurry Ibrickane as they picked up their second piece of senior silverware in a week in this entertaining decider played on Bank Holiday Monday.

But, while neutrals may have been expecting a comfortable outing for the 2010 All-Ireland Club finalists, it was far from such as a dogged Cooraclare team took up the fight to the favourites.

And when they led by 0-10 to 0-6 seven minutes into the second half they looked very comfortable, before a rousing finish by the recently crowned Cusack Cup champions saw them turn that four-point deficit into a five-point victory.

Enda Coughlan was at the core of this comeback, bagged two crucial goals in the final quarter, even though by then he had been relocated from his centre-forward starting berth back to centre-back.

The first came on 47 minutes that edged Kilmurry a point 1-8 to 0-10 clear before the killer second arrived five minutes from time when the former countyman made another decisive burst up the field.

It was a huge about-turn, because before that the Aidan Moloney managed Cooraclare side seemed to be on the road to emulating their 2009 Cusack Cup final over the same opposition.

The led by 0-7 to 0-5 at the interval, thanks to a closing burst before the break when injury time points from John Looney and David Marrinan edged them clear. Prior to that the sides had been level on four occasions in the half.

Andrew O’Neill and Ian McInerney swapped points early on, as did John Looney and Johnnie Daly, before Cooraclare showed their intent by moving 0-4 to 0-2 clear thanks to efforts from Michael McMahon and John Looney. Paul O’Connor and Ian McInerney restored parity by the 23rd minute before Andrew O’Neill and Johnnie Daly traded points in normal time.

However, it was those two closing Cooraclare points, coupled with three more via John Looney (2) and Gearóíd Looney, with a lone reply coming from Johnnie Daly hinted at a big shock.

However, Enda Coughlan had other ideas – his point in the 40th minute cranked the Kilmurry train to life, while another from man of the match Peter O’Dwyer a minute letter narrowed the gap to two before a rousing final quarter that in which they outscored Cooraclare by 2-2 to 0-1 sealed their comeback victory.

Cooraclare’s final score came in the 51st minute via a John Looney free that left Kilmurry ahead by 1-9 to 011, only for Coughlan’s second goal and a Noel Downes point to give Kilmurry a cushion that scarcely seemed possible early in the second half.

Kilmurry Ibrickane
Peter O’Dwyer, Shane Hickey, Darren Hickey, JohnWillie Sexton, Paul O’Connor (0-1), Evan Talty, Seamus Lynch, Peter O’Dwyer (0-1), Seamus Murrihy, Mark McCarthy, Enda Coughlan (2-1), Ian McInerney (0-2f), Stephen Moloney, Noel Downes (0-2), Johnnie Daly (0-3, 1f).

Subs
Michael O’Dwyer for Sexton, Colm Donnellan for Moloney, Niall Hickey for Murrihy, Vincent Talty for Coughlan

Cooraclare

Declan Keane,Thomas Downes, Conor Marrinan, Fergal Lillis, David Marrinan (0-1),Thomas Donnellan, Declan McMahon,AndrewO’Neill (0-2), Sean Maguire, Kieran Hassett, Michael McMahon (0-1), Gearóid Looney (0-1), Cathal Lillis, John Looney (0-6, 4f), Michael Kelly.

Subs
Don Garry for Cathal Lillis, Joe Considine for Maguire,Thomas O’Connor for Hassett.

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

Referee
Pat Cosgrave (Corofin)

THE 3RD Tommy White Memorial and Moy Open Sports Day will take place in Moy Football Field on Sunday 7th August 2011 starting at 1 . 30pm with the 3000metres for Men and Ladies and this year this is a Team Event with (3 to score). The Venue is about two miles from Lahinch off the Main Miltown Malbay –Lahinch Road and this will be 36th Annual Moy Sports and the organising committee have drawn up a very attractive programme of over sixty events from Toddlers to U/16’s plus Mens and Ladies Senior Events, Ball Skills, Shot Putt, and 56lbs for distance. These sports started way back in 1975 and this 3000metres event will start at 1 . 30pm with the ladies 3000metres for the “Tommy White Memorial Shield” and the mens 3000metres for the “Michael White Memorial Trophy” and is sponsored by (Ann White and her Family) and this has always been the big highlite for the Michael White Memorial Trophy and this Event will be followed by the full juvenile programme. Admission will be (€ 3 at the gate for Athletes and € 5 for Parents).

Programme of Events
1. Toddlers 60mgirls (Medals to all) 2. Toddlers 60mboys ( Medals to All ) 3. U-6 60mgirls ( Medals to All ) 4. U-6 60mboys (Medals to All ) 5. U-7 60m Girls 6. U-7 60m Boys 7. U-8 60m Girls Relays 8. U-8 60m Boys 9. U-9 60m Girls 54. U-8 Relay Race Mixed (2G& 2B 4 x100m) 10. U-9 60m Boys 55. U-10 Relay Race Mixed(2G& 2 B 4x100M) 11. U-10 100m Girls 56. U-12 Relay Race Mixed (2 G& 2 B 4x100M) 12. U-10 100m Boys 13. U-11 100m Girls 57. U/16/Jnr/ Senior /Relay Mixed (Girls & Boys 4 x 300M) 14. U-11 100m Boys (1 senior athlete per team) 15. U-12 100m Girls 16. U-12 100m Boys 17 U/13 100m Girls 18. U/13 100m Boys 19. U-14 100m Girls Ball Skills Events 20. U-14 100m Boys 58. Penalty Shoot Out Female 21. U-16 100m Girls 59. Penalty Shoot Out Male 22. U-16 100m Boys 23. Junior Ladies 100m 24. Junior Men 100m 25 Fathers 100m 26. Mothers 100m 27. Toddlers 80m girls Novelty Events 28. Toddlers 80m boys 29. U-6 80m Girls 60. Sack Race U/8 to U/10’s Mixed 30. U-6 80m Boys 31. U-7 80m Girls 61. Sack Race U/11 to U/13’s Mixed 32. U-7 80m Boys 33. U-8 Sack Race Girls 62. Bicycle Race (Open to All) 34. U-8 Sack Race Boys 35. U-9 300m Girls 63. Senior Mens Open 5 a sideTUG– O- WAR 36. U-9 300m Boys 37. U-10 300m Girls 38. U-10 300m Boys 39. U-11 300m Girls 40. U-11 300m Boys 41. U-12 300m Girls 42. U-12 300m Boys 43. U/13 300m Girls 44. U/13 300m boys 45. U/14 300m girls 46. U/14 300m girls 47. U/16 300m girls 48. U/16 300m Boys 49. Senior Men (3000mTeamEvent 3 to score) (Michael Whyte Memorial Shield) 50. Senior Ladies (3000mTeamEvent 3 to score) (TommyWhite Memorial Shield) 51. 56lbs for Distance Senior Men (Senior EventsTrophies toWinners) 52. Senior Mens Shot Putt (Juveniles Events 1st aTrophy and Medals to 2nd & 3rd ) 53. Senior Ladies Shot Putt (Admission at Gate €3. 00 for Children €5.00 Adults)

O’Callaghan’s Mills 1-11 – Kilrush Shamrocks 0-07 at Eire Og Ennis

The Mills are on the rise, not only due to their automatic promotion to Division 4 along with Monday’s opponents Kilrush but because this was a vintage running display that means that they should mean business when the championship recommences in a few weeks time.

Kilrush had experience in abundance but simply couldn’t live with the Mills constant overlapping and movement, even if the east Clare side made harder work of it than was wholly necessary.

In Kilrush’s defence, this was an intermediate versus Junior A affair while it is also the Mills’ first team as opposed to Kilrush’s second string but aside from two brief rallies that yielded six points in a total of sev- en minutes, the Shams were on the backfoot.

Indeed, the winners opened up a 0-6 to 0-0 advantage by the 20th minute with Fergus Donovan (3), Padraig Hickey (2), and Conor Cooney sharing the scoring duties. However, it was the overlapping of wing-backs Eoin Pewter and John Cooney that caused Kilrush most concern as they were outnumbered far too often and the Mills will point to missed goal chances for Fergus Donovan and Noel Nash in the same period.

Kilrush finally settled with a John Kelly free in the 22nd minute and gathering momentum, David Walsh doubled their tally a minute later before John Kelly saw a glorious goal chance just skim the top of the crossbar. Had Kilrush grabbed that goal, perhaps they could have regrouped for the second period but as it was, they went in at the break 0-7 to 0-3 in arrears after a late Bryan Donnellan point.

David Walsh pointed to give Kilrush a glimmer of hope immediately after the restart but it was to be only a brief mutiny as Bryan Donnellan and Eoin Pewter replied down the other end while Patrick Donnellan had an excellent effort parried away by goalkeeper Ger Griffin.

The Kilrush number one could not do anything about the goal when it came however as Bryan Donnellan won and executed a penalty to the top corner of the net in the 41st minute. With the Mills in overdrive, the margin could have been much greater at that stage only for ten second half wides and the solid defending of Paul O’Sullivan and Niall Brennan.

Credit Kilrush for not throwing in the towel though and with David O’Shea gaining a foothold in midfield, they hit three points in as many minutes through Sean Naughton, Dan Ryan and Gerard O’Brien while Jamie Gilligan seemed through for a goal but miscontrolled the the vital moment.

Without a goal, it was never going to be enough to make O’Callaghan’s Mills sweat and they finished the stronger side with Fergus Donovan and Conor Cooney sealing the silverware which will give them a significant boost ahead of their championship clash with Junior A champions Kilfenora in three weeks time.

O’Callaghan’s Mills
Enda McNamara, Garry Neville, Niall Donovan, Gerry Cooney, John Cooney, Declan Donovan, Eoin Pewter (0-1), Conor Cooney Jnr, Conor Cooney Snr (0-2), Patrick Donnellan, Bryan Donnellan (1-2 1-0 Pen, 1f), Padraig Hickey (0-2), Fergus Donovan (0-4), Noel Nash, Billy Donovan

Subs
Paul Lynch for B. Donovan (32 mins), James Murphy for Hickey (51 mins), Eoin Kelly for Nash (60 mins)

Kilrush Shamrocks
Ger Griffin, Niall Brennan, Paul O’Sullivan, Shane Carey, David Shannon, Martin Griffin, Gerard O’Brien (0-1), CalumBond, Matt Fitzpatrick, David O’Shea, Paul Cahill, John Kelly (0-2 1f), Jamie Gilligan, Sean Naughton (0-1), DavidWalsh (0-2)

Subs
Ross Cullinan for Shannon (8 mins, inj), Sean Madigan for Fitzpatrick (28 mins), David Moran for Madigan (35 mins), Kian Murray for Kelly (38 mins), Dan Ryan (0-1) for Moran (50 mins)

Man of the Match
Eoin Pewter (O’Callaghan’s Mills)

Referee
JimHickey (Cratloe)

THE SECOND Annual Dan O Halloran Memorial 10k fun walk and 10k road race was held in Kilmihil with a fine turnout of over 200 competitors from all over Ireland Galway, Dublin, Tipperary, Limerick, Canada, Japan, and Clare Clubs with all proceeds going towards the West Clare Cancer and Milford Hospice and a wonderful turnout to support the O’Halloran Family with the senior race starting on the Ennis Road and competitors facing into a stiff hill as the leaders went through the (1k) in (2mins . 59secs) and Seamus Power Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare along with Michael Shannon Kilnaboy they both set this blistering pace from the start and they both had this field in single file right from the off with Willie Devitt Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare leading out the chasing pack that included Michael Fennell Civil Service, David Brew Kilrush, Pat Healy Marian, Ambrose Heagney Kilnaboy and Colm Fitzgerald Shannon with Maria Carey Ennis Track the leading lady in the top six for the early stages.

Seamus Power producing a (3mins . 03secs) for the next four Kilometres and going through the 5k mark in (15mins . 29secs) and Michael Shannon was forth seconds adrift and on this down hill stretch Seamus Power was in full flow and facing into the stiff hills over the last 5k he sprinted down the main street in Kilmihil to take the Dan O Halloran Cup in a time of (31mins . 56secs) from Michael Shannon who had to settle for the runner spot on again this year (32mins . 48secs) and a great performance from Willie Devitt to hold onto third spot (36mins . 01secs).

Ambrose Heagney Kilnaboy who came home in fourth spot captured the O/40’s in (37mins . 07secs) from Pat Healy Marian and Trevor White St Cronans with Michael Fennell Civil Service taking the O/50’s in (39mins . 45secs) from John Carroll Canada and Willie Keane St Johns and Caoimhin Donnellan Kilmihil taking the Junior Mens title in (44mins . 16secs).

The ladies race was always going to a great contest and attracted one of the finest turnout of athletes and right from the start Marie Carey set the early pace and was up with the chasing mens pack for the first (2k) with Marian Burke St Marys last years title holder and Michelle O Halloran from Kilmihil and now running with Mullingar Harriers, working well together and with many stiff climbs these girls were moving away from the next chasing group that included Laura Egan Kilmihil, Marian Kelly Cree, Lorna O Neill, Dympna O Dwyer both Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, Rose Enright St Marys, Rita Kierce St Marys, Becky Coughlan Ennis Track and Bernie Kelly Galway City Harriers.

Marie Carey was always in control of this race from the start and going towards the half way point and on that down hill stretch she had a good minute of a lead on Marian Burke with Michelle O Halloran working hard to stay with the pace.

Marie Carey who made all the running came away with a very big win and a very fast time of

(38mins . 59secs) and taking the Dan O Halloran Cup with last years title holder Marian Burke second in (41mins . 48secs) and local athlete Michelle O Halloran a close third in (42mins . 16secs)

The Masters Ladies O/40’s going to Rose Enright St Marys in (42mins . 58secs) from Monica Callinan and Siobhan Keating both Kilmihil and the O/50’s going to Rita Kierce St Marys (45mins . 09secs) from Bernie Kelly Galway City Harriers and Bernie Johnston Broadford. Results.

Ladies.
1 Maria Carey EnnisTrack (38 . 59) 2 Marian Burke St Marys (41 . 48) 3 Michelle O’Halloran Mullingar Harriers (42 .16) 4 Marian Kelly Cree (44 . 55) 5 Becky Coughlan EnnisTrack (45 . 11) 6 Dympna ODwyer Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare (46 . 37) 7 Lorna ONeill Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare (46 . 37) 8 Brenda OShea Kilmihil (49 . 16)

O/ 40’s
1 Rose Enright St Marys (42 . 58) 2 Monica Callinan Kilmihil (53 . 30) 3 Siobhan Keating Kilmihil (68 . 59)

O/ 50’s
1 Rita Kierce St Marys (45 . 09) 2 Bernie Kelly Galway City Harriers (48 . 41) 3 Bernie Johnston Broadford (97 . 05)

Senior Men.
1 Seamus Power Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare (31 . 56) 2 Michael Shannon Kilnaboy (32 . 48) 3 Willie Devitt Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare (36 . 01) 4 David BrewKilrush (37 . 29) 5 Kevin Lynch Clarecastle (39 . 26) 6 ColmFitzgerald Shannon (40 . 32) 7 John Keogh Kilmihil (40 . 58) 8 Stephan Connors Kilmihil (41 . 19)

O/ 40’s
1 Ambrose Heagney Kilnaboy (37 . 07) 2 Pat Healy Marian (39 . 09) 3 Trevor White St Cronans (40 . 54)

O/ 50’s

Mattie Murphy’s record of reaching and subsequently winning All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship finals speaks for itself. In all, the Gort clubman has guided his native county to nine national deciders in three separate terms which is unparralleled.

He even led the seniors to two National League finals as well. How- ever, Clare supporters will hope that their record against Murphy’s teams continue this Sunday as they bid for a unique two-in-a-row of All-Ireland deciders themselves. All because after winning two All-Ireland minor titles in 1992 and 1994, Murphy was promoted to the senior set-up but fell on thorny ground against the Banner in the 1995 All-Ireland Semi-final as Clare went on to eventually achieve All-Ireland glory.