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IT WAS A football filled weekend for Clare’s Ladies U11, U13 and U15 development squads, who were all in action last Saturday. The U11s under the care of coordinator Gordon Drummy (Kilrush) with Pat Keane (Miltowm), Tara Kelly (Shannon Gaels) and Linda Russel fielded three teams in the PJ O’Halloran competition which was also attended by teams from Galway, Kerry and Tipperary, two hundred and ten girls overall. Tipperary won the plate, Galway took the Shield and Clare defeated Kerry in a super game of football to take the Cup. The PJ O’Halloran is one of the key events in the development calendar and always well attended by Intercounty development teams and was conducted at the Kilrush Shamrocks and Moneypoint pitches in Kilrush. Clare Development Officer Michael Murphy must be commended for organising the event again this year, and parents did a fantastic job of providing food for all the visitors in the clubhouse, not a small task. U11 Panel: Banner Ladies:Albina Aliu, Erona Aliu, Grace Copley, Ciara Corbett, Eabha Keane, Leah Morgan, Laoise Ryan, OlivaTouhy. Clooney-Quin: Rachel Beg, Mary Connelly, Michelle Meere. Coolmeen : Emma McMahon. Cooraclare: Caoimhe Corry, Megan Downes, Megan Garry, Alana Hehir, Sarah Looney, Kayla Morrissey, Sarah Morrissey. Doonbeg: Ciara Breen, Niamh Keane, Roisin Kelly, Orla O’Mahoney. Doorabarefield: Emer Hanranhan,Amy Lenihan, Laura McDonal, Aine Moloney, Niamh O’Keefe,Abby O’Connell, Aisling Reidy, Leah Ryan, Chloe , J Towey. Fergus Rovers:Alana Hanranhan, Lauren Hill,Aine Slattery, Eimear Stephens. Kilmihil: Catriona Callinan, Ciara Lernihan. Kilrush: Lucy Bermingham, Mykayla Kelleher, Lizanne O’Brien,Abigael Drummy,Aoife Drummy. Liscannor: Lisa Conneely, Karen Hillery, Aoife Nagle. Miltown: Megan Brennan, Caoimhe Carmody,Aoife Hehir,Aimee Keane, Emer Keane. Newmarket-On_Fergus:Alice Sheedy, Mary Enright,Tara O’Neill. Shannon Gaels: Mairead Grogan,Tara Kelly,WillowSwire, BiancaTully. West Clare Gaels:Aoife Lynch, Fidelma Marrinan, Michelle Marrinan, Sarah Marrinan.WolfeTones: Jenifer Ryan, Meave McInerney. The U12 Development Squad will travel to Thurles this Saturday 12th Nov. to play in the Tipperary hosted development blitz and will display their skills against Cork, Tipp, Waterford and Limerick teams. The U12s had a great run in the recent Michael Cullinan competition winning over Galway, Tipperary and drawing with Kerry before the event was washed out and prematurely ended. The Clare U13 development squad also had a fruitful day out in a Mun

ster development programme fix- ture with the Kingdom. The event was conducted at the Killimer GAA pitches who kindly facilitated the fixture at short notice. Two Clare teams got a great run against four Kerry teams and brought in wins in four out of seven mini-matches. The U13s squad will compete next in the Munster U13 development blitz in Rathkeale on Nov 19th which is the culmination of the twelve week programme. Ladies football clubs from all over Clare will then be invited to send girls born in 1998 to attend the Clare U14 trials which will be conducted during the three week Marian Keane Tournament, starting on Nov. 26th. The U15 development programme conclusion was reached when they went to Fermoy last Saturday with two teams and won six games out of six, a great achievement. The event was attended by teams from Clare, Cork, Waterford and Limerick. Coordinator Joe Downes (Cooraclare) with Edel Carmody (Fergus Rovers), Sharon Malone (Eire Og), Annmarie Callinan and Roisin Garry (Kilmihil) will be looking forward to conducting the U16 trials after a brief break. Details to be announced.

AFTER SUCH a historic day and match for Pat O’Rourke and his fellow Meelick clubmen one could have expected to find a very stressed and distraught losing manager. However this was not the case and instead this experienced mentor was brimming with pride both for his club and the panel of players who had just served him so well for sixty minutes against a superior Kerry outfit Dromid Pearses.

“I thought our performance out there today was absolutely excellent. We kept our heads throughout the game. We never dropped them. We played a good style of football and fought hard in every position on the field.

“Bearing in mind that Dromid Pearses are everybody’s’ favourites to go on and win this All-Ireland title I felt we did very well. It was always going to be a very difficult challenge but overall I thought we tried our best and put it up to them.”

The final margin of nine points was probably a bit unfair on Meelick who battled on for the duration of the contest and he first half in particular pleased O’Rourke but the concession of such a vital score was always going to make it an uphill struggle after the restart.

“The first half was great apart from the very soft goal we let in. It was very disappointing as we had fought our way back into contention before that but what can you do.

“Overall I don’t think it would have altered the final result. They are a super team and at the end of the day it would have been awful hard to beat them the way they especially played in the second half.”

A glimpse of hurt was evident in his voice but again this pain was swiftly moved away from and transformed into a positive.

“Clare was the main aim for us this year and we won that championship. We have to be delighted with that. Of course then a game in Munster was a huge bonus for the whole club. The lads really enjoyed it and were looking forward to it.

“The year though still isn’t over for us. We now have to prepare for a league final next weekend. This was definitely a very good work out for us today. Even for next year games like this give you great experience and preparation.

“We will be facing far better opposition in the 2012 championship and if all things go well next weekend we might be up in division three in the league as well.

“Last year when we got promoted a division we were afraid we wouldn’t win a game but now we have managed to reach another final. It’s been a great year.”

Dromid Pearses 2-12 – Meelick 0-09 at Meelick

AS EXPECTED it is Kerry champions Dromid Pearses who comfortably march on to a Munster Club Junior Semi-Final after accounting for a spirited but limited Meelick challenge. The Clare club’s home advantage was not enough to halt the eventual onslaught inflicted by the superior Kingdom outfit who raced out as winners by double scores.

With a minute on the clock Seán Ó Curráin laid down an early marker to open the game’s scoring after brilliantly securing possession from a Meelick kick-out before unleashing his perfectly judged shot between the posts.

Pearses full-forward Niall Ó Sé soon added a second before Meelick’s midfield maestro Kevin Harnett eventually set his team on their way after five minutes. Ó Sé was proving to be in the form of his life and it was his terrific goal after a quarter of the encounter had surpassed, that was the ultimate difference between the teams at the interval on a score of 1-6 to 0-6.

This goal was a huge blow to the ever-improving Meelick momentum. The east Clare club may have stolen five out of the last six scores in the opening half but the concession of such a soft goal when they were temporarily minus a full-back due to injury, meant their hardworking efforts were to no avail and left trailing by three points at half-time.

The second half saw Pearses seize complete control with double All-Ireland winning Kerry captain Declan O’Sullivan at the fore of everything good for the South Kerry side. His individual tally of four points was important but his influence as key play-maker was even more crucial to his team’s second half master class.

A Tomas Ó Curráin penalty added more gloss to their ever-increasing scoring haul to quell any hope of a miraculous Meelick come-back. A duo of Meelick defenders combined to drag him to the ground to leave Limerick’s Richard Moloney with an easy decision.

Unfortunately Shane Daly who had already made two match win- ning saves was left with no chance and was beaten for a second time by a perfectly struck kick low into the bottom corner of the goal. Both teams lost players to second yellow cards, William O’Shaughnessey for Meelick and minutes later captain Aodán Ó Concubhair for Pearses as a bad tempered clash got even worse. In fact the Kerry club were lucky not to have been reduced to 13 when wing back Micheál Ó Siochain’s received a yellow instead of read card, much to the dismay of the Meelick faithful.

Meelick deserve significant credit however for their maintained effort for the duration of this Munster tie. Pat Finucane excelled at centreforward while Kevin Harnett was equally impressive around the middle but will be disappointed with two missed frees towards the end that he would usually convert with ease.

Their combined total of eight points almost accounted for all their team’s scores with full-forward Brian O’Neill the only other player to add his name to the home side’s score sheet.

The more ruthless and powerful team deservedly came out on top and the pre-match favourites for Munster and All-Ireland honours have already justified these claims with this impressive nine point victory.

Dromid Pearses
Alan ÓHógáin (7), Padraigh ÓSuilleabháin (7), Domnic ÓSuilleabháin (7), Donal ÓSuilleabháin (7), Donnacha ÓSuilleabháin (7), Caoimhin Ó Sé (7), Micheál ÓSiocháin (7),Tomas ÓCurráin (8) (1-1, Pen.), Cian ÓhÁilliosa (7), Gearóid Ó Suilleabháin (7) (0-1), Declan ÓSuileabháin (8) (0-3, 2f),Aodán ÓConcubhair (6), Eoin ÓLaoire (6), Nial ÓSé (9) (1-4), Seán ÓCurráin (7) (0-1)

Subs
Croistóir ÓFearcheallaigh (7) (0-1) for G ÓSuilleabháin, Micheál ÓConcubhair (6) (0-1) for ÓLaoire, Pól McGearailt (6) for ÓhÁilliosa, Micheál ÓSé (6) for ÓSiocháin, Seamus (6) Ó Suilleabháin for Donal ÓSuilleabháin.

Meelick
Shane Daly (8), Mickey Kelly (7), Sean Cooney

(6), Gary Kennedy (7), Stephen Hayes (7), Barry Harnett (7), É Mulvihill (7), Niall Mullen (7), Kevin Harnett (8) (0-4, 3f),WilliamOShaughnessy (6), Pat Finucane (8) (0-4, 2f), Gary Moloney (7),Andy White (7), Brian ONeill (7) (0-1), Oisin Hickey (7)

Subs
Damien Moloney (7) for Cooney, Daragh Quinn (6) for ONeill, Sean OConnor (6) for White, Gary Callinan (6) for Hickey, Luke Davis (6) for Mulvihill.

Man of the match
Niall Ó Sé (Dromid Pearses) Referee Richard Moloney (Limerick)

NEWMARKET manager Bob Enright was delighted with his team’s win on Sunday, not just the manner of the victory in Cusack Park, but the attitude his players have shown since their championship exit at the hands of Crusheen back in August.

“Our season could have fallen apart when we lost to Crusheen, but instead the entire squad showed a marvellous attitude and commitment to stay going and today they got their reward,” he said after the game.

Enright was also quick to point out the role the Senior B championship played in the Blues late season revival.

“The Senior B win was huge for us. Very important. We won three games in a row and that included the final. That started the momemtum that brought us to today. Winning is a good habit and I’m particularly pleased the way we have ended the year now, with a Senior B championahip and a Clare Cup,” he said.

While no doubt the loyal Blues supporters crave the Canon Hamilton Cup, there is no doubting the progress Newmarket made this year. The Clare Champion Cup is their first piece of senior silverware since their last championship back in 1981 and added to their Senior B success marks a decent return from 2011. Bob Enright agrees:

“Yes, it’s the right way to end the year. We’ve had some lows this year and there’s no doubt the loss to Crusheen was main one but I’m delighted we’ve come back, won three on the trot in the Senior B and taken this today against a very committed Inagh Kilnamona side,” he said.

“The performances have been good, the players have been tuned in and you could see today what it meant for them. Winning finals like today can only be a good habit to develop. Hopefully we can use this now as a stepping stone into 2012,” he added.

Of course winning the Clare Cup has been a stepping stone for plenty of clubs in recent years, including Sixmilebridge who won it last year on their way back towards the top of Clare hurling, while Clonlara won it twice on the trot in 2008 and 2009 as they established themselves as a force in the county.

Beside the benefits on the field there is also the generous sponsorship attached to the winners of the competition, Newmarket GAA club receiving a cheque for € 4,000 from Clare Champion General Manager John Galvin after the game, while runners up Inagh Kilnamona received a cheque for € 2,000.

Cratloe 2-12 – St Breckan’s 0-07 at Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown

ANOTHER rousing football year for Cratloe was rounded off in some style on Sunday afternoon as they moved up to Garry Cup competition for 2012 as Division Three champions thanks to this 11-point win.

The final scoreline did scant justice to a battling St Breckan’s side, but Cratloe were still full value for the win that was achieved thanks in no small way to their ability to rattle Craig Flanagan’s net.

The first came in the 24th minute from Padraic Collins at a time when St Breckan’s enjoyed a 0-4 to 03 lead, the second from substitute Patrick O’Gorman in the 56th minute finally killed the game as a contest for a Cratloe side that looked impressive once they got into their stride.

Both sides were missing a number of regulars – St Breckan’s being particularly hit with players like Denis O’Driscoll, Conor Cormican and Greg O’Leary, Cathal Blood absent, while others missing included Eric Murrihy, Michael Reddan and Michael Hogan.

Cratloe were without their midfield championship pairing of Conor Ryan and Brendan Bugler, but the absence wasn’t felt thanks to the industrious displays of Michael Hawes and Sean Collins around the middle as they added the league crown to the Under 21 A and Minor C titles already in the club coffers for 2011.

Cratloe’s greater spread of scores was key – four of the six starting forwards got their names on the scoresheet, while St Breckan’s were too dependent of the brilliant freetaking exploits of Pat Nagle for their scores.

Cratloe
Jamie Joyce, Sean Chaplin, Barry Duggan, Sean Hynan,Wesley de Loughery, LiamMarkham(0-1f), Enda Boyce, Michael Hawes, Sean Collins (0-1), Padraic Collins (1-1), Padraigh Chaplin (0-2), Robert Conlon, Cathal McInerney (0-5, 3f), Conor McGrath (0-1), Gearóid Ryan (0-1).

Subs

Newmarket-on-Fergus 1-10 – Inagh/Kilnamona 1-08 at Cusack Park, Ennis

THE Blues are back on the honour roll, capturing their first Clare Cup in 37 years, following a hard fought two point win over the dogged Inagh/Kilnamona combination in Cusack Park on Sunday. This was an important win for Newmarket, one that gained them senior silverware of significance for the first time since their last championship success of 1981 and gives them momentum heading into 2012.

This fixture bucked the recent trend as it was switched from Sixmilebridge to Cusack Park because of a playable pitch! Headquarters was in better shape that a fortnight previously when the County Final was played on a saturated surface. While Sunday’s pitch was heavy, it was eminently playable and as a result the crowd were treated to patches of decent hurling in crisp, dry weather.

Newmarket were ahead throughout and were the better side, yet they had to sweat the closing minutes as Inagh/ Kilnamona won a late free and summoned goalkeeper Pat Kelly to go for goal. His blazing shot skimmed over the crossbar, referee Ger Hoey calling a halt to proceedings immediately after this.

Inagh/Kilnamona had stayed in the game thanks to the doggedness that has seen them ultra competitive this year. With their backs in particular standing up to attack after attack, as usual they went down with their boots on. Indeed it would almost have been fitting if Kelly had goaled from the 21 yard free as he had been outstanding throughout the match, making three point blank saves of the highest quality.

Newmarket opened the livelier and took an early lead they would never lose. Colin Ryan pointed from a placed ball in the first minute and Eoin Hayes followed with a white flag from play a minute later. Niall Arthur answered for Inagh/Kilnamona with a free of his own after five minutes but soon after shot the first of seven first half wides, a stat that would come back to haunt the combo, who played a nervy opening half. With Colin Ryan landing ninety yard frees and both half backlines on top, it soon became clear that chances would be at a premium, Newmarket’s scorer in chief Ryan proving the value of a free taker. He finished with five first half point, four of them from frees, all of them from decent distances.

Haulie Vaughan had the combo’s only point from play in that first half and it was sandwiched between two similar scores for Newmarket, one from a Ryan free and one from Blues half forward Enda Kelly. A Niall Arthur free brought Inagh/Kilnamona within two at 0-5 to 0-3 before the games most crucial score on fifteen minutes. A long delivery from James McInerney seemed meat and drink to an Inagh/Kilnamona full backline that looked comfortable to that point, but the ball broke kindly for full forward Anthony Kilmartin. Almost twenty yards out the Blues man still had work to do but he blasted to Pat Kelly’s right hand side for a green flag of quality. This was the daylight that Newmarket would keep between the sides for the rest of the game, a goal that would light up any match, all the more precious as Kelly really had his eye in between the posts.

With the Inagh/Kilnamona forwards stuttering when shooting opportunities arose and Niall Arthur missing two frees, his brother Ger took over the placed ball duties for one free which he duly dispatched to close the gap to four, 1-5 to 0-4 before a period of backs dominence.

This would be the pattern for most of the second half as well as both half backlines won and cleared ball at will. Alan Barrett and Darren O’Connor were prominent throughout for the Blues, providing great support to the strong presence of James McInerney at centre back. His opposite number in the Inagh/Kilnamona half backline David Heagarty also stood out, giving a commanding hour at centre back.

With the half coming to a close Colin Ryan grabbed three quick points for Newmarket, two from play and one from a free, but only two counted. Following his long range effort from play Inagh/Kilnamona took a quick puck out which was intercepted by Ryan and duly desptached back over the bar, but referee Ger Hoey, after consultation with his umpires disallowed the score as a Newmarket forward had hindered Kelly on the attempted quick puck out. No matter, Ryan added a free a minute later.

Down six points now and with the half time whistle imminent, Inagh/ Kilnamona conjured up a goal of their own, Kieran Devitt saving well from a blast from Eamon Glynn, but helpless to prevent Eoin Vaughan from pulling the rebound to the net. The short whistle followed imediately and the combo headed for the dressing rooms only three points behind at 1-7 to 1-4 despite having shot seven wides, many from long range, while the Blues had been economical in the opening thirty with just one wide from play.

The second half began in a carbon copy of the first, a Newmarket goal chance within seconds. In the first half Kelly saved brilliantly from a Colin Ryan volley, on this occasion he could only watch as Eoin Hayes shaved the far post with a shot.

What followed was ten minutes of ping pong between the opposing back divisions, each unit totally on top. Newmarket played centre forward David Barret, along with brother Enda deeper in the second half and this extra manpower helped them stifle any space for Inagh/Kilnamona forwards.

After ten minutes of this Anthony Kilmartin struck for his second important intervention of the day, a point from play stretching the lead to four. Sporadic breakthroughs by forwards followed, but all of the shooting was long range.

With a few minutes to go two Niall Arthur frees and a Conor Tierney point from play had maintained the gap at three as Colin Ryan (free) and Sean O’Connor with an excellent effort from play, had kept the Blues three in front at 1-10 to 1-7.

With time almost up Kilmartin again burst through on goal but Pat Kelly somehow deflected his shot clear to keep his side in the game. Within a minute of the wonder save Conor Tierney was foulded close the Newmarket goal and Kelly was sent for with instructions to go low and try and win a replay for the combo. With the goal lined, he blasted hard but the shot was rising and it cleared the crossbar. There wasn’t time for the puck-out, Newmarket had held on by two in a game they never really looked like losing.

As usual Colin Ryan was the scoring star with six points, five from frees, but Anthony Kilmartin’s return of 1-1 off the combo’s always impressive Brian Glynn was crucial. All of the Blues forwards gave everything, with Sean O’Connor, David Barrett, Enda Kelly and Eoin Hayes battling hard against a very solid combo back line.

It was in their rearguard that the game was won however, the six backs all coming out on top in their personal battles, O’Connor and Barret really catching the eye at wing back. The full backline of O’Brien, Kelly and Niall O’Connor was also solid and strong throughout. Captain Enda Barrett and Eoin O’Brien hurled manfully in midfield and both played plenty of ball.

Inagh/Kilnamona, as they have been all year, are an extremely difficult side to shake off. Still young in years, their forwardline in particular will benefit from another year’s physical growth. Their backs are rock solid, guaranteeing they will stay in most games til the end. They’ll look at a total of eleven wides against three for Newmarket, but very few of these were clear cut chances.

Best for Inagh/Kilnamona was certainly goalkeeper Pa Kelly, who kept his side in the game with four top drawer saves. Elsewhere the backs were also impressive, with captain Dermot Lynch and Ronan O’Looney adding support to the imperious David Hegarty. Paul O’Looney battled manfully at midfield while the combo’s forwards struggling to impose themselves physically on Newmarket, their effort however was total.

Sixmilebridge 2-12 – Ballyea 0-13 at Clarecastle

IT was Ballyea’s shot at a first ever Minor A title; it was Sixmilebridge’s shot at redemption – not just at minor level, but as a club after their senior championship final ‘drowning’ against the Crusheen.

Redemption it was as the ‘Bridge overcame a sluggish start to power their way to a first minor title in a decade – their lucky 13th in all as they put the nightmare of losing the last three finals in the grade behind them against a plucky, but ultimately inferior Ballyea side.

It had looked good for Ballyea as they opened up a five-point lead go ing into the last five minutes of the first half, but a storming finish by the ‘Bridge that yielded 1-2 before the break changed the complexion completely.

And, this was added to on the turnover as the ‘Bridge slowly and mercilessly killed the game, firstly with points and then with their second goal from Alan Mulready in the 50th minute.

The power-play either side of the half-time was the winning of the game for the ‘Bridge – the losing of it for Ballyea who had been overwhelmed and outscored by 2-8 to 0-1 by a ‘Bridge side intent on blowing their opposition away.

You could say that this tone was set early on with seven yellow cards were brandished by Kevin Walsh and just over seven minutes gone.

It was that kind of game – tempestuous at times, but never out of hand as the two best minor sides in the county slugged it out for the Willie Chaplin Cup.

The scoring was opened by Jamie Shanahan when he landed a point from play in the first minute but two Tony Kelly points had Ballyea ahead by the tenth minute.

From there Ballyea pressed on with the impressive Stan Lineen edging the black and amber further ahead in the 14th minute before Kelly’s third point from play gave them a 0-4 to 0-1 lead by the 16th minute.

The ‘Bridge did stop the rot with a Jamie Shanahan point on 22 minutes but rapid-fire efforts from Aonghus Keane, Tony Kelly and Gearóid O’Connell had Ballyea 0-7 to 0-2 clear by the 26th minute and in control.

However, by half-time the pendulum had swung the other way. Points by Seadna Morey and Darragh Fitzgerald either side of added time and then a goal from Alex Morey brought the sides level, Sixmilebridge 1-4, Ballyea 0-7.

The ‘Bridge were only starting, something they hammered home in decisive fashion on the turnover. Tony Kelly’s 36th minute effort was all Ballyea had to show for their early efforts while the ‘Bridge sprinted clear by adding 1-6 to their tally. Ballyea’s cause was not helped by the relocation of Tony Kelly to full forward for a spell, the Clare star having to be returned to midfield where he once again found a supply of ball.

A brace by the impressive Conor Deasy by the 43rd minute edged the ‘Bridge 1-8 to 0-8 clear, before points by Brian Carey and Alan Mulready stretched the gap to five by the threequarter stage.

Then county minor star Mulready applied the killer blow – driving through the middle for a goal in the 50th minute that put the ‘Bridge 2-10 to 0-8 clear and with a double scores lead they were out of sight.

Almost that is because, because five-in-a-row from never-say-die Ballyea – four of which came from Tony Kelly and the other from Ryan Griffin – brought it back to a threepoint game by the 58th minute.

A goal could have saved them, but in truth it never looked like coming as the ‘Bridge just drew breath, steadied and added points from Sean Lynch and Seadna Morey to give them the victory their display thoroughly deserved.

Sixmilebridge
Pa Freeman, Eoin Hogan, Conlith Agnew(0-1), Evan McInerney, Darragh McNamara, Seadna Morey (0-2), Dylan Fleming, Brian Carey (0-1), John Mulready, Brian Corry, Jamie Shanahan (0-2), Darragh Fitzgerald (0-1),Alex Morey (1-1),Alan Muready (1-1), Conor Deasy (0-2, 1f).

Subs
Sean Lynch (0-1) for J Mulready, David Murphy for Fitzgerald.

Ballyea
Conor Harkins, Darragh Crowe, Eoin Donnellan, Lee Brady,Aonghus Keane (0-1), Jack Browne, Joe Neylon,Tony Kelly (0-9, 3f), Gearóid O’Connell (0-1), Ryan Griffin (0-1), Stan Lineen (0-1),Tadhg Lynch, Paul Meaney, Niall Deasy, Diarmuid Lorrigan.

Subs
Lee Sherlock for Lorrigan,Alan Dalton for Meaney.

Man of Match
Tony Kelly (Ballyea) Referee KevinWalsh (WolfeTones)

THE celebrations at the end said it all.

This was Sixmilebridge’s 12th county minor success, but coming after a three-in-a-row of final defeats at the hands of Inagh/Kilnamona, Newmarket-on-Fergus and Kilmaley, it was no wonder this one was greeted as vociferously as the first way back in 1970 when the legendary Christy ‘The Craw’ Murray captained them to victory over Smith O’Brien’s in Dr Daly Park.

“It was brilliant to win, just brilliant. It’s a great feeling,” said manager Brian Culbert, himself a minor championship winner with the ‘Bridge in 1997.

“It’s John Corbett below in the field who has the pitch in immaculate condition to the lads in the senior club, minor club. The whole parish was involved in this minor victory and it was a great feeling at the final whistle.

“It was a serious battle. It was only the last 15 or 20 that we pulled away. It was tit-for-tat the whole way from the first whistle.

“We said at half-time to stick with it. The first 15 minutes of the game was just a battle and fighting and wrestling for the ball – it was hard because there was no pattern to the game.

“We told the lads to settle down and once we started hurling we knew we’d come through. Once Ballyea didn’t stop us hurling we knew we’d have the hurling to win,” he added.

And so it proved, with the ‘Bridge reeling in Ballyea before half-time, then turning the screw in the second half as their hurling gradually overpowered their opponents.

“There was no pressure on us,” revealed Culbert afterwards. “It was the first final in the four years that we went into that we went into as massive underdogs. That helped our lads. The lads knew that there was no pressure. A lot of the pressure was on Ballyea because they were favourites.

“We knew that if we performed we were confident in our own ability. We were confident when we started in February that if we hurled we would come through as champions for the year.

“Key for us was that we switched Seadna Morey on to Tony Kelly and put Brian Carey back centre-back. It gave us a lot more space – our halfback line and half-forward were crowding midfield and Tony Kelly couldn’t get the space he needed and they resorted to putting him in fullforward,” he added.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Subs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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