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St John’s NS, Cratloe 2-3 – Knockanean NS 1-4 at Cusack Park, Ennis

THE SCOREBOARD may have been malfunctioning throughout this Division 2 decider on Wednesday but there was no denying Cratloe who edged past rivals Knockanean to claim the silverware.

In a tense affair that could have gone either way, a Billy Connors double against the conditions effectively put St John’s on the road to success approaching the break. Up to that point, Knockanean and in particular, Keelan Butler, Tom O’Brien and Jack Hannan had controlled mat- ters in building up a 1-2 to 0-0 lead by the tenth minute. However, those two goals altered the narrative of the game decisively to give his side a one point half-time advantage.

The impressive Jack McInerney doubled that lead immediately after the break; Tom and Mark O’Brien swapped scores as the clock ran down while Butler reduced the deficit to only the minimum in injury time to set up an anxious last few moments.

However, with McInerney dropping deep, Diarmuid Ryan excelling at the back and Connors converting a late free, Cratloe eventually got over the line.

St John’s National School
Jack Danaher, Killian Arthur, Rian Considine, Ross Dunworth, Emmet Costigan, Diarmuid Ryan,Aaron Costigan, Mark O’Brien (0-1), Kyle Neylon, Conor McMahon, Conor Hallisey, Jack McInerney (0-1), Billy Connors (2-1 1f)

Knockanean National School
Niall Galvin, Jack Hannon, Eoin Campbell, Cian Barron, Keelan Butler (0-3 2f),TomHannan, Jason Herbert, Maurice Nugent,Vincent Quinlan, Graeme Glynn, TomO’Brien (1-1), Eoghan Perill, Dylan Mulligan

Sub
Fintan O’Halloran for Campbell (20 mins)

Referee
KevinWalsh (WolfeTones)

Kilmaley NS 4-2 – Broadford NS 2-1 at Cusack Park, Ennis

KILMALEY NS crowned what has been an historic year for them on the hurling and camogie fiels when claiming this title at GAA headquarters on Thursday afternoon. Before going into action in this camogie final, the boys in the schools had claimed their title the day before while success also came the school’s way in the Sevens county final in Clarecastle back in March.

In this final they stood firm in the second half against a brave Broadford side that threw everything into it when playing with the wind and trying to claw back what was an 11point half-time deficit.

In the first half Kilmaley dominat- ed with Saoirse Glynn’s long-range frees causing havoc in the Broadford defece. Glynn goaled as early as the second minute while another free two minutes later was deflected to the net to give Kilmaley a brilliant start. Two more Glynn goals ensured that Kilmaley led by 4-2 to 1-0 at half-time.

Broadford showed great resolve to battle back – their first goal came on the stroke of half-time, while they bagged 1-1 in the second half, but that seven points was as close as they got to Kilmaley. Flann Howard.

Kilmaley NS
Eimear Kennedy, Nora O’Rourke, Sarah Gubbins, , Polina Rybaltchenko, Martina Keane,Abigail Connellan, Saoirse Glynn, Áine Ronan, Helen O’Sullivan, Gráinne Cooney.

Subs
Aoibhín McCabe, Caoimhe Cotter, Katie Haren, Emma Mullally, Rebecca Balogh Cilia, Lauren O’Brien, Maxine Martin Pahl, Fia Coote,Therese Pyne, Emma Pyne, Shauna Byrnes,Andrea O’Brien, Saidhbhín Ní Cheallaigh.

Broadford NS
Aoife O’Brien, Catherine Donnellan, Hannah Mason,AoifeVaughan,Anna Lee Shanahan Marsh, Niamh Mulqueen, Siobhan O’Connell, Áine Ryan, Moya Marsh McMahon,Apryl O’Reagan.

Subs
Aoife Boland, Laura O’Connell, Maria Vaughan, Zoe O’Keeffe, Rabgea Seidel, Sarah Fitzgerald.

Clonmoney NS 2-0 – Bridgetown NS 1-0 at Cusack Park, Ennis

IT was an historic afternoon for the camogie players of Clonmoney NS in Newmarket-on-Fergus. This was the first year they entered the schools camogie competition and they marked that achievement by claimed the county title thanks to a strong second half showing when they came from a goal adrift at halftime to claim the title.

This was a low-scoring affair, with Bridgetown holding sway in the first half when playing with the wind. They led by 1-0 to no score at the break but the tide turned in Clonmoney’s favour in the second half as they pressed home their wind advantage with goals from Aoife Crimmins and Áine Fehilly securing them their first ever title.

Clonmoney NS
Ciara McTaggert,Tara Enright, Leanne Gaule, Emer White,Aoife Crimmins (1-0),Ailbhe Barry, Áine

Fehilly (1-0), Mary Enright, Indya Lynch, Katie Gleeson, Elva Morrissey, Sarah Fox, SinéadWhite, Aoibheann, Kelly, Jade Okoh.

Bridgetown NS
Aishling Conlan, Áine O’Grady Sadhbh Fennessy, Katie Moloney, Katie O’Shaughnessy,Anna Spaight, CaitlinTighe, Kate Gleeson, Mary O’Saughnessy, Sorcha McLoughlin, Ellen Kennedy,Amy English, Mia Scanlan,Aoibheann Noonan.

Ennis NS 2-4 – Barefield NS 1-4 at Cusack Park, Ennis

THIS local derby final was decided in the Townies’ favour when Ciara Casey grabbed Ennis NS’s all-important second goal to edge her side home to a first Division 1 in four years.

It was a close final all the way through. Barefield NS had the wind that was blowing towards the scoreboard end in the first half and by the interval had built up a 1-2 to 0-1 lead.

However, it was Ennis NS’s ability to get goals in the second half that secured them the title.

Nina Jabkonska grabbed the first, while points from Chloe Eustace, Loran O’Mahoney and Orla Waters had the sides level entering the final stages before Casey struck for the match-winning goal to ensure that the Division 1 title came to Ennis in 2011.

Ennis NS
Natalia Fankuewska, Kayleighanne Haugh, Bebhinn Sullivan, Maeve McInerney, Fiona Naylon (Capt), Vanessa Meaney, Chloe Eustace, Loren O’Mahoney, Ciara Casey, Orla Waters, Chris Kearney. Marese Hayes, Nina Jabkonska, Subs Doireann Casey, Deirble Murphy, Grainne Sheehan, Hannah Minogue, Grace Minogue, Niamh O’Shea, Rhona Heaney, Karen McNamara, Siofra McInerney, Jara Hajkova.

Barefield NS
Ciara Sexton, Muireann McAuliffe, Kate Dillon, Niamh O’Keeffe, Emer Hanrahan, Mia Hanrahan, Aislinn Meaney,Amanda Mulcaire, Sally Molloy, Niamh McDonagh, Niamh O’Halloran, Ciara Guilfoyle, SadhbhWoods. Subs Kaye Fennimen, Claire Hanrahan, Rebeccas Walshe,Ava Glynn, Ciara McGrath, Shona Power, Hannah Meaney.

Carrigaholt Schools Team 6-8 – Ballynacally/Lissycasey 1-1 at Cusack Park, Ennis

THE rise of Carrigaholt schools through the ranks of the game continued in Cusack Park on Thursday last when they scored an impressive final victory over the Ballynacally/ Lissycasey amalgamation.

The west Clare amalgamation are made up of Carrigaholt, Moveen, Querrin and Doonaha schools and their 24-point win completed a hattrick of county schools titles in successive years.

In 2009 they won the Division 4 title, last year Division 3 honours came their way, while they made it three-in-a-row with this comprehen- sive win. They led by 2-6 to 1-0 at half-time, with player of the match Fidelma Marrinan showing the way all through.

They bagged an impressive 3-5 over the hour, while Shauna Melican and Caoimhe Harvey also chipped in with scores.

The victory made up for the disappointment of the narrow one-point defeat they suffered at the hands of Cross/Kilbaha in the mixed schools final in Kilmihil.

Carrigaholt Schools
Michelle Marrinan, Patricia Foran, Chloe Elderfield, Róisín Brew, Áine Murphy, Sarah Marrinan, Shauna Melican (2-0), Caoimhe Harvey (1-3), Siobhán Brew, Áine Moloney (Capt), Ciara McInerney, Fidelma Marrinan (3-5),Treasa Moloney. Subs Alannah Murphy, Síobhán Keane, Ciara Donnelly.

Ballynacally/ Lissycasey
Katie Fizgerald, Lauren Hill,Ava O’Malley, Sahron Cummins, Emma Moriarty, Lorraine Kelly, Áine McSweeney, Gillian Griffin, Rebecca Cahill, Sarah Mullins, Danielle McCarthy, Bernadette Kelly, Bríd Garry. Subs Celine Brassil, Áine Kelly, Clodah Doohan, Caireann Brigdale, Ciara Sheehan,Alana Hanrahan, Áine Slattery,Tara O’Malley.

Cork 3-19 – Clare 1-02 at Clarecastle

THE SCOREBOARD won’t frustrate as much as fact that Clare just never got going. Or perhaps more accurately that they weren’t allowed to get going by a ravenous Cork side who almost produced the perfect hour of football.

Such pace, passion and intensity was simply a joy to behold and should be the benchmark for Clare to aspire to in the coming years. Forget the fact that Clare were plying their trade two tiers below Cork in the league as on this display, it is unlikely that anyone could have lived with the Rebels who moved the ball around with strength, pace and purpose.

Clare started both halves brightly but it would not be until the second half that they opened their account such was the control of this Cork outfit who built up a 1-11 to 0-0 halftime advantage. Dual star Briege Corkery and Nollaig Cleary were the instigators of the goal for Rhona Ní Bhuachalla to finish in the tenth minute while Valerie Mulcahy (5) and Cleary (4) would do the bulk of the point scoring.

By the finish, all six forwards would get on the scoresheet and out of the 3-19 final total, all but two points would come from play which only enhances their display on Clare soil.

Eimear Considine finally broke Clare’s deadlock after only 15 seconds of the restart while sister Ailish might have dented Cork’s lead further soon afterwards but saw her shot for goal just go the wrong side of the post. Clare did finally breach Aisling Barrett’s goal-line in the 37th minute when Eimear Considine finished at the near post after some great solo work from the hardworking Louise Henchy.

However, Cork’s reply was even more powerful when Amy O’Shea was allowed to fist to the net four minutes later while Mariead Kelly added a third goal around the turn of the final quarter.

With that, Clare’s heads dropped and Cork punished further with six more points to maintain their bid for an eighth successive provincial crown. Clare’s route will be through the backdoor where they will hope for better fortune and a sustained run in the championship.

Cork
Aisling Barrett (Donoughmore),Ann MarieWalsh (Inch Rovers),Angela Walsh (Inch Rovers), Deirdre O’Reilly (Liscarroll), Briege Corkery (St Vals), Brid Stack (Liscarroll), Geraldine O’Flynn (Liscarroll), Juliet Murphy (Donoughmre) (0-3 2f),AnnieWalsh (Inch Rovers), Nollaig Cleary (Gabriel Rangers) (0-4), Mairead Kelly (Liscarroll) (1-0), Grace Kearney (Bride Rovers) (0-3),Valerie Mulcahy (Rockban) (0-6), Rhona Ní Bhuachalla (Naomh Fionnbarra) (1-1),Amy O’Shea (Inch Rovers) (1-0)

Subs
Rena Buckley (Donoughmore) (0-2) for AnnieWalsh (44 mins), Oralith Farmer (Midleton) for Ann MarieWalsh (46 mins), Laura McMahon (Rosscarbery) for Cleary (48 mins),Aine Sheehan (Glanworth) for O’Flynn (50 mins), Geradline O’Flynn for Ní Bhuachalla (54 mins, inj)

Clare
Emma O’Drsicoll (The Banner), Clare Hestor (Fergus Rovers), Lorraine Kelly (Fergus Rovers), Sinead Eustace (Coolmeen), Louise Woods (The Banner), Carmel Considine (Liscannor), Eimear O’Connor (Coolmeen), Marie Considine (Liscannor), Colette Corry (Shannon Gaels),Ailish Considine (Kilmihil), Louise Henchy (The Banner) (0-1), Niamh Keane (The Banner), Niamh O’Dea (The Banner), Fiona Lafferty (The Banner), Eimear Considine (Kilmihil) (1-1)

Subs
Laurie Ryan (The Banner) for Kelly (42 mins), Roisin McMahon (Newmarket-onFergus) for O’Connor (46 mins), Naomi Carroll (The Banner) for A. Considine (52 mins),Aine Burke (Liscannor) for Lafferty Carol O’Leary (Newmarket-on-Fergus) for Keane (57 mins)

Player of the Game
Valerie Mulcahy (Cork) Referee Richie O’Connor (Tipperary)

DOONBEG AND West Clare Gaels will contest the Div. 3 league final on Saturday. Doonbeg had a comfortable win over Kilrush last Saturday while it was a different story for West Clare Gaels who finished with a point to spare over Éire Óg on Sunday in a match that produced nine goals.

Last year for the first time, West Clare Gaels fielded a second team and reached the final of this competition but were defeated by Burren Gaels. Fiona Troy and club secretary Deirdre Kenny Downes are in charge of this group and they will be hoping for good performances from Tracey Downes the team captain, Lisa Harte, Andrea Kenny, Grainne Harvey, Becky O’Farrell, Lorraine Ryan, Colette Keniry and Marybeth Downes.

Doonbeg this year are back in competition action at adult level. They have been unable to field a team in this age group since 05. However, a number of their players assisted other clubs, mainly Kilmihil and Shannon Gaels.

Edel Conway is the team captain, she along with Linda Russell, Sarah Cahill and Yvonne Downes were part of the Kilmihil set up that went on to win the All Ireland Junior Club Championship in 08.

The Madigan sisters Edel and Mairead and Amanda Ryan all played with Shannon Gaels in recent years and have experienced contesting a number of Intermediate Championship Finals. Players like Lorraine Tubridy and Caroline Haugh who have not played for a number of years will also feature for the magpiesTeam.

Manager Cathal Hayes and his assistant James Stack will be hoping that those experiences will stand to their side who will be strong favourites to win the league and championship double at junior level.

Clare 3-13 – Tipperary 1-13 at Semple Stadium, Thurles

IN THE end, it came down to character. Having led by three points at the break, Clare saw their advantage wiped away within five minutes of the restart and with the home crowd beginning to sense a sea change, the Banner were forced into introspection.

However, in midfielders Colm Galvin and Tony Kelly, the defending champions held the real aces in the pack and the experienced partnership that drove Clare to an AllIreland decider last year were not about to let their title slip without an almighty fight.

It was Galvin’s goal in the 38th minute that injected new life into the Clare cause while beside him, Ballyea’s Kelly was simply immense in a 15 minute period that saw him hoover up everything that came his way.

Of course there were several others who stood out from the pack on Friday evening. The towering Peter Duggan was Clare’s most prominent forward while the ever-reliable Jamie Sh a n a h a n – Ga l v i n – Kel l y- Ca t h a l O’Connell axis was also ably assisted by corner-backs Jack Browne and Seadna Morey and Ballyea’s Gearoid O’Connell.

Clare’s second successive victory over Tipperary was made all the sweeter by the fact that they passed a major test of character to reach another Munster decider.

Disruptions in preparation due to exams; the two month gap since their last competitive outing against Kerry and having to go to the veritable Clare graveyard of Thurles to take on a Tipperary side hell bent on revenge after last year, this was a banana skin waiting to happen. But while the home side had their moments, it was the visitors who set the pace for the majority and eventually reaped the rewards.

They blazed a trail early on, with Peter Duggan and Colm Galvin pointing while Cathal O’Connell and a superb Duggan lineball had them 0-4 to 0-2 clear by the ninth minute.

Tipperary’s chief tactic was to utilise the pace and guile of Pat Ralph in the full-forward line and by the 13th minute, the sides were level once more.

However, their reprieve didn’t last long as from the puck-out, midfielders Kelly and Galvin combined to put Aaron Cunningham through on goal only to be hauled down for a penalty. Captain Kelly took the honours only to see his shot saved by goalkeeper Shane Hassett and a rebound came off the post before Eoin Enright kicked to the net to restore Clare’s three point advantage.

That pattern was repeated once more before the break as Ralph’s pace allowed Liam McGrath to gain parity from frees but Clare did hold a 1-8 to 0-8 half-time advantage as Cathal O’Connell converted Clare’s last three scores in a six minute spell.

Again Tipperary came thundering back and through Liam McGrath (2) and Pat Ralph, the sides were level for the fourth time by the 35th minute. However, just as in the first half, their recovery lasted merely seconds as from a Tipperary attack at one end, Clare counterattacked through Jack Browne, Peter Duggan and Shane O’Donnell who laid off the perfect pass for the overlapping Colm Galvin to find the right corner of the net.

That inspirational lift was heightened further by the emergence of Tony Kelly who dominated proceedings for the next 15 minutes, scoring four points himself and setting up another for Aaron Cunningham to give Clare a 2-13 to 0-11 lead by the 53rd minute.

The defending champions were also very vigilant at the back as twice they snuffed out John McGrath who appeared to be through on goal.

A brief Tipperary fightback collapsed when a defensive error gifted Clare a third goal through substitute Alan Mulready and while a bullet free from Jason Forde ruined Clare’s clean sheet, the prize of a second successive Munster final against Waterford in Pairc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday, July 10 certainly softened the blow considerably.

Clare
Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle), Jack Browne (Ballyea), Niall O’Connor (Newmarket-on-Fergus), Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge), Jarleth Colleran (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge), Gearoid O’Connell (Ballyea), ColmGalvin (Clonlara) (1-1),Tony Kelly (Ballyea) (0-4 2f), Peter Duggan (Clooney/Quin) (0-3 1s/l), Cathal O’Connell (Clonlara) (0-4 2f, 1’65), Eoin Enright (Kilmaley) (1-0),Aaron Cunningham(WolfeTones) (0-1), Oisin Hickey (Meelick), Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg)

Subs
Alan Mulready (Sixmilebridge) (1-0) for Enright (48 mins), Martin Moroney (Parteen) for Kelly (58 mins, inj), Damien Moloney (Meelick) for O’Connell (60 mins)

Tipperary
Shane Hassett (Dromand Inch), James Bourke (Moycarkey Borris), John Meagher (Loughmore Castleiney), Jack Peters (Kilruan MacDonaghs), Thomas Hamill (Killea), Jason Forde (Silvermines) (1-0f), Cathal Barrett (Holycross/Ballycahill), Eoin Fennelly (Mullinahone), Bill Maher (Kilsheelan Kilcash), John McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney), Dan McCormack (Borris-Ileigh) (0-1), Liam McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney) (0-9 7f), Stephen Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields) (0-1), Pat Ralph (Moycarkey/Borris) (0-2), Cathal Horan (Mullinahone)

Subs
Barry Heffernan (Éire Óg Nenagh) for Horan (44 mins), Seamus Kennedy (St Mary’s) for Fennelly (53 mins)

Player of the Game
Tony Kelly (Clare) Referee Jer O’Connell (Cork)

TO BEAT Tipperary at any time provides a sizeable sense of achievement so to beat them for the second year in succession and in their home ground of Thurles was more than satisfying for the Clare minors on Friday evening.

However, beneath that veneer of contentment also lay a sense of relief for joint-manager Gerry O’Connor that after the disruption of exams and the long lay-off since their previous competitive outing, his side had showed enough character to prevail.

“We came down here and we had huge hopes for this team but with minors, you don’t know what you’ve got until you turn up on the night. The first half was very funny and I’ll be honest, we got a lucky goal from the penalty to go three points up.

“But they came back and we just couldn’t shake them off.

“Then Shane O’Donnell got a ball and popped a pass to Galvin and wow what a finish. The accusation that was levelled at us last year was that we couldn’t score goals and honestly, we couldn’t argue with that case but in fairness, the ability of our full-forward line when they got the ball to be able to turn them into scores was key to the match this evening.”

And so the Clare minor rollercoaster rolls on for at least two more games after reaching a second consecutive provincial decider, with last year’s experience certain to aid the cause as it did on Friday evening.

“Really and truly, we didn’t know what we were going to be like until we turned up today and that’s the real pressure that was on the team. But in fairness, the experienced guys from last year, that diamond of Shanahan, Galvin Kelly and Tots [Cathal O’Connell], and Seadna Morey, they were unbelievable tonight to be fair to them.”

“Everything is a bonus from now on because the year opens up for us now. Tonight was do-or-die and was a real championship match because there is no backdoor. I know we are in a Munster final now and that was our goal from the outset to get back there again but ultimately the next day it’s not the end of the world whatever happens.

“Don’t get me wrong, we will do out damnedness the next day to defend our title but the pressure eases now and hopefully we can play with some freedom in the final.”