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Kilnamona NS 3-6 – Inagh/Clounanaha NS 0-1 at Cusack Park, Ennis

THIS local derby tie went the way of Kilnamona by the decisive margin of 14 points as they proved much too strong for the Inagh/Clounanaha amalgamation side on Thursday afternoon.

Kilnamona dominated this game from the opening minutes and by half-time had moved into a 2-2 to no score lead. Both Chloe O’Neill and Andrea O’Keeffe showed the way in that first half, bagging 1-1 each in the half as Kilnamona laid down their marker.

Rebecca Keating raised a flag for Inagh/Clounanaha in the second half but Kilnamona tacked on a further 1-4 to extend their advantage. Chloe O’Neill grabbed another 1-2, while Andrea O’Keeffe and Theresa O’Keeffe also tacked on points.

Kilnamona NS
Sinead Power, Sarah Cotter, Michaela Roughan, Aoibheann Hogan, Nicola O’Neill, Chloe McNamara,Teresa O’Keeffe (0-1), Laoise Ryan, Andrea O’Keeffe (1-2), Róisín Longe, Ruth Crowe, Chloe O’Neill (2-3), Róisín Clancy, Freya Rynne, Sorcha Burke, SoibhánWarren, Áine Kearins, Alanna O’Keeffe

Inagh/ Counanaha NS
Rebecca Keating, Chloe Foudy, Ciara Hehir, Rachel Harvey, Claire Hehir,Amy Keating, Orlaith Cotter, Eimear Brennan, Áine Lynch, Rebecca O’Leary, Natasha Moloney, Cathy Cullinan, Megan Leyden, Ciara O’Connor, Eimear Cotter, Róísín Callinan, LeanneWoods, LeahWynne, Eimear O’Looney, Hannah Shannon, Róísín Mahony.

UNPRECEDENTED numbers turned out for Clarecastle’s Lá na gClub celebrations on Sunday. The action packed family fun day had something for everyone from live music and dancing to novelty and exhibition games culminating in the much awaited ‘El Magpie Classico’ between the 1986/87 team who were honoured for their 25th anniversary and the 1997 county and Munster winning side including Clare manager Ger O’Loughlin who played a half for each side, Dublin manager Anthony Daly, former All-Star John Callinan and evergreen Paschal Rus- sell (pictured below in a not so Superman t-shirt). The day will also be remembered for the launch of the club’s GAA Social Initiative, the brainchild of President Mary McAleese, that provides social events to older members of the community through the GAA. Clarecastle are the first club in the county to launch the initiative which is expected to be extended to all clubs in the coming years.

CBS Ennis 3-2 – Clarecastle NS 2-2 at Cusack Park, Ennis

A DRESS rehearsal for the main event and an opportunity for future stars to play in Clare headquarters as the CBS and Clarecastle locked horns for the first of two deciders on Wednesday afternoon. And in the end, it was the Ennis school that edged the contest in the proverbial game of two halves.

Clarecastle had the conditions at their backs for the opening half and used it to build up a 2-2 to 0-0 lead, with Darragh Healy scoring 1-1, Kelan Browne grabbing the second goal while Stephen Gilroy also got in on the scoring action. Others to impress included Liam Halpin, Oisin Casey, Mark O’Loughlin and Ronan Donnelly.

However, eight wides from the Magpies and a goal in reply by CBS’ Johny Ryan just before the break would prove to be crucial as the game became more congested in the second period.

Another 1-1 from Ryan and a further strike from Paul Tuohy put the CBS into the driving seat and with Colm McGrath pulling the strings, they held on for victory.

CBS Ennis
RobbieWoods, Conor Whelan, Eldon Nolan, Conor Hehir,Tomás Mulpeter, Gary Stack, Pierce Kenneally, Gavin Carr,TomMcDonald, Paul Tuohy (1-0), David Kirwan, ColmMcGrath (0-1), Khalid Ladigbolu, Eoghan Foudy, Johny Ryan (2-1)

Subs
Salah Abedelrazig, James Casey, Christopher Whelan, Luke Molloy,AndrewShannon,Alan Abraham,Aaron Ryan,Tony Odubote, Jack Crowley, Luke Hillary, Ian Butler, Jack Flynn, Cormac Killilea, Stephen Dolan, Neil Molloy

Clarecastle National School
Eoghan Wallace, LiamHalpin, Cian McNamara, Ricky Mulcaire, Oisin Casey, Mark O’Loughlin, Ruaírí Power, Kelan Browne (1-0), Stephen Gilroy (0-1), Joey Lynch, Ronan Donnelly, Lee Brigdale, Stephen Hogan, Stephen Birney, Darragh Healy (1-1)

Subs
Josh Brack, Harry Ward, DavidTuohy, Eoin Dinan, Dylan Brown, Mark Coughlan, Cormac Moloney, Eanna O’Donoghue, Cillian Casey, Gareth Guinnane,Aidan Ryan, Michael Kelly, Ben Sullivan, Dillon Pearson, Robyn Doyle, DavidWalshe, Jamie Lewis Cullinan, Conor Halpin, Brandon Healy, Sean Heaney,Alec Cassley, Evan Dolan

Referee
KevinWalsh (WolfeTones)

FERGUS ROVERS have a difficult opening game in the Senior B championship on Friday evening when they take on an improving Crusheen side in Lissycasey at 7p.m.

The Ballynacally/Lissycasey outfit have a very young team and are managed this year by Newmarket man Joe Carrigg. His selectors are Martin Kelly who was part of last year’s management and Doonbeg native Pakie Keane.

Encounters between these two sides have been very close in recent years with little separating them. They met twice in last year’s championship with both sides recording a win each. Six weeks ago they met in the league in Crusheen where the locals had five points to spare.

For this year’s championship Fergus Rovers are without Paula Donnelly, Mairead Hayes , Roisin Killeen and Catriona Murphy from last year’s panel. Aine Kelly who has missed out on a year’s football is back in training and will definitely play some part in Friday’s game. Cliona Cleary, Theresa Meaney, Lorraine Kelly, Clodagh McNeilis, Clare Hester, Orla and Grainne Griffin will have to step up to the mark if Fergus Rovers are to cause a surprise.

Liscannor also have their first outing in the championship this weekend when they face West Clare Gaels. Reigning Senior B Champions they will really put it up to the girls from the west. Liscannor have been improving steadily at underage level.

Carmel and Marie Considine are stalwarts of Clare Ladies Football while their brother Joe is joint team manager with Barry O’Grady. They are captained by Yvonne Flaherty while Emma Slattery, Aine Greene, Olivia Lucas, Aine Burke and Suzanne Cagney are all fine footballers.

While West Clare Gaels did win their opening round Majella Griffin, the Kelly twins and Katie Geoghegan were sorely missed. This is a huge game for Liscannor, one they are capable of winning.

THERE were strong performances from three Clare men who competed at the European Age Group Triathlon Championships in Spain on Sunday.

Patrick Quinn, Patrick Moylan and Brian Mathias, who are all members of Ennis Tri club, took part in the event held in Pontevedra.

Competing in the 25-29 age group, Clarecastle man Quinn, finished in sixteenth position in a time of 2.13.05. Quinn’s highly creditable performance was boosted by a strong swim. He also enjoyed the sixth fastest run off the bike.

Patrick Moylan and Bryan Mathias both competed in the 35-39 age group. Mathias finished 43rd in a time of 2.29.10 while Moylan finished 54th in a time of 2.38.20.

All three competitors swam 1500m, cycled 40km and ran 10km.

A founding member and former chairman of Ennis Tri Club, Patrick Quinn has previously competed at world and European championships. After growing frustrated with injuries he picked up playing hurling and football, Quinn turned his hand to triathlons.

This is Quinn’s fifth season competing in Ireland and abroad and his first under the guidance of a professional coach.

This season has ranked among Quinn’s best. A team leader with the Brothers of Charity, the 28 year old hasn’t finished out of the top 10 in the national series of championships.

He said, “Triathlons are fairly addictive. After I did one, I wanted to do more. I wanted to get faster”.

His performances have been aided by a carefully structured training regime and an 18-month period where he has been free of injuries.

He added, “I’m hoping to get into the top 10 in Europe”.

Current chairman of Ennis Tri Club, Brian Mathias, has been taking part in triathlons for the past eight seasons.

He said, “It started off as a way of getting fit but it got a bit more serious. It’s definitely addictive. Not many people just do one triathlon”.

Mathias trains 12 times a week and competed in the European Duathlon in Limerick in April.

Solicitor Patrick Moylan, of Clare based O’Kelly Moylan Solicitors, was competing in his first European Championships.

“I started off doing a triathlon in Adare and after that I was hooked”, he said.

He added, “I find its great way to keep fit and healthy. You definitely find you have more energy around the office and at home”.

The trio’s success is a further boost to Ennis Tri club. Founded in 2009, the club now has 70 members.