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St Joseph’s Miltown 1-9 Kilrush Shamrocks 1-9 at Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown Malbay

A BATTLE of the champions on Sunday as Cusack Cup holders St Joseph’s Miltown hosted Garry Cup champions Kilrush Shamrocks and in the end, both had to be content with a share of the spoils after a late Kilrush goal completed a spirited fightback.

Defending champions Miltown ended last season on a high in the torrential downpour in Kilmihil and there were similarly difficult weather conditions for the start of the new season as both somewhat experimental sides took to the field.

It was the home side who held the whip hand throughout, moving 1-4 to 0-1 clear by the 20th minute, with the goal coming from Seanie Malone at the end of the first quarter.

However, Kilrush finally got to grips with the tie and by half-time had cut the deficit to three at 1-5 to 05, with Ruairi O’Connor and Peadar McMahon to the fore.

A full recovery looked more remote though when Con O’Brien received a second yellow only two minutes af- ter the restart but credit Kilrush for not throwing in the towel and indeed levelling matters at 1-6 to 0-9.

It jolted Miltown into life once more and points from Joe and Eoin Curtin apeared to have finally shaken off their stubborn opponents but Kilrush would have the last say when substitute Jamie Gilligan scrambled in an injury-time goal to level the tie for the final time.

St Joseph’s Miltown
Conor O’Loughlin, Enda

Malone, Kevin Burke, David Cleary, Ian Sexton, Gordon Kelly, Gearoid Curtin, Dara McDonagh, John Meade (0-1), Enda O’Gorman, Gary Egan (0-1), Brian Curtin (0-1), Seanie Malone (1-2), Joe Curtin (0-2), Eoin Curtin (0-2)

Subs
Niall Quinn for O’Loughlin (inj), Sean Meade for McDonagh, DavidTalty for B. Curtin

Kilrush Shamrocks
Tony Burke, Niall Gilbride, Niall Clancy, Cathal Lyons, Con O’Brien, MatthewMoloney, John Hayes, JimYoung, Paddy Clancy, Pajo McGrath, Paul Heaslip (0-1), ColmBond, Ruairi O’Connor (0-5), Peadar McMahon (0-3), Stephen Sweeney

Subs
Darragh Bolton for Bond, Donal O’Sullivan for Heaslip, Jamie Gilligan (1-0) for Sweeney

Referee
TomStackpool (Ennistymon)

ON A proud day for Clare handball, Tuamgraney clubman Diarmaid Nash won the Munster Senior Singles Open Championship at Broadford in Limerick on Sunday, the Banner County’s first Senior Singles title since the legendary Pat Kirby completed his six-in-a-row of wins in 1980.

The provincial championship was this year played over one weekend in Cappagh and Broadford courts and the weekend action opened on Friday night when Tuamgraney’s Niall Malone took on Tipperary star Fergal Collins.

After an outstanding three games, Ballinaman Collins came out on top on a 20-21, 21-15, 21-17 score. In the quarter finals on Saturday, Nash made reasonably light work of veteran David Moloney’s (Tipp) challenge, coming out on top 21-11, 21-3 to set up a semi-final that evening with Fergal Collins.

Collins had earlier beaten reigning champion Dominck Lynch from Kerry but could find no way past Nash. In a thrilling match, Collins took the first game 21-17 before Nash’s high level of fitness propelled him to win the next two, 21-10 and 21-9.

In Sunday’s final Nash faced an on-form Seamus O’Carroll (Limerick), who had marched to the final with wins over his doubles partner C. J. Fitzpatrick and Cork’s Brendan Fleming. O’Carroll and Nash have met numerous times over the past number of years with never much to separate them.

On this occasion, the Cappagh clubman raced into an early 10-2 lead before Nash reeled him in and went on to win the first game in convincing style, 21-14. The Tuamgraney player finished the job in the second game after a real battle. With excellent serving and some fantastic killshots, Nash was on top of his game and saw out the match with a tense 21-19 win to take the Munster Senior crown and bridge that 31-year gap since Kirby’s feat. Nash is also through to the Munster Intermediate Singles final (against Brendan Fleming, Cork, on March 9) and will be in strong contention for both the Senior and Intermediate Doubles championships with clubmate Niall Malone (Malone & Nash play Intermediate Doubles semi-final against Tipp in Ballinahinch tonight, 7.30).

Having already secured the AllIreland third level colleges singles championship, one would imagine that 2011, the Tuamgraney club’s centenary year, might yet have more in store for Diarmaid Nash (below).

Elsewhere in Munster action over the weekend, Mike Kelly and Pat Donellan progressed to the Munster Final at Golden Masters A Doubles with a win over Limerick.

The final is fixed for Saturday in Tuamgraney (4.00) against Tipperary while Kilkishen player Donellan first has the small matter of the Munster Singles final when he takes on Limerick’s Donal O’Connor in Nenagh tonight (7.30).

On the same bill, John Cawley (Shannon) plays the Munster Golden Masters B Singles semi-final against Seamus Donovan (Limerick). There was also weekend success for Sarah and Paula Loughnane (Clooney) who won their semi-final to set up an allClare final against Aisling Fitzgerald and Edel O’Grady. Lisa Loughnane was defeated in the Munster Intermediate Singles final while Ciaran Malone went down to Cork’s Killian Carroll in the Minor Singles semifinal.

The Munster Junior Singles final was an all-Tulla match up lastnight when Aidan Lynch took on Cathal Hannon (no result at time of writing). Indeed, the coming week is choc-full of Munster semi-finals and finals involving Banner County players (see fixtures below). Meanwhile the Clare Adult Handball League is reaching it’s climax. The semi-finals of Divisin 3 (Tuamganey v. Shannon, Clarecastle v. Clooney) go ahead this week, while next week’s Division 2 final sees Kilrush take on Tuamgraney (Clooney, Monday 28th at 8pm).

Munster Championship fixtures;
Tuesday 22nd: Intermediate Doubles semi-final, Ballinahinch, 7.30 – Diarmaid Nash & Niall Malone v. Mike Carroll & Ger Coonan (Tipp.) Tuesday 22nd, Galbally, 7.30 – Ladies Junior B Singles semi-final,Aisling Fitzgerald v. Siobhan Lehane (Limk.) Tuesday 22nd, Cashel, 7.30 – Ladies Junior B Singles semi-final, Sarah Louhgnane v. Laura Keevers (W’ford),ANDSilver Masters B Singles Final, John Nihill v. JimO’Brien (Tipp.) Tuesday 22nd, Nenagh, 7.30 – Golden Masters A Singles Final, Pat Donellan v. Donal O’Connor (Limerick) ANDGolden Masters B Singles semifinal, John Cawley v. Seamus Donovan (Limk) Wed. 23rd, Broadford, 7.30 – Minor Doubles Final, Jamie Lynch & Ciaran Malone v. Killian Carroll & Patrick Herlihy (Cork) Friday 25th, Galbally, 7.30 – Minor Singles Final, Jamie Lynch v. Killian Carroll (Cork) Sat. 26th,Tuamgraney, 4.00 – U-21 Doubles semifinal,Trevor Vaughan &Alan Leamy v. Fergal Collins & Darragh Hardy (Tipp.) ANDGolden Masters A Doubles Final, Mike Kelly & Pat Donellan v.Tony Flaherty & Pat Griffin (Tipp.) Sunday 27th,Tulla 1.00 – Ladies Junior B Doubles Final, Sarah Loughnane & Paula Loughnane v.Aisling Fitzgerald & Edel O’Grady Tuesday 1st, Silvermines, 7.30 – Golden Masters B Doubles Final, John Cawley &Teddy O’Hanlon v. Jimmy Fanning & Jack Dillon (Limk.)

Doonbeg 1-11 Shannon Gaels 0-03 at Shanahan Memorial Park, Doonbeg

THERE may only have been a point in it when these two last met, when clashing in the county championship quarter-final last September in a game that saw the Magpies fly from three down at the break to win by the minimum.

That was then – the now is that the gap has widened considerably as Doonbeg hit 2011 running when scoring a comprehensive 11 point victory over a very poor Gaels outfit on Sunday afternoon.

Doonbeg won as they pleased, restricting the Gaels to one solitary point in the first half, while they were nearly as miserly on the turnover when only coughing up just two points over the course of the 30 minutes.

Doonbeg, who were semi-finalists in 2010, dominated this game in all sectors, with David Tubridy’s first half haul of 1-4 effectively killing the game as a contest. His goal came in the 20th minute, while the impressive Shane O’Brien hit two points from play, with Conor Downes and Shane Ryan also chipping in with first half points. The Gaels’ solitary first half point came from left-half-back Tomás Cleary after 21 minutes, while a point early in the second half from midfielder John Paul O’Neill failed to ignite their challenge. Doonbeg hit back with points from Tubridy (2) and Colm Dillon to score a comprehensive win. The only consolation from the Gaels point of view at the end of this depressing hour was that they started last year’s campaign in similar fashion, going down to newcomers Clondegad before pick- ing up the pieces and going all the way to the final.

They’re a long way from the final after this display though.

Doonbeg
Brian Egan, Joe Blake, Padraig Gallagher, Conor Whelan, Paraic Aherne, Brian Dillon, David Downes, Frank O’Dea, Enda Doyle, DavidTubridy (1-6, 3f) ColmDillon (0-1), Shane O’Brien (0-2), Shane Ryan (0-1), Kevin Nugent (Capt), Conor Downes (0-1).

Subs
Philip Smith for Nugent, Paul Dillon for Ryan, JimBob Griffin for Aherne, Eamon tubiryd for ColmDillon, Eoin Conway for Blake

Shannon Gaels
Keith Ryan, Cathal O’Neill, John Neylon, Michael Lorigan, John Bermingham, Noel Kennedy,Tomás Cleary (0-1), John Paul O’Neill (0-2), Francis Cleary, Michael Coughlan, Michael O’Donoghue, Stephen O’Shea, Brian O’Shea, Nigel Hehir, Bryan Cunningham.

Subs
Johnny Keogh for Lorigan, Fergal Kenny for Coughlan, Fergal O’Neill for Stephen O’Shea,Tomás Madigan for Cunningham.

Man of the Match
David Tubridy (Doonbeg) Referee Pat Cosgrove (Corofin)

Clondegad 1-8 Liscannor 0-7 at Páirc Micheál Ó hEithir, Ballynacally

CLONDEGAD got off to a rocky start in this season opener on their home patch, but gradually found their feet by half-time thanks to the tonic of a lead goal before the break, which enabled them to kick on to a deserved four-point success on the turnover.

In this clash of the two defeated finalists from last year’s intermediate and senior championship finals, it was intermediate standard-bearers Clondegad who got one-up on their senior opponents.

They trailed early on to two Alan Clohessy frees, while further points from Dara Blake and Clohessy after Kenneth Kelly got Clondegad off the mark in the eighth minute left the north Claremen 0-4 to 0-1 after 15 minutes.

However, the growing influence of Garry Brennan around midfield changed the game utterly. On 18 minutes he cut the deficit to apoint with a well taken free Clondegad added another with their next possession when Paudge McMahon opened his account after a well-worked move.

Another Brennan point left the sides level after 20 minutes before Liscannor hit back with two more points from Alan Clohessy frees. Gary Brennan cut the deficit to a point by the 27th minute but Liscannor looked set for the interval lead of of 0-6 to 0-5 until a long ball by Eoin Griffin to Shane Brennan on the edge of the square was punched into his own net by the Liscannor goalkeeper Noel Kilmartin.

On the turnover Clondegad’s midfield dominance saw them take a stranglehold and keep the scoreboard ticking over.

They notched points from Eoghan Donnellan and two well taken points from Podge McMahon along with along range point on the run from Gary Brennan. Liscannor only response was a long range point from Johnny Considine.

Clondegad
Declan O’Loughlin, Flan Enright, Paddy O’Connell, Conor Gavin, Gearóid O’Connell, Kieran Browne, Brian Murphy, Eoin Griffin, Gary Brennan (0-3), Francie Neylon, Paudge McMahon (0-3), James Murphy, Eoghan Donnellan (0-1), Shane Brennan, Kenneth Kelly (0-1)

Subs
Pat Coffey for Brian Murphy, Francis O’Reilly for James Murphy

Liscannor
Noel Kilmartin, Davy McDonagh, Miichael Foley, Shane Canavan, robbie Lucas, Denis Mrphy, Dara Blake (0-1), Niall Considine, Alan Flaherty, Joe Considine,Alan Clohessy (0-4), Gerry Considine, Ronan Slattery, Kieran Considine, David Commane.

Subs
Johnny Considine (0-1) for Commane, Declan Fawl (0-1) for Canavan,Alan McDonagh for Joe Considine.

Man of the Match
Gary Brennan (Clondegad) Referee Michael Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane)

West Clare United 1 – Avenue United 2 (AET) at Tulla

A HEROIC performance from third division side West Clare United brought Avenue to extra-time in this first round cup clash but they were unable to overcome the premier side, loosing out eventually by two goals to one.

Due to the weather conditions, the pitch was very heavy and Avenue struggled greatly to play the free flowing soccer they normally produce which gave West Clare a huge opportunity in this game. Although they did not create many chances, West Clare made it very hard for Avenue to play and battled well giving them real problems.

It was Avenue’s Barry Nugent who scored the goal to get his side off the mark in the first half but despite creating a number of chances following this they were unable to build on their advantage. It was 1-0 as the sides went in at the half, a score-line which was a fair result on the performance of both teams.

In the second half West Clare United again fought back but were unable to create any scoring chances and although they were doing a great job at keeping Avenue under control they never looked like a threat in front of goals. However, as the game went deep into injury time, West Clare were awarded a penalty in what looked like the last act of the game. Jason Russell then stepped up to take the spot kick and as he struck it past Healy in the Avenue goal the sides were destined for extra-time.

In the first few minutes of extra time a quick Avenue break up the field saw Con Collins score from the edge of the box and his side took the lead once more. It remained very close for the rest of the game but as hard as West Clare tried they were unable to break the Avenue rearguard.

The game finished 2-1 to Avenue after seeing off a battling performance from West Clare United. West Clare played well and made it difficult for Avenue but it was Avenue who created the more chances throughout the game. However, this is not to take away from an outstanding performance from West Clare who gave it there all and will be happy with their performance but in the end the more experienced side came out on top and it will be Avenue who progress to the next round.

Avenue United
John Healy, Eamonn O’Reilly, Simon Cuddihy, Colin Smith, David Herlihy, Barry Nugent, Pa Wilson, Con Collins, David Smith, Mikey Mahoney, Richie O’Grady.

West Clare Utd
Kevin Harte, Barry Murphy, Hugh McNally, Barry Copley, David Honan, David Tubridy, Brian Harte,TomHonan, Jamie Russell, Tony Doherty, Jason Russell.

Avenue United B 0 – Shannon Olympic A 3 at Lees Road

SHANNON OLYMPIC A extended their lead at the top of the 1st Division with an easy 3-0 victory over Avenue United B at Lees Road on Sunday. Played in wet and miserable conditions, the away side won the game with an excellent 1st half performance that produced three well-worked goals and a host of other chances.

Olympic got off to a flying start when Jimmy Houlihan calmly tapped home in the 3rd minute after some brilliant centre-forward play by Karl Scott. Goal number two came just three minutes later when Scott again created space for himself on the right and crossed for Alan Casey to finish from six yards.

At this stage it looked like a rout was on the cards as Olympic were producing chance after chance, having plenty of good opportunities to extent the lead, however a combination of poor finishing and good saves kept the lead at two.

The inevitable 3rd goal came in the 41st minute when a great ball from Scott picked out Jason Regan in the box who headed strongly past Calligan. On the stroke of halftime, Regan had a chance to double his tally but he shot straight at the ‘keeper from eight yards.

Avenue created the first real chance of the half when Chris Dobens shot straight at McGettrick in the Olympic goal. However, the away side continued to create chances in the second half but they were not able to add to their lead.

The game ended with the teams separated by the three first half goals. It must be noted that Avenue were missing a number of their youth players who had a great victory in the Munster Youths Cup the day before, but it was a very impressive display from the Olympic team who are beginning to look like a side capable of winning the league.

Best for Olympic on the day were; Karl Scott and centre-midfield pairing of Jason Regan and Ray Quigley. Olympic’s next game in the league is at home to Sporting Ennistymon next Sunday at 2.30pm.

Avenue United B
Cillian Culligan,Alan McNamara, Neil McCarthy,AnthonyWhite, Pa Sherlock, Barry Cusack, Jan Peak, Owen O’Loughlin, Chris Dobens, Mickey Byrnes, Ian Hassett

Subs
Gary George, Conor Mullen, LiamDeasy, Emre, Conor O’Brien, Richard O’Grady

Shannon Olympic A
Gary McGettrick, David Collins, Ian Hogan, James Fitzgerald, Karl Fogarty, Ray Quigley, Jason Regan, Eamonn O’Neill, Karl Scott, Jimmy Houlihan,Alan Casey.

Subs
Wayne Regan, Donncadh Kelly, Dave Kearns, Greg Keane, Richie Hanly. T hom ond R FC 27 St Senans R FC 10 THIS WEEK ST SENAN’S travelled to Liam Fitzgerald Park in Limerick to compete against Thomond RFC for the O’Donoghue Cup. The cup is competed for annually in memory of Joe O’Donoghue who was involved with both clubs for many years. Senan’s suffered an early set back when fly half Declan Collins was stretchered off with ligament damage. The weather conditions deter

mined that this would not be an open free flowing game as wind and rain made ball handling very difficult, so it was no surprise that the first 30 minutes saw both sides encamped in the middle of the pitch with very few clear cut scoring opportunities. This changed in Senans favour when on 32 minutes they won a penalty on the left wing, a good kick by Daragh McCoy opened the scoring for the visitors. Senans gained in confidence from this point and on 37 minutes their pack drove over the try line for Duane Horkin to claim the first try of the game. Once again a good con- fident kick by Daragh McCoy added the extra points to give the visitors a 10-0 lead.

With conditions not improving this would have been a good platform for Senans to take into half time, unfortunately a late lapse of concentration allowed Thomond to score a try in the last minute of the half to reduce Senans advantage to 5-10 at half time.

The second half saw the home side score an early try as Senans were slow to react to a long ball, the conversion attempt drifted wide leaving both sides on 10 points.

Thomond eventually got their noses ahead on 10 minutes with a penalty to give them a 13-10 lead. Both sides continued to struggle with the elements and the game became a war of attrition in the middle of the pitch until the home side broke free to score their third try to take a 20-10 lead. Senans had a few opportunities to reduce the deficit but each time the well formed Thomond defence managed to break down any threat.

Thomond finally secured victory on 37 minutes when they broke down yet another attacking move with a long low kick through an advancing Senans, Thomonds winger showed Senans players a clean pair of heels to score their fourth try and finish the game 27-10 victors.

St Senans Team
Jake Egan, Barry Murphy, Ger McNamara, Dylan Sonneman, Ronan O’Callaghan, , Declan Collins, Daragh McCoy, Ian Fitzgerald, Duane Horkin, Gary Crowe,Aidan O’Callaghan,Aaron Skerritt, Dave Lee, DavidWebb, Pa Ryan.

Replacements:,
Timmy Larkin, Rob Hegarty, Conor Moran, Paul O’Halloran, Mark Butler.

Turnpike Rovers 3 – Inch Crusaders 2 at Lees Road, Ennis

TURNPIKE ROVERS advanced to the second round of the Clare Cup after coming out on top over Inch Crusaders in an entertaining game played on Sunday. Inch got a great start when James Rynne scored with a volley from outside the box to the top left corner on five minutes that gave Dermot Gannon in the Turnpike goal no chance.

Inch dominated the next 20 minutes and were unlucky not to go further in front with shots from Gavin Cording and Thomas O’Doherty cleared off the line. Colm Ryan also went close for Inch with a first time shot from a Rory O’Connor cross. Against the run of play Turnpike got back in the game on 30 minutes from the penalty spot when Dean O’Grady converted.

On 40 minutes Turnpike went in front from a free kick and again there was some controversy with the goal. As Inch lined up the wall the free kick was taken and the goal stood, with Dean O’Grady again the scorer.

Inch deservedly got back on level terms on the stroke of half time when Sean Hehir struck an unstoppable free kick from outside the box to the roof of the Turnpike net after a foul on Ryan.

Both sides pressed hard for a goal in the second half but neither could find a breakthrough until the 85th minute. Inch were attacking and lost posses- sion on the edge of the Turnpike box. A quick break down the left resulted in a chance which was well put away to put Turnpike back in front through Jason Hayes. On 88 minutes Turnpike thought they had scored a fourth but were denied by an offside flag. The drama was not over yet and in the last minute Inch won a free kick inside the Turnpike half. Cording delivered a good free into the Turnpike box that was put into the back of the net by a Mikey Pyne header but before Inch could celebrate the referee blew for an offside. Moments later the final whistle sounded and Turnpike celebrated getting a place in the second round against Tulla Utd A.

Inch Crusaders
Andy O’Flynn, James Rynne,Thomas O’Doherty, Sean Hehir, SeanTalty, Rory O’Connor, Gavin Cording, Brian McDonnell, Mark Connellan, Clinton Keane, ColmRyan

Subs
Declan McNaboe for Ryan, Mikey Pyne for O’Doherty

Turnpike Rovers
Dermot Gannon, Ethan Considine, Shane Moroney, Donncha Hassett, Ian McMahon, David McMahon, Dean O’Grady, Noel Frawley,Tommy Cronin, Jason Hayes, Chris Shannon.

Subs
Eric Hayes for Moroney, Mark Woods for Cronin,WilliamO’Keeffe for Frawley.

Man of the Match
Dean O’Grady (Turnpike Rovers)