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Clare 1-17 Wicklow 2-10 at Bray Emmets

CLARE EVENTUALLY made it three wins from three after they were made fight to the finish by a young, energetic and determined Wicklow side in this National League tie Saturday in Bray.

Wicklow were first off the mark inside the first minute as the sides traded points in the opening stages. The game was level with three points apiece when Clare then hit a purple patch. Points from Louise Henchy, Niamh Keane and two from Eimear Considine put the visitors five ahead with the home side only managing to reply with two.

End to end action then saw fine saves from both ‘keepers denying the first goal of the game and Clare gained a three point lead as Henchy converted a placed ball. Wicklow managed a goal in stoppage time when centre forward Loretta Gilbert was quickest to react to a high ball as she punched home her side’s first goal right before the break.

The second half was nip and tuck before Wicklow went ahead for the first time. However, Six unanswered points from O’Dea, Grace Lynch, Eimear Considine (0-2) and Henchy (0-2) saw Clare lead 0-15 to 1-7. Then Wicklow’s Lorna Fusciardi was sin binned and despite playing with fourteen they came storming back.

Wicklow hit 1-2 without reply which brought the game level in the last eight minutes. Mulhall, much to delight of the home crowd, then put Wicklow ahead with a point. Niamh O’Dea then produced two points and finally Eimear Considine got the goal which gave Clare some breathing space as they managed to hold out to the end.

Despite registering 18 scores to Wicklow’s 12, Clare had to pull out all the stops to overcome this Junior side and they have their scorers Eimear Considine, Louise Henchy and Niamh O’Dea to thank along with impressive displays from Louise Woods and Emma O’Driscoll in goals. They now have two weeks to prepare as they take on the All-Ireland Junior Champions Limerick at home on March 6.

On the plus side Naomi Carroll, Ailish Considine, Roisin McMahon and Carol O’Leary who were playing with their colleges on Saturday should be available for selection for the Limerick game.

Clare:
Emma O’Driscoll (Banner Ladies), Clare Hester (Fergus Rovers), Eimear O’Connor (Coolmeen), Laurie Ryan (Banner Ladies), Niamh Greene (Coolmeen), LouiseWoods (Banner Ladies), Carmel Considine (Liscannor), Louise Henchy (0-5, 2f) (Banner Ladies), Niamh Keane (0-1) (Banner Ladies), Marie Considine (Liscannor), Niamh O’Dea (0-4) (Banner Ladies), Colette Corry (Shannon Gaels), Niamh Lardner (West Clare Gaels), Eimear Considine (1-6) (Kilmihil) Katie Geoghegan (West Clare Gaels).

Subs:
Grace Lynch (0-1) (Coolmeen) for N. Lardner,Aine Burke (Liscannor) for K. Geoghegan.

Wicklow:
Amy Devereux, Emma Kelly, Caitriona Byrne, Lisa Brady, ClaireWalsh, Sarah Miley, Niamh Kelly, Caitriona McKeon, Jackie Kinch,Amie Byrne (0-2), Loretta Gilbert (1-1), Laurie Ahern, Niamh McGettigan (0-3), Rionach Craul, Lucy Mulhall (1-2).

Subs:
Monica Lynch (0-1) for Mulhall, Niamh Coleman for Craul,Aoife Heffernan for Brady, Lorna Fusciardi for Kelly, Lucy Mulhall for Kinch, Mikaela Shelly (0-1) for Byrne. AT THE 124th Annual General Meeting of Tulla GAA Club, Brian Torpey was elected chairman after Declan Hogan had completed his five year term. In accepting the position, Brian expressed his great sense of pride and thanked the delegates for the honour of electing him chairman. He paid tribute to the outgoing chairman whom, he said, had pre sided over a golden era in the club’s history. At a well attended meeting the majority of officer’s positions were filled with many new faces on the executive. Jim Mc Inerney was returned as Senior hurling manager. As 2012 is the 125th anniversary of the club, the meeting also asked that Karl Quinn and Gerry Lynch establish a group to prepare for this landmark occasion. An updating of the club’s history Claret and Gold (1987) would be part of this celebration. The following officers were elected: President: Charles Murphy, Vice President: Willie Boland. Chairman: Brian Torpey, Vice chairman: Jude O’Mahony, Secretary: Noel Mulconroy, Asst. Sec. Paul Lynch, Treasurer: Eugene Cooney. Asst Treasurer: Declan Hogan. PRO: Karl Quinn. Management Committee: Fr. Martin O’Brien, Raymond Stewart. Irish Officer: Daithí Ó Maoldomhnaigh. Field Committee: Seamus Murphy, Kieran Brennan, Noel Mulconroy, Senior Manager: Jim McInerney. u21 Management: Aidan Lynch, Paul Lynch, Eugene Cooney.

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)

CHAMPIONSHIP time has come round once again for Clare’s Juvenile and Junior boxers and tournaments are much sought after by boxers and coaches alike to flex the muscles and avail of the competitive action.

Wednesday night last saw teams from Our Lady of Lourdes Club in Limerick and from the Tuam club in Galway doing battle against the local fighters in the local Community Centre, and the local boxing enthusiasts were treated to a great night’s boxing with eleven bouts of excellent quality.

A battle of rare quality between Tuam’s double Irish Champion Mike Ward and Ennis native Jim Keenan who now boxes out of the Our Lady of Lourdes was technically the pick of the action , with southpaw Keenan paying scant respect to Ward’s vaunted reputation and serving up a battle royal in the process.

Keenan trailed going into the last round, finding his range with the southpaw left with excellent effect in the third and final round, but at this stage the talented Ward had built an unassailable lead on all three judges cards.

There were good wins for championship contenders Jamie Keane, Keelan Sexton and Brian and John McDonagh and with the sides tied at 5-5 the final contest at Heavyweight suddenly assumed massive importance.

Ennis fighter Mark Fitzgerald pitted against Limerick’s William Mc- Namara for the team trophy had now become the catalyst.

Fitzgerald, a powerful no-nonsense fighter made all the right moves, using his left jab to great effect as he built up a 7-3 lead in the first and while McNamara moved well in the second and third rounds, he could not find the target with his right cross to trouble Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald was dominant as he chalked up an impressive 18-10 winning margin in only his first major fight, having previously boxed in the White Collar extravaganza.

Clare boxers will now look forward to the Munster and Irish Championships over the next three weeks and hopes are high for a major boxing show in Ennis at the end of March featuring all of the Champions from these tournaments..

Results
48 Kg Boys Ml Galbraith (Ennis) Bt JasonWard (Tuam) Seamus Boyle (Ennis) lost to Jack Ward (Tuam) 52 Kg Brian McDonagh (Es) Bt DavidWard (Tuam) Jamie Keane (Ennis) Bt Ricky Mongan (Olympic) 70 Kg Boy 3 Keelan Sexton (Ennis) Bt JonathanWard (Tuam) 48 Kg Boy 4 Patrick Flynn (Ennis) lost to Jonathan Creed (Tuam) 66 KgYouth 1 JimKeenan (OLOL Lk) lost to MikeWard (Tuam) 57 Kg Boy 4 Dara Lomax Ennis) lost to Terry Harris (OLOL Lk) 60 Kg Youth 1 John McDonagh (Es) Bt Geoff Mulqueen (OLOL) 70 Kg Int. Martin Keenan (Ennis) lost to Niall McDermott (OLOL) Heavyweight Mark Fitzgerald (Ennis) Bt WmMcNamara (OLOL)

St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield 0-06 Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-6 at Gurteen

ON the corresponding Sunday, 12 months ago Kilmurry Ibrickane produced one of their greatest ever displays when taking the scalp of Portlaoise to advance to the All-Ireland Club final on St Patrick’s Day.

Gurteen was a long way from that All-Ireland semi-final, with no commanding performance from the green and red machine, but still they had enough to take a share of the spoils against a St Joseph’s team making their maiden voyage in Cusack Cup competition.

For long periods it looked as if ‘The Parish’ were on course for a winning start in the top grade of league football – they led at half-time by 0-4 to 0-1 and were armed with a four-point lead entering the final 15 minutes, but they were eventually reeled in thanks to the accuracy of Ian McInerney from frees.

St Joseph’s played with the aid of a strong breeze in the first half, but shipped the first score to Kilmurry’s county minor from last year, Niall Hickey, who sniped away from his marker to fist over a smart point after only three minutes.

It took a while before St Joseph’s settled into proceedings against a Kilmurry side shy a host of regulars such as Shane Hickey, Declan Callinan, Noel Downes and Michael Hogan. However, Enda Lyons had them level from a free inside ten minutes, while a David O’Brien free after 16 minutes gave them a lead they didn’t surrender until Ian McInerney’s equalising point in the final minute.

Further points from the impressive Lyons by the 27th minute ensured that St Joseph’s were armed with a three-point interval lead and from there it looked as if they would kick onto victory after weathering Kilmurry’s early advances in the second half.

Johnnie Daly landed an early free for Kilmurry, but another Lyons point from play after a mistake in the opposition defence and David O’Brien’s second of the day put them in con- trol. However, from there Kilmurry roused themselves and a pointed free from Johnnie Daly 12 minutes from time kick-started their revival.

Then it was time for the Ian McInerney show. A foul on Enda Coughlan yielded a free for his first point. Then he landed a 45 in the 55th minute before another foul on Coughlan with two minutes remaining gave McInerney the task of restoring parity.

Kilmurry Ibrickane
Peter O’Dwyer, GrahamJohnson, John Sexton, Darren Hickey, Seamus Lynch, Enda Coughlan, Gary Donnellan, Paul O’Connor, Peter O’Dwyer, Stephen Moloney, Michael O’Dwyer, Ian McInerney (0-3, 2f, one 45),Adrian Murrihy, Johnnie Daly (02f), Niall Hickey (0-1).

Subs
Noel Downes for Murrihy, Mark McCarthy

for Michael O’Dwyer, Michael Hogan for Niall Hickey,Thomas Lernihan for Donnellan, Seamus Murrihy for Daly.

St Joseph’s Doora- Barefield
Declan O’Keeffe, Sean Flynn, Kevin Dilleen, Stephen Collins, KeithWhelan, Damian Kennedy, Eanna ÓBraonáin, Mark Hallinan, Mark Rafferty, David O’Brien (0-2, 1f), Cathal O’Sullivan, Paul Dullaghan, Enda Lyons (0-4, 2f), Johnny O’Brien, Cathal Duggan.

Man of the Match
Enda Lyons (St Joseph’s Doora- Barefield) Referee Michael Fitzgerald (Clondegad)

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.

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)

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)