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CRICKET is a game that doesn’t hold up much comparison to the game of hurling. In fact, it’s not even a distant relation of the national game at full tilt but there was some- thing very cricketlike about the man- ner in which Smith O’Brien’s – after taking the game to the group leaders in the opening quarter to lead by I- 5 to 0-3 – seemed happy to declare and let Kilmaley do the batting for the remainder.

That was the most bizarre turna- round in a match that had only mi- nor relevance to the overall champi- onship as Kilmaley looked to keep their unbeaten run ticking along and possibly even top the group while a positive result of any kind for the Killaloe side would ensure their sen- ior status for another year.

However, after a fire and brimstone Opening quarter that seemed to rattle Kilmaley, Smith O’Brien’s held a five point lead but somehow were not to

score for a further 34 minutes and by the time they took up their innings once more, Kilmaley were practi- cally out of sight.

Kilmaley could even afford to pre- vail without the vast influence of Colin Lynch and it was one of those changes Conor Clancy that provided the perfect target up front. Producing the type of performance that earned him two All-Ireland titles, Clancy’s paw was seemingly a ball magnet, repeatedly set up scores for others and slow to start, Kilmaley will be thankful to Clancy who was a con- stant thorn in Smith O’Brien’s side. Still, the Killaloe side were up for this game and after pushing into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead by the 12th minute, two from Liam Walsh, a stroke of fortune earned them a crucial goal only two minutes later. It came after goalkeeper Seamus Hurley fumbled a handpass whilst burstting out from goal and Shane O’Brien stole pos- session to hit to an empty net via the stick of John Clohessy.

Ken Kennedy and Pat Aherne Swapped points soon afterwards to give Smith O’Brien’s a 1-5 to O-3 advantage but that was a good as it would get for Smith O’Briens who began to fade and it allowed Kilma- ley to gain a foothold in the game. Alan Markham upped his game at centre-back, midfielders Conor Mc- Mahon and Stephen McNamara be- gan to dominate their sector while up front Conor Clancy, Diarmuid McMahon and Kenneth Kennedy got some much needed supply and they slowly turned the screw through Kennedy, McNamara and Conor McMahon to trail by only two at the break at 1-5 to 0-6.

The second half only reaffirmed their control as four successive points put them in front by 0-10 to 1-O5 by the 4lst minute. However, what sealed the victory was Kenneth Kennedy’s 43rd minute goal, inevi- tably broke by Clancy to Diarmuid McMahon who pulled through for the full-forward to turn and kick

past the onrushing Mark McInerney. Kilmaley were now rampant and de- spite further points from Diarmuid McMahon and Alan Markham, the damage could have been far greater only for a pelthora of wides.

Smith O’Brien’s finally broke their scoring duck in the 5lst minute through a Liam Walsh ’65 but Kil- maley were not about to let their ad- vantage slip at this stage and tacked on late points through Kennedy, Clancy and John Clohessy to lead by 1-16 to 1-07 by the 58th minute.

Shane O’Brien finished strongly with a brace for Killaloe and Pat Vaughan earned a late penalty after being stopped by substitute Sean Hehir but before the effort could be taken, Liam Walsh saw red for a needless stroke on John Clohessy. O’Brien’s penalty was saved, Kilma- ley prevailed and now approach the quarter-finals in bouyant mood as group winners as well as being the only side outside of Newmarket to remain unbeaten in the championship

so far. Even their frustrating cricket- score of wides had been halved.

IN keeping with the character of a ferociously tight group, Cratloe squeaked past Tubber to claim the runners up spot and thus a place in the quarter finals.

Injury time points from Martin ‘Ogie’ Murphy and Sean Chaplin sealed the win after Tubber had ral- lied to recover a three-point half time deficit and draw level through Barry O’Connor’s 55th minute point.

Sandwiched between Murphy and Chaplin’s strikes was a fierce goal bound drive from O’Connor that Cratloe goalkeeper Sean Hawes did well to force behind.

Cratloe survived, a feat of some significance in a group dubbed ‘the group of death’.

They join Newmarket in the knock- out stages while Tubber, who’s hopes of qualification rested on winning on Saturday to force a play-off, join heavyweights Clarecastle and Wolfe Tones on the list of early champion- ship casualties.

It wasn’t a classic by any stretch, but there was enough guile in the play of Cratloe pair Cathal McInerney and Conor McGrath and plenty of desire and overall quality about Tubber to make things interesting.

Three points in the opening seven minutes from Eamon Taaffe, Jack Neylon and Blaine Earley saw Tub- ber seize an early advantage.

Their confident start was capped in the 15th minute when Barry O’Connor tipped Patrick O’Connor’s lighted delivery to the net.

McInerney picked off Cratloe’s first point before two frees from Damien Browne, who was excellent from placed balls throughout, left Tubber leading 1-3 O-3.

A controversial decision then re- sulted in the moment that saw mo-

mentum tilt back in Cratloe’s favour.

Damien Browne appeared to bat the sliotar over the touchline only for Cratloe, to widespread disbelief on the Tubber bench, to be awarded a sideline cut.

Browne duly poured salt on the wounds by walloping the sliotar deep into ‘Tubber territory. McInerney picked up a loose break and nailed

a close range finish to the net in the 26th minute.

The goal inspired Cratloe to open up what would ultimately prove a de- cisive lead. Two frees from Browne, a point from Sean Chaplin and crack- ing strike from Liam Markham, ensured Cratloe led 1-8 1-5 at half mbealee

Barry O’Connor’s 36th minute

point drew Tubber to within a point. Eamon Taaffe scored his third point from play but a free from Browne and McInerney’s skillfully executed effort, kept Cratloe 1-11 1-9 ahead.

That lead should have been greater but Cratloe’s errant shooting saw them rack up six wides in the second halt.

As a consequence they were even-

tually caught.

Three Tubber points on the trot, in- cluding a superb sideline from Blaine Earley, levelled the game at 1-12 apiece in the 55th minute.

But Cratloe eventually found their range and in doing so secured quali- fication.

IN many ways, the less said about this one the better. To say it was a dreadfully boring spectacle that failed to set the pulses racing is the understatement of the Clare football year thus far.

Any neutral who happened by Quilty’s sportsfield would have left long before half-time and found a better way to spend a Saturday after- noon — it was that bad as two very mediocre teams put in a very unin- spiring hour’s football.

Cooraclare’s form that swept them to Cusack Cup glory was again in abeyance, indeed this hour ham- mered home the reality that they haven’t been able to lift their game to those same standards since that shock win over Kilmurry Ibrickane in the league decider back in July.

Doonbeg, meanwhile, were no bet- ter but it won’t cost them a thought as they come into a semi-final under the radar. They could have been put away in this game, but Cooraclare’s failure to take a couple of goals chances was punished to the full as they scrambled over the line and into a penultimate round clash with Kil- murry Ibrickane.

The Magpies can thank Sean Maguire and Nigel Dillon for the fact that their goal remained intact for the hour — 1n the 23rd minute, three min- utes after pointing Cooraclare into a Q-2 to no score lead, Maguire had the chance that would have put his side on the high road to the semi-final.

Hughie Donnelly was the provider, but Maguire failed to connect deci- sively with his long delivery, punch- ing wide of Dillon’s post when the goal was at his mercy. From there

Doonbeg summoned the desire to get back into the game, putting a pletho- ra of wides behind them with points from a David Tubridy free in the 25th minute after a foul on Jamie Whelan and a 50 yard free from Frank O’Dea three minutes later.

It left the sides locked at 0-2 apiece at half-time, but more importantly that scoreline exposed for everyone present what a dire game this was. Cooraclare, who deployed Mark Tubridy as a third midfielder, which created space for the inside forwards did score their two points from play — the first coming from Michael Mc-

Mahon’s effort in the second minute and then Sean Maguire’s point 18 minutes later.

Still, that was as good as it got for them — all they could muster on the turnover was two more points, this time from Mark Tubridy frees. Instead, what dominated their half- hour was another missed goal chance in the 38th minute.

It fell Hughie Donnelly’s way when the sides were locked at O-3 apiece after Tubridy’s pointed free in the 31st minute was replied to by Shane Killeen who fisted over the bar five minutes later.

Donnelly raced through on goal, was one-on-one with Nigel Dillon, but it was the veteran netminder who kept alive his hopes of winning a sixth senior championship title, pull- ing off a brilliant save to keep his side on level terms.

It was a major turning point of the game, as eventually the Magpies turned it profit to take control with points from Brian Dillon and Brian Egan in the 46th and 50th minutes respectively put them O-5 to O-3 ahead.

Suddenly the Magpies — who his 13 wides to Cooraclare’s nine over

the hour — were maximising their chances, while their opponents were left to rue to poor wides from frees by Cathal Lillis in the 34th and 40th minutes.

Substitute Shane Ryan should have fisted over the bar in the 52nd minute to put his side three ahead, but once again like the Liscannor semi-final of last year went for glory instead of playing the percentages.

It gave Cooraclare a little window going into the closing minutes, but all they could muster was a point from a free in 58th minute from Mark Tubridy.

That brought an end to the scoring in this forgettable affair.

SURFERS from across the country are set to descend on Lahinch next weekend for the West Coast Surf Club Longboard Classic in Lahinch — the only event of its kind in Ire- land.

The two day competition on next Saturday and Sunday has become one of the most hotly anticipated competitions in the Irish surfing cal- endar since it was first held in 2003 and attracts surfers from all over Ire- land.

The 2008 event, which was blessed with good weather and perfect surf- ing conditions, saw a record number of local entrants, the overall winner being Stephen Kelleher from Lahi- ie eF

“As in previous years, we are de- lighted to have a custom-shaped Cequential Quad surfboard from our local shaper Ian Johnson for our first prize” announced Cliodhna Fawl. Further prizes will be kept a surprise and announced on the day.

Subject to weather and swell con- ditions, it is anticipated that the 19th September will see the initial heats and quarter finals run off with the semi-final and finals possibly stretch- ing into the 20th September.

WCSC Chairman Dave Flynn “We’ve always been greatly im- pressed with the level of interest and Support we’ve attracted since the inaugural event in 2003,” said Dave Flynn, chairman of WCSC.

FEARS have been raised that the Royal Air Force (RAF) have been secretly using Shannon Airport to transport goods and possibly weap- onry to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Photographs taken earlier this month by the Shannon Watch organ- isation show a number of contain- ers clearly marked property of RAF waiting to be loaded onto a Omni Air International plane in Shannon.

The containers were also marked property of Brize Norton, increasing speculation that their cargo inside was bound for conflict in Afghani-

stan or Iraq. The Brize Norton RAF base in Oxfordshire is one of the main staging posts used to transport troops, weaponry and equipment to various war zones.

It is also home of the RAF’s strate- gic air transport (AT) and air-to-air refueling (AAR) forces. It is the most important British military base for maintaining the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan.

‘This raises further serious ques- tions about Shannon’s role in the oc- cupations of Iraq and Afghanistan,’ said a Shannon Watch spokesperson.

“What might an American civilian plane – that looks like it is carrying

US troops – be doing with RAF con- tainers? Is Ireland now part of the re- supply chain for all of the belligerent NATO forces around the world? And if so, is it being done with our gov- ernment’s approval or without it?”

The incriminating photographs were taken in Shannon Airport in the morning of Saturday, September Dee

According to a spokesperson from the Department of Foreign Affairs, British military aircraft rarely land at Shannon Airport and no and offi- cial landings have taken place so far in 2009.

Permission for the landings by

foreign military aircraft are usually granted provided that the aircraft is unarmed, carries no arms, ammuni- tion or explosives, and does not en- gage in intelligence-gathering, and that the flight in question does not form part of a military exercise or ey oro lnleyee

According to Shannon Watch, pro- testers are normally removed from the airport when they attempt to photograph Omni Air International planes at Shannon Airport.

However, they say that on the day in question last Saturday no attempts were made to remove the photogra- phers from this part of the airport.

Ennis will be made for walking

NEWMARKET Celtic move up to second in the Premier league ta- ble after defeating holders Bunratty last week. After a good win against Rock Rovers the previous Sunday, Newmarket were full of confidence coming into this match. Therefore it wasn’t much of a suprise when they got off to a fantastic start. In the opening five minutes, they managed to grab the lead. John Paul Healy the Newmarket midfielder provided the goal scoring finish. This was the end result of some very direct build up play that Bunratty just could not seem to cope with. Their defence obviously were still not fully awake and warmed up but unfortunately for them Newmarket were not planning on hanging around. They wanted to press home their power and strengths from the very kick off. Bunratty now really had it all to do. Going behind so early meant that attack now had to be their best form of defence and they had to try and pull one back. However their negative position got even worse when Newmarket dou- bled their advantage after 20 min- utes. Again the goal was the result of some lapse defending. A deep cross

into the box failed to be cleared and after a number of attempts to get the ball away, it was deflected by John Ryan into his own net. This was Bun- ratty’s final nail in their already half lowered coffin. For the remainder of the first half, both sides had half chances but nothing really material- ised as Bunratty went in at half time

with it all to do. The second half con- tinued in a similar fashion. Bunratty tried to exert as much pressure as possible with an effort by Pat Twom- ey being one of the best chances they managed to create. Unfortunately for him and his team, his first control let him down and he could not punish the Newmarket defence. Newmarket

did not sit back either with Healy and Feeley in particular looking the most likely to increasing their lead even more. As the game came to a close Bunratty really tried their hardest but it was not going to be their day. Newmarket had sealed this win after an excellent opening period and they never looked back from this to inflict defending champions Bunratty to their first defeat of the season.

BRIDGE Celtic were the victors af- ter this one sided Premier Division clash against Lifford on Wednes- day last. The final tally of five goals tells it’s own story and portrays how dominant the Bridge team were over their Ennis counterparts. They took the early initiative and attacked from the kick off. After a few chances they finally found their goal scoring touch through Ger O’Connell on 20 minutes. They did not have to wait as long for their second however as O’Connell scored again a few sec- onds later when Bridge won posses- sion back from Lifford’s kick off. He slotted the ball home confidently and now really set up Bridge to push on and ensure this win as early as pos- sible. Lifford were stunned but they did get a chance to get themselves back into the game. They were awarded a penalty and Roberto Pinto stepped up to take the kick. His ef- fort however was unsuccessful and

this became a huge turning point in the game. Instead of pulling back a goal they really missed their oppor- tunity. The significance of this miss increased when ten minutes later

Bridge found their third goal. The dangerous Shane Byrnes was the pro- vider and the insurance goal had now been found. Then three became four when Trevor Howard scored a crack-

ing volley just before half time. This was becoming a landslide victory and the prospect of more goals must have sent Lifford in at half team really fearing the worst. In fairness to this Lifford team, they did manage to re- store some pride. They scraped back two goals, with Ryan Boyle’s finish in particular providing the Lifford fans with something finally to cheer about. Suddenly had hope of a mirac- ulous come back been moulded. Un- fortunately for Lifford, Bridge now felt they had conceded enough goals and decided they wanted to score a few more. They only got the one though. Dave Hickey wrapped up his team’s goal scoring in the middle of the second half after a great period of well controlled passing. Burke in the Lifford goal had no chance and sadly for him had to pick the ball out of his net for the fifth time. The threat of any possible fight back had now been neutralised for good. Bridge contin- ued to attack but some credit must be given to young centre half Darren

O’Neill who gave his all throughout the game but his efforts alone were not enough to prevent Bridge Celtic maintaining their unbeaten start to the campaign. Lifford now really have to go back to the drawing board as with three losses from three, their prospects for the season are already looking very bleak.

KILMURRY — Ibrickane — steam- rolled the challenge of O’Curry’s to progress to the semi-finals of the championship on Saturday.

Any possibility of underdogs

O’Curry’s shocking the champions basically vanished inside the first 60 seconds, by which time Kilmurry al- ready had the ball in the net.

Paul O’Connor’s goal was a brutal statement of intent and though it took Kilmurry until the second-half to re-

ally tear into a commanding lead, O’Curry’s never really recovered. Ger Quinlan’s frees and O’Curry’s overall workrate in energy sapping heat, ensured Kilmurry didn’t com- pletely run amok in the first-half. But graft alone was never going to

be enough. O’Curry’s struggled in attack, a failure reflected in the fact that their first score from play didn’t arrive until the 39th minute. They had one great chance to draw level in the 10th minute when Ollie Quin- lan was pulled to the floor by Kil- murry goalkeeper Dermot O’Brien. A goal would have tied the game at 1-1 apiece and no doubt have done wonders for O’Curry’s confidence. But Michael O’Shea’s weak strike was comfortably saved by O’Brien. O’Curry’s moment passed and Kil- murry were not in a mood to give up other soft chances.

Leading 1-6 to O-3 at half-time, the men in red and green really flexed their muscles after the break.

Three swift points pushed Kilmur- ry nine points clear and sucked all the competitive juice from what was rapidly becoming a fairly bloodless Neeuoe

The job done, Kilmurry unloaded their bench. Noel Downes, just back from a groin injury, hit the field and bagged a quick I-l. Odran O’Dwyer also got some precious game time as the champions coasted home.

Peter O’Dwyer was a central figure throughout and it was his pass that kickstarted the move that led to Kil- murry’s first goal. Stephen Moloney kept possession alive at the end line. Johnny Daly and Mark McCarthy were both involved as the ball was swiftly transferred across O’Curry’s defensive cordon to Paul O’Connor who rifled the ball to the net.

Ger Quinlan’s second minute free steadied O’Curry’s but a sense of erim inevitability was beginning to set in. O’ Dwyer was lording it at mid- field. O’Shea fluffed his penalty and by the 17th minute Stephen Molo- ney’s expertly taken point pushed Kilmurry 1-3 0-1 ahead.

O’Curry’s packed the defence and tackled like crazy but Kilmurry still found scores easy to come by. A bril- liantly incisive move saw Moloney go close before lan McInerney thumped over two frees and McCarthy slot- ted over on the stroke of half-time to leave Kilmurry 1-6 to 0-3 ahead.

As they had done at the start of the game, Kilmurry again went for an early kill after the break. Points from Michael Hogan (2) and Moloney took the wind from O’Curry’s sails. Kilmurry could afford to start think- ing about the semi-finals.

Downes entered the fray in the 43rd minute and his first meaningful con- tribution was to slot the ball over the

bar. Daly added a free before Ger Quinlan kicked his fifth point of the day. By now the effort of having to hunt Kilmurry’s forwards was begin- ning to take its toll in O’Curry’s wea- ry defence as the game turned into a target practice session for Micheal McDermott’s side.

Downes took a handpass from Michael Hogan and buried the ball high to the net for Kilmurry’s second goal in the 54th minute.

Michael Carmody registered a point for O’Curry’s before Shane Hickey’s hard running was rewarded with a powerfully hit point. Ger Quinlan landed the game’s final score but it’s the champions who roll on.

REFEREE Rory Hickey was in the car park ahead of most of the sup- porters in Quilty last Saturday – gear bag in hand and ready for the quick escape.

Such was the level of anger at the final whistle, with Cooraclare grab- bing a controversial – if well deserved – equaliser five minutes into injury time, that the Eire Og man thought discretion to be the better part of val- our and so he made a quick departure from Quilty.

In truth however, it’s hard to under- stand what either side had to com- plain about.

Doonbeg and Cooraclare had served up a thrilling 60 minutes of football – filled with commitment, tension and no little amount of skill – when two injury time decisions left the large crowd exhilarated, and no doubt counting down the days until the replay.

The controversy, if you want to call it that, began in the 60th minute with the sides deadlocked. A high specula- tive ball from Kevin Nugent was lost by the Cooraclare keeper Joe Killeen and wound up in the back of the net.

Pandemonium erupted in the stands as the Magpies took the lead for the first time since the seventh minute as the Cooraclare faithful cried foul and square-ball.

Hickey consulted with both lines- men before rightly awarding the goal.

Gasps abounded, but the biggest drama was yet to come.

In the fifth minute of injury time Co- oraclare substitute Declan O’ Looney lofted a free kick that landed menac- ingly in the Doonbeg area sending bodies from both sides flying in all directions.

In the disarray that followed, Doon- beg stalwart Padraig Gallagher came away with the ball and a whistle from

the referee appeared to bring the match to an end.

The celebration in the stand was Short lived however, as it soon be- came apparent that the whistle was for a foul, with the umpire deciding that Gallagher had picked the ball off the ground, and not the final whistle.

Mark Tubridy showed great nerve to goal the spot-kick – sparking relief for Cooraclare and anger from a sec- tion of the Doonbeg players.

It had been a hot-blooded but fair encounter, with no quarter asked or given, and it’s easy to understand some of the frustration at the final

whistle. But, as one of the few neutral spectators in Quilty on Saturday, this reporter can say that this was a great game and, by and large, a fair result.

Cooraclare were in a different class for the first 40 minutes – sti- fling Doonbeg with their speed and relentless running – and they were good value for their 1-6 to 0-4 lead. Doonbeg had raced into an early lead with points from Jamie Whelan and David Tubridy.

But Cooraclare were proving much more mobile around the field and began to make that pay on the scoreboard. Points from Don Garry,

Hughie Donnelly and Cathal Lillis followed with Sean Maguire’s well taken goal giving them a healthy erYee

Colm Dillon and Brian Egan point- ed late in the first half to keep the Magpies in touch but Cooraclare took up where they left off after the break with scores from Andrew O’Neill, Mark Tubridy and Sean Maguire.

The half-time introduction of Frank O’Dea into the Doonbeg midfield was starting to pay dividends. The Magpies’ talisman rallied the troops and scores followed from David Tu- bridy (2), Enda Doyle Brian Dillon

and O’Dea himself to level the match and set up the grandstand, injury time finale.

What a finale it was.