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A HEAVY WEIGHT clash and it cer- tainly didn’t disappoint, going virtu- ally to the wire before Inagh-Kilna- mona edged home with four points to spare to assume favouritism for the 2009 Under 21A title.

The only real surprise was _ that Inagh-Kilnamona didn’t have a big- ger cushion at the end. When Sean McGonigley rattled the Newmar- ket-on-Fergus net in the 45th minute to put Inagh-Kilnamona ten clear it looked as if they’d freewheel into the semi-final.

McGonigley’s strike came 30 min- utes after Martin Barry’s goal had put Inagh-Kilnamona ahead for the first time. It was that half hour either side of half-time that won it for In- agh-Kilnamona — they put 3-9 up on the board, a tally that left Newmarket with too big a mountain to climb.

However, they still stoked up a barnstorming finish as Colin Ryan led the comeback charge with Eoin Hayes at his shoulder. In the end Rory Hickey’s final whistle couldn’t come quick enough for Inagh-Kil- namona who were grateful that Ni- all Arthur stemmed the tide towards their goal with two breakaway points near the end.

It never looked like coming to this for Inagh-Kilnamona once they set- tled into the game. They played with the aid of the strong breeze in the first half, but were slow to make the

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The Blues were first on the board with a Darren Duggan point and led O-3 to O-2 after ten minutes. Ger Arthur equalised in the 13th minute and then Inagh-Kilnamona hit the front two minutes later when Eamon Glynn’s long free was batted down into the path of Martin Barry whose low ground shot beat Ronan McCor-

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It was the cue for some champagne hurling from Inagh-Kilnamona — they hit 1-4 in the next 11 minutes, the goal coming in the 19th from Damian Lafferty, while Conor Tier- ney stamped his class on proceedings with the four points.

The Blues did score a breakaway goal from Colin Ryan in the 27th

minute but still found themselves in arrears by double scores at the break — 2-8 to 1-4 for the Combo.

Points inside two minutes of the resumption from Conor Tierney and Damian Lafferty sign helped Inagh- Kilnamona serve notice, while a fur- ther 1-3 by the three quarter-stage had them coasting to success.

But credit the Blues, they never did

die and Colin Ryan’s goal in the 48th minute teed up a grandstand finish. The Blues thundered forward, look- ing for Ryan to pull victory from impending defeat and points by Eoin Hayes and Darren Duggan brought it back to a goal as the game entered PON LUUMYAnB bee ee

A goal would have saved the day, but it was Niall Arthur who had the final say to finally kill off the Blues’ challenge with a point in the Olst minute.

O’Curry’s made the long trip to a rain-soaked North Clare over the weekend and almost came away with the two points. In the end, they might have settled for a draw but with time running rapidly out on their chal- lenge and having missed a couple of chances to reel in St Breckan’s, O’Curry’s were presented with the chance to win the game.

In the final minute, Sean Haugh latched onto a ball close to goal. His shot was somehow kept out by Daniel Collins and his defence but in the en- suing confusion, O’Curry’s felt that they were entitled to a penalty kick.

Overall, though, referee John Han- nah was in control of proceedings at a wet and slippery Lisdoonvarna.

The conditions provided one of the main talking points in the game and playing with those conditions, St

Breckan’s set about creating a lead that would stand to them for the sec- ond-half.By the time they went in at the break, they had forged ahead into a three-point lead at O-5 to 0-2 and had done most of the running for the previous half hour.

O’Curry’s — who were missing influential midfielder Ger Quinlan — didn’t take that deficit lying down, however.

Thanks to some good work around

the middle of the field, they played themselves back into the game with Ollie Quinlan providing another di- mension going forward.

They had managed to limit St Bre- ckan’s to just two points over the sec- ond-half and had got back to within one point when Haugh had that shot on goal.

It didn’t ripple the net and O’Curry’s left North Clare without anything to show for the journey.

BOTH went into battle searching for their opening points of the campaign — in that regard both went home rela- tively happy as honours were shared in this Sunday afternoon encounter that saw the initiative ebb and flow both ways.

It was Kilrush who held all the aces in the first half when playing with the wind and at one stage they built up a commanding five-point lead, but a goal before half time and then an 1m- pressive second half display moved the Ennis side to win touching dis- tance of the two points.

They led by two points entering the final five minutes, but Kilrush de- served something from the game and hit back with late frees from man- of-the-match Alan Daly to secure a share of the spouls.

A point after three minutes of play from midfielder Donal O’Sullivan got the Shams off the mark — thereaf- ter they dominated and pinned Eire Og back into their own half for most of the 30 minutes.

The Townies did manage two breakaway points from __left-half- back Marty Whelan and corner for-

ward Darren O’Meara, but further Kilrush points from Alan Daly (2), Jim Young, Eoghan O’Kelly, Patrick Clancy and David Moran moved them 0-7 to 0-2 clear on the stroke of half-time.

There matters should have rested, but before half-time Tony Burke’s decision to play a ball that seemed to be going wide ended up with the concession of a penalty that Stephen Hickey, in his seasonal debut, ham-

mered to the net.

It gave the Townies a huge boost, something they built on in the second half as Darren O’Meara goal 13 min- utes into the second half to give them the lead. Alan Daly did knock over a

free for the Shams but two pointed frees from Stephen Hickey seemed to seal the points for the Townies en- tering the last five minutes.

That was until Alan Daly stepped up to get something for the Shams with two late frees, the second of which was the last kick of the game.

A 64-YEAR-OLD man has appeared in court, accused of eight alleged of- fences of a sexual nature.

The accused, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is accused of six charges of indecently assaulting a fe- male in the 1980s. He is also facing one charge of sexually assaulting the female in 1991.

He is also charged with indecently assaulting a male in the 1980s.

Garda Donna Egan told Ennis Dis- trict Court last Friday that she arrested the accused that morning and charged him with the alleged offences.

Defending solicitor Gearoid Howard was granted free legal aid. Inspector Michael Gallagher said there would be no objection to bail for the accused and sought an adjournment until May, for preparation of the book of evi- dence. A number of conditions were attached to the bail, including that the accused surrender his passport and re- side at his current address. He was or- dered to notify the State if he changes address in the interim.

Mr Howard said that as his client was an elderly man, it was important that the matter be advanced as early as possible. Judge Joseph Mangan re- manded the accused on bail, to re-ap- pear in court in May.

Building hope and homes in Africa

SHERRY FitzGerald McMahon, have three superb family homes on their books in sought after residen- tial areas in Ennis, all priced under €210,000. These three properties have been greatly reduced in price, and represent exceptional value for money.

First up is No 36, An tSean Dun, this four bedroom property had been reduced in price by €62,000 and is now on the market at just €208,000.

An tSean Dun is located just off the Tulla Road, less than a few hundred metres from the Roslevan Shopping Centre, it is also very close to the En- nis By-Pass.

No 361s well situated within the de- velopment and is tastefully decorated to a good standard. The property of- fers very spacious, bright, well-pro- portioned family accommodation.

Features in this semi-detached home, include wooden _ floors throughout, red deal doors, skirting and architraves, a secure, walled-in, private rear garden with side access.

The accommodation comprises an entrance hall, living room, kitchen/

dining room, utility room, guest WC, all at ground floor level. Up- Stairs there are four bedrooms, one of which 1s en-suite, and there is also a well-fitted family bathroom.

No 15 Fergus Manor, on the market at €205,000, is a fantastic bargain. Fergus Manor is exceptionally well located just off Clonroad, approxi- mately 200 metres from Ennis Town Centre with generous open green ar- Cre

This low-density development is convenient to shops, schools, church- es and it is just a stone’s throw from Tesco, Dunnes Stores and Aldi. This is a three bedroomed semi-detached house, not overlooked to the rear that offers bright spacious family accom- modation and is in excellent condi- tion throughout.

There is a deck area to the rear, a walled-in garden, with a shed, and there 1s side access.

The house is extremely well main- tained. The bright,and the well-pre- sented accommodation consists of an entrance hall, guest WC, living room, kitchen/dining room, family bathroom and three bedrooms, one of which 1s en-suite.

Finally, located in Cappahard, off the Tulla Road, No 34 Fergus View, is a three-bedroomed (all en-suite) semi-detached property overlooking a large green area which fronts onto the River Fergus. The interior of this house has been finished to a high standard.

This property is presented for sale in excellent condition throughout. The accommodation is bright and well laid-out with modern internal finishes. It has gas fired central heat- ing, wooden flooring in the reception areas, a modern fitted kitchen and an attractive feature fireplace in the liv- ing room.

Within close proximity of the By- Pass, primary and secondary schools, shops and recreational facilities, this would make an ideal starter home or investment property.

Emmy dream will do for Cooke

GONE easier meee

CLARE tourism and development company Atlantis Developments Ltd racked up over €400,000 in losses for the year to the end of April last.

According to abridged accounts lodged with the Companies Office, Atlantis recorded a loss of €411,179 but as the information provided in abridged accounts do not show if this was an operating loss or as a result of an ongoing investment programme.

Managing Director, John Flana- gan declined to respond to emailed queries on the accounts preferring instead to arrange a meeting later this week to discuss the company’s operations. The other director named in the accounts is Gerard Lillis.

The accounts show that the com- pany has tangible assets valed at €2.68 million with net assets valed at £101,400.

There were accumulated profits of €512,577 in the company’s accounts in April 2007 and this dropped by over €400,000 to €101,398 by last April.

Since then, the economy has nose- dived, though it 1s not yet known what impact the onset of the recession has had on the company’s activities.

In recent years, Atlantis Develop- ment Ltd has been to the forefront of new tourism related developments in

north Clare and has run into opposi- tion from local residents for its plans in Liscannor and Doolin.

Next month, Clare County Council is due to rule on the company’s lat- est plan to construct five homes at Doolin along with outline planning permission for a supermarket, créche and medical centre.

A decision is also due shortly by An Bord Pleanala for plans for a park n’ ride facility to serve the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre at Liscannor and Doolin. Clare County Council granted planning permission to the developments last September but lo- cal residents have since lodged an ap-

peal to An Bord Pleanala.

The company is also awaiting a decision from An Bord Pleandala con- cerning the redevelopment of Joseph McHugh’s pub and Egan’s pub on Liscannor’s Main Street, which also ran into local opposition.

Atlantis was refused planning per- mission last August for a retirement home in Doolin, but was granted planning permission for a 20-bed- room extension to the Tirganean ho- oe

Elsewhere in north Clare, the com- pany is awaiting planning permission on a 55 home development in En- nistymon and a decision in relation

to the development of four homes in Doolin.

It is not known how much the ac- counts relate to existing businesses within the Atlantis Holiday Group such as the Smerwick Harbour Hotel in Dingle, County Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher Hotel in Liscannor and Ballyvara House in Doolin.

John Flanagan has also recently secured planning permission for the redevelopment of Ballykilty Manor near Quin to construct a hotel on the site.

WITH their hopes of retaining their league title all but over, the cup now becomes the main priority for New- market Celtic. The ten times winners may not have been in the winners enclosure since 2000 but they eased their passage into the last eight on Sunday with a comfortable victory over Bridge Celtic B.

Off the back of two battling results against fellow title contenders Av- enue Utd and Lifford, and barring the shock of the tournament, New- market were always fancied to easily account for the third division side as they had already beaten Celtic’s first side in the previous round. However, it did given stand-in manager Paudie Cullinan the opportunity to test out some of his fringe players and they responded with an assured display.

Still, Bridge Celtic’s second string didn’t make it easy for their Premier Division opposition and while they never really looked like breaking the deadlock themselves, they did frus- trate Newmarket sufficiently in the first half. Had they held out until the break, it would have given them great confidence but a Keith Power goal just before half-time, finally settled Newmarket and from that point on, it was only damage limitation for the O’Briensbridge side.

Eased by that breakthrough goal, the floodgates opened for Newmar- ket in the second period with two Siullery headers and a second from

Power guiding them to a 4-0 advan- tage. Worse was to follow for Bridge Celtic when the impressive Sillery was taken down in the area and Sea- mus Considine converted the penalty and Newmarket’s Grand Slam Sun- day was completed when substitute Jimmy Houlihan grabbed the sixth.

With Avenue’s surprise exit to Shannon Olympic on Sunday, New- market are now installed amongst the favourites for this year’s Clare Cup along with Lifford and holders Rock Rovers. From here on in, it will come down to the luck of the Friday night’s draw as Newmarket look to secure some silverware out of the Tere) IF