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FOR Bunratty, this defeat was dilf- ficult to swallow. Normally accus- tomed to the big occasion with four cup titles in nine years, they never really exhibited the desire shown in previous rounds and nervously ap- peared more like the team who were participating in their first ever final. That was the most disappointing aspect for manager James Carrig and his team, the fact that they didn’t play to their potential. Had they played to

their maximum and still lost, then defeat wouldn’t have tasted as sour but despite being visibly disappoint- ed, Carrig was gracious in defeat, admitting that the best side won on the day.

“It is bitterly disappointing but Rock wanted it more on the day. They battled hard, they are a big physical team and we knew they could play football and for the neutral, I’d say it was a good game to watch. But they just wanted it more on the day, fair play to them and they took their

chances and the best team won. The own goal was a big boost to them. It put heart into them and they kept on playing. Fair play to Tommy and the boys, I hope they enjoy it but as I say, we are gutted.”

Bunratty are normally a good pass- ing side but even that aspect of their play deserted them on Saturday. The own goal was certainly a major set- tling point for Rock but Carrig felt that Bunratty panicked a bit after that and played into Rock Rovers’ hands.

“We never really got going. We

knew they were big and strong up the centre but we just launched balls at them instead of keeping it on the deck.

“When we did bring it down, we did get a bit of joy but we had to give them a two goal lead before we started to play. When we did eventually start to play, we grinded them down but we still never threatened the goalkeeper. Their defence was excellent tonight. They were well organised and they deserved it on the day.”

Bunratty know what it is like to

upset the odds and win the cup as underdogs.

They were a First Division side when they claimed their first title back in 1999, before going on to add three further cup titles this decade.

Considering their pedigree in the competition, they will certainly be amongst the challengers for next year’s Clare Cup.

But that’s of no consolation now as they have the summer to reflect on this missed opportunity and what might have been.

THERE seems to be a magnetic draw between Tommy Leahy and the Clare Cup. A winner as a player with Corofin Harps a few seasons back, it wasn’t long before he got back to the final of Clare’s premier cup competi- tion, now as manager and sometimes player of his adopted Rock Rovers. They may be a First Division side but Rovers played like the Premier team on Saturday, remaining com- posed throughout and demonstrating to all that they were worthy champi-

ont

Leahy, the orchestrator, remained positive on the touchline even in that nervous finish and as his side entered the dressing room after the game, he attempted to express his thoughts beneath the cries of “Champione, Champione”’

“Tam absolutely delighted. In fair- ness to the lads, they totally deserved it on the day. I thought for the whole 90 minutes, the heart they showed was unbelieveable and they showed that they can certainly play football because this was a very good Bun-

ratty side.”

The key to this hard earned victory for Leahy was workrate, something he asked for before the game and his players didn’t disappoint.

“The defence was outstanding and the lads worked hard and from one to eleven, they really worked their asses off.

‘In fairness, everyone worked tire- lessly, the backs were solid and they didn’t shirk away from anything. It’s a credit to all of them really.”

Nevertheless, besides their obvious hunger, they needed a bit of luck to

settle them by means of a Bunratty own goal in the 18th minute which had a double impact on the game. After that, Rock settled and gained confidence while Bunratty became more desperate and anxious on the ball.

“The first goal kind of took the nerves off it and we knew then that we just had to push on. In fairness, we hit the crossbar twice and we just kept pushing them and pushing them. All credit to them though, they are a good side.

“They are big and physical but they

are well able to play football. In the last ten minutes, they really had us under the kosh but again our defence stayed solid and we held on for the win.”

Leahy’s ambitions don’t end there. Rock’s league form suffered as a re- sult of their various cup exploits this season and the First Division title is top of the list of priorities for next season. For the moment though, he is just happy to saviour the moment. Being a cup winner as a player and now as a manager doesn’t happen too aK

IN CLARE football, you live and die by what happens in May.

A few days back, Frank Doherty rightly said that Sunday’s game is of huge significance for Clare. Win and the season stays alive, lose and the Tommy Murphy is around the corner.

For all the positive talk the Tommy Murphy has received over the past two days in the wake of Wicklow’s Leinster First Round win over Kil- dare – Wicklow won it last year – Clare are still right to target a possible meeting with Kerry in the Munster semi-final.

The secondary competition, in re- ality, won’t coax the commitment and concentration levels required after Waterford next week.So Clare, simply, must beat Waterford and the feeling here is that they will.

A lot will hinge on the availability of a handful of players but that has been Frank Doherty’s lot since the league began and though Clare lost to Limerick and Tipperary in two warm-up games over the past ten days, they had turned the corner in the league with four wins back-to- eee.

True, Offaly came to Ennis with promotion secured but they didn’t come to Ennis to lose. Wicklow had openly targeted Sunday’s Leinster Opener as their priority but in both those games, Clare showed deter-

mination that they hadn’t displayed throughout the league — with the exception of the opening quarter against Waterford in Dungarvan. Right now, captain Michael O’Shea is Clare’s biggest doubt for the game

having injured his calf in that Tip- perary challenge. Both he and Dar- ragh Kelly — who slightly damaged his hamstring – travelled to Wexford to undergo two separate days of three cryogenics sessions in a bid to ensure

fitness and Kelly should be avail- able.

On top of that, Niall Considine picked up a slight knock on his calf but he too should be available for SUTIOE NA

Laurence Healy returned from in- jury and took part in both those chal- lenge games, Ger Quinlan shouuld be fit but that 1s tempered with news that Colm Dillon and Timmy Ryan both absent with continuing problems.

Doherty once more put out the call to the football people of Clare to travel to the game on Sunday. That such a statement has to be made by the manager is telling in itself, but that’s the reality.

Sunday matters arguably more than any game Clare have played in the last five years. If the hangover from last May is to be quenched, Clare must win. If the application that they showed in the second half of the league presents itself on Sunday, then they will. Seven months of work needs to be transferred into some- thing tangible.

IN what will be one of his first of- ficial functions since he was con- firmed as the incoming President of the GAA, Christy Cooney will be in O’Callaghan’s Mills next Saturday to officially open the club’s new field, Pairc Naohn Padraig.

The opening will take place at 5.30pm and will be followed by a Clare and Galway hurling challenge game which throws iat 6.30pm.

This should be a competitive and sharp game before both counties face into their All Ireland campaigns and both Mike McNamara and Ger Loughnane have confirmed that they will field strong starting fifteens.

The pitch had been under develop- ment since 2001 and includes a hand-

ball alley and car parking facilities as well as modern dressing rooms. The pitch itself has been up and running for the past two years but Saturday will see the red tape cut officially. At half-time in the senior hurling

challenge, some of the club’s great- est representatives will also be hon- oured. The 1977 intermediate cham- pions of Clare will parade before the crowd and their presence is sure to stir some local passions. This was the same side that then went to the senior final in the same year and failed to take the top prize by a single point.

There are those in the Mills who still say they should have done that unique double 31 years ago, but Sat- urday’s opening, which will draw a large crowd, could herald the begin- ning of a new chapter in the club’s history.

IT continues to get better and better for the ladies of Ennis. This week- end they travelled home with more silverware in their boot when they retained their Munster title having beaten Douglas in the final at the Monkstown Golf Club.

It was a case of living on the edge as Pamela Murphy sank the win- ning putt for the Clare club on the 19th hole under serious pressure. She showed her mettle when the ball dropped in the hold though and En- nis were celebrating.

The nerves of steel show a team who can not only play fantastic golf, but one that can also dig out a victory in the face of adversity.

That win follows their Senior Cup success of last year when they de- feated Royal Portrush in the year’s

final in Miltown Golf Club and the remainder of this season promises to hold more silverware for Ennis as they strive to dominate ladies golf.

“Ennis have proven themselves to be a fantastic team,’ said Ann Brad- shaw, ILGU President. “They’re go- ing from strength to strength and it goes to show hoe healthy the game 1s in Clare at present.”

NO ILLNESS has ever been con- nected analytically with the public water supply in Ennis.

That was the view expressed by town engineer, Tom Tiernan in a sub- mission to the Environmental Pro- tection Agency (EPA) on their audit

of the council’s temporary treatment plant last January.

Mr Tiernan also stated the council had written to farmers in the catch- ment area of the Drumcliffe tempo- rary water treatment plant to advise them of their responsibilities under guidelines on good farming.

In a letter to the EPA, Mr Tiernan

said regular inspections would be made throughout the vulnerable parts of the catchment area “particularly following significant rainfall events, with a view to ensuring that no ag- ricultural activities are taking place during such sensitive periods which would have the potential to exacer- bate risk to the public water supply”.

He admitted the temporary treat- ment plant was a “reasonable stop gap measure, but didn’t provide the required levels of defence and com- fort against possible contamination which the new plant will do”.

Mr Tiernan admitted in the letter 25 to 30 per cent” of water was not being treated for cryptosporidium.

In the letter to the EPA last Febru- ary and now released to

Underlining the seriousness with which the council viewed the results internally, council official, Maura McNulty emailed County Engineer, Tom Carey; Town Engineer, Tom Tiernan and the HSE’s Acting Direc- tor for Public Health, Tessa Greally to say the results should have been phoned directly by the council’s con- sultants.

The records also show that the fax transmitting the hard-hitting EPA audit report to County Engineer,

Tom Carey was marked “urgent” but was never made public.

During the course of the audit, the council admitted that 17 per cent of the water entering the public water supply was bypassing the membrane toe

The EPA audit concluded that the proportion of inadequately treated water entering the Ennis public water supply was likely to increase when the raw quality was poor.

“The highest proportion of inad- equately treated water enters the dis- tribution network at a time when the risk of contamination of the supply with Cryptosporidium is at its high- ae

“The Drumcliffe water treatment plant is operating under conditions of high risk of contamination of crypt- osporidium.

“The agency is concerned that the practice of bypassing the membrane filtration plant, particularly when raw water conditions are poor, effectively removes the treatment barrier in the Ennis public water supply” the EPA stated.

Responding to the revelations, Dep- uty Joe Carey said it was “one story after another with the water supply in Ennis and the bottom line was that people were not drinking the water.

“The town engineer’s remarks that the council informs the public when they feel it appropriate, is little con- solation to those who fell il] during the most recent outbreak of crypt- osporidium.

‘Had the council been upfront with the EPA findings, and ensured that public safety dominated any other concerns, then that situation may not have arisen.

“Indeed, the fact that the council is nowhere near being in a position to comply with directives, means the public will continue to have Iht- tle confidence in their ability to pro- vide safe, clean drinking water’’,he declared.

IT WAS a historic weekend for Clare underage camogie as the Under-18s claimed their fourth Munster title.

There was plenty to be gained from Sunday’s win as history stood in the favour of Cork but Clare are learning to rewrite history books in the cam- ogie world.

‘“We’ve been working for years for this and over those years we have had some great battles with Cork,” said manager Fintan McNamara. “There is a healthy rivalry brewing there and to win today is great for the girls. This group had never over come the Cork challenge before today so this just shows how hard they are will- ing to work. Progress is being made at all levels in the county, we will be hoping that this group will now be in the challenging stages for the All-Ireland and for the future Clare will be recognised as a force to be reckoned with.”

McNamara also drew attention to the belief that exists within the

squad. “The team spirit is just fantas- tic and the whole panel are working together. But best of all they know they all have to work hard for their place yet each girl is supportive of all the others. That’s so important in to- day’s game where to win campaigns and games all the panel is required.”

Afterwards, Carina Roseingrave said the win represented a new be- ginning for Clare camogie and thanked her teammates for the work and dedication they have put in over the last number of months.

Clare now have a Munster title to their credit and two wins from two in the All-Ireland series. This will put them not only in with a serious chance of qualifying for a semi-fi- nal spot but also in contention to top their group. That’ the focus of the management as the girls will take their short break for exams.

THE Michael Cotter Memorial Cup begins this week. Hosted by Kilmi- hil GAA club, the Under 14 football tournament is in it’s third year and has proved a very popular event on the underage footballing calendar. Only two rules deviate from the of- ficial code with only one hop and one solo allowed and there must to be a winner on the day.

Running over a ten day period, the

Oy OLSeN brome Dee loMs e-MEaRO LUO MAM Lis mele Shannon Gaels/Killimer v Doonbeg this Thursday. On Friday evening, Kilrush play Kilkee in group B, fol- lowed by the group C Clash of Co- oraclare and Lissycasey on Saturday and the hosts Kilmihil against Clon- degad on Sunday.

The semi-finals then take place on the following Tuesday and Wednes- day with the showcase final fixed for Sunday, May 25 at St Michael’s Park, KGiiecntente

CLARE County Council and the Health Service Executive started a process of damage limitation at the weekend ahead of revelations that both agencies failed to inform the public of increased risk of contract- ing cryptosporidium from the Ennis public water supply.

Documents released under the Freedom of Information Act show that the Environmental Protection Agency warned in January of an another possible outbreak of Crypt- Osporidium one month before the most recent outbreak where two chil- Cleon lmnEe

The agencies never informed the public of the increased risk and an RTE Prime Time Investigates pro- gramme quizzed top officials last week on their role in the failure to inform the public.

The programme is not going to be broadcast until September and is focusing on the outbreak of crypt- osporidium in Ennis and Galway.

Both the council and the HSE re- leased statements last Friday and in an apparent move to shift the blame to the council, the HSE told all GPs, pharmacists and dentists in Clare that “the HSE advised that consum- ers should be regularly updated by the council of developments affect- ing the Ennis water supply”’.

The council posted a statement on its own website which for the first time acknowledged problems – ob- liquely – with the temporary Ennis

water treatment plant.

It does not refer to the damning January EPA audit but says only the capacity of the plant has been in- creased by 25 per cent “in response to increased demands on the system and the requirement of the EPA that full filtration be applied to all drink- ing water going out to consumers”.

The statement also admits for the first time that not all water go- ing through the plant is treated for Cryptosporidium.

In a careful understatement of the ongoing situation over the past number of months, the council states that because of technical require- ments associated with the construc- tion of the new Ennis Water Treat- ment Plant and servicing of the interim plant, “it has not been pos-

sible to provide fully filtered water to date.”

The statement once more re-iter- ates the precautionary boil notice in place for vulnerable groups, includ- ing patients who are immunocom- promised, infants, pre-school chil- dren and visitors.

The statement goes on, “These groups are advised to continue to boil tap water before consumption. Institutions serving vulnerable peo- ple should also continue to boil tap water or use alternative supplies. This includes hospitals, nursing homes, créches, pre-schools and day CF eee tne