Category: Sport

Cla r e Cup Fina l I na gh /Kilna mona v Newma r ket -on-Fer gus @ O’Ga r ney Pa r k, Sixmilebr idge, Sunday 2pm HISTORY beckons for either Inagh/ Kilnamona and Newmarket-on-Fer gus on Sunday. For Inagh/Kilnamona, who began their journey as a permanent senior amalgamation only three years ago, it is a massive leap forward after reaching their first ever league final.

However, winning on Sunday would be historic for Newmarket too as the most successful side in the competition’s history with 21 titles look to bridge a 37 year gap to their last Clare Cup crown. Historic as well because none of the present squad were even born when the Blues saw off east Clare amalgamation Brian Borus in 1974.

While championship success had continued to elude the Blues, it would have been easy for them to down tools two months back after exiting the title race at the group stages for the first time in seven years. Howev- er, they refused to throw in the towel and after securing a senior B title just over a week ago, they are back in a second successive Clare Cup final, determined to finish the job this time around.

They were well in control of last year’s decider as well until Niall Gilligan almost singlehandedly snatched the title from under their noses but with Colin Ryan in top scoring form, aided by David Barrett who grabbed six points at the weekend, and county senior James McInerney anchoring the defence, they will be difficult to stop.

That said, if anything, Inagh/Kilnamona have proved to be one of the most difficult sides to shake off this year. They always possessed the attacking power, with Ger and Niall Arthur and Conor Tierney to the fore but they have also tightened up considerably at the back with Brian Glynn and Dermot Lynch in particular shining this year. In this competi- tion alone, they have displayed a new stubborn never-say-die attitude in drawing with Crusheen and Clonlara in the knock-out stages before winning out both replays.

They are also the only side to have beaten Newmarket-on-Fergus in this competition all year after their opening round 1-15 to 1-12 victory on away soil, with county champions Crusheen the only other team to have got the better of the Blues in competitive action in 2011.

That will certainly give the Combo optimism ahead of the final but equally, it provides ample ammunition for Newmarket’s motivation and guards against any complacency that might have crept in following their recent impressive run.

Stopping the Blues from entering into their stride early on will be key for Inagh/Kilnamona on Sunday as in the last three games, they have been able to build up significant leads before their opponents finally settled. They were 2-2 to no score up against the Mills after only seven minutes in the Senior B semi-final, scored the first six points of the game against Clarecastle in the final and on Saturday, were 0-10 to 0-0 clear of Kilma- ley before they opened their account in the 19th minute.

A similar start on this occasion could effectively finish the game before it even starts as it is a young Inagh/Kilnamona side that crave the brighter start to settle their inevitable nerves.

For all of Inagh/Kilnamona’s considerable progress this year, it is still difficult to look beyond Newmarket for the title, even taking into account their nervy displays in recent big finals. They are the team in unstoppable form, have buckets of big game experience and certainly won’t lack motivation as they bid to banish the lengthy hoodoo that has plagued them over the last 30 years.

Win this and they can follow in Sixmilebridge’s footstep by building for a championship assault but if Inagh/Kilnamona can match them for the opening 40 minutes, it could be the Combo who will look longingly towards the future. Verdict: Newma rket-on-Fergus

Minor A Cha mpionship Fina l Sixmilebr idge v Ba llyea @ Cusack Pa r k or Cla r eca st le, Sat ur day 3pm IT MAY be the most inevitable final pairing since the movie Gladiator but it is also the decider that the most neutrals would have wished for from the outset as these kingpins of the championship finally face off.

However, with great expectations also comes great pressure and in such a 50-50 contest, whichever side can overcome the inevitable nerves that will accompany this final should also take the honours. For Ballyea, this is perhaps the club’s best ever chance to garner the top prize in underage hurling as this team have been building towards this day for some years. Equally however, while Sixmilebridge’s pedigree in this competition is far superior, the fact that they have lost the last three deciders will be a cause for anxiety. It wasn’t just about losing those finals, it was more about losing them as overwhelming favourites to underdogs Inagh/Kilnamona, Kilmaley and Newmarket, all of whom had succumbed to the ‘Bridge earlier in the competition.

Perhaps the fact that Ballyea will enter Saturday’s decider as favourites will suit the ‘Bridge more this time around. Ballyea took the hon- ours in the group stages by 2-15 to 1-11 back in August but as the Under 16 championship proved when strong favourites Clarecastle beat the ‘Bridge early on, only to be caught by the same opposition in the semifinal, group losses mean very little in underage hurling.

This final is also noteworthy for the number of county minors on show, with a large chunk of Clare’s Munster minor winning panel in action on Saturday. Ballyea’s contingent consisted of Jack Browne, Gearoid O’Connell, Niall Deasy and captain Tony Kelly but the ‘Bridge was also well represented by Jamie Shanahan, Seadna Morey, Alan Mulready and Brian Carey.

Such potential star quality makes for a thrilling final that could easily go either way. The loss of Martin O’Leary, who also played in the Minor Division 1 football final recently, to injury is a massive blow to Ballyea but in Tony Kelly, they possess the best player in the championship and one with the undoubted ability to win a game on his own No better occasion then to demonstrate that prowess than in his club’s most important decider since 2003 and in such an inch-tight contest, it could well be the the decided edge. Verdict: Ballyea

Newmarket-on-Fergus 2-18 – Kilmaley 0-09 at Clarecastle

MOMENTUM was undoubtedly the deciding factor for Newmarket as they emphatically maintained their late season push for honours. With a Senior B title already in the bag, the hunt for a first Clare Cup title in 37 years take precedence as the Blues bid to finish the year on a high and add to the Junior A and C adult crowns.

They were unquestionably the more sharper side on display on Saturday following their successful Senior B campaign to put a ringrusty Kilmaley to the sword without little fuss. Kilmaley’s pre-Halloween nightmare was fueled by their contrasting inactivity over the past five weeks since their disappointing exit from the championship at the quarterfinal stage. It dictated a slow start against the conditions for Kilmaley who found themselves ten points in arrears before they finally found the target in the 19th minute.

Newmarket’s well-oiled machine hit the ground running from the outset, with David Barrett (5) and Colin Ryan (3) doing the bulk of the damage while there were also two inspitational long range points from centre-back James McInerney to lift their supporters.

Kilmaley craved a spark and by bringing back full-forward’s Colin Lynch and Niall McGuane around the centre, they finally got a foothold in the game. Ken Kennedy (2) and Diarmuid McMahon settled them with points, only to be put back on their heels when Colin Ryan converted four more of his own to give his side a 0-14 to 0-03 advantage deep into injury-time.

However, Kilmaley’s afternoon was turned on its head before the break when Diarmuid McMahon earned his side a penalty. Scoring it would have given them a much needed boost going in at half-time, with the wind to come but instead they were to suffer a double whammy as Daire Keane’s penalty went wide and in the resulting heated discourse, Diarmuid McMahon was dismissed for striking. No way back surely for Kilmaley but in truth, with Colin Lynch and Daire Keane to the fore, they refused to throw in the towel on the turnover. Both sides would only score six more times apiece in an increasingly dreary winter backdrop but decisively, two of Newmarket’s scores were goals for Colin Ryan and Sean O’Connor, a minute either side of the turn for the final quarter. Kilmaley earned a second penalty that was saved but there was never any doubt about the result that earned the Newmarket Blues a Clare Cup final place for the second consecutive year.

Éir e Óg v Ba llydu ff (Ker r y) @ Aust in St ack Pa r k, Tr a lee, Sunday 2pm (Pat Ca sey, Wat er for d) AFTER finally winning the intermediate title just over a week ago, Éire Óg will get their first taste of senior competitive action this Sunday when taking on the Kerry Senior Hurling Champions Ballyduff. Expectations were that it would be a much fancied Courcey Rovers that the Ennis side would be facing, a game that would also have given the Clare champions home advantage but instead a late rally of three unanswered points on Sunday ensured that it was Ballyduff who prevailed by 1-14 to 0-15.

Central to that victory were Ballyduff’s sizeable county senior contingent, five of which played against Clare in Division 2 of the National League back in March. The three Boyle’s, Michael (County Captain), Liam and Aidan along with wingback Padraig O’Grady and midfielder Paud Costello were all part of that 6-23 to 1-18 contest while four more of Sunday’s team, Eric O’Connor, Pat Joe Connolly, David Goulding and Padraig Boyle also played against Clare in the opening round of this year’s Munster minor championship.

Therefore, the Kerry champions have plenty of experience when you consider that only Shane O’Donnell represented Éire Óg on either occasion. Horses for courses you might argue, with the competition for places far different in Clare than in Kerry but equally big match experience is big match experience when it comes down to it whether you are winning or losing.

While last Sunday’s quarter-final was Ballyduff and indeed, Kerry’s first win in the competition, it was a breakthrough that has been coming for the past number of years as the standard of Kerry hurling has improved immensely.

Éire Óg will be wary of all the potential pitfalls but after getting the monkey of an intermediate title off their backs, they can afford to play with a little more freedom and less burden on their shoulders.

The Townies have nothing to lose and everything to gain as they may never get a better chance of capturing provincial silverware. Clare have had a decent pedigree in this competition over the last five years and Éire Óg have more than enough quality to match the achievements of Clooney/ Quin, Clonlara and Broadford who last reached the final in 2008. It will be close but if Éire Óg can match Ballyduff’s doggedness and utilise their extra quality up front, they might just get over what looks to be the toughest opposition in the competition. Verdict: Éíre Óg

Inagh 1-13 – An Rinn (Waterford) 1-02 at Bansha, County Tipperary

ONLY A fortnight after securing the county intermediate title, Inagh added a Munster Junior crown after a superior second half performance over Waterford side Ann Rinn on Saturday afternoon. Played in Bansha under strong winter sunshine, An Rinn from the Gaeltacht area of Waterford had the aid of a stiff breeze in the opening half, however it was Inagh’s Fiona Lafferty who opened the scoring with a pointed free inside the opening minute of play.

An Rinn’s response was both immediate and significant as having won possession of their own puckout, Deirdre ni Fhathaigh gathered possession out on the wing and dropped her shot into the Inagh square where Brid McCarthy batted it out but it was Lorraine ní Fhaoleán who got to the dropping sliotar first and sent her effort past McCarthy.

However, aided by the confidence from their county title win, Inagh didn’t panic and hit back with another point on the board after Patricia O’Loughlin sent a shot from midfield down the wing and Helen Hehir managed to draw the sliotar out from the ruck and put her shot over from an awkward angle.

Ni Fhathaigh pointed from a free to put the Waterford side back in front by two points and both sides were guilty of wides in the next few minutes, more from an inability to cope with the strong breeze than erratic shooting. Inagh ended that drought when Lafferty sent a long range free down to the square and it was Hehir who gathered and sent Inagh in front with her well struck goal. Lethal front pair, Lafferty and Hehir added three more points for Inagh while Fiona ni Mhuiríosa converted a free for Ann to give Inagh a four point lead at half-time at 1-6 to 1-2.

Now with the wind and sun to their advantage, the clare champions upped the tempo in the second half, with four points in three min- utes through Fiona Lafferty (3) and Patricia O’Loughlin (1) easing them into an eight point lead by the 40th minute. Inagh kept An Rinn scoreless in the second half, despite the best efforts of Eimear ni Fhionnalaigh and Líse ni Priondgrais but up against a strong Inagh backline of Jennifer Griffen, Siobhan Lafferty and Gillian Lafferty, An Rinn were continuously thwarted as they tried hard to get another goal on the board. Inagh kept kept up the pressure and with a further three points before the finish, strolled to a facile 11 point win. Munster Council Chairman Ea- mon Browne presented the trophy to captain Sinead O’Loughlin who will hope to lead her side to a third successive title as they enter the All-Ireland series in a fortnight’s time. First up for the Munster winners are the Connaught champions in the All-Ireland semi-final as they look to emulate Corofin by reaching the national junior decider.

County finals call for big game players and after deservedly earning the man-of-the match in back-to-back county deciders, they don’t come much bigger than Cian Dillon. Still only 22, Cian was one of five Dillon brothers on the panel with elder siblings Cathal and Cronan also playing their part on Sunday in this historic second ever title for the club.

The centre-back was simply immense throughout, so much so that some supporters wondered how he was able to glide through the rainsodden pitch while practically every other player was hampered by the underfoot conditions.

“We are thrilled. Our focus from the start of the year was to get back here and once we got here, we knew we weren’t going to let it go so it shows the character we have in the team from one to 31. There were some serious men out there and we battled right through.

“It was tough out there and wasn’t a day for fancy touches or anything like that but we showed out true character, we supported each other, we encouraged each other and we were just not going to let this go today.”

And the main ingredients of Crusheen’s remarkable turnaround in the last two years?

“Ever since Michael Browne got on board, he changed a lot of things about our play. One was discipline, two was workrate and our forwards worked right into the backs and viceversa and we support each other as much as we could. And it paid off because we are delighted to get the Canon Hamilton back.”

However, his ambitions don’t end there.

“Hopefully now we will have a good shot at Munster now. We have the Cork champions coming up so we will take a few days and then we will get back and start preparing for it. And hopefully we will be able to put up another good show there.”

With Cian in this type of unstoppable form, it will take a very good team to stop them.

Crusheen 0-10 – Sixmilebridge 0-04 at Cusack Park, Ennis

TITLE RETENTION eventually superseded water retention as the menfor-all-seasons Crusheen maintained their history making assault on the senior championship. In a pitch that would in normal circumstances be deemed totally unplayable, it was the defending champions that also proved to be unplayable in a barnstorming second half display that ultimately stamped their superiority on Clare hurling for the second successive year, the first time that such a feat had been completed in 12 years.

To win a championship, a team has to be able to prevail in all conditions and essentially, it was the holder’s superior ability to adapt to the rainsoaked mudbath that greeted the final which saw them grind out the victory.

Aside from Crusheen’s match-win ning flurry of six successive points midway through the half, the contest was far from pretty and for anyone watching the TG4 screening from the comfort of their living room, it must have been more akin to a local rugby match than a showpiece hurling occasion for long periods.

There were endless rucks and throw-ins as the ball repeatedly plugged in the mud but to their great credit, Crusheen were able to raise their game sufficiently and shut the door with a superb defensive display while unlocking it at the other end with a far more efficient strike rate.

All seven defenders and occasional sweeper Paddy Vaughan must take huge kudos in nullifying Sixmilebridge’s threat but it must be said that brothers Cian and Cathal Dillon were immense throughout, as was Gearoid O’Donnell in the forward division.

Last year’s experience certainly stood to the Blood and Bandages as they literally soaked up the Sixmilebridge pressure and hit on the counter-attack at every opportunity. And after a tentative first half, it seemed as if Crusheen had an extra man or two in the second period as they won the physical battle and always appeared to have a spare player at the breakdown to clear their lines.

It was not understating it either to say that this was simply a season defining masterclass from the champions, considering the unprecedentedly dire weather conditions. No one could have grumbled had referee Rory Hickey called a halt to proceedings at any stage of the contest. After all, it’s a miracle that no one was seriously injured in the treacherous underfoot conditions.

Sixmilebridge certainly wouldn’t have complained in the second half but they may look back with a tinge of regret that they failed to take a host of scoring opportunities. Five first half wides saw their second quarter superiority fall on stoney ground as a more efficient Crusheen took all of their opportunities to lead by the minimum at half-time.

And with Sixmilebridge’s young charges being stuck in the mud for long periods, the onus fell on Niall Gilligan and Tony Carmody to inspire, with captain Gilligan perhaps attempting to take on too much in an attempt to find a lifeline. He chose to put a first half penalty over the bar while immediately after halftime, the ‘Bridge legend bore down on goal but hit his shot into the mud instead of aiming for the top corner of the net.

Those misses allied to Crusheen’s second half dominance conspired to turn the tie decisively in the champions favour and once they opened up midway through the half, the writing was on the wall for the Bridge.

Crusheen were also quick to settle into the contest in the opening half when a brace of Jamie Fitzgibbon points as well as a Paddy Vaughan free saw them hold a 0-3 to 0-1 lead by the end of the first quarter. The ‘Bridge’s point came from a Gilligan 20 metre free that could have easily resulted in a goal for Caimin Morey who fielded a Carmody delivery before being pulled down by John Brigdale.

The second quarter was the ‘Bridge’s but while they pulled level through Danny Morey and that Gilligan penalty that he earned himself, they still found themselves trailing at the break after a defensive error was punished by Gearoid O’Donnell.

The ‘Bridge might have made up for that first half profligacy on the restart when Tadgh Keogh expertly picked out fellow 2002 title winner Gilligan to gather and head for goal but he struck his effort into the muddy goalmouth which took the sting out of the shot for goalkeeper Donal Tuohy.

Crusheen wiped their brows and hit back to decisive effect as they shut up shop at the back, thanks in the main to the unstoppable Cian Dillon while also beginning to find holes in the Sixmilebridge rearguard.

Four points from Gearoid O’Donnell (2), Paddy Meaney and Fergus Kennedy in an amazing two minute blitzkrieg around the turn of the final quarter left their opponents shellshocked. And while Gilligan and Co. tried their upmost to find a way back into the contest, they were left continually frustrated by Crusheen’s miserly rearguard that threatened to match Kilmurry Ibrickane’s remarkable feat of keeping their opponents scoreless for an entire half in a county decider.

Points from Paddy Meaney and Vaughan at the other end more or less put a tin hat on the result but Gilligan did manage to end Sixmilebridge’s 35 minute scoring washout on the hour mark with a consolation point.

Considering the atrocious inclement conditions, nobody will hark on the fact that Sixmilebridge’s final total was the lowest in 52 years as this was entirely Crusheen’s day. A day in which they carved out their own piece of history with a exhibition of hurling expertise, and successfully mastered not only their opponents but the weather Gods as well.

Crusheen
Donal Tuohy (7), John Brigdale (7), Cronan Dillon (7),Alan Brigdale (7), Ciaran O’Doherty (7), Cian Dillon (9), Cathal Dillon (8), PatrickVaughan (7) (0-2f), Joe Meaney (7), Gearoid O’Donnell (8) (0-3), Jamie Fitzgibbon (7) (0-2), David Forde (7), Paddy Meaney (7) (0-2), Gerry O’Grady (7), Fergus Kennedy (7) (0-1)

Sixmilebridge
Derek Fahy (7),Tadgh Keogh (7),Aidan Quilligan (7), Seadna Morey (7), John Fennessy (7), Paidí Fitzpatrick (7), Robert Conlon (7), Shane Golden (7),Tony Carmody (8), Jamie Shanahan (6), Rory Shanahan (6), Declan Morey (6), Danny Morey (7) (0-1), Niall Gilligan (7) (0-3 1f, 1 Pen) Caimin Morey (7)

Subs
Trevor Purcell (6) for Conlon (46 mins), Brian Culbert (6) for Declan Morey (46 mins). David O’Connor for Carmody (55 mins)

Referee
Rory Hickey (Éire Óg)

MAYBE we should have known that Crusheen’s name was written on the Canon Hamilton in 2011.

You see, the last man to captain back-to-back county final winning teams was St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield’s Lorcan Hassett in 1998/’99, while the second of those titles came at the expense of Sixmilebridge.

So with 2010 winning captain Gerry O’Grady filling the same role in ’11 and with the ‘Bridge as opposition, the rune stones around Inchicronan might well have told us that Clare hurling’s greatest prize was heading north to the Village of the Little Cross once more with O’Grady emulating Hassett.

There’s more. The same stones might have been a superstitious lot, pointing to that third time lucky factor when it comes to teams defending their title – where Clonlara and Cratloe had failed in ’09 and ’10 respectively, Crusheen would go on to succeed.

And there’s more again. Consider that the 25-year team honoured on county final day – the flying Magpies of ’86 were captained by Anthony Scanlon, a man who also led them to back-to-back triumphs the following year.

All of the above points to the fact that this was meant to be.

Regardless of piseoga, rune stones and all that, one thing is certain: when Gerry O’Grady finally left Cusack Park’s Ard Comhairle for a pitchside reunion with his teammates with Canon Hamilton in hand, it was all still a bit of a blur.

“It hasn’t sunk in really,” he said on the achievement of lifting the Canon on successive years. “We came here to today just to battle it out and do everything to get over the line. Thankfully that’s the way it worked out. The conditions were so bad out there it was about battling, fighting it out and keeping the workrate up.”

They did more than that, of course, restricting the ‘Bridge to two points from play and only four points, while running up what must of felt like a veritable cricket score of 0-10, such were the conditions of the day.

Where did it come from?

“It was the most important game we’ve played in our lives,” said O’Grady in response. “We lost in 2007 to Tulla and this was our third final. If we had gone away from three finals and only won one of them, it would have been a bad return.

“That was really driving us on here today. We wanted that second title. When you get to a final you have to take your opportunity. The backs were very good and in the second half we took the chances we got up front. We opened them up and when we were able to stretch our lead we were able to hold out after that.”

The quietly spoken captain was be ing kind to ‘Bridge. This was a rout.

Coole FC 6 – Inch Crusaders 1 at The County Grounds, Doora

COOLE FC captured their second trophy this year with an emphatic victory over Inch Crusaders in the final of the second division league cup at the County Grounds on Sunday.

Last season’s third division league champions led by just a goal at half time but produced a storming second half display to take the trophy back to Gort.

Weather conditions were far from ideal but just like the victorious Gort hurlers, Coole FC didn’t let the heavy rain undermine their performance.

The County Grounds had been due to host the meeting between Clare and Galway in the Oscar Traynor Cup on Saturday but that was called off due to rain shortly before kick off.

However the pitch was deemed playable on Sunday morning where Inch and Coole met with the prize of some early season silverware on offer.

And it was the Gort based club who made the early breakthrough when Kyle McCarthy scored the game’s opening goal. The former Oscar Traynor panelist found the net with well-hit 20 yard strike.

Coole were ahead at the break be- fore a deluge of goals early in the second half set them on the road to victory. McCarthy’s strike partner, Danilo Bento grabbed two goals in the space of five minutes to leave Inch with a mountain to climb.

McCarthy then brought his tally for the game to two, when he converted from the penalty spot. Managers Barry McCarry and Stephen Cunniffe emptied the Coole bench as the goals continued to rain in. Substitute Liam Papendorf got his name on the scoresheet with a well-executed volley with fellow sub Savio Morentes also finding the net. Midfielder David Cahill played an instrumental role in Coole’s success, setting up three of his side’s goals. Padraig Talty struck Crusader’s lone response before Coole captain Eoin Glynn lifted the trophy.

Coole FC
Abner Cordielo, Gary Morrissey, Alex Brocard,Aidan O’Boyle,Wanderson Lasouta, Padraig Landers, David Cahill,Alan Mannion, Eoin Glynn, Kyle McCarthy, Danilo Bento

Subs
Dave Franklin, Stephen Quinn, Savio Morentes, Liam Papendorf, LeoVercnea,Anthony Coppinger

Inch Crusaders
Andy O’Flynn, DavidTalty, Thomas O’Doherty, Dean Rickter, Mark Connellan, SeanTalty,Alan Clerkin, Brian McDonnell, Padraig Talty, James Rynne,Thiago Santanna

Subs
Conor Neylon for Santanna, ColmRyan for McDonnell, Rory Killeen for Rynne

THE victorious Lifford league and cup double winning team of 1975/76 will be the focus of celebrations when the club marks its 50th anniversary on Saturday night.

Club members past and present will gather in the Auburn Lodge Hotel to recall memories of the club’s half a century in existence.

The mid-seventies is regarded, as a golden period in the club’s long history and a special presentation will be made to members of Lifford’s double winning team on the night.

“We’re hoping for a big night to mark the 50th and the focus will be on the double winning team”, said long serving club member John O’Neill.

The club was set up in 1961 a year before the formation of the first Clare soccer league. It grew out of the ashes of another club – Ennis United – whose members played in the Limerick District Soccer League. Lifford’s founding members includ- ed Michael O’Gorman, Frank McInerney, Jimmy Coughlan, Noel Bane and Declan and Freddy Ensko. Both Michael O’Gorman and Frank McInerney were also centrally involved in setting up the Clare soccer league in 1962. Lifford played its first game in autumn of that year and under the captaincy of Syl Cosgrove, claimed the Fergus Cup in 1963. O’Neill explained that another cup victory was secured in 1968 when Lifford played under the name of Rockmount. The seventies saw Lifford enjoy a sustained period of success at adult and youths level. “The 70s were the highpoint for the club. We were always competitive”, said O’Neill. The emergence of Avenue United in 1983 presented a new challenge and new rivalry to Lifford. The club established a schoolboy’s section in 1984 with a Ladies team following in 1988. Lifford produced a number of schoolboy internationals including Gary Flynn and Alan Brooks. The Ladies team too provided a conveyor belt of talent to Irish teams. Lifford ladies also enjoyed a spectacular period of success from the early nineties onwards, winning numerous county and national titles.

For 31 years Lifford played their home games at land on the site of Our Lady’s Hospital before moving in 2007 to Cassidy Park, a € 500,000 development in Drumcliffe.

Premier league and cup success has eluded Lifford since the seventies but with the establishment of the club’s new underage academy, O’Neill is confident about the club’s future.

“We’ve come close to winning it (league) a few times but we’re well set up for the future. We have 30 kids signed up for the academy. Things are moving on”.

Lifford’s 50th Anniversary night takes place at the Auburn Lodge, Hotel Ennis on October 29. There will be a performance on the night from 12 piece orchestra, the West Coast Big Band.