Category: Sport

Crusheen 2-11 – Inagh/Kilnamona 0-10 at Gurteen

WINNING IS a habit that never tires as Crusheen proved when winning their fourth adult trophy in little over a year on Saturday. Of course, their historic Canon Hamilton senior success takes precedence in that haul but it is the second side’s rise through the ranks that equally continues to impress. A Junior A Championship added to successive league titles is a remarkable achievement in itself and they were fully deserving of their latest success with a powerful second half display.

Patrick O’Grady’s eighth minute goal proved to be the only difference in the opening period but it was after the interval that Crusheen really hit top form to outscore their opponents by 1-5 to 0-3 and claim the silverware.

Inagh/Kilnamona cannot have any complaints really as outside of a spirited second quarter, they failed to trouble the Crusheen defence to any great degree once the lively John Rynne was forced off through injury.

Instead, Crusheen hit the ground running in that first half when Darragh O’Doherty opened the scoring after only 15 seconds folowed by another from his brother Gearoid a minute later. Gerry Coote settled Inagh/Kilnamona with a third minute free and they had the chance of a goal soon after when another Coote free fell short but Gary Lafferty’s rebound was solidly kept out by goalkeeper David McMahon.

The Combo were to be punished fully for that miss when at the other end three minutes later, an Alan Tuohy free was caught by Patrick O’Grady who fired to the net via the stick of goalkeeper Christopher O’Looney. With that, Crusheen pushed on, led by the tireless Jason Greene to open up a 1-4 to 0-2 advantage by the end of the opening quarter but they would only score twice more in the half as Inagh/Kilnamona finally found their range.

John Rynne was central to that recovery when picking off two out of his side’s four unanswered points to cut the deficit to just one but he was forced to retire prematurely through injury which would arguably prove to be a detrimental blow to Inagh/ Kilnamona’s attack.

They did rally further before the break but were unable to grab a goal that would have put them back on level terms as successive shots from Sean McConigley and substitute Enda McGuane were kept out in a 16 to 0-7 half-time score.

It didn’t take long after the resumption for Crusheen to make their mark as the O’Doherty brothers again combined for the onrushing Gear oid to finish to the net with aplomb. To their credit, Inagh/Kilnamona brushed off that blow with a brace of points from Enda McGuane but it was to be as close as they would get in that second half as a now in- spired Crusheen could see the finish line. Despite eight second half wides, the winners would go on to score five out of the next six points to close out the game, with Briain Dillon’s 44th minute rousing score the pick of the bunch. It came from an Inagh/Kilnamona puck-out that the wing-back excellently controlled before soloing forward and arrowing over from 65 metres.

That score fuelled the biggest cheer of the afternoon until Tony McMahon lifted the cup only 20 minutes later to complete another successful year for the second side.

Clonlara 2-25 – Smith O’Brien’s 0-14 at Cusack Park, Ennis

TO say that this game was over inside ten seconds might seem harsh, but such was the case as the life literally drained away from this missmatch from the second that John Conlon rattled the net in the opening move of the game.

Smith O’Briens didn’t touch the ball until Jonathon Hayes retrieved it from the net – there were ten seconds gone, after he hit straight from the throw in, with Cormac O’Donovan picking out Cathal O’Connell to put Conlon in on goal.

He wasn’t going to miss from seven yards – he didn’t and with that what turned out to be an embarrassing rout unfolded as a Smith O’Briens side that now looks out of its depth at senior level bombed to a 17-point defeat.

This was like a cruise on the Shannon for Clonlara as they booked their place in the quarter-final for the fourth successive year in a 60 minutes that amounted to a less than rigorous training spin.

There was nearly more intensity in the warm up than the actual game, such was the chasm in class between the sides as Clonlara wreaked utter destruction on Smith O’Briens defence in the first half when building up a 1-17 to 0-7 lead.

Everyone of Clonlara’s forwards scored from play, with Conlon’s goal quickly followed by points from Colm Galvin (2) and Tomás O’Donovan as they raced into 1-3 to no score lead after eight minutes.

From there it wasn’t about winning for Smith O’Briens; it wasn’t even about being competitive; it was all about keeping the scoreline down. They got off the mark with a Mark O’Halloran point in the 12th minute and while Liam Walsh, Kevin Walsh and John Cusack (2) and Micheál Ryan to contribute to the scoreboard, but could do nothing to prevent Clonlara doing as they pleased.

They lead 1-9 to 0-3 after 20 minutes as they racked up scores through Nicky O’Connell (2), Donal Madden (2), Cathal O’Connell and Tomás O’Donovan. And when Tommy Lynch got on the board in the 25th minute, all six forwards had scored as they eased further and further ahead.

In the end their 13-point half-time lead was extended by only four in the second half, but this was more to do with Clonlara’s decision to go through the motions rather than go for the jugular than anything else.

Smith O’Briens did marginally improve and two early points from Micheál Ryan and others from John Cusack and Mark O’Halloran briefly raised some cheer as they reduced the gap to ten points after 38 minutes, but order was soon restored when points by John Conlon (2), Nicky O’Connell and a Tomás O’Donovan goal in the 45th minute left them 2-21 to 0-11 clear entering the last 15 minutes.

The sooner it ended the better from Smith O’Briens’ point of view, but at least they kept plugging away to the end with points from Liam Walsh, Seanie Conway and Mark McInerney.

That’s the only positive Smith O’Briens could take from this game as a now customary relegation battle looms on the horizon, while for a rejuvenated Clonlara its onwards and upwards to the last eight where they’ll fancy their chances against any opposition.

It’s the different worlds that Smith O’Briens and Clonlara inhabit – they have for a few years now.

Broadford 1-14 – St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield 0-9 at Cusack Park, Ennis

THE sun may been shining in Cusack Park for this winner-take-all tie, but to say it didn’t shine on the hurling is putting it mildly – very mildly at times, as this bore threatened to become a real snore until battling Broadford put a forgettable first half behind them to edge towards their first quarter-final appearance in two years.

For Broadford it was an amazing about turn, because in cruising home to a seven-point victory they blitzed a very poor Parish into embarrassing submission by outscoring them by 113 to 0-3 in the closing 40 minutes of the game.

It was a procession in the end as Broadford put the nightmare of nine first half wides firmly to one side as St Joseph’s folded in a game they seemed to have under control when they led by 0-6 to 0-1 after 20 minutes.

It wasn’t quite all St Joseph’s in that period of scoreboard dominance, it’s just that Broadford looked capable of firing the sliotar anywhere but over the bar as they surrendered the initiative to their more accurate opponents.

In this regard Ivor Whyte stood head and shoulders above everyone – his four first half points being the catalyst for St Joseph’s early hegemony. Emmet Whelan and Kevin Dilleen were on the mark inside the first seven minutes, with Padraig Taylor opening Broadford’s account, before Whyte grabbed a hold of proceedings with three-in-a-row as Joseph’s forged 0-6 to 0-1 clear.

The first came via a free, but the next three came from play and from distance as the county intermediate panellist announced his credentials ahead of next Saturday’s All-Ireland final.

By this stage, Broadford’s profligacy threatened to reach epidemic proportions, with wide after wide being compounded in the 27th minute when Padraig Hickey elected to go for goal from a 21-yard free rather than tapping over what would have been a much-needed point.

However, Broadford’s did gain a real foothold in the game before the breaks with inspirational scores from Aonghus O’Brien and Padraig Taylor – inspiration that stayed with them as they faced into tackling their 0-6 to 0-3 interval deficit.

They did that and more, outscoring Joseph’s by 0-5 to 0-1 inside the first nine minutes to edge 0-8 to 07 ahead. And each score was better than the next as Padraig Taylor, Mark Moloney, Padraig Hickey and James Gunning (2) turned this game on its head.

Ivor Whyte – who grabbed Josephs’ opening point of the half with a fourth minute free – did level matters with his fourth from play by the 40th minute, but it was injury time before they raised another flag as Broadford grew more confident with every passing minute when hitting 14 without reply.

Points from play by Padraig Taylor and Craig Chaplin moved them 010 to 0-8 clear by the three quarter stage. Given the deteriorating standard of St Josephs’ play, two Padraig Hickey frees by the 52nd minute almost put Broadford out of sight.

They were definitely that five minutes later when Hickey teed up Alan McMahon for a goal that had some of the Joseph’s faithful heading for the exit signs.

It was no wonder, because this was a meltdown from a once mighty hurling force that’s a decade from its last championship win, but light years away from it terms of quality and much more.

Their championship is over, provided Broadford can now go on and rack up two more championship points against Killanena in the final round.

St Joseph’s Doora- Barefield
Paul Madden (7), Cathal O’Sullivan (7), Marty O’Regan (6), Sean Flynn (6), Damian Kennedy (7), Ken Kennedy (7), Darragh O’Driscoll (7) Kevin Dilleen (7) (0-2), Mark Hallinan (6), Ivor Whyte (7) (0-6, 3f), Niall de Loughery (6),Alan O’Neill (7), Emmet Whelan (6) (0-1), Michael McNamara (6), Jarlath Colleran (6).

Subs
Noel Brodie (6) for de Loughery [HalfTime], Enda Lyons (6) for Hallinan [43 Mins], Shane O’Connor (6) for [43 Mins].

Broadford
Cian O’Brien (7), John Corcoran (7),Aidan O’Brien (7), Stephen Gunning (7), James Gunning (7) (0-2), Cathal Chaplin (7), Kieran O’Connell (7),Alan Kilcoyne (7), Craig Chaplin (8) (0-2), Mark Moloney (7) (0-1), PadraigTaylor (8) (0-4), DeclanTeefy (7),Aonghus O’Brien (7) (0-1), Niall Moloney (7) (0-1), Padraig Hickey (7) (0-3, 2f).

Subs
DonieWhelan (6) for Teefy [51 Mins],Alan McMahon (7) (1-0) for Kilcoyne.

Man of the Match
Padraig Taylor (Broadford) Referee Seanie McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus)

Cratloe 0-8 – Inagh/Kilnamona 0-7 at Cusack Park, Ennis

THOSE who argue that hurleys should be for burning and not for playing ball with certainly had much ammunition for their argument at Clare headquarters on Sunday evening after this truly forgettable hour.

Not that Cratloe minded – they may have looked tired, very tired at times but they still had enough to stumble over the winning line thanks to Conor McGrath’s 62nd minute point, just over two minutes after he missed a 65.

Cometh the end of the hour he was in the right place at the right time and wasn’t found wanting when Sean Collins and Martin ‘Ogie’ Murphy created the opening for the matchwinning point from 25 yards.

It was probably the highlight of the hour as it inched Cratloe into the quarter-final for the third successive year, leaving Inagh/Kilnamona to shoot it out with Tubber in the last game to see who joins the 2009 champions at the business end of the championship.

This was the game that neither side seemed to want to win – first it was Cratloe who failed utterly to use the wind to their advantage in the first half, only to be thrown a lifeline in the second by an Iangh/Kilnamona side that was just as culpabale when it came to translating possession into scores.

It was pedestrian stuff from the off, with Cratloe’s profligacy being the main feature of the first half as they racked up eight wides while playing towards the scoreboard end.

They did lead by 0-5 to 0-4 thanks to Conor McGrath, who hit four points over the half hour, while his county senior colleage Sean Collins chipped in with the other as they eked out their advantage.

Inagh/Kilnamona had four wides of their own, but they were much more economical with the scoring chances, setting the tone early when Conor Tierney showed pace and accuracy to open the scoring inside two minutes.

In a half there was little between the sides, albeit that Cratloe’s dominance in the possession stakes seemed to give them the scope to kick clear by half-time and give them the cushion they looked like needing for the second half.

They did lead by 0-4 to 0-2 after 20 minutes, with McGrath accounting for all of their scores, while Inagh/ Kilnamona kept the scoreboard ticking – however slowly – thanks to Ger Arthur and Niall Arthur frees that brought them within a point by the 25th minute.

That’s how it stayed at the break as Sean Collins and Niall Arthur traded points in the final three minutes of the half as a very mediocre 30 minutes came to an end – a lead that scarcely seemed enough for a Cratloe side that failed to show the energy and application that marked their ascent in the senior ranks over the last couple of years.

What followed in the second half was equally as bad as the scoring rate deteriorated further with the statistic of six points over the half hour telling the story. Inagh/Kilnamona looked to have the force with them when a Niall Arthur 65 and a point from play by Conor Tierney that sandwiched a Conor McGrath free levelling matters by the 38th minute, but wides from Ger Arthur and Niall Arthur (2) cost them dear. Haulie Vaughan and Cathal Lafferty also hit wides, but the sides were still deadlocked at 0-7 apiece entering injury time after Niall Arthur and Conor McGrath had swapped points.

Enter McGrath once more with his sixth point, while Niall Arthur missed a 65-yard free to level matters in the third minute of injury time.

Scariff 2-12 – Tubber 2-11 at Gurteen

IT WAS drama all the way as a remarkable Scariff comeback blew the group wide open again on Sunday. Ten points down after only 20 minutes, Scariff it seemed required a mini miracle to get anything out of the game and ease their relegation concerns. However they made vital switches that actually turned the tables on previously unbeaten Tubber and opened the door for an upset in the group standings.

With the quarter-final line in sight, Tubber will be kicking themselves that they let this game slip from their grasp. Victory would have greatly aided their passage to the last eight but now, they will need a result in their winner-takes-all last round clash with Inagh/Kilnamona.

They were simply cruising early on after Eamon Taaffe and Darragh O’Connor’s goals pushed them 2-5 to 0-1 clear by the 21st minute. Scariff reshuffled the pack in the hope of sparking a revival and it had the desired effect as Alphie Rodgers and Ross Horan switched wings while the influence of Cathal Nash’s move to centre-back and his brother Diarmaid at midfield were also crucial.

Rodgers picked off two points, Cathal Nash also scored while Ross Horan converted a free to soften the blow by the break at 2-6 to 0-5. Now inspired and gaining momentum, Scariff continued their recovery after the break with Ross Horan bagging 2-3 by the turn of the final quarter to gain parity. Further points from Kenny McNamara and Barry Murphy put the east Clare side ahead for the first time only for Clive Earley and Shane O’Connor to peg them back once more. However, a brace of points from Ross Horan proved decisive and while Patrick O’Connor reduced the gap to the minimum in injury-time, Tubber failed to take their late opportunities as an overjoyed Scariff hung on for the points.

Scariff
Shane Mulvihill (7), Barry McNamara (7), Darragh Kelly (7), JimMinogue (7), Cathal Nash (8) (0-1),

Padraig Brody (7), Patrick Minogue (7), Matthew Horan (6), Diarmaid Nash (8), Ross Horan (9) (27 3f), Kenny McNamara (7) (0-1),Alphie Rodgers (7) (0-2), Mark Mulvihill (7), Michael Moroney (7), Barry Murphy (7) (0-1)

Subs
Shane Corry for M. Horan, Brian Corry for M. Mulvihill

Tubber
RonanTaaffe (7), Paul Fogarty (6), Justin McMahon (7), Eoin Ruane (8), Fergal O’Grady (7), Conor Earley (7), Patrick O’Connor (7) (0-2f), Clive Earley (8) (0-2), Mark Earley (7) (0-2 1f), David O’Donoghue (7), Shane O’Connor (7) (0-1), Gerard O’Connor (7) (0-1), Darragh O’Connor (7) (1-1), Barry O’Connor (7) (0-1), EamonTaaffe (7) (1-1)

Subs
Nigel O’Donoghue for D. O’Donoghue, Conor Clancy for Fogarty, Blaine Earley for B O’Connor

Man of the Match
Ross Horan (Scariff ) Referee Fergie McDonagh (St Joseph’s Doora.Barefield)

DESPITE A large number of setbacks that have befallen Pat Hoban’s Kilkenny Intermediate side this year, it is difficult to muster up much sympathy considering their near perfect record at all grades in the last ten years. Already picking from intermediate and junior clubs, Hoban and his management team had to pick a completely new squad for this year’s competition thanks to their All-Ireland intermediate success last year but that is only the beginning of the supremo’s woes this season.

“It’s been a tough sort of campaign for us this year. One match is hardly ideal preparation going into an AllIreland final and as well as that, we have lost five of the team that played in that Leinster final against Wexford including senior panelists Eoin Murphy, Kieran Joyce and Richie Doyle who are training with the seniors on Saturday. But we have had a few challenge matches which is the only way we can prepare as it has been intermittent with club championship games as well.

“Without playing the poor mouth, number one we have had to pick a completely new panel and we are already picking from junior and intermediate clubs so we are truthfully stretching it but we will still have 15 lads in black and amber out there next Saturday.

“I know some counties like Tipperary and Galway this year got their senior club players involved, putting certain parameters on themselves of who they could and couldn’t pick but we’re working off the old system I suppose of junior and intermediate clubs. To be fair, we have had our fair share of minors in the last few years that have c o m e from junior and intermediate clubs which is unusual and w e h a v e seen a g o o d b u n c h of lads m a k – ing the step up to the senior grade and hopefully they will all stay in the county set-up.”

Having won the last four successive Leinster intermediate titles and played in four All-Ireland finals as well, winning two of those, Hoban is an experienced coach that recognises that his side are in for a battle against Clare on Saturday.

“We’ve done a bit of homework. Clare have had three good wins and at the start of the year, I would have thought that Tipperary were going to walk this championship but they were beaten by Cork who in turn were beaten by Clare and since they have gone on to beat Limerick and

Galway. So my thoughts on Clare

are they are a good solid team

with a couple of experienced

guys in it and I don’t think

that Clare will be beaten

too easily anyway.

“Genuinely the loss

of the three senior lads is a big, big blow to us because they gave us great options. I know it’s going to be a right battle of a game. Clare, from what I’ve heard seem to have a good solid full-back line and a couple of nippy corner-forwards and that so like any of these matches it’s going to be very hard to call.

“It’s an unusually grade in that you have no real knowledge of the opposition. At senior level, you know each player you are coming up against but at intermediate level, you are ten or fifteen minutes into a game before you know who you are marking. So there’s a bit of a learning curve for us all there.”

A learning curve that Hoban has mastered many times before and whatever team that togs out against Clare on Sunday, will be treated with the utmost respect. After all, there is no such thing as a bad Kilkenny team.

Sixmilebridge 1-14 – O’Callaghan’s Mills 0-08 at Cusack Park, Ennis

THE Bridge are building – bigtime, a fact of hurling life they hammered home once more after this local derby encounter with O’Callaghan’s Mills that opened Sunday afternoon’s fare at Clare GAA headquarters. What harm that it was their second championship match in five days – such an inconvenience proved no obstacle as they brushed aside the challenge of their near neighbours to make sure of their passage to the last eight. And, in the process it was their fourth win in a row, following on victories earlier in the campaign against Clarecastle, Wolfe Tones and Tulla. They secured the points here thanks to a sustained burst in the second half when within the space of eight minutes from the start of the final quarter they hit the Mills with 1-3 without reply to move 1-11 to 0-6 clear. It was winning of the game, with Tony Carmody’s brilliant 47th minute goal being the pivotal score as the ‘Bridge finally sprinted clear of a dogged Mills side that was left to rue their profligacy at the start of the second half when they hit four wides in succession when the sides were locked at 0-4 apiece. The first half was an even affair as the initiative ebbed both ways – firstly the ‘Bridge were on the front foot with points via a Niall Gilligan free and efforts from play by Tony Carmody and Danny Morey putting them 0-3 to no score ahead after eight minutes. However, thanks to Adrian Flaherty’s accuracy from placed balls when he landed frees in the 13th and 21st minutes the Mills played their way back into things, while James McMahon then levelled matters with their first from play in the 27th minute. Niall Gilligan and Alan Duggan then traded points before the break to leave matters delicately poised for the second half. Páidí Fitzpatrick put in an outstanding hour for the ‘Bridge in the first half, but on the turnover it was the Mills who looked the likelier side, only for those four wides in the first four minutes to haunt their progress. This was especially true when the ‘Bridge flexed their scoring muscles once more with three-in-a-row after Tony Carmody and Alan Duggan had swapped points by the 37th minute. An effort from play by Fennessy, followed by two Gilligan points had the ‘Bridge 0-8 to 0-5 clear before Adrian Flaherty pegged them back with another free in the 44th minutes. But, in the end it was as close as the Mills would get – they only managed two more points in the remaining 15 minutes thanks to a consolsation scores from Fergus Donovan and Gary Neville as they could lit- tle to do to stem the ‘Bridge tide that tacked on 1-6 in the same period. Jamie Shanahan’s first of the hour at the three-quarter stage put three between the sides, while Carmody’s goal was followed up by points from John Fennessy, and Seadna Morey by the 53rd minutes to leave the championship favourites 1-11 to 0-6 clear and coasting. And they had the final say too when points by Gilligan and Pa Sheehan left them nine clear and winners as they liked – yet again, with the scare they received on day one against Clarecastle now firmly behind them as they inch closer to a first county title in nine years. They’re the team to beat on the evidence of everything the group stages has thrown up thus far.

Sixmilebridge
Derek Fahy (7),Tadhg Keogh (7),Aidan Quilligan (8), Paul Fitzpatrick (7), Barry O’Connor (7), Paidí Fitzpatrick (8), Robert Conlon (6), Shane Golden (7), John Fennessy (7) (0-2), Seadna Morey (7) (0-1),Tony Carmody (8) (1-2), Declan Morey (6), Jamie Shanahan (7) (0-1), Niall Gilligan (8) Capt (0-5, 2f), Danny Morey (7) (0-1).

Subs
Pa Sheehan (7) (0-2) for Conlon, David O’Connor (6) for Declan Morey.

O’Callaghan’s Mills
John Cooney (7), Sean O’Gorman (7), Conor Cooney (8), Gerry Cooney (7), Ger Frost (7), Patrick Donnellan (8), Bryan Donnellan (7), Jonathon Lyons (7), James McMahon (7) (0-1), Gary Neville (7) (0-1f), Declan Donovan (6), Adrian Donovan (6),Adrian Flaherty (7) (0-3f), Niall Donovan (6),Alan Duggan (8) (0-2).

Subs
Fergus Donovan (7) for Declan Donovan, Eoghan Pewter (6) Niall Donovan, Kevin O’Callaghan (6) for Lyons

Man of the Match
Paidi Fitzpatrick (Sixmilebridge) Referee KevinWalsh (WolfeTones)

ON SATURDAY evening, Andrew Fahey becomes only the sixth goalkeeper to have represented the county in an All-Ireland final in the last 20 years. That’s an achievement in itself really but Fahey isn’t one to rest on his laurels, especially with an All-Ireland medal at stake.

“When we won the Munster championship it was a great thing. To win a Munster medal is super and it’s a huge honour to get one. An All-Ireland was the next step and thankfully we beat Galway but mostly it’s a team effort. It’s great to be part of the team but definitely it’s a 34 man effort. We have great guys over us, we have great players who are great triers, they is a good bond there and hopefully on Saturday, we can get over the line and bring back an AllIreland to Clare.

“When you have guys of the experience we do have, it is a great help and other fellas naturally drive on from that. The last day we went two goals down against Galway and it showed the character of the younger fellas to get us over the line and it means that we have another game to look forward to.”

However, when reflecting on All- Ireland’s past, the Whitegate man immediately turns to the great goalkeepers that made the 90s and 00s a great era for netminders.

“When you are playing out in east Clare, there aren’t too many that want to play in goal and you would be naturally left in that position if you happened to make a few saves and that. But growing up, watching the likes of Davy Fitzgerald, Brendan Cummins and Damien Fitzhenry, you would always watch them carefully in games and the way they are able to make those saves and the distance that they were able to strike the ball. I always wanted to be a goalkeeper and thankfully it seems to have worked out so far.”

Now to create some goalkeeping history himself, starting with Sunday’s intermediate final against the Cats when Clare take yet another step into the unknown.

“Kilkenny will be good, I’ve never met a Kilkenny team yet that is bad so it will take a lot of hard work. They have a lot of players and names but it’s also good that we don’t know much who we are playing. A great thing against Cork was that we didn’t know too much about them, it was the same against Limerick and Gal way and hopefully similar against Kilkenny. We don’t know a whole pile about them but if we focus on our game, it’s a plus and hopefully we will be able to deal with whatever they throw at us.

“The big thing in games like this is that you have got to be able to work hard all over the field. You have to make sure you get off to a good start. We got off to a bad one against Galway but we came back and showed the character we had in the team. We know it’s going to be a battle and if every man can win his own position and hopefully I can keep them out as well, we should be able to get over the line.

“I don’t think the occasion will get to us. Every game we have improved but more importantly we should enjoy the occasion because All-Ireland finals are what the game is all about.”

Hopefully it will be the first of many for the county Under 21.

Clarecastle 4-17 – Wolfe Tones 0-15 at O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge

ELEPHANTS are renowned for their memory and it appears that Magpies don’t forget easily either as they exacted full revenge on Wolfe Tones for their comprehensive defeat two years ago at the same venue. That 5-11 to 2-10 defeat back in September 2009 put Clarecastle in the relegation play-offs for the first time in their history while Saturday’s reverse means that the Shannon side are now in the unwelcome relegation dogfight themselves, regardless of their final round result.

In similar circumstances to that last championship meeting, it was goals that effectively decided the tie with a first half individual effort from Conor O’Gorman added to in the second half by further majors for debutant David Green, Man-of-the-Match Eamon Callinan and Tyrone Kearse as the Magpies finished strongly.

That O’Gorman effort after only seven minutes was the deciding score of the opening half as the sides went toe to toe for the majority. Eamon Callinan was unerring from frees, Danny Scanlon made the difference when moved to midfield while at the other end, county minor Aaron Cunningham, Kevin McCafferty and John Guilfoyle were causing the Magpies problems as they held a slender 1-10 to 0-11 interval lead.

There was no doubt about the result in the second period however as the Magpies more balanced side turned the screw on their vastly understrength opponents. Clarecastle, without goalkeeper John Casey, former county seniors Conor Plun – kett and Derek Quinn, Ollie Plunkett, Aaron Considine, Mark McNamara and Jamie O’Connor themselves, eased clear through a Jonathan Clancy brace before their second goal arrived in the 40th minute.

It stemmed from a Darragh Moloney delivery to Green who turned his marker Patsy Keyes and found the top left corner of the net to push his side six clear. With that, the Tones dropped their heads a little and they were punished further when Eamon Callinan flicked a Clancy high delivery to the net while Kearse completed the rout five minutes later.

Victory eased any relegation worries for the Magpies and secured a senior B place while Wolfe Tones will have an anxious wait before deciding their fate in the relegation lottery over the coming weeks.

Clarecastle
Donnagh Murphy (7), Seanie Moloney (7), Stephen O’Halloran (7), Kevin Clohessy (7), Fearghus Ryan (7), Patrick Kelly (7), Danny Scanlon (8), Jonathan Clancy (8) (0-3), Eric Flynn (7), Eamon Callinan (8) (1-10 7f), Kieran O’Dwyer (7), Darragh Moloney (7), Conor O’Gorman (8) (1-2), David Green (7) (1-0),Tyrone Kearse (7) (1-2)

Wolfe Tones
Ronan Hehir (6), Eamon O’Neill (6), Patsy Keyes (6), Brendan Hughes (7), Shane Chambers (6), Bobby McPhillips (7) (0-2 1f, 1’65), Barry Loughnane (7), John Guilfoyle (8) (0-3), Joe McGauley (6), Kevin McCafferty (7), Daithi O’Connell (6),Aaron Cunningham(8) (0-5), Stephen McInerney (7) (0-1), Gary Leahy (7) (0-2), Garret McPhillips (6) (0-2 1f)

Subs
Paul Hogan (6) for Hehir (8 mins, inj), Richie Lillis (7) for Chambers (46 mins), Mark Regan (6) for McGauley (47 mins), Paul Walsh (6) for G. McPhillips (48 mins), Niall Murphy for O’Neill (56 mins)

Man of the Match
Eamon Callinan (Clarecastle) Referee Ger Lyons (Ruan)

SUNDAY saw the second running of the Sky Ride Etape Hibernia around the closed roads of Clare.

Nearly 2,000 riders took on the 134km circuit with Australian David McIntosh first over the finish line in a time of 3.53.29 hours (only 12 seconds faster than the 2010 winning time).

The first Irish man home was West Clare club man Jarlath Hassett just four minutes behind the winner. Last year’s winner and wearing number one in the 2011 edition of the event, Phillip Colleran was unable to match last year’s result however he did cross the line in ninth place, finishing in four hours.

Lizzie Wiltshire was the fastest female in 4.26.54 hours. She just edged last year’s fastest Jo Millin by two seconds.

The field of riders from 14 countries saw Irish cycling legend, Sean Kelly starting alongside Irish starlet, World Youth Champion Kate Veale and former British Champion and Great Britain international Dean Downing.

This second running of the event attracted over 1,200 riders from outside of Ireland. Coupled together with partners, families and friends, this resulted in hotels, B&Bs and hostels being full to the bring for the duration of the weekend.

Sunday’s event was the result of eight months of careful planning, activated by over 300 event staff made up of 50 volunteers, 30 Garda, 20 moto marshalls, 30 medics, 40 traffic management team, 60 stewards, plus sponsors, council members and over 25 local businesses who were directly involved in the events success.

On completing the 134km, Sean Kelly said, “That was exciting. I really enjoyed the second Sky Ride Etape Hibernia. The closed roads made for an enjoyable event and the pace was steady and achievable.

.At the finish, Kelly was the centre of attention with fans asking for autographs and posing for photographs.

Kate Veale said, “This was my first cycling event and I was a little apprehensive about the distance but it was amazing to have so much company on the roads, I’m used to training solo and the camaraderie was just brilliant. I’ll definitely do more cycling in the future, I love the challenge of any endurance sport.” For more on the Sky Ride Etape Hibernia visit www.etapehibernia. com.