Category: Sport

FRIENDS AND former teammates will gather in the Auburn Lodge Hotel in Ennis on Saturday night to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Ennis club Turnpike Rovers.

Founded in 1981 the first meeting of Turnpike Rovers took place in a room over Murphy’s shoe shop on O’Connell Street, Ennis.

The club’s first committee was made up of Tony Gilmartin (chairman), Brian McCarthy (secretary), George Guilfoyle (treasurer) with John Pyne and Michael Frawley serving as PRO and managers.

Other committee members included Donie Pyne, Martin Guerin and Francie Roche. Over the years many people have contributed to the success of the ‘Pike, as either players, managers or committee members. Some of the well-known names to have been associated with Turnpike include James Gormley, Michael Nugent, Michael Sheridan (RIP), John Lavery, Donal Pyne, Michael Guilfoyle, Ronnie Pyne and Frank Gormley. The club initially drew the majority of players from the Turnpike area, McNamara Park and Dalcassian Park. The club’s first ever set of goalposts were made by Paddy McHugh and Peter Fitzgerald in the Walnut House

The early days showed Rovers meant business. The team finished runners up in the division two shield in 1981 before going on to take the first division shield in 1983. In 1990, Turnpike were crowned Munster Junior Clare area champions and the following season lost out to Newmarket Celtic in the final of the Haughey Cup. The next season, Rovers reclaimed the Munster Junior Clare area cup with founding member Francie Roche netting the winner in the final.

The start of the decade also heralded another period of success with Turnpike winning the first division league and FAI Clare Area cup. Further honours followed in 2007 before Turnpike claimed the first division league cup in 2009.

Turnpike also enjoyed a period of sustained success in youth soccer throughout the 1980s and 90s. Under the stewardship of manager John Pyne, the club was crowned youths shield winners in 1983. That season also saw the club lose out to eventual winners Athlone in the quarterfinals of the FAI Youths Cup. A league titled followed in 1985 before Turnpike swept the boards in 1987, winning the youths shield, FAI Clare area youths cup, Munster Clare area youths cup, youths league and youths cup.

Further youth’s cup titles were snapped up in 1990 and 1991 while in 1993 Turnpike lost to Clonmel side Oldbridge in the final of the Munster youth’s cup.

In the 1984/85 season, Turnpike Rovers had the distinction of having two players named ‘players of the year’ in Clare soccer. They were Colm Fitzgerald and Derek McGann who was named ‘youths player of the year’. Over the years Turnpike were well represented on the Clare Oscar Traynor team. In that same season, talented midfielder Brian Pyne was a starter in all of Clare’s games.

Turnpike also enjoyed a period of success in schoolboy’s soccer taking league titles at under 12 (1985), under 14 (1986), under 16 (1991) and under 11 (1996). The club were under 11 cup runners up in 1998 while there were further titles at under 11 (2001/02), under 16 (2004) and under 17 (2005/07).

CLARE ENTERED the Munster championship with a bang but ultimately hadn’t the staying power to endure the entire journey as the experience and opportunism of All-Ireland champions Tipperary pulled the handbrake on this potential upset.

Clare were written off before a ball was ever hit in anger on Sunday but deep inside the camp lay a belief that all this young side needed to make it to the next level was a major scalp and they certainly don’t come much bigger than the All-Ireland champions.

In fact, it was true to say that Clare started much like the Premier played in last year’s All-Ireland final when hitting the ground running and not giving Kilkenny time to come up for air. However, while Clare can take immense satisfaction that they scored more than the Cats did in that decider, they also conceded four goals that were the difference between winning and losing.

Clare began like a whirlwind, with an intensity and spark not seen before by this group of players as they blazed a trail of 1-3 to 0-0 by the eighth minute, fittingly starting with championship debutant Conor McGrath’s solo goal after only 40 seconds that caused the crowd to rise to their feet. That ravenous opening was no fluke however as the collective work ethic was epitomised by the fact that their first seven points all came from different scorers, with the entire forward line getting in on the scoring action.

Such a blistering start would have severely dented the confidence of most sides in the country but with an All-Ireland title came a self-belief that never caused Tipperary to hit the panic button, despite the kitchen sink being thrown at them.

However, while their attacking unit was incisive, Clare were outdone by the concession of three goals in a five minute period that demoralisingly saw them trail by three points by the break, despite doing the majority of the hurling.

Individually, the backs performed well but collectively, Clare held what can only be described as a ‘bikini’ defence in that superficially it looked impressive but ultimately only covered the bare essentials.

The lack of competitive match practice against the top sides was also certainly a factor as was the sheer quality and ruthlessness of the Tipperary front six whose movement and guile were near impossible to constantly monitor.

However, hands will also be held up for what Clare manager Ger O’Loughlin would later describe as ‘naïve defending’. Basic errors that allowed Eoin Kelly to seize on a break to pull to the net and cut the six point deficit to three by the 16th minute; another break put Patrick Maher through for the second soon afterwards while Tipperary’s rehabilitation was completed in the 21st minute when two defenders went for the same ball, allowing Lar Corbett a clear path to goal that he would not pass up. They were devastating blows to Clare’s brave challenge but while the wind was momentarily taken from their sails, Clare did have enough character to reply with a brace of McGrath frees and at least regain parity.

The momentum was now firmly with Tipperary however and with Padraic Maher beginning to influence from wing back and confidence building in the attacking unit, Tip

IT WASN’T long ago that the An Post Rás worked its way through the roads of County Clare en route to the second stage finish in Kilrush and race organiser Dermot Dignam has delivered a message of “thanks” to the many fans that turned up along the route to cheers the riders along.

“The support the race received along the route was incredible and it really made the Rás a wonderful spectacle for everyone to see. The encouragement from the locals in Kilrush was fantastic and no doubt it was a great boost to the riders after such a long day in the saddle racing into a gale force wind. Thanks to all involved in making it such a great stage.”

After an action filled eight days of top class racing, An Post had cause for a double celebration as Lithuanian Gediminas Bagdonas took the yellow jersey home for the An Post Sean Kelly team. He was also first past the line in Kilrush, and from there on he never looked back, holding the yellow jersey from the fol- lowing day all the way to the finish line in Skerries, Dublin.

Bagdonas also had words of praise for the Clare crowds after roaring him on to his first stage victory, which he said helped him believe he could go on to take the overall title.

“It was such a difficult stage, with really strong winds. The cheers along the route helped me and the team a lot and I was so happy that I won the stage in Kilrush. It was a special day for me and the support pushed me on to get the victory. After that stage I really believed I could win the race and thankfully I did. It is the biggest win of my career so far and one I will never forget.”

KILRUSH Town Council is to spearhead the development of top-class sports facilities in the heart of the west Clare capital after months of negotiations at securing a key site in the town were brought to a successful conclusion in the past week.

Kilrush Town Manager, Nora Kaye, has revealed that facilities encompassing a flood-lit astro-turf pitch and a number of full size playing pitches are earmarked for the site on the Cooraclare Road.

And, FAI chief executive John Delaney is set to launch the project plan for the new sports facilities when he visits Kilrush on July 12 next when Clare plays host to the FAI annual general meeting first the first time.

The development will be driven by the Town Council in partnership with Clare County Council and sporting organisations in Kilrush and has been made possible after agreement on a lease has been secured with the owners.

“For over 12 months we have been in negotiations with the ESB and Department of Education,” revealed Ms Kaye, “and we have reached agreement on the lease of lands and now hope to have plans drawn up for an astro-turf pitch and a number of other pitches. It is a very positive move”.

“We had a lot of red-tape to get through and we have been working on this for a long time,” said Town Clerk John Corry, “as we needed to convince both owners of the land.

“Now with agreement reached we are in a position to draw up plans. There is no cost to drawing up plans and then when funding becomes available we have plans in place to avail of funding and go ahead with the project,” he added.

“Unless there is grant aid, it won’t be happening,” warned Mayor of Kilrush Liam Williams, “but by having plans in places we’re told that we’ll be in a position to avail of funding”.

“We have met with sporting bodies in Kilrush,” revealed John Corry “and spoke to them about what their priorities would be.

“Now we will draw up a draft plan and go through planning and hopefully that will take place soon. We will drive the project but when it’s completed it will be managed by a working group”.

“It’s the chance of a lifetime for sport in Kilrush,” said Cllr Tom Prendeville (FF).

Cork 3-16 – Clare 0-10 at Clooney

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Crusheen 4-23 – Broadford 2-08 at Crusheen

THE RACE for the top two qualification spots heated up further on Tuesday as Crusheen reclaimed pole position after a four day absence. And there was never any doubt about the county champions extending their unbeaten run after strolling to a facile victory against a Broadford side that failed to muster even the most token of challenges to the home side’s impressive scoring tally of all but six points from play.

The visitors were missing five of their starting line up but Crusheen for their part finished the game with half their second string either starting or entering the fray.

Missing their county contingent and aided by a stiff breeze, Crusheen gave a debut to David McMahon in goal and he had little to trouble him over the game.

Crusheen raced into an early commanding 1-6 to 0-0 lead before Padraig Hickey scored Broadford’s opening score. Conor O’Donnell had the first Crusheen goal with a long range effort that found the net.

Paddy Meaney (2), Fergus Kennedy, Shaun Dillon and Gearoid O’Doherty (2) were the point scorers. Craig Chaplin (2 frees) responded for Broadford before Crusheen went on a scoring spree in the second quarter adding (3-11) in 15 minutes.

Patrick Meaney was scorer in chief with (3-1) as Gearoid O’Doherty (3) Fergus Kennedy (3), Niall Fitzgib- bon (2), Alan Brigdale and Ciaran O’Doherty added points.

There was little Broadford could manage in the second half especially as the Crusheen defence was totally dominant with Alan Brigdale and Ciaran O’Doherty in sparkling form and Gerry O’Grady and Fergus Kennedy controlling midfield. Crusheen scored the first four points of the second half as Patrick Meaney finished the game with a personal tally of (3-6).

Padraig Hickey scored a great goal and added a brace of frees. Alan Kilcoyne (1-1) and Aonghus O Brien (2) in the final five minutes added consolation scores but there was no denying Crusheen their fifth Clare cup win out of six outings.

Best for the winners was the full back line of the Brigdale brothers and Cronan Dillon with Ciaran O’Doherty in fine form at centre back.

Midfield was dominated by Crusheen whilst up front Patrick Meaney produced a man of the match display aided well by Gearoid O’Donnell, Darragh O’Doherty and Gearoid O’Doherty in the first half.

Broadford are facing a relegation battle from division 1 despite the best efforts of Craig Chaplin, Dara Corcoran, Padraig Hickey, Mark Moloney and Peter O’Brien.

Crusheen

David McMahon, John Brigdale, Cronan Dillon,Alan Brigdale (0-1), Jason Greene, Ciaran O’Doherty (0-2), Brendan McMahon, Fergus Kennedy (0-4), Gerry O’Grady, Gearoid O’Donnell (0-1), Shaun Dillon (0-1), Niall Fitzgibbon (0-2), Conor O’Donnell (1-0), Patrick Meaney (3-6), Gearoid O’Doherty (0-6, 5f, 1 s/l)

Subs
Darragh O’Doherty for CO’Donnell, Patrick O’Grady for Meaney,AlanTouhy for S. Dillon

Broadford
Cian O’Brien, John Corcoran,Aidan O’Brien, Mark Moloney, Peter O’Brien, Craig Chaplin (0-2), Niall Moloney,Alan Kilcoyne (1-1), Dara Corcoran, DeclanTeefy,Aonghus O’Brien (0-2), PaurigTaylor, Padraig Hickey (1-3),Alan McMahon, Donal Whelan

Sub
Willie Hayes for Taylor

Man of the Match
Paddy Meaney (Crusheen) Referee Fergus McDonagh (St Josephs D/B)

Crusheen 3-14 – Clarecastle 2-15 at Clarecastle

CRUSHEEN strengthened their position at the top of the Division 1 table after a late injury-time brace that halted the home side’s dramatic fightback. Four points clear with two minutes of normal time remaining, having led since the 12th minute, Crusheen appeared to be cruising towards their fifth unbeaten game but had to endure a nervy finish after Clarecastle hit 1-1 to level the game up on the hour mark.

Crusheen replied immediately with a Darragh O’Doherty point while Clarecastle did have a glorious opportunity to share the spoils but didn’t avail of it and Crusheen punished them at the other end, again through O’Doherty to cement the points.

Considering the absence of so many first team regulars on both sides, this was a surprisingly entertaining and open game that either side could of won but Crusheen did thanks largely to three opportunistic strikes from Paddy O’Grady who scored his second successive hat-trick of goals against the Magpies this year.

Those strikes were the difference for the majority as they were aptly timed to keep the Magpies at bay. The first came after Clarecastle’s bright start that saw Patrick Kelly point after only 11 seconds and Kieran O’Dwyer add to that tally. There was also a goal chance for Niall Dunne at the back post but his shot was straight at goalkeeper David McMahon.

That save was given greater significance when Paddy O’Grady stole in for the opening goal of the game a minute later and despite three Adam Healy points in riposte, the momentum was now with Crusheen who held that goal advantage until the break at 1-5 to 0-5.

The second goal halted another Magpie fightback on the restart when points from Aaron Considine and Healy had dented Crusheen’s lead. It came after a Shaun Dillon delivery that broke to O’Grady to pull to the net in the 36th minute and open up a five point gap.

Once more, Clarecastle came back at the county champions, this time hitting four points without reply, three from the stick of Tyrone Kearse by the turn of the final quarter to cut the deficit to two.

However, O’Grady’s third major in the 48th minute appeared to have put paid to any hopes of a revival until that late Magpie burst which should have earned a much needed point for the home side but instead Crusheen ground out another trademark victory.

Crusheen
David McMahon, John Brigdale, Cronan Dillon, Alan Brigdale, Jason Greene, Shaun Dillon, Brendan McMahon,Tony Meaney, Gerry O’Grady (0-4 3f, 1’65), Gearoid O’Donnell (0-1), Niall Fitzgibbon (02), David Forde,AlanTuohy (0-1f), Paddy O’Grady (3-0), Darragh O’Doherty (0-5)

Subs
Fergus Kennedy (0-1) for Meaney (23 mins, inj), Padraic O’Malley for Forde (25 mins, inj)

Clarecastle
Donnagh Murphy, Seanie Moloney, Garry Farmer, Kevin Clohessy, Fearghus Ryan, Patrick Kelly (0-1), Eric Flynn,Tyrone Kearse (0-4 1f, 1’65),Andrew Page, Jamie O’Connor, Kieran O’Dwyer (0-2), AdamHealy (0-5 1f), Niall Dunne,Alan O’Loughlin, Aaron Considine (1-2 1f)

Subs
SeanTalty (1-0) for Dunne (HT), David Green (0-1) for O’Loughlin (48 mins)

Man of the Match
Paddy O’Grady (Crusheen) Referee Seanie McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus)

Kilmaley 1-25 – Sixmilebridge 0-12 at Kilmaley

KILMALEY maintained their unbeaten start to the Clare Cup and moved a step closer to bouncing back to Division 2A after an expected victory over Sixmilebridge’s second string on Thursday evening. The senior side led by 1-14 to 0-6 at the interval with the goal coming from Brian McMahon and they contin- ued that freeflowing scoring after the break with McMahon and Daire Keane contributed a good chunk in the scoring stakes.

Kilmaley
Kieran Dillon; Colin McGuane,Anthony Cahill, Sean Talty; Noel Casey, Conor McMahon, Eoin O’Malley; Kenneth Kennedy, John Clohessy; Daire Keane,

Brian McMahon, John Cabey; Niall McGuane, Seamus Hurley, PadraigTalty

Subs
Shane Culligan, Mikey O’Neill.

Sixmilebridge
Sean Chaplin; Jayme Keogh, Eoin Quinn, David O’Meara; Jonathan Downes, SamO’Sullivan (0-4f), Cathal Walsh; Christy Griffin (0-1), Donald Devanney;Thomas Liddy (0-5f), Stiofán Fitzpatrick, Michael O’Halloran (0-1);Adrian Chaplin, Ronan Hayes (0-1), Rory Liddane.

Sub
Wayne Kennedy for Keogh

Referee
Fergie McDonagh (St Joseph’;s D/B)

Clarecastle 0-15 – Wolfe Tones 0-13 at Shannon

TWO SIDES badly in need of a lift after disappointing starts to the season and in the end, it was the Magpies who got over the line but only just. Nine points up entering the final quarter, Clarecastle appeared to be cruising but their failure to hit the target for the remainder allied to a spirited wind assisted recovery from the home side ensured an extremely nervy finish before finally collecting the points.

Confidence was blatantly low on both sides and no wonder as Wolfe Tones had yet to register a competitive victory all season while the Magpies fared only mildly better with one victory in seven outings.

Player losses have devastated Tones’ senior set-up but after an inspirational opening victory in the senior football championship, it was hoped that it might rub off on the hurling side as well.

Clarecastle for their part were also severely understrength, being without eight of the 17 players used against Tulla last time out, along with long term casualties Conor Plunkett and Mark McNamara but while they were the more dominant side for long periods, they will be very disappointed to rack up 21 wides over the hour, most of which were struck from close range.

In between that plethora of missed chances, the majority of Clarecastle scores came in three separate purple patches. Firstly when recovering from a 0-2 to 0-1 defecit after four minutes to hit the next six points in a ten minute period through Tyrone Kearse (2), Eamon Callinan, Patrick Kelly, Alan O’Loughlin and Aaron Considine. They also had two glorious goal opportunities in the same period but Aaron Considine’s shot was straight at goalkeeper Paul Hogan while at the end of the first quarter, Alan O’Loughlin made a superb catch but was off balance when striking his shot just wide.

The second flurry came in the five minute period either side of half-time when hitting another five without reply to open up a 0-12 0-04 advantage by the 33rd minute. Despite now playing into the sizeable breeze, the visitors appeared comfortable and had the dominance of Seanie Moloney, Patrick Kelly, Tyrone Kearse and Aaron Considine to thank for their cushion at that stage. However, even though they grabbed three more points through Darragh Moloney, Kearse and Considine to push 0-15 to 0-06 clear by the 45th minute, they were to be severely tested in the final quarter.

The switch of Daithi O’Connell to midfield was a masterstroke as the former county senior struck Wolfe Tones first point in 20 minutes in the 40th minute and followed up with three more as they slowly grew in confidence with every chip at the deficit.

Clarecastle didn’t help themselves as they were not to score for the final 19 minutes of the contest despite a host of opportunities while the Tones hit seven points without reply by the 57th minute. However, having dispatched a pack of cats to play among a flock of pigeons, Wolfe Tones were unable to find the goal that would complete a memorable turnaround, with the best chance falling to Declan O’Rourke whose pull was cleared off the line by Eric Flynn late on.

The Magpies may not have been firing on all cylinders up front but some dogged defending, particularly from Seanie Moloney, the aforementioned Flynn and Kelly ensured the visitors would hold onto the points and ease their relegation worries. However, their championship clash in August could be equally anxious.

Clarecastle
Donnagh Murphy, Seanie Moloney, Garrett Barry, Kevin Clohessy, Fearghus Ryan (0-1), Patrick Kelly (0-1), Eric Flynn,Tyrone Kearse (0-3 1f), Eamon Callinan (0-2 1f), Darragh Moloney (0-2), Jamie O’Connor,AdamHealy (0-1), Niall Dunne,Alan O’Loughlin (0-1),Aaron Considine (0-4 1f)

Sub
AndrewPage for O’Connor (43 mins)

Wolfe Tones
Paul Hogan, Joe McGauley, Patsy Keyes, Eamon O’Neill, Shane Chambers, Bobby McPhillips (0-5 4f), Barry Loughnane, Brendan Hughes, Niall Murphy,Alan Hehir, Declan O’Rourke, Garret McPhillips (0-2 1f), Paul Walsh (0-1), Ronan Hehir, Daithi O’Connell (0-4)

Subs
Mark Regan (0-1) for Murphy (37 mins), Gary Leahy for A. Hehir (48 mins), Richie Lillis for Walsh (48 mins)

Man of the Match
Seanie Moloney (Clarecastle) Referee JimHickey (Cratloe)

Kilmurry Ibrickane 2-6 – St Joseph’s Miltown 0-7 at Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown

KILMURRY Ibrickane’s unbeaten run in this year’s Cusack Cup continued with this local derby victory on Sunday morning as goals by Noel Downes and Stephen Moloney steered them to a deserved five-point victory over a Miltown side, playing their second game inside 48 hours.

The main business of Miltown’s hectic weekend was championship on Friday – proof, not that anyone needed it, came when their matchwinner from their meeting with Doora-Barefield, Dessie Molohan was marked absent.

He was missed, as were the likes of Eoin Curtin and Darragh McMahon as a much-changed St Joseph’s succumbed to a Kilmurry side playing well within themselves to record their fifth successive league win.

Miltown started well with the wind and three Kevin Keavey points inside the first 13 minutes had them in control, but their early advantage was wiped out by a 1-1 Kilmurry blast by the 19th minute.

Stephen Moloney opened their account with a point in the 18th minute, while a minute later a great run from deep by Paul O’Connor carved open the Miltown defence before Noel Downes clinically finished to the net beyond Niall Quinn to put Kilmurry 1-1 to 0-3 clear.

It was the winning of the game really, even though closing Miltown points from Gary Egan and Micheál Malone in response to an Ian McInerney free in the 21st minute, left the side deadlocked at the interval.

It was because of the wind advantage that Kilmurry eventually drove home in the second half. They opened the scoring through a Noel Downes effort from play in the 35th minute, only for Miltown to hit back with points from Gary Egan and Kevin Keavey by the 45th minute.

However, Miltown failed to raise another flag and a brilliant Seamus Lynch point in the 47th minute levelled the sides, before Ian McInerney put the winners ahead with another free in the 50th minute.

Then they killed off the game in the 54th minute when Downes cut through the Miltown rearguard to tee up Stephen Moloney for his matchwinning goal.

Kilmurry Ibrickane
Peter O’Dwyer, JohnWillie Sexton, Darren Hickey, Declan Callinan, Martin McMahon, Evan Talty,Thomas Lernihan, Mark McCarthy, Paul O’Connor, Stephen Moloney (1-0), Michael Hogan, Ian McInerney (0-2f), Noel Downes (1-1), Enda Coughlan (0-1), Seamus Lynch (0-1).

Subs
Seamus Murrihy for Hogan.

St Joseph’s Miltown

Niall Quinn, David Cleary, Kevin Burke, Enda Malone, Gearóid Curtin, Gordon Kelly, Ian Sexton, Peter Cleary, John Meade, GrahamKelly, Micheál Malone (0-1), Gary Egan (0-2f),Thomas Flynn, Kevin Keavey (0-4, 3f), DavidTalty.

Subs
Gearóid Malone for GrahamKelly.

Man of the Match
Declan Callinan (Kilmurry Ibrickane) Referee TomStackpoole (Ennistymon)